Joe Hill's latest novel, King Sorrow, is a behemoth of a horror epic that will leave readers breathless and yearning for more. This sprawling tale follows six students at Rackham College in Maine who unwittingly summon the ancient, infinitely malevolent dragon King Sorrow from the Long Dark to aid them in defeating some nefarious villains.
The plot, while not entirely original, is reminiscent of Stephen King's iconic novel It, albeit with a significant twist. The students' supernatural ritual backfires, unleashing a world of terror upon themselves as they must spend their lives battling the dragon and its myriad horrors.
In a clever move, Hill leans into his familial connection to King, incorporating nods to his father's most famous works throughout the narrative. This deliberate echoism is both delightful and effective in setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable reading experience.
At its core, King Sorrow is a paean to the power of imagination and love. The characters are multidimensional and relatable, with each student bringing their unique personalities to the table as they navigate the increasingly dire situation. From the bookish Arthur to the beautiful Allie, no one is immune to the horrors that unfold.
Hill's masterful handling of genre is a highlight of this novel. He effortlessly shifts between thriller, dark fantasy, black-ops torture, and romance, keeping readers on their toes as the stakes escalate. The author's skill in conjuring trolls – both physical and online – and his creative deployment of magical swords add to the sense of tension and dread.
Ultimately, King Sorrow is a tour de force that will leave even the most seasoned horror fans reeling. It's a testament to Hill's writing prowess and his ability to craft a story that is both terrifying and ultimately redemptive. As the students' plight so poignantly illustrates: "You sow dragon's teeth, all you get is more dragons."
The plot, while not entirely original, is reminiscent of Stephen King's iconic novel It, albeit with a significant twist. The students' supernatural ritual backfires, unleashing a world of terror upon themselves as they must spend their lives battling the dragon and its myriad horrors.
In a clever move, Hill leans into his familial connection to King, incorporating nods to his father's most famous works throughout the narrative. This deliberate echoism is both delightful and effective in setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable reading experience.
At its core, King Sorrow is a paean to the power of imagination and love. The characters are multidimensional and relatable, with each student bringing their unique personalities to the table as they navigate the increasingly dire situation. From the bookish Arthur to the beautiful Allie, no one is immune to the horrors that unfold.
Hill's masterful handling of genre is a highlight of this novel. He effortlessly shifts between thriller, dark fantasy, black-ops torture, and romance, keeping readers on their toes as the stakes escalate. The author's skill in conjuring trolls – both physical and online – and his creative deployment of magical swords add to the sense of tension and dread.
Ultimately, King Sorrow is a tour de force that will leave even the most seasoned horror fans reeling. It's a testament to Hill's writing prowess and his ability to craft a story that is both terrifying and ultimately redemptive. As the students' plight so poignantly illustrates: "You sow dragon's teeth, all you get is more dragons."
I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda stoked to dive into Joe Hill's King Sorrow 
. The idea of a group of college kids summoning an ancient evil and having to deal with the consequences? Sounds like a horror movie dream come true 
! But at the same time, I was also thinking, "Uh-oh, this sounds like we're in for some serious trauma vibes 
." And honestly, Hill delivers on that front – the stakes are high, the tension is palpable, and those characters... *sigh*... they're all so human 
. 
Those Easter eggs had me smiling like a goofball 
. And can I just say how impressive Hill's handling of genre is? The book's got it all: thriller, dark fantasy, romance, torture... what more could you want? 
Not that I'm saying I'd want to be in those situations (eww, no thanks 
) but, yeah. King Sorrow's a wild ride and if you're a fan of horror, you're gonna devour this book in one sitting 
. Just don't say I didn't warn you when the dragons come for ya... 
I'm loving this new horror novel by Joe Hill, King Sorrow is SO not for the faint of heart 
it's like he took every scary thing and mashed them together into one epic tale. I mean, I've read some intense stuff before but this one's on a whole other level 
the author's got some serious skills when it comes to crafting tension and suspense. I'm already imagining what I'd be doing if I were one of the students stuck in that nightmare... 
like they shoulda known better than to mess with somethin they don't understand. and the twists? not that original, sounds like something steve king wrote 
all good horror is about relatable characters gettin torched or eaten alive 
. And yeah, the nod to Stephen King's It is definitely there, but is it really original? 
Still, I'm curious about the book now...the idea of these students summoning a malevolent dragon and having to deal with its aftermath sounds like a wild ride 
.
it's 2025, like come on! anyway, back to king sorrow... i've already read it, btw 
, and while i agree that joe hill is a master of his craft, i think the plot was a bit predictable. also, can someone please explain to me why we're still using this outdated comment system? 
. hill's nod to his dad's works is so cool, it feels like he's speaking straight to my heart 
. but seriously, what's with all the thrillers and dark fantasy novels coming out lately? makes me wonder if we're living in a world where horror is just our default setting 
. anyway, i'm totally down for diving into king sorrow and finding out if it lives up to the hype 
.
They're so WELL-DEVELOPED and RELATABLE, I couldn't help but invest in their lives and fears as they navigate this apocalyptic nightmare 
. The way he weaves together thriller, dark fantasy, and romance is pure genius - I was totally invested in those six students' lives by the end of it 
. I need more Joe Hill in my life ASAP!
it feels like you're reading a love letter to horror literature 
and allie's got her own demons too... but what really gets me is how hill handles genre - it's like he seamlessly weaves together thriller, fantasy, black ops torture, and romance 