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Six unlikely but resilient children encounter the way of a vast and dreadful otherworldly evil that has invaded our realm from the deepest abyss of shadow. They have no choice but to devote their lives fighting it, experiencing horror after horror in the ordeal.

A Resonant Storyline with a Fresh Spin

This outlines the narrative, in essence, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no debate). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s new horror doorstopper, in which six friends invoke the primordial, infinitely malicious beast the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some villains. Unsurprisingly, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Celebrating a Literary Heritage

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey making great efforts to remain separate from his renowned parent, using the pseudonym he still uses today and avoiding meeting his agent (he exhibits a striking resemblance to his parent). Yet with this recent release, he leans into it. Certain passages that intentionally mirror some of the senior author’s well-known (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a incident that recalls a signature King element (a riddling contest). Throughout this massive book, Hill is delighting in his heritage, and readers share in the joy.

Introducing the Central Figures

Back to those friends: most are students at the made-up the esteemed institution in Maine. We have Arthur, studious and gifted, solving Old English riddles in his spare time; the character Colin, affluent, sharp, and known for crushing those who oppose him; Donna and Donovan; the stunning Allie herself. Then we have Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but emerges as crucial of their circle as they dabble, partly convinced, somewhat doubtful, in supernatural practices.

The Critical Ceremony

Our hero becomes, 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, particularly as he’s forced to acquire the institution’s prized and unsettling title: the diary of occultist this enigmatic character (executed “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is made from his skin). These young investigators read the journal, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a “proud worm to help Arthur out with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story facing the fallout. King Sorrow will certainly eliminate those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a fresh offering annually or become his victim themselves. In the character’s own words: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is more dragons.”

Stylistic Versatility and Creative Breadth

Covering a generation, the author shifts with effortless ease across narrative styles: as the friends endeavor to address the circumstances they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or hunting down ways to kill the dragon themselves, we move between page-turner to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to love story to terror. A standout transition was to a adventure narrative, deep in the caves under the English county, a section infused with the Lord of the Rings author that was magnificently horrifying.

An Expansive Mosaic of Fear and Courage

We encounter trolls – the classic variety and online ones, truly terrifying and perfectly brought to life. We see enchanted blades and deceptions, breath-taking moments of bravery and scenes of terrible wickedness, both earthly and extraterrestrial. It stands as a masterpiece: a chilling book that is primarily a tribute to the imagination, and to devotion and companionship. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the companions sit around the table, getting ready to invoke their beast to life with the power of their thoughts.

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