King Sorrow (by Joe Hill)
Joe Hill is easily one of my favorite authors. I’ve been a fan of his since he published Heart-Shaped Box. I’ll never forget the way that book caught my eye in the bookstore—I had to buy it. That was before I knew his true identity is Joseph Hillstrom King, the son of Stephen King. Once his identity was revealed, I dared to tell my husband that I thought he was a better writer than his dad. I next read 20th Century Ghosts, and then devoured every novel and short story he’s published since. Even though I don’t ordinarily read comics or graphic novels, I am such a dedicated admirer that I read all six volumes of the Locke & Key series. It was good!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly a decade since I last read his last full-length novel, The Fireman. I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of King Sorrow, and it was absolutely worth the wait! This book is an excellent doorstopper-sized read, clocking in at almost 900 pages. Going into it, I had limited knowledge beyond the book description and Joe’s promotional appearance on CBS Saturday Morning. During his TV interview, Joe shared his writing philosophy: he wants his stories to haunt readers’ dreams and disrupt their work the next morning. And boy, did he deliver! I had a vivid nightmare about King Sorrow right after starting it, so I suppose Joe accomplished his goal! Fortunately, I’m retired, so I didn’t have to worry about facing a day at work the next morning. If you’re interested, I’ve included the TV interview below for your viewing pleasure.
Arthur Oakes, a student at Rackham College in Maine, finds solace in studying ancient languages within the college’s serene library. However, his peaceful student life takes a dramatic turn when a local drug dealer and her boyfriend blackmail him into stealing rare books from the library. In a desperate attempt to escape his predicament, Arthur and his friends summon the dragon King Sorrow from a realm known as the Long Dark. This Faustian bargain unleashes terrifying consequences that will test their resolve and alter their lives forever.
I thoroughly enjoyed King Sorrow! I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this story and its characters. Initially, I was unsure how the dragon character would fit into a story about the theft of rare books, but it turned out to be a fascinating character. I also appreciated the human characters and how their friendships evolved over the decades. Joe is an incredibly imaginative storyteller who had me on the edge of my seat, laughing, shocked, saddened, and warmed by the transformative acts of kindness. I also enjoyed the subtle humor, nostalgic references to musicians, significant historical events, and consumer products that were relevant to each decade. All the nods to his dad’s works were truly special.
King Sorrow doesn’t easily fit into a single genre. While it has fantasy elements, it’s much more than that, which makes it a unique and creative read.
There were a few moments when the story seemed to drag a bit, but it quickly regained its momentum. The final 100 pages or so were mesmerizing, and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished.
I purchased my signed first edition copy of King Sorrow from Water Street Bookstore, Joe’s hometown independent bookstore in Exeter, New Hampshire. I follow his Escape Hatch newsletter and was notified when the book was available for preorder. I wrote a Biblio Boutique post about receiving my book, and you can read that here.
You’re welcome to check out my reviews for Joe Hill’s previous short stories, which are linked below. I’ve also had the privilege of meeting Joe twice during his previous book tours, and I’ve linked my Author Events blog posts as well.
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