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A group of six oddball but doughty children fall into the trail of a colossal and fearsome supernatural evil that has entered our world from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They are compelled to devote their lives fighting it, facing horror after horror in the ordeal.

An Echoing Storyline with a Fresh Twist

This is the plot, roughly, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no arguments). It parallels of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent chilling tome, in which six friends call forth the primordial, deeply sinister beast King Sorrow from the Endless Night to assist them in vanquishing some villains. Unsurprisingly, their supernatural ritual backfires.

Celebrating a Literary Lineage

Joseph Hillström King started his career making great efforts to remain separate from his famous father, publishing under the pen name he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a uncanny likeness to his dad). Yet with this recent release, he leans into it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a scene that evokes a recurring theme in King’s works (a battle of wits). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his lineage, and readers share in the joy.

Introducing the Main Characters

Returning to the group: most are scholars at the fictional the esteemed institution in the New England state. First is Arthur, bookish and brilliant, deciphering ancient puzzles in his leisure hours; the character Colin, rich, sharp, and prone to trampling obstacles in his path; the twin siblings; the beautiful the lovely Allie. And there’s Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but assumes a vital role of their circle as they dabble, partly convinced, half not, in arcane arts.

The Critical Ritual

The protagonist finds himself, for reasons we don’t need to go into, compelled to pilfer rare books from his beloved college library by a group of neighborhood thugs. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s forced to acquire the library’s most valuable and chilling title: the journal of adept this enigmatic character (executed “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is fashioned from his hide). Our Scooby gang read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what Crane describes as a armored demon” to help Arthur out with his blackmail problem – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. The dragon will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they’ll have to choose a different victim each year or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Stylistic Versatility and Inventive Range

Covering a generation, the author shifts with natural fluency through various literary forms: as the companions attempt to deal with the situation they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to kill the dragon themselves, we move between suspense to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to horror. One particularly memorable shift was to a heroic journey, deep in the caves beneath this UK region, a section infused with JRR Tolkien that was magnificently horrifying.

A Detailed Mosaic of Fear and Hope

There are trolls – those living under bridges and digital trolls, genuinely frightening and expertly realized. The story includes mystic weapons and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and instances of terrible wickedness, both human and extraterrestrial. This is a remarkable achievement: a chilling book that is chiefly a tribute to the human inventiveness, 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 companions gather at the table, preparing to summon their dragon to life with the power of their thoughts.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “Hic sunt dracones”. Don’t miss them.