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Six unlikely but resilient kids encounter the way of a colossal and terrible paranormal malevolence that has entered our realm from the outer limits of oblivion. They must spend their lifetimes fighting it, experiencing terror upon terror in the process.

An Echoing Plot with a Fresh Spin

This is the plot, roughly, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no arguments). It parallels of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent chilling tome, in which a band of six invoke the primordial, deeply sinister beast the Dragon King from the Endless Night to aid them in overcoming some baddies. Needless to say, their arcane ceremony goes awry.

Acknowledging a Family Lineage

Joe Hill started his career striving diligently to distance himself from his well-known dad, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and avoiding meeting his agent (he bears a striking resemblance to his father). Yet with this recent release, he fully acknowledges it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of his father’s iconic (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a scene that recalls a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). Throughout this massive book, the author rejoices in his lineage, and readers share in the joy.

Introducing the Central Figures

Back to those friends: five of them are students at the made-up the esteemed institution in the New England state. We have Arthur, studious and gifted, cracking historical enigmas in his leisure hours; the character Colin, affluent, astute, and known for crushing those who oppose him; the twin siblings; the stunning Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their band as they dabble, partly convinced, somewhat doubtful, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Summoning

The protagonist finds himself, for reasons we don’t need to go into, forced into stealing valuable volumes from his cherished academic collection by a set of regional villains. This tears at his bookish heart, notably because he’s made to take the collection’s foremost and disturbing work: the journal of practitioner Enoch Crane (executed “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is fashioned from his hide). Our Scooby gang peruse the diary, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a armored demon” to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. The dragon will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they are required to pick a different victim each year or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. In the character’s own words: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Genre Dexterity and Inventive Scope

Moving through four decades, Hill also moves with effortless ease between genres: as the friends attempt to deal with the predicament they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we transition from suspense to shadowy tale, covert operations to romance to terror. A standout transition was to a heroic journey, within the subterranean depths below Cornwall, a part infused with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Canvas of Horror and Optimism

We encounter trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and online ones, properly scary and expertly realized. There are magical swords and deceptions, breath-taking moments of valor and instances of terrible wickedness, both human and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a horror novel that is chiefly a ode to the creative spirit, 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 companions gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their dragon to life with the strength of their collective will.

As Hill puts it in his epigraph: “This is dragon territory”. Don’t miss them.