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Six quirky but resilient youngsters confront the path of a immense and fearsome paranormal darkness that has invaded our existence from the deepest abyss of shadow. They have no choice but to devote their lives fighting it, enduring horror after horror in the process.

An Echoing Premise with a Fresh Twist

This describes the premise, roughly, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (his best; undeniable). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joe Hill’s recent horror doorstopper, in which a close-knit group call forth the ancient, deeply sinister beast King Sorrow from the Long Dark to help them defeat some baddies. As one might expect, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Celebrating a Authorial Heritage

The author started his career making great efforts to avoid any connection from his well-known dad, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a strong similarity to his father). Yet with this recent release, he leans into it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of his father’s iconic (that classic opening line); a moment that recalls a signature King element (a riddling contest). Throughout this massive book, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Introducing the Central Figures

Returning to the group: most are scholars at the made-up this academic setting in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, bookish and intelligent, deciphering Old English riddles in his free moments; another key figure, affluent, sharp, and inclined to bulldoze obstacles in his path; Donna and Donovan; the attractive Allie herself. Then we have Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but assumes a vital role of their group as they dabble, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Summoning

The protagonist finds himself, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take rare books from his cherished academic collection by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s made to take the library’s most valuable and unsettling title: the logbook of occultist this enigmatic character (condemned “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the cover is crafted from his flesh). Our Scooby gang peruse the diary, discover they could summon what Crane describes as a “proud worm to help Arthur out with his coercion issue – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will undoubtedly remove those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a different victim each year or fall prey to the beast. As Arthur later puts it: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Stylistic Versatility and Creative Breadth

Moving through four decades, the author shifts with seamless grace between genres: as the companions strive to manage the situation they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, choosing undeniably wicked targets to immolate, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we move between suspense to grim fantasy, clandestine torment to affectionate subplot to fright. One particularly memorable shift was to a adventure narrative, far beneath the surface beneath this UK region, a segment tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was wonderfully frightening.

A Detailed Canvas of Dread and Courage

There are trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and internet antagonists, truly terrifying and perfectly brought to life. There are magical swords and betrayals, breath-taking moments of courage and instances of dreadful evil, both human and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is above all a tribute to the human inventiveness, and to love and friendship. “We required a narrative to trust and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the friends sit around the table, getting ready to invoke their dragon to life with the strength of their collective will.

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