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A group of six quirky but doughty children fall into the way of a immense and dreadful supernatural evil that has invaded our world from the outer limits of shadow. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes battling it, enduring one nightmare after another in the process.

An Echoing Premise with a Distinctive Spin

This is the plot, broadly speaking, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no arguments). It similarly frames of Stephen King’s offspring Joe Hill’s latest horror doorstopper, in which six friends call forth the primordial, utterly malevolent dragon the Dragon King from the Endless Night to aid them in overcoming some villains. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation goes awry.

Celebrating a Family Legacy

Joe Hill began his writing journey making great efforts to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his father). But in this latest novel, he leans into it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a moment that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). In this epic story, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Central Figures

Back to those friends: five of them are students at the fictional Rackham College in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, bookish and brilliant, deciphering ancient puzzles in his free moments; Colin, rich, clever, and prone to trampling anyone who stands in his way; the twin siblings; the attractive Allie. And there’s Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their group as they toy, somewhat credulous, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Critical Ritual

The protagonist finds himself, as a result of external pressures, obliged to take valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a bunch of local criminals. This tears at his bookish heart, notably because he’s forced to acquire the collection’s foremost and chilling title: the diary of occultist this enigmatic character (condemned “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). The intrepid group examine the log, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a “proud worm to aid our hero with his coercion issue – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. The dragon will certainly eliminate those annoying regional antagonists, but they are required to pick a different victim annually or fall prey to the beast. As Arthur later puts it: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is additional horrors.”

Genre Versatility and Creative Range

Moving through four decades, Joe Hill transitions with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the companions strive to manage the predicament they find themselves in by, variously, picking people who are obviously evil to sacrifice, or hunting down ways to kill the dragon themselves, we go from thriller to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to love story to terror. A standout transition was to a adventure narrative, far beneath the surface beneath this UK region, a section tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Canvas of Fear and Optimism

There are trolls – those living under bridges and internet antagonists, truly terrifying and perfectly brought to life. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of valor and ones of terrible wickedness, both earthly and otherworldly. This is a remarkable achievement: a frightening tale that is primarily a ode to the imagination, 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 the wealthy student as the allies gather at the table, getting ready to invoke their beast into being with the force of their minds.

According to Joe Hill in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Ensure you experience it.