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A group of six oddball but doughty kids fall into the way of a vast and dreadful supernatural malevolence that has entered our existence from the outer limits of darkness. They are compelled to wage a lifelong battle confronting it, experiencing horror after horror in the ordeal.

An Echoing Storyline with a Distinctive Approach

This is the plot, in essence, of Stephen King’s novel It (his best; no arguments). It parallels of King’s son Joseph Hillstrom King’s new chilling tome, in which a band of six invoke the primordial, utterly malevolent dragon the Dragon King from the Endless Night to aid them in overcoming some villains. Needless to say, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Celebrating a Authorial Legacy

The author launched his profession striving diligently to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he bears a strong similarity to his father). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a scene that recalls a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his heritage, and the audience revels alongside.

Introducing the Protagonists

Returning to the group: five of them are students at the fictional Rackham College in this northeastern locale. First is Arthur, bookish and brilliant, cracking Old English riddles in his free moments; Colin, affluent, clever, and prone to trampling obstacles in his path; the twin siblings; the attractive the lovely Allie. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but assumes a vital role of their circle as they experiment, somewhat credulous, somewhat doubtful, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ritual

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, compelled to pilfer prized manuscripts from his cherished academic collection by a group of neighborhood thugs. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and disturbing publication: the logbook of occultist the historical figure (executed “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). The intrepid group peruse the diary, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a armored demon” to assist Arthur with his blackmail problem – and spend the rest of the novel facing the fallout. King Sorrow will undoubtedly remove those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice annually or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Versatility and Imaginative Breadth

Covering a generation, the author shifts with effortless ease between genres: as the allies attempt to deal with the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to destroy the entity themselves, we transition from suspense to shadowy tale, clandestine torment to affectionate subplot to terror. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, deep in the caves beneath this UK region, a segment infused with the Lord of the Rings author that was magnificently horrifying.

An Expansive Mosaic of Dread and Courage

The novel features trolls – the classic variety and digital trolls, truly terrifying and superbly depicted. There are magical swords and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of valor and ones of appalling malevolence, both human and supernatural. It stands as a masterpiece: a frightening tale that is primarily a tribute to the creative spirit, 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 the wealthy student as the allies sit around the table, making preparations to call forth their beast to life with the force of their minds.

As Hill puts it in his epigraph: “Hic sunt dracones”. Don’t miss them.