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Six oddball but resilient kids fall into the trail of a immense and fearsome paranormal darkness that has infiltrated our existence from the deepest abyss of oblivion. They have no choice but to devote their lives battling it, enduring terror upon terror in the struggle.

A Familiar Storyline with a Distinctive Twist

This outlines the narrative, broadly speaking, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no arguments). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joe Hill’s new massive horror novel, in which a close-knit group summon the age-old, infinitely malicious dragon the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to assist them in vanquishing some villains. As one might expect, their supernatural ritual goes awry.

Embracing a Authorial Lineage

Joe Hill began his writing journey making great efforts to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he maintains to this day and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a strong similarity to his parent). However, in his newest work, he leans into 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 King plot point (a battle of wits). Throughout this massive book, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his heritage, and readers share in the joy.

Introducing the Central Figures

Back to those friends: the majority are students at the made-up Rackham College in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, studious and brilliant, cracking ancient puzzles in his free moments; another key figure, affluent, sharp, and inclined to bulldoze obstacles in his path; the twin siblings; the attractive Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but emerges as crucial of their group as they experiment, half believing, half not, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Summoning

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take prized manuscripts from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This tears at his bookish heart, especially when he’s compelled to seize the institution’s prized and disturbing publication: the diary of practitioner Enoch Crane (put to death “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang examine the log, learn they can invoke what the author references as a “proud worm to help Arthur out with his blackmail problem – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. The dragon will undoubtedly remove those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a different victim each year or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As our protagonist states: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Narrative Fluidity and Imaginative Scope

Moving through four decades, Hill also moves with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the friends attempt to deal with the situation they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to kill the dragon themselves, we transition from thriller to dark fantasy, clandestine torment to affectionate subplot to terror. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, deep in the caves under the English county, a section infused with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Canvas of Fear and Hope

There are trolls – those living under bridges and online ones, properly scary and superbly depicted. We see enchanted blades and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and instances of dreadful evil, both earthly and otherworldly. This is a remarkable achievement: a chilling book 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 the wealthy student as the friends sit around the table, making preparations to call forth their beast to life with the strength of their collective will.

As Hill puts it in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Do not overlook this.