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A group of six unlikely but resilient youngsters fall into the trail of a colossal and dreadful otherworldly evil that has invaded our realm from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They are compelled to devote their lives fighting it, enduring horror after horror in the ordeal.

A Resonant Storyline with a Distinctive Twist

This is the plot, in essence, of the master of horror’s seminal work It (arguably his finest; no debate). It is also the plot of Stephen King’s offspring Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest chilling tome, in which a band of six invoke the primordial, utterly malevolent serpent the Dragon King from the Endless Night to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. Unsurprisingly, their arcane ceremony goes awry.

Celebrating a Literary Heritage

The author began his writing journey going to great lengths to distance himself from his well-known dad, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he possesses a striking resemblance to his parent). But in this latest novel, he fully acknowledges it. There are lines that intentionally mirror some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a scene that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a battle of wits). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Main Characters

Focusing on the companions: five of them are pupils at the made-up this academic setting in Maine. There’s Arthur, bookish and brilliant, solving ancient puzzles in his free moments; Colin, wealthy, astute, and prone to trampling anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the stunning Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but emerges as crucial of their circle as they toy, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Pivotal Summoning

The protagonist finds himself, due to circumstances beyond his control, forced into stealing valuable volumes from his beloved college library by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s made to take the collection’s foremost and unsettling work: the diary of occultist Enoch Crane (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the book’s jacket is crafted from his flesh). Our Scooby gang examine the log, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a “arrogant beast to aid our hero with his extortion dilemma – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will undoubtedly remove those troublesome local drug dealers, but they’ll have to choose a different victim annually or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Versatility and Inventive Range

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with seamless grace between genres: as the friends strive to manage the circumstances they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to destroy the entity themselves, we move between suspense to grim fantasy, clandestine torment to affectionate subplot to terror. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, within the subterranean depths under the English county, a segment sprinkled with the Lord of the Rings author that was magnificently horrifying.

An Expansive Canvas of Fear and Courage

We encounter trolls – those living under bridges and online ones, genuinely frightening and expertly realized. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of courage and instances of appalling malevolence, both mortal and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is above all a ode to the creative spirit, and to devotion and companionship. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says this character as the companions gather at the table, preparing to summon their serpent into being with the strength of their collective will.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “Hic sunt dracones”. Ensure you experience it.