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A group of six unlikely but doughty children encounter the way of a colossal and fearsome supernatural darkness that has invaded our world from the deepest abyss of darkness. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes battling it, facing terror upon terror in the process.

A Resonant Plot with a Fresh Spin

This is the plot, in essence, of Stephen King’s novel It (a standout in his career; no debate). It similarly frames of King’s son Joe Hill’s latest massive horror novel, in which a band of six invoke the age-old, deeply sinister beast the Sorrowful Monarch from the Endless Night to aid them in overcoming some baddies. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Literary Legacy

Joe Hill started his career going to great lengths to remain separate from his renowned parent, publishing under the pen name he maintains to this day and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he exhibits a striking resemblance to his dad). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (that classic opening line); a moment that recalls a King plot point (a riddling contest). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his lineage, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Protagonists

Returning to the group: most are students at the made-up Rackham College in this northeastern locale. There’s Arthur, academic and gifted, solving Old English riddles in his spare time; Colin, affluent, sharp, and known for crushing those who oppose him; the twin siblings; the attractive the lovely Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their group as they toy, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ceremony

The protagonist finds himself, as a result of external pressures, obliged to take rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s compelled to seize the institution’s prized and unsettling work: the diary of practitioner the historical figure (condemned “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the book’s jacket is crafted from his flesh). These young investigators peruse the diary, learn they can invoke what the author references as a armoured devil” to help Arthur out with his extortion dilemma – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will undoubtedly remove those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice annually or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. In the character’s own words: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is more dragons.”

Genre Dexterity and Creative Scope

Spanning forty years, the author shifts with natural fluency between genres: as the friends endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we go from suspense to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to fright. A standout transition was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths under the English county, a segment sprinkled with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Horror and Hope

We encounter trolls – those living under bridges and online ones, genuinely frightening and perfectly brought to life. The story includes mystic weapons and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of courage and scenes of dreadful evil, both human and extraterrestrial. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is above all a tribute to the human inventiveness, and to love and friendship. “We longed for a tale to embrace and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the friends assemble around a surface, preparing to summon their dragon into being with the power of their thoughts.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Ensure you experience it.