A group of six unlikely but resilient children fall into the way of a immense and dreadful otherworldly darkness that has invaded our realm from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They must wage a lifelong battle confronting it, experiencing horror after horror in the process.
A Resonant Storyline with a Fresh Spin
This describes the premise, broadly speaking, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It similarly frames of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s new massive horror novel, in which six friends summon the ancient, deeply sinister dragon King Sorrow from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some baddies. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation goes awry.
Acknowledging a Literary Heritage
The author launched his profession going to great lengths to distance himself from his renowned parent, publishing under the pen name he continues to employ and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a uncanny likeness to his father). However, in his newest work, he embraces it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a moment that recalls a King plot point (a riddling contest). In this whopper of a novel, Hill is delighting in his heritage, and readers share in the joy.
Introducing the Central Figures
Returning to the group: most are scholars at the fictional Rackham College in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, studious and brilliant, cracking Old English riddles in his leisure hours; another key figure, affluent, clever, and inclined to bulldoze those who oppose him; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful the lovely Allie. Then we have Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but emerges as crucial of their circle as they toy, half believing, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.
The Pivotal Summoning
Arthur is, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take prized manuscripts from his beloved college library by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s compelled to seize the library’s most valuable and chilling work: the journal of adept Enoch Crane (put to death “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the book’s jacket is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what the occultist details as a “arrogant beast to aid our hero with his coercion issue – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. The dragon will indeed rid them of those troublesome local drug dealers, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice each year or become his victim themselves. In the character’s own words: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is more dragons.”
Genre Dexterity and Imaginative Range
Covering a generation, the author shifts with natural fluency between genres: as the companions attempt to deal with the situation they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we move between suspense to shadowy tale, covert operations to love story to terror. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, deep in the caves beneath this UK region, a part tinged by the fantasy maestro that was magnificently horrifying.
A Rich Mosaic of Fear and Courage
There are trolls – the classic variety and digital trolls, genuinely frightening and superbly depicted. There are magical swords and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and instances of appalling malevolence, both human and otherworldly. It stands as a masterpiece: a chilling book that is above all a paean to the human inventiveness, and to devotion and companionship. “We required a narrative to trust and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the allies assemble around a surface, preparing to summon their serpent into being with the strength of their collective will.
In the author’s own words in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Don’t miss them.
