The Dragon's Curse by Joe Hill Review – A Epic Supernatural Epic Is a Tour de Force

Six quirky but resilient youngsters fall into the path of a colossal and terrible supernatural evil that has invaded our existence from the deepest abyss of shadow. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes battling it, enduring terror upon terror in the ordeal.

A Resonant Premise with a Fresh Spin

This describes the premise, roughly, of the master of horror’s novel It (his best; no arguments). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest horror doorstopper, in which six friends summon the primordial, utterly malevolent serpent the Dragon King from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some baddies. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Celebrating a Authorial Lineage

Joe Hill started his career making great efforts to remain separate from his well-known dad, publishing under the pen name he continues to employ and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a uncanny likeness to his parent). But in this latest novel, he embraces it. Certain passages that deliberately echo some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a incident that brings to mind a King plot point (a game of puzzles). In this whopper of a novel, Hill is delighting in his heritage, and we delight along with him.

The Cast of the Main Characters

Back to those friends: most are students at the made-up this academic setting in Maine. There’s 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 remains outside their academic circle, but emerges as crucial of their circle as they dabble, half believing, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Pivotal Summoning

Our hero becomes, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take rare books from his beloved college library by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and unsettling work: the journal of practitioner this enigmatic character (condemned “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). These young investigators read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what the occultist details as a armored demon” to aid our hero with his extortion dilemma – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. This ancient entity will undoubtedly remove those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they are required to pick a different victim every twelve months or become his victim themselves. In the character’s own words: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is more dragons.”

Stylistic Dexterity and Inventive Scope

Moving through four decades, the author shifts with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the friends endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, picking people who are obviously evil to offer up, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we go from suspense to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to fright. A standout transition was to a quest story, far beneath the surface below Cornwall, a part sprinkled with the Lord of the Rings author that was gloriously terrifying.

A Detailed Mosaic of Fear and Hope

There are trolls – those living under bridges and online ones, properly scary and perfectly brought to life. We see enchanted blades and treacheries, breath-taking moments of valor and instances of terrible wickedness, both human and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a horror novel that is chiefly a ode to the creative spirit, 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 this character as the friends gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their dragon into existence with the strength of their collective will.

According to Joe Hill in his opening statement: “Here be dragons”. Do not overlook this.