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A group of six unlikely but doughty children confront the trail of a colossal and terrible supernatural evil that has infiltrated our world from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They have no choice but to devote their lives battling it, facing terror upon terror in the ordeal.

A Familiar Premise with a New Twist

This describes the premise, broadly speaking, of Stephen King’s novel It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s recent massive horror novel, in which six friends call forth the age-old, utterly malevolent serpent the Dragon King from the Abyssal Void to aid them in overcoming some baddies. Needless to say, their arcane ceremony has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Literary Lineage

Joe Hill launched his profession making great efforts to remain separate from his famous father, publishing under the pen name he maintains to this day and avoiding meeting his agent (he bears a uncanny likeness to his parent). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. There are lines that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (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 readers share in the joy.

The Cast of the Main Characters

Returning to the group: most are scholars at the imagined Rackham College in the New England state. There’s Arthur, academic and brilliant, solving ancient puzzles in his free moments; Colin, affluent, astute, and prone to trampling those who oppose him; the twin siblings; the stunning the lovely Allie. And there’s Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but becomes a key part of their group as they dabble, partly convinced, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Fateful Ceremony

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take rare books from his cherished academic collection by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s forced to acquire the library’s most valuable and unsettling publication: the diary of practitioner Enoch Crane (put to death “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the book’s jacket 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 coercion issue – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. The dragon will certainly eliminate those annoying regional antagonists, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice annually or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As Arthur later puts it: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is more dragons.”

Narrative Fluidity and Inventive Range

Moving through four decades, the author shifts with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the friends attempt to deal with the circumstances they find themselves in by, in different ways, picking people who are obviously evil to sacrifice, or seeking means to slay the beast themselves, we transition from suspense to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to romance to horror. My favorite genre switch was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths under the English county, a segment infused with the fantasy maestro that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Fear and Optimism

The novel features trolls – those living under bridges and internet antagonists, truly terrifying and perfectly brought to life. There are magical swords and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and instances of terrible wickedness, both mortal and extraterrestrial. This is a remarkable achievement: a frightening tale that is chiefly a paean to the imagination, and to affection and camaraderie. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the friends sit around the table, making preparations to call forth their serpent into being with the power of their thoughts.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “Here be dragons”. Ensure you experience it.