I love dark academia, and I was also very intrigued by those six characters and the relationships that tie them together. I found certain aspects of this book more interesting than others. Shockingly I liked the middle of the book the most. There were some weird conversations and this book could have been shorter.

Thanks for the ARC! What an amazing book. I couldn't tell you the last time I read a 275,000 word book, but it's been a while, so I was a little worried when I saw the length of this one, but, nothing to worry about. What an epic modern fairy tale - dragons, magic, trolls, enchanted objects - if a sequel came out tomorrow I would read another 275,000 words.

Tap on the cover of King Sorrow and the dragon will kill…hours of your reading time and it’s well worth it. Joe Hill has a talent for captivating his audience with verbose, descriptive prose and well-developed, memorable characters. The story follows a group of college age friends to adulthood, connected for a lifetime after they make a pact with a demon. It’s a multi-layered story of love, friendship, loyalty, regret, and redemption crossing the lines between reality and fantasy.

King Sorrow is everything I would expect from a prodigious horror fantasy authored by Joe Hill. Highly recommend this to fans of Joe Hill, horror and dark fantasy. Pub Date: Oct 21 2025

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #KingSorrow

I read this out loud to my husband, and while it was rather long for that sort of thing, it was divided up into separate books and "intervals," so it felt more episodic, like watching a TV show or a series of connected movies together. It covers around a 30-year period.

We had read a short story earlier this year called By One, By Two and By Three, by Adrian Ross. This book has a similar plot, about characters summoning an entity to kill someone, only to realize they're locked into an annual contract and have to choose a new victim every year. With a novel of about 850 pages, Hill could really expand on the idea, and the way he structured the book worked well to develop each character and show how they were transformed through the years by this dark deal. They're very different from each other, and a couple develop into truly horrible people (or in one case maybe always was), and Hill did a fantastic job imagining how their lives would go and how years of choosing an annual victim would affect their relationships. Each book built up the tension leading to the death of that year's target (there were time jumps, so it's not a book for each year, which would have gotten old), seeing things through different characters' POVs.

One of my favorite things about the book was how important Robin and Tana were to the story. They could have been just side characters--a victim and a friendly person on a plane--but they both had key roles that I really loved. Hill took the story to some interesting, surprising places, and I was crying as I read the final battle.

Honestly, I could have done without the epilogue. My husband and I disagree on that, but I would have liked the ending more if he had stopped at the end of the last book. It certainly didn't ruin things for me--it was more of a creative choice I disagreed with--and I highly recommend the book. It's a breathtaking ride, with characters who will be hard to forget.

Wow. One of my favorite parts of a good book is character development and oh did this story provide. We are able to follow these characters over a span of about 30 years and I don't think I every once got bored. Dragons, trolls, rare book thievery, and murder doesn't even scratch the surface of all the things that go on in this story but they all flow so well. Joe Hill's imagination provided for a great story that includes elements of fantasy, humor, loss, and twists and turns just to name a few. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a read with a well thought out plot that is highly entertaining and leaves you wanting more after every chapter!

There are few things I like less in novels than dragons. It usually implies a medieval fantasy story with knights and wizards or something like that. Historically I would not even think about reading a book that has dragons in it. Especially a doorstop of almost 900 pages.

But…this is Joe Hill.

So, I made an exception.

And Joe did not disappoint.

l will admit it lost me for a minute there in the caves, but other than that I dug everything about it. The story, the pacing, the characterizations and yes, even the dragon. Definitely not your momma’s dragon. King Sorrow is fierce, sarcastic, funny and definitely dangerous. Some nice easter eggs scattered around this one as well.


4.5 Stars and highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. The honest review is all my own.

“el diablo esta aqui”

"King Sorrow" is Joe Hill's "IT". Both stories are massive tales in which bonded children battle an otherworldy demon across decades. Hill pays homage to King with several character references, quotes, and other tributes to his father's body of work. These tributes gave me the sense that this is a deeply personal story, having been writing it for nine years.

