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A group of six quirky but doughty kids confront the trail of a vast and dreadful paranormal malevolence that has infiltrated our world from the outer limits of shadow. They are compelled to wage a lifelong battle confronting it, facing horror after horror in the process.

A Resonant Plot with a New Approach

This is the plot, roughly, of Stephen King’s novel It (his best; undeniable). It is also the plot of King’s son Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest horror doorstopper, in which a close-knit group summon the primordial, deeply sinister serpent the Dragon King from the Abyssal Void to assist them in vanquishing some antagonists. Needless to say, their otherworldly invocation goes awry.

Celebrating a Family Legacy

Joseph Hillström King started his career making great efforts to avoid any connection from his renowned parent, publishing under the pen name he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his parent). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. Several quotes that deliberately echo some of his father’s iconic (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a incident that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). In this whopper of a novel, Hill is delighting in his heritage, and we delight along with him.

The Cast of the Main Characters

Back to those friends: most are students at the made-up Rackham College in the New England state. We have Arthur, studious and gifted, solving ancient puzzles in his free moments; another key figure, affluent, sharp, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; the twin siblings; the attractive Allie. And there’s Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but emerges as crucial of their group as they toy, half believing, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Critical Summoning

The protagonist finds himself, as a result of external pressures, forced into stealing valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s forced to acquire the institution’s prized and chilling title: the diary of practitioner Enoch Crane (condemned “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the book’s jacket is crafted from his flesh). Our Scooby gang read the journal, discover they could summon what the author references as a armoured devil” to help Arthur out with his coercion issue – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. The dragon will certainly eliminate those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they must select a new sacrifice annually or become his victim themselves. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Narrative Versatility and Creative Breadth

Covering a generation, the author shifts with effortless ease across narrative styles: as the friends attempt to deal with the predicament they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, picking people who are obviously evil to offer up, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we go from suspense to grim fantasy, covert operations to love story to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, within the subterranean depths under the English county, a part sprinkled with JRR Tolkien that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Fear and Optimism

The novel features trolls – the classic variety and internet antagonists, genuinely frightening and perfectly brought to life. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of courage and ones of dreadful evil, both earthly and supernatural. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is primarily a tribute to the creative spirit, and to love and friendship. “We longed for a tale to embrace and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the companions gather at the table, getting ready to invoke their dragon into being with the strength of their collective will.

As Hill puts it in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Do not overlook this.