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!

WHAT A RIDE! Joe Hill never disappoints. This novel had so many twists and bumps. It took a bit to get going, but once it did- it went DAYTONA 500 to the finish line. The characters were a fun mix of personality that we have plenty of time to get to know. I devoured this in a matter of days. Can't wait to have a hard copy to read again!

“King Sorrow” is a 900-page mystery / occult thriller set in coastal Maine during modern times. Even though it's due to be published around Halloween, it reads like a summer blockbuster.

Six college-age friends call forth a huge and vicious dragon from another dimension to rid themselves of two brutal drug dealers extorting one of their number to steal for them. In exchange, for the rest of their lives, the six will have to choose someone to be sacrificed to the dragon each Easter Day. The people they choose are the quintessence of evil, or so some of them believe. But murder is murder, and others of the six come to regret their bargain and want, most desperately, to eliminate the dragon. The question is: how?

I’d never before read a novel by Joe Hill. He’s a very talented writer who creates characters and relationships readers can care about, readily imaginable settings, absorbing scenes of action and adventure, not to mention some highly fantastical elements, including dragons, trolls, various magical items, sorcery, and telepathy.

Of course, Mr. King is the son of authors Stephen King and Tabatha King. I’ve read many of Mr. King’s novels. While Mr. Hill’s work bears some similarity to Mr. King's, as one might expect, I thought "King Sorrow" wholly original and the product of a very rich imagination. Readers who are fans of Stephen King will most probably find much to enjoy in Mr. Hill’s latest offering.

I did have a little trouble with the length. There were times when, for me, the story began to drag. But that may just be me. Those looking for a big, juicy saga to sink their teeth into may find “King Sorrow” right up their alley.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Joe Hill, and publisher William Morrow for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest and independent opinion.

Finally finished this Behemoth. It took me about a week, but I didn't read anything else during either. I didn't want to.
This book was fantastic. So many genres thrown together but it worked! Joe Hill is following in his dad's footsteps but has a talent of his own that no one can touch. To me, he is more of a dark fantasy writer and does amazing in that area. I just wish he would write more books and less comics, because I don't do comics lol.
High praise for this amazing adventure of a book. You will be locked away in a mysterious world that you won't want to leave.

First of all, I love Joe Hill's stuff.

Great concept here, but simply....it's just too long. The pacing is a little bit erratic and the story doesn't justify its page count.

Hill, as usual, does good character work though.

Joe Hill never disappoints. I honored and totally excited when I saw i was approved to read an early copy of a Joe Hill book! I devoured this one! The world he built is amazing. I love the fantasy edge to this one. Character development as always is superb. This one sticks with you after the last page. Amazing!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC. Joe Hill is one of my favorites, and this book did not disappoint. My only complaint was how long the book was. I think it could have been about 200-300 pages less.

Joe Hill’s “King Sorrow,” blends fantasy with a sharp edge of reality, creating a world where desperate choices and supernatural forces collide. While fantasy isn’t my usual go-to, I was drawn in by the novel’s premise: a group of friends banding together when one of their own is in trouble, summoning a dragon to do their bidding—only to realize they may have unleashed something far beyond their control.

The book plays with the boundaries between reality and another world, twisting them together in ways that are both fascinating and unsettling. At its heart, it’s about friendship and the weight of choices. The friends must decide whether to appease King Sorrow—the formidable dragon—or risk becoming his next meal. The library plays a key role, its books holding the knowledge (and perhaps the warnings) they need, though whether they heed them is another matter. Hill’s descriptions of the books and their secrets give the story a sense of depth, making the written word feel as dangerous as any beast.

However, King Sorrow is undeniably wordy. Hill’s prose, while vivid, sometimes drifts into long-winded descriptions that slow the momentum. I found myself losing focus in certain passages, though the stakes of the story pulled me back in.

Overall, this is a novel about power, consequence, and the fine line between salvation and destruction. While it leans more into fantasy than my usual horror tastes, its dark themes and eerie tension kept me engaged—even when I occasionally felt lost in the prose.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would love a book about a dragon. However, Joe Hill, as always, has knocked it out of the park with this utterly terrifying, tragic, yet beautiful tale.

The thing about a book as large as this is that when the last page is turned, I felt like I was saying goodbye to an old friend. These characters were brought to life so vividly with the descriptive prose of an undoubtedly talented hand. Whether they were beautiful in soul or insidious to the core, I became so entirely invested in their lives. This story tore at my heart repeatedly, never letting up. It was intense, tragic, scary, and brutal. Although it came close to a thousand pages, it was not once lacking or dull. There was not one single page that didn't hold my interest to the highest degree. I didn't want this to end, and this is one of those rare books that I will find myself returning to in the future just to experience this journey again. If you have yet to give this author a try, do yourself a favor and go for it. He is the only author that I can honestly say I have yet to read one that wasn't anything less than amazing. Five perfect stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley for the chance to read King Sorrow by Joe Hill. The books setting mixing the real world with mythology was well done. The characters were believable and mostly likeable. Overall i found it to be an Excellent addition to Joe Hill's book collection. The book follows Arthur Oakes And a group of friends from teens to adulthood And all the happiness, heartache, and trials that stem from a single choice, summoning a dragon for help. While freeing them of their current troubles, King Sorrow, binds them to a lifetime of new troubles that tests the bonds that brought them together. All hail the King.

4.5*

I was not expecting a horror/fantasy! This was a lengthy book and it was really good! I love dragons

896 pages

5 stars

Joe Hill has penned a thriller epic ! This is in the category of “be careful what you wish for.”

A group of friends - decidedly unique friends - choose to summon an ancient dragon to aid their compadre in getting out of a sticky situation. Imagine when their alcohol and drug-induced shenanigans come true. Oh my ! The dragon, named “King Sorrow,” demands a sacrifice yearly on Easter. His “terms” for the sacrifice are strict and final. King Sorrow takes no prisoners.

Years later the group of friends begin to ponder how to send the King away. Or, eliminate him. Any ideas ?

This is a great book. It blends both mythology and fantastical images of the supernatural. There is great drama, tension and a little gore. (Not too much. I loved the bad guy getting on the plane.) Mr. Hill has a magical (appropriate) way with words. I am, and will continue to be an avid reader of his.

I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for forwarding this book to me so that I may read, enjoy and review it. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Joe Hill’s King Sorrow plunges readers into a dark realm of occult terror. In this nearly 900-page epic, a group of misfits accidentally conjures an ancient, malevolent dragon, setting off a curse that demands a yearly human sacrifice. The narrative deftly blurs the lines between myth and nightmare, with every twist amplifying the sense of impending doom.

The true horror lies in the brutal consequences of one reckless act—ancient forces wreak havoc as dark magic exacts an unyielding price. Hill’s relentless tale of