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Six oddball but resilient youngsters confront the trail of a colossal and fearsome otherworldly evil that has invaded our realm from the deepest abyss of oblivion. They are compelled to wage a lifelong battle battling it, experiencing one nightmare after another in the struggle.

A Familiar Storyline with a Fresh Twist

This outlines the narrative, in essence, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no debate). It similarly frames of Stephen King’s offspring Joe Hill’s new horror doorstopper, in which six friends summon the ancient, infinitely malicious serpent the Sorrowful Monarch from the Abyssal Void to aid them in overcoming some baddies. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Family Legacy

The author started his career striving diligently to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his father). But in this latest novel, he embraces it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of his father’s iconic (that classic opening line); a incident that recalls a King plot point (a game of puzzles). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his lineage, and the audience revels alongside.

Meet the Central Figures

Back to those friends: most are students at the imagined Rackham College in Maine. We have Arthur, bookish and brilliant, cracking ancient puzzles in his leisure hours; the character Colin, rich, clever, and known for crushing those who oppose him; twins Donna and Donovan; the stunning Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who isn’t their classmate, but assumes a vital role of their group as they experiment, half believing, partly skeptical, in supernatural practices.

The Fateful Summoning

Our hero becomes, as a result of external pressures, compelled to pilfer rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This tears at his bookish heart, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and chilling work: the logbook of practitioner Enoch Crane (condemned “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is crafted from his flesh). The intrepid group examine the log, realize they are able to call forth what Crane describes as a clever snake to assist Arthur with his blackmail problem – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they are required to pick 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.”

Narrative Dexterity and Creative Scope

Covering a generation, Hill also moves with effortless ease across narrative styles: as the companions strive to manage the situation they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or hunting down ways to slay the beast themselves, we transition from suspense to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to terror. One particularly memorable shift was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths below Cornwall, a segment infused with the Lord of the Rings author that was wonderfully frightening.

A Detailed Canvas of Fear and Hope

There are trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and internet antagonists, truly terrifying and expertly realized. We see enchanted blades and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of valor and instances of appalling malevolence, both human and extraterrestrial. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is above all a ode to the human inventiveness, 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 this character as the allies sit around the table, preparing to summon their beast into existence with the power of their thoughts.

According to Joe Hill in his introductory quote: “Here be dragons”. Ensure you experience it.