The Dragon's Curse by Joseph Hillstrom King Analysis – An Epic Supernatural Epic Delivers Masterpiece-Level Thrills

Six unlikely but doughty youngsters fall into the trail of a colossal and terrible supernatural evil that has invaded our existence from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They have no choice but to wage a lifelong battle battling it, experiencing horror after horror in the struggle.

A Resonant Plot with a Distinctive Spin

This is the plot, broadly speaking, of the master of horror’s novel It (arguably his finest; undeniable). It parallels of King’s son Joseph Hillstrom King’s new massive horror novel, in which a band of six summon the ancient, infinitely malicious dragon the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Acknowledging a Literary Lineage

The author launched his profession going to great lengths to avoid any connection from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and avoiding meeting his agent (he possesses a striking resemblance to his dad). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. There are lines that deliberately echo some of King’s most famous (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a scene that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a game of puzzles). In this epic story, Hill is delighting in his heritage, and readers share in the joy.

Introducing the Main Characters

Focusing on the companions: the majority are pupils at the made-up the esteemed institution in the New England state. We have Arthur, studious and gifted, solving Old English riddles in his free moments; the character Colin, affluent, astute, 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 assumes a vital role of their circle as they experiment, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ceremony

Our hero becomes, for reasons we don’t need to go into, forced into stealing prized manuscripts from his beloved college library by a group of neighborhood thugs. This devastates his scholarly soul, especially when he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and disturbing work: the diary of practitioner Enoch Crane (put to death “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). These young investigators peruse the diary, realize they are able to call forth what the occultist details as a “arrogant beast to assist Arthur with his coercion issue – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they are required to pick a different victim each year or become his victim themselves. In the character’s own words: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Versatility and Creative Scope

Moving through four decades, Joe Hill transitions with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the friends endeavor to address the situation they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to sacrifice, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we move between page-turner to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to romance to horror. One particularly memorable shift was to a quest story, within the subterranean depths beneath this UK region, a segment infused with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

A Detailed Canvas of Horror and Hope

There are trolls – the classic variety and internet antagonists, properly scary and expertly realized. We see enchanted blades and betrayals, pulse-pounding sequences of valor and scenes of appalling malevolence, both earthly and supernatural. This is a remarkable achievement: a frightening tale that is above all a ode to the creative spirit, and to devotion and companionship. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says this character as the allies gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their beast into being with the force of their minds.

According to Joe Hill in his epigraph: “Here be dragons”. Don’t miss them.