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Six quirky but brave youngsters confront the way of a immense and fearsome paranormal evil that has invaded our realm from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They are compelled to devote their lives confronting it, enduring one nightmare after another in the ordeal.

A Familiar Premise with a Distinctive Twist

This is the plot, in essence, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no arguments). It parallels of the celebrated author’s heir Joe Hill’s recent chilling tome, in which a close-knit group invoke the ancient, deeply sinister serpent the Sorrowful Monarch from the Abyssal Void to assist them in vanquishing some villains. Needless to say, their otherworldly invocation goes awry.

Acknowledging a Family Lineage

The author began his writing journey striving diligently to remain separate from his well-known dad, publishing under the pen name he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a strong similarity to his parent). But in this latest novel, he fully acknowledges it. Certain passages that intentionally mirror some of his father’s iconic (that classic opening line); a scene that evokes a King plot point (a riddling contest). Throughout this massive book, the author rejoices in his lineage, and the audience revels alongside.

Meet the Protagonists

Returning to the group: the majority are pupils at the made-up Rackham College in the New England state. We have Arthur, bookish and intelligent, cracking historical enigmas in his leisure hours; Colin, rich, clever, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the stunning Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who doesn’t study with them, but becomes a key part of their group as they toy, half believing, half not, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ceremony

Our hero becomes, as a result of external pressures, forced into stealing rare books from his beloved college library by a set of regional villains. This devastates his scholarly soul, notably because he’s made to take the institution’s prized and chilling work: the journal of occultist Enoch Crane (condemned “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the binding is fashioned from his hide). The intrepid group peruse the diary, discover they could summon what Crane describes as a “arrogant beast to aid our hero with his blackmail problem – and devote the remaining story enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will certainly eliminate those annoying regional antagonists, but they must select a fresh offering annually or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. In the character’s own words: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Fluidity and Creative Range

Covering a generation, Hill also moves with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the allies endeavor to address the situation they find themselves in by, in different ways, picking people who are obviously evil to sacrifice, or searching for methods to destroy the entity themselves, we transition from thriller to dark fantasy, covert operations to romance to terror. A standout transition was to a heroic journey, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a segment sprinkled with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Tapestry of Horror and Optimism

We encounter trolls – the classic variety and internet antagonists, properly scary and expertly realized. There are magical swords and treacheries, breath-taking moments of courage and scenes of dreadful evil, both human and otherworldly. It stands as a masterpiece: a frightening tale that is primarily a ode to the creative spirit, and to devotion and companionship. “We required a narrative to trust and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the friends sit around the table, preparing to summon their dragon into being with the force of their minds.

As Hill puts it in his introductory quote: “This is dragon territory”. Don’t miss them.