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Six quirky but doughty children encounter the trail of a colossal and terrible supernatural evil that has infiltrated our realm from the deepest abyss of shadow. They are compelled to devote their lives battling it, enduring terror upon terror in the ordeal.

An Echoing Premise with a Fresh Twist

This is the plot, in essence, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no debate). It similarly frames of the celebrated author’s heir Joe Hill’s latest chilling tome, in which a band of six summon the ancient, deeply sinister beast the Dragon King from the Abyssal Void to assist them in vanquishing some villains. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Acknowledging a Family Heritage

The author started his career striving diligently to remain separate from his well-known dad, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a striking resemblance to his parent). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. There are lines that consciously reflect some of his father’s iconic (that classic opening line); a moment that brings to mind a King plot point (a riddling contest). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

The Cast of the Protagonists

Returning to the group: the majority are scholars at the made-up the esteemed institution in the New England state. First is Arthur, academic and brilliant, deciphering historical enigmas in his spare time; the character Colin, rich, clever, and prone to trampling those who oppose him; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who doesn’t study with them, but emerges as crucial of their group as they dabble, somewhat credulous, somewhat doubtful, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ritual

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take valuable volumes from his cherished academic collection by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s made to take the collection’s foremost and disturbing publication: the logbook of adept Enoch Crane (executed “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is made from his skin). These young investigators examine the log, discover they could summon what the occultist details as a armored demon” to aid our hero with his coercion issue – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they’ll have to choose a different victim annually or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Dexterity and Creative Breadth

Covering a generation, the author shifts with effortless ease across narrative styles: as the friends endeavor to address the situation they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we move between page-turner to dark fantasy, clandestine torment to romance to terror. One particularly memorable shift was to a heroic journey, far beneath the surface under the English county, a part infused with the fantasy maestro that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Canvas of Fear and Hope

We encounter trolls – the classic variety and online ones, properly scary and superbly depicted. We see enchanted blades and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of valor and instances of appalling malevolence, both mortal and extraterrestrial. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is above all a paean to the imagination, 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 Colin as the allies assemble around a surface, getting ready to invoke their dragon to life with the power of their thoughts.

According to Joe Hill in his opening statement: “Hic sunt dracones”. Ensure you experience it.