🔗 Share this article

A group of six quirky but brave kids encounter the trail of a colossal and dreadful supernatural darkness that has invaded our existence from the outer limits of darkness. They must wage a lifelong battle confronting it, facing terror upon terror in the struggle.

A Familiar Premise with a Distinctive Twist

This is the plot, roughly, of the master of horror’s novel It (a standout in his career; no arguments). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent massive horror novel, in which a close-knit group call forth the age-old, utterly malevolent dragon King Sorrow from the Long Dark to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. Needless to say, their arcane ceremony goes awry.

Embracing a Authorial Legacy

Joe Hill launched his profession striving diligently to avoid any connection from his renowned parent, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he exhibits a strong similarity to his father). However, in his newest work, he embraces it. There are lines that deliberately echo some of his father’s iconic (that classic opening line); a incident that recalls a King plot point (a game of puzzles). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

Introducing the Central Figures

Returning to the group: five of them are scholars at the imagined Rackham College in the New England state. First is Arthur, bookish and intelligent, deciphering ancient puzzles in his free moments; Colin, affluent, astute, and inclined to bulldoze obstacles in his path; twins Donna and Donovan; the stunning the lovely Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who doesn’t study with them, but becomes a key part of their group as they toy, partly convinced, half not, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Summoning

Arthur is, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take prized manuscripts from his cherished academic collection by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s made to take the collection’s foremost and disturbing work: the diary of occultist Enoch Crane (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang examine the log, discover they could summon what the occultist details as a armored demon” to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will certainly eliminate those troublesome local drug dealers, but they’ll have to choose a fresh offering each year or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As our protagonist states: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is more dragons.”

Genre Versatility and Imaginative Scope

Spanning forty years, Joe Hill transitions with effortless ease across narrative styles: as the companions attempt to deal with the circumstances they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to immolate, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we move between suspense to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to horror. A standout transition was to a quest story, far beneath the surface beneath this UK region, a segment infused with the Lord of the Rings author that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Mosaic of Fear and Hope

We encounter trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and online ones, truly terrifying and perfectly brought to life. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of courage and scenes of terrible wickedness, both earthly and otherworldly. It’s a tour de force: a horror novel that is chiefly a paean to the imagination, and to affection and camaraderie. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the allies sit around the table, making preparations to call forth their dragon into being with the force of their minds.

According to Joe Hill in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Ensure you experience it.