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Six unlikely but brave children fall into the way of a immense and fearsome supernatural evil that has invaded our realm from the farthest reaches of shadow. They must devote their lives fighting it, enduring horror after horror in the process.

A Resonant Storyline with a Distinctive Spin

This is the plot, in essence, of the master of horror’s seminal work It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It parallels of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest chilling tome, in which six friends summon the ancient, infinitely malicious dragon King Sorrow from the Endless Night to assist them in vanquishing some villains. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual backfires.

Acknowledging a Authorial Heritage

Joseph Hillström King launched his profession making great efforts to remain separate from his famous father, using the pseudonym he maintains to this day and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a striking resemblance to his parent). Yet with this recent release, he fully acknowledges it. Several quotes that intentionally mirror some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a scene that brings to mind a King plot point (a riddling contest). In this epic story, Hill is delighting in his heritage, and the audience revels alongside.

Introducing the Central Figures

Back to those friends: five of them are pupils at the made-up Rackham College in the New England state. First is Arthur, bookish and brilliant, solving Old English riddles in his spare time; another key figure, rich, astute, and prone to trampling anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie. Then we have Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but becomes a key part of their band as they dabble, somewhat credulous, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Fateful Ritual

Arthur is, as a result of external pressures, forced into stealing valuable volumes from his cherished academic collection by a bunch of local criminals. This tears at his bookish heart, especially when he’s made to take the collection’s foremost and chilling title: the journal of adept the historical figure (executed “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). The intrepid group examine the log, discover they could summon what the occultist details as a “arrogant beast to aid our hero with his coercion issue – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. The dragon will undoubtedly remove those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they are required to pick a fresh offering annually or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Fluidity and Creative Breadth

Moving through four decades, the author shifts with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the companions endeavor to address the circumstances they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to offer up, or seeking means to slay the beast themselves, we go from page-turner to shadowy tale, covert operations to love story to horror. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, far beneath the surface below Cornwall, a section infused with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

A Detailed Canvas of Dread and Hope

There are trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and online ones, truly terrifying and perfectly brought to life. There are magical swords and deceptions, pulse-pounding sequences of bravery and scenes of terrible wickedness, both earthly and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is above all a ode to the human inventiveness, and to affection and camaraderie. “We required a narrative to trust and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the friends assemble around a surface, getting ready to invoke their dragon into existence with the power of their thoughts.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Don’t miss them.