🔗 Share this article

A group of six quirky but doughty youngsters confront the trail of a colossal and fearsome paranormal malevolence that has infiltrated our world from the deepest abyss of shadow. They have no choice but to spend their lifetimes fighting it, experiencing one nightmare after another in the process.

A Resonant Storyline with a New Spin

This is the plot, in essence, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no debate). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s new chilling tome, in which six friends summon the age-old, deeply sinister serpent the Dragon King from the Long Dark to help them defeat some baddies. Unsurprisingly, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Celebrating a Family Legacy

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey making great efforts to avoid any connection from his renowned parent, publishing under the pen name he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a strong similarity to his parent). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. Certain passages that intentionally mirror some of King’s most famous (that classic opening line); a incident that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a battle of wits). In this whopper of a novel, the author rejoices in his heritage, and the audience revels alongside.

Meet the Main Characters

Back to those friends: five of them are pupils at the imagined this academic setting in this northeastern locale. First is Arthur, studious and intelligent, solving historical enigmas in his spare time; the character Colin, wealthy, sharp, and prone to trampling obstacles in his path; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie. Then we have Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but becomes a key part of their group as they dabble, somewhat credulous, partly skeptical, in the occult.

The Critical Ceremony

The protagonist finds himself, as a result of external pressures, compelled to pilfer prized manuscripts from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s made to take the collection’s foremost and disturbing work: the logbook of adept the historical figure (put to death “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the book’s jacket is fashioned from his hide). Our Scooby gang examine the log, learn they can invoke what the author references as a clever snake to help Arthur out with his coercion issue – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those troublesome local drug dealers, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice annually or fall prey to the beast. In the character’s own words: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is more dragons.”

Narrative Fluidity and Inventive Scope

Moving through four decades, the author shifts with natural fluency through various literary forms: as the companions strive to manage the circumstances they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we go from page-turner to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to romance to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths below Cornwall, a part tinged by JRR Tolkien that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Tapestry of Dread and Hope

The novel features trolls – the classic variety and online ones, properly scary and superbly depicted. The story includes mystic weapons and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and scenes of appalling malevolence, both earthly and otherworldly. It stands as a masterpiece: a frightening tale that is primarily a tribute to the imagination, 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 the wealthy student as the allies gather at the table, preparing to summon their dragon into existence with the power of their thoughts.

According to Joe Hill in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Don’t miss them.