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A group of six unlikely but doughty children encounter the path of a vast and dreadful supernatural darkness that has infiltrated our world from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They must wage a lifelong battle battling it, facing horror after horror in the process.

An Echoing Plot with a Distinctive Twist

This describes the premise, in essence, of Stephen King’s seminal work It (arguably his finest; no arguments). It parallels of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest horror doorstopper, in which a band of six invoke the ancient, utterly malevolent dragon the Dragon King from the Endless Night to help them defeat some villains. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Family Legacy

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey going to great lengths to remain separate from his renowned parent, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a uncanny likeness to his parent). But in this latest novel, he embraces it. There are lines that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a incident that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a battle of wits). In this epic story, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Protagonists

Returning to the group: the majority are students at the made-up the esteemed institution in Maine. First is Arthur, studious and intelligent, deciphering historical enigmas in his free moments; another key figure, rich, astute, and inclined to bulldoze anyone who stands in his way; Donna and Donovan; the beautiful the lovely Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their group as they toy, half believing, somewhat doubtful, in supernatural practices.

The Critical Summoning

Our hero becomes, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a group of neighborhood thugs. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s made to take the institution’s prized and unsettling publication: the diary of occultist this enigmatic character (put to death “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the book’s jacket is fashioned from his hide). Our Scooby gang peruse the diary, discover they could summon what Crane describes as a armoured devil” to help Arthur out with his extortion dilemma – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. This ancient entity will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they must select a different victim every twelve months or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. In the character’s own words: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is additional horrors.”

Stylistic Dexterity and Creative Scope

Moving through four decades, Hill also moves with natural fluency across narrative styles: as the allies strive to manage the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to offer up, or searching for methods to kill the dragon themselves, we transition from thriller to grim fantasy, clandestine torment to romance to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a adventure narrative, deep in the caves under the English county, a part infused with the fantasy maestro that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Fear and Hope

We encounter trolls – the classic variety and internet antagonists, properly scary and perfectly brought to life. There are magical swords and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of valor and ones of dreadful evil, both mortal and supernatural. This is a remarkable achievement: a chilling book that is above all a paean to the imagination, and to devotion and companionship. “We longed for a tale to embrace and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the companions sit around the table, preparing to summon their dragon into being with the power of their thoughts.

In the author’s own words in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Do not overlook this.