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A group of six quirky but doughty children confront the way of a immense and terrible paranormal evil that has entered our realm from the deepest abyss of oblivion. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes battling it, facing horror after horror in the process.

A Familiar Premise with a Distinctive Approach

This describes the premise, roughly, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no arguments). It is also the plot of King’s son Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest chilling tome, in which a close-knit group call forth the age-old, deeply sinister serpent the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some antagonists. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Authorial Lineage

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey going to great lengths to distance himself from his well-known dad, using the pseudonym he maintains to this day and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a strong similarity to his father). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. Certain passages that deliberately echo some of his father’s iconic (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a incident that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). Throughout this massive book, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Introducing the Central Figures

Returning to the group: the majority are students at the fictional this academic setting in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, academic and intelligent, deciphering historical enigmas in his leisure hours; another key figure, wealthy, astute, and inclined to bulldoze those who oppose him; Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie herself. Then we have Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their group as they dabble, half believing, half not, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ceremony

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, compelled to pilfer rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s forced to acquire the institution’s prized and chilling work: the journal of adept Enoch Crane (put to death “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the book’s jacket is crafted from his flesh). These young investigators read the journal, discover they could summon what Crane describes as a “arrogant beast to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and occupy the subsequent narrative reaping the consequences. The dragon will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they’ll have to choose a different victim every twelve months or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Fluidity and Inventive Scope

Moving through four decades, Joe Hill transitions with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the companions endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, picking people who are obviously evil to offer up, or seeking means to slay the beast themselves, we transition from suspense to grim fantasy, clandestine torment to love story to horror. A standout transition was to a adventure narrative, far beneath the surface under the English county, a part tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was magnificently horrifying.

An Expansive Mosaic of Dread and Optimism

There are trolls – the classic variety and online ones, truly terrifying and superbly depicted. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of valor and ones of dreadful evil, both mortal and extraterrestrial. It stands as a masterpiece: a chilling book that is above all a ode to the human inventiveness, and to love and friendship. “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 allies assemble around a surface, making preparations to call forth their serpent into being with the strength of their collective will.

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