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Six quirky but doughty youngsters encounter the way of a vast and fearsome paranormal evil that has invaded our world from the outer limits of oblivion. They must spend their lifetimes fighting it, experiencing one nightmare after another in the struggle.

A Familiar Storyline with a Fresh Approach

This describes the premise, in essence, of Stephen King’s novel It (his best; undeniable). It parallels of Stephen King’s offspring Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent horror doorstopper, in which six friends call forth the primordial, deeply sinister beast King Sorrow from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some antagonists. Unsurprisingly, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Literary Heritage

The author began his writing journey going to great lengths to distance himself from his renowned parent, using the pseudonym he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he bears a striking resemblance to his father). But in this latest novel, 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 game of puzzles). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his heritage, and the audience revels alongside.

Introducing the Central Figures

Returning to the group: five of them are scholars at the imagined the esteemed institution in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, studious and brilliant, deciphering ancient puzzles in his free moments; another key figure, wealthy, clever, and inclined to bulldoze anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful the lovely Allie. Then we have Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their circle as they dabble, somewhat credulous, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ritual

Arthur is, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a bunch of local criminals. This devastates his scholarly soul, especially when he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and unsettling title: the diary of adept Enoch Crane (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the binding is crafted from his flesh). These young investigators peruse the diary, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a “proud worm to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and occupy the subsequent narrative facing the fallout. The dragon will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they’ll have to choose a different victim annually or fall prey to the beast. As Arthur later puts it: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Stylistic Dexterity and Creative Range

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the companions attempt to deal with the circumstances they find themselves in by, variously, picking people who are obviously evil to offer up, or hunting down ways to kill the dragon themselves, we move between suspense to grim fantasy, clandestine torment to affectionate subplot to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, within the subterranean depths below Cornwall, a segment sprinkled with the fantasy maestro that was gloriously terrifying.

A Rich Canvas of Fear and Hope

We encounter trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and online ones, genuinely frightening and expertly realized. There are magical swords and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and instances of terrible wickedness, both earthly and otherworldly. This is a remarkable achievement: a horror novel that is above all a tribute to the imagination, and to affection and camaraderie. “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, making preparations to call forth their serpent to life with the strength of their collective will.

As Hill puts it in his epigraph: “Here be dragons”. Ensure you experience it.