The story introduces the reader to a group of Maine collegiates, of which one member is forced into committing crimes to prevent a tragedy from befalling him. These actions soon bring a cursed book into their possession, and after a mesmerizing series of events, they find themselves locked into a pact with King Sorrow, a demonic dragon with the power to solve some of life's toughest problems. Of course, the kids get far more than they bargained for and are forced into impossible decisions to stay alive.

This tale of morality and resistance is elevated by the nuanced characters, the excellent pacing, and quite a few surprising plot turns. There are truly touching moments, plenty of devastation for the masochists, sly humor, and solid moments of terror. While I wouldn't classify this book as horror - more of a dark urban fantasy suspense - it entertained me from page one through the emotional and satisfying conclusion.

Strongly recommended to fans of all genres of fiction. It's a wild ride that will resonate long after you finish.

Ten years is never too long to wait for a Joe Hill book and this one takes the cake and bakes it.

This book is everything you want from the kind of author Hill is, it's smart, poignant, perfectly paced and engrossing. The characters are multilayered, of various likeability, and the plot is sharp as a tack.

Does it have its weak moments? Sure, but it's not exactly concise and over 900 pages. It isn't a beach read. I had moments of struggle. I believe that this is a perfect addition to my collection of Joe Hill works.

First of all, I am grateful to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. KING SORROW is Joe Hill's first novel in nearly a decade, following his previous epic THE FIREMAN.

KING SORROW is Joe Hill's masterpiece. In nearly 900 pages, Joe Hill crafts a colorful cast of characters, weaves in drama, tension, suspense, and magic--but mostly, he tells a kickass story. It won't be long before the film rights are picked up.
The story follows a group of friends who make a pact with a dragon as a means of removing an enemy/threat. Of course, Dragons are sneaky creatures, and the faustian bargain they forge haunts and changes this friend group as the story unfolds.
The writing is engaging and is perhaps the novel that most closely resembles Stephen King's writing. There are elements of IT, FAIRY TALE, and THE STAND in this massive tome. While there was some minor pacing issues in the middle of the book, there are significant chunks that are binge-worthy. The twists and turns and creativity make this one both exciting and worth the wait! I really cannot recommend this one highly enough. If you like dark fantasy and horror with heart, pick-up KING SORROW this October.
While THE FIREMAN marked Joe Hill's first novel to reach #1 on the New York Times Best-sellers list....I believe KING SORROW is going to be the novel to stay there for more than a week. It's brilliant and I'm happy for him. As a fan, I am grateful and I only pray we don't need another 10 years before his next!

I didn't realize that King Sorrow was the first book published by Joe Hill since the Fireman, a decade ago. I remember reading that book, as well as NOS4A2 previously, so when this title was listed on NetGalley for review I asked to be a reviewer. I want to thank NetGalley, Joe Hill, and the publisher William Morrow for the opportunity to review this work. I attest it is my own unbiased review.

King Sorrow follows the lives of a group of college-age young adults who are close friends and live in the state of Maine. Arthur Oakes is the lead protagonist at the start of the book. Arthur's mother is in prison for accidentally shooting a police officer. Arthur works in the library at fictional Rickham College, and is bullied and blackmailed into stealing rare books for a pair of drug junkies whose own mother is in the same prison as Arthur's mother and threatens to have her killed.

Arthur eventually shares his problems with his group of friends, and together they work to summon an evil dragon identified in one of the rare books Arthur steals to end the threat to their friend. The dragon, known as King Sorrow, once unleased will kill someone selected by the group every year at Easter. The friends conspire to have King Sorrow take out Arthur's blackmailers, and only later realize they have unleashed a powerful, devastating force that can kill hundreds of others as collateral damage. The story shows the long-term impacts of each member of the group responsible for King Sorrow's return, many with horrible outcomes.

As they grow into adulthood, Arthur realizes that King Sorrow must be stopped, but one of the friends does not agree. The path turns darker as Arthur tries to find a solution and a way to stop King Sorrow from more killing.

