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A group of six quirky but doughty kids encounter the trail of a vast and dreadful otherworldly darkness that has infiltrated our realm from the deepest abyss of oblivion. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes battling it, experiencing terror upon terror in the struggle.

A Resonant Storyline with a Fresh Approach

This describes the premise, in essence, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (his best; no debate). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest chilling tome, in which a close-knit group invoke the ancient, infinitely malicious dragon the Dragon King from the Abyssal Void to help them defeat some baddies. As one might expect, their arcane ceremony backfires.

Embracing a Literary Legacy

Joseph Hillström King launched his profession making great efforts to distance himself 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 uncanny likeness to his parent). Yet with this recent release, he leans into it. Several quotes that intentionally mirror some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a incident that evokes a signature King element (a game of puzzles). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his family connection, and the audience revels alongside.

Meet the Protagonists

Back to those friends: five of them are pupils at the fictional the esteemed institution in the New England state. There’s Arthur, bookish and gifted, cracking Old English riddles in his free moments; the character Colin, affluent, sharp, and prone to trampling those who oppose him; Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie herself. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but emerges as crucial of their band as they toy, half believing, somewhat doubtful, in arcane arts.

The Pivotal Summoning

Our hero becomes, for reasons we don’t need to go into, forced into stealing rare books from his cherished academic collection by a set of regional villains. This devastates his scholarly soul, especially when he’s made to take the institution’s prized and chilling publication: the journal of occultist Enoch Crane (put to death “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the binding is fashioned from his hide). The intrepid group read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a clever snake to assist Arthur with his coercion issue – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. The dragon will indeed rid them of those troublesome local drug dealers, but they are required to pick a different victim every twelve months or become his victim themselves. As our protagonist states: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is more dragons.”

Stylistic Versatility and Inventive Breadth

Covering a generation, the author shifts with natural fluency through various literary forms: as the companions endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to sacrifice, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we go from thriller to dark fantasy, clandestine torment to affectionate subplot to horror. A standout transition was to a heroic journey, far beneath the surface below Cornwall, a section sprinkled with the fantasy maestro that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Tapestry of Fear and Optimism

The novel features trolls – those living under bridges and internet antagonists, properly scary and superbly depicted. The story includes mystic weapons and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of courage and instances of dreadful evil, both earthly and extraterrestrial. It stands as a masterpiece: a chilling book that is primarily a tribute to the creative spirit, 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 the wealthy student as the companions gather at the table, getting ready to invoke their beast into being with the force of their minds.

As Hill puts it in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Do not overlook this.