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A group of six quirky but resilient children encounter the trail of a colossal and fearsome paranormal darkness that has invaded our world from the farthest reaches of darkness. They have no choice but to spend their lifetimes fighting it, facing horror after horror in the process.

A Familiar Storyline with a Distinctive Twist

This describes the premise, in essence, of Stephen King’s seminal work It (his best; undeniable). It similarly frames of Stephen King’s offspring Joe Hill’s latest horror doorstopper, in which a close-knit group call forth the age-old, deeply sinister serpent the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some antagonists. As one might expect, their arcane ceremony goes awry.

Celebrating a Family Heritage

The author launched his profession making great efforts to remain separate from his well-known dad, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and avoiding meeting his agent (he exhibits a striking resemblance to his dad). But in this latest novel, he embraces it. There are lines that intentionally mirror some of his father’s iconic (that classic opening line); a moment that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a game of puzzles). In this epic story, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Introducing the Main Characters

Back to those friends: most are scholars at the made-up the esteemed institution in the New England state. We have Arthur, studious and brilliant, solving historical enigmas in his leisure hours; another key figure, rich, clever, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; Donna and Donovan; the stunning Allie herself. And there’s Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their band as they toy, half believing, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Summoning

Our hero becomes, for reasons we don’t need to go into, forced into stealing prized manuscripts from his cherished academic collection by a set of regional villains. This tears at his bookish heart, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the institution’s prized and unsettling publication: the journal of occultist Enoch Crane (put to death “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). The intrepid group examine the log, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a “proud worm to aid our hero with his blackmail problem – and occupy the subsequent narrative reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will undoubtedly remove those troublesome local drug dealers, but they are required to pick a fresh offering every twelve months or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Versatility and Inventive Scope

Moving through four decades, Hill also moves with seamless grace across narrative styles: as the friends strive to manage the predicament they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to offer up, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we transition from page-turner to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to romance to terror. One particularly memorable shift was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths under the English county, a segment sprinkled with the Lord of the Rings author that was wonderfully frightening.

An Expansive Tapestry of Dread and Hope

We encounter trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and digital trolls, genuinely frightening and perfectly brought to life. We see enchanted blades and betrayals, breath-taking moments of courage and ones of dreadful evil, both earthly and supernatural. This is a remarkable achievement: a chilling book that is chiefly a tribute to the imagination, 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 friends assemble around a surface, making preparations to call forth their serpent into existence with the power of their thoughts.

According to Joe Hill in his introductory quote: “Here be dragons”. Ensure you experience it.