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Six unlikely but brave kids encounter the path of a colossal and fearsome supernatural malevolence that has infiltrated our world from the farthest reaches of darkness. They are compelled to wage a lifelong battle confronting it, experiencing horror after horror in the struggle.

A Familiar Premise with a Fresh Approach

This outlines the narrative, in essence, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joe Hill’s recent horror doorstopper, in which a band of six call forth the primordial, deeply sinister dragon the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some villains. Needless to say, their arcane ceremony has unintended consequences.

Celebrating a Authorial Heritage

The author launched his profession going to great lengths to remain separate from his well-known dad, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and avoiding meeting his agent (he possesses a strong similarity to his dad). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a scene that evokes a recurring theme in King’s works (a battle of wits). In this whopper of a novel, the author rejoices in his lineage, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Protagonists

Returning to the group: five of them are pupils at the imagined this academic setting in this northeastern locale. First is Arthur, academic and gifted, deciphering ancient puzzles in his spare time; the character Colin, wealthy, astute, and inclined to bulldoze anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive the lovely Allie. And there’s Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but becomes a key part of their group as they toy, somewhat credulous, half not, in supernatural practices.

The Critical Ritual

Our hero becomes, as a result of external pressures, obliged to take valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a bunch of local criminals. This devastates his scholarly soul, especially when he’s compelled to seize the library’s most valuable and unsettling title: the logbook of occultist Enoch Crane (condemned “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the book’s jacket is crafted from his flesh). The intrepid group examine the log, discover they could summon what the author references as a armored demon” to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will undoubtedly remove those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice annually or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. In the character’s own words: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Genre Dexterity and Inventive Range

Covering a generation, the author shifts with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the allies strive to manage the situation they find themselves in by, variously, picking people who are obviously evil to immolate, or hunting down ways to destroy the entity themselves, we go from page-turner to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to horror. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, far beneath the surface beneath this UK region, a section tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was gloriously terrifying.

A Detailed Canvas of Horror and Optimism

We encounter trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and online ones, truly terrifying and expertly realized. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, pulse-pounding sequences of courage and ones of terrible wickedness, both human and supernatural. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is chiefly a paean to the creative spirit, and to affection and camaraderie. “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 allies gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their beast into being with the strength of their collective will.

According to Joe Hill in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Do not overlook this.