King Sorrow is a story that involves fantasy and a great deal of action and suspense. The book is quite long at 900 pages, and probably could be a little shorter. The length is my only criticism of the book; aside from that it is very good. I give it 4.35 stars rounded down to 4 stars.

This was a fabulous story!! In the tradition of both his own and his father's storytelling style, Hill has done an incredible job weaving together horror, mystery, thriller, coming of age, and revenge elements into a whole that is so much more complex than the sum of its parts. I loved everything about this one - including its length, which allowed him to really dive into the characters' motivations, personalities, and lives. The world building was as unique and magical as in any of his novels to date.

I know this review doesn't say a lot, detail-wise. But there's not much you can say without giving things away - and without writing a novel of your own, because there's so much going on in this book. You really have to experience it for yourself. Don't be intimidated by the length - the writing style is easy and very engaging and the pages will fly by! I'd give it 6 stars if I could...

Ho. Ly. Shit.

I did not expect a Joe Hill book to destroy me like this. This lives among the best works of his entire family. It's horrifying, it's gripping, it's WEIRD, it's harrowing and emotionally devastating. I'm not sure there's going to be a better book this year? It's like BOOK OF LOVE if BOOK OF LOVE had dragons.

Just wow. I love Joe Hill and have been a fan for a couple years now. Heart-shaped Box is a masterpiece of epic proportions and this, his newest novel, does not disappoint. While following the lives of a group of people that have undeniably bitten off more than they can chew, I feel like I have lived this series of tragic events right along with them. Arthur finds himself in all kinds of trouble when he vistis his mother at the prison where she is doing time for an accidental murder. More trouble than is reasonable, but he messed with some bad people, and not on purpose. Before long, he's being blackmailed to protect his mother and is sent into a whirlwind of difficult decisions. But he has friends, loyal friends, and they're willing to do an awful lot to help Arthur shake the bad people that have him squirming. So, they bring in some worse than bad people and that is King Sorrow.
this book is crafted beautifully with the sick and twisted turns of a writer that knows what he's doing. I was completely obsessed with finding out what happened next and binge read a good deal of it. I loved it so much.

In full disclosure, I have read every Joe Hill book. I am what you would call "a big Joe Hill fan." That being said, this was worth the wait! Has it really been 10 years since his last novel, The Fireman?

King Sorrow is a beast of a novel -- occult thriller, horror, fantasy, coming-of-age, all woven together in such a way that I hardly noticed that it was 900 pages long.

Arthur Oakes is an outsider who has found refuge among his fellow misfit students at Rackham College in the chilly Northeast. When he unwittingly falls into a bad situation with the local criminal element, his friends band together -- to bend reality, to create ritual, to call on King Sorrow. Things go pear shaped from there in a slow burn, unwinding over time. This is an epic, in the traditional sense of the word. Decades pass as we follow the lives of our unlikely "hero" and his friends, suffering, or enjoying the consequences of the force they've brought into the world. And what a force it is.

Highly recommend.

Gripping, creepy, menacing and fantastic! Joe Hill mentions in his note at the end of the book that it has been 10 years since he wrote his previous book. I believe readers of this book, will be crossing their fingers and perhaps even their toes, hoping that we don't have to wait another 10 years for the next book. Joe Hill perfectly blended fantasy, horror, some romance, and a quest in King Sorrow. Hmm, I wonder where he got the idea to use King in the title? He's got the chops kid; he's got the chops. Joe Hill once again proving that he can write, and he can write with great imagination, creativity, and skill!

The gist of this book is that six friends get in way over their heads (and then some) when they dabble in the occult to help a friend and perform a ritual which brings forth King Sorrow. He is a menacing, diabolical and evil dragon that is happy to give if he gets in return. What he wants is simple - a human sacrifice. But nothing is simple, and everything comes with a steep price.

I enjoyed how this book looks at human nature showing the good, the bad and the in-between. The characters are flawed, they are damaged, they are friends, they feel love, they long for what or who they can't have, they experience greed, they feel loss, they are strong, they are weak, and so many other things that all people feel at various points in their life. Throw in an evil obligation to a being who takes and takes greedily. Who makes them choose who dies and doesn't care what it costs them or others.

This was a BIG and LONG book which follows the characters through many stages of their lives. It is epic in length and scope. As they change, grow, and mature, so did my thoughts and opinions on them. This book had me rooting for most, booing and hissing at some, feeling pain for others, and crossing my fingers and holding my breath on more than one occasion.

There is something about friendship and how it changes and grows. There is also something about books which puts friends through the ringer that appeals to me. Joe Hill puts his characters through more than the ringer in King Sorrow. This book is horrific in a wonderful way. He nails the creepy, sinister, and twisted character of King Sorrow. He inserts tension, dread, and unease between the pages so that those elements jump from the pages when the book is opened. He also nails relationships, friendships, and love.

My one issue with this book is the length. On one level I get it. This book needs to be long to show the effect of how making such a deal has on each individual. On another level, it did feel long at times. Other than that, one issue, I was over the moon to read another book by Joe Hill.

Wonderfully written, gripping, horrific, dark, and a wild ride. Be sure to read the author's note at the end of the book.

I don't know if I'm as enamored with Joe Hill's writing as I was a decade ago; I think (and I know this is unfair to say) it's because he's sounding more and more like his father. I know Joe Hill is not that much older than me, but somehow, his characters and dialogue all have a "How do you do, fellow kids?" energy that had me cringing out of my skin in certain scenes. King Sorrow follows Arthur Oakes and his friends, Donna, Van, Allie, Collin, and Gwen, at Rackham College in Maine as they summon a dragon (just a casual, totally logical plan) to free Arthur from local drug dealers forcing him to steal rare books. At Colin grandfather's estatewhere the friends often gather, surrounded by the old man's extensive occult collection, they call forth King Sorrow to do their bidding- and of course, deals with dragons being what they are it becomes an uncontrollable nightmare. The narrative feels like several stories in one, which might explain the nearly 900-page length. I didn't have any problem with the length in theory, but found myself falling in and out of the story as it shifted between different time periods and character perspectives. For all its supernatural elements, the book is ultimately about the weight of terrible choices and how they ripple through decades of these friends' lives. Despite my frustrations with the dialogue and structure, I still cried like a baby at several points. Hill's true gift is creating characters you care deeply for and friendships that feel genuine and earned. No matter how dorky their language/exchanges sometimes became, I loved these characters and felt invested in their struggles with guilt, responsibility, and the consequences of their choices.

Great job once again Joe Hill. I’ve read all of his books and this one checks all the boxes. I loved the setting as well. A dark academia book with a lot of twists that takes the genre to another level.

Wow, Joe Hill has done it again.His latest, King Sorrow, comes out this fall. His fans will love this one!!

-😱categorized as thriller/horror but there is some fantasy in it. Mentions of dragons, trolls, and giants which is executed very well for it being a thriller/horror.
-immediately gets to the plot ☺️
-mostly short chapters 😍 but the longer ones have subsections.
-second person🗣️
-little to No fill ins 😊. All was necessary for character development in my humble opinion.
-Strong, realistic young adult coming-of-age themes, exploring the complexities of adolescence. (identity, social struggles, sense of belonging and sense of morality)
-the twist!!! So good!
-graphic scenes
-emotional rollercoaster. I was scared shitless some scenes and crying others
“No one needed a magic wardrobe that opened into Narnia if they had a library card; if you had a library card, you had a thousand magic wardrobes to choose from, ten thousand. That was how Arthur saw it. A library card was as good as a sword drawn from a stone.”

Thank you William Morrow books for my E- ARC on NetGalley for my honest review.

I didn't think I could love Joe Hill any more than I already do, however after reading this novel, I am hopelessly enamored with his writing. Dragons, drugs, and amazing friends make this book disturbingly difficult to put down. His character development is fabulous and the pacing on point. Being a huge fan of his father (Stephen), I can see where the talent comes from. I was laughing and freaking out at the same time. Summoning a dragon? I figured it would be a flop, and it sort of was, given that they have to feed it a human every year. An absolutely solid fabulous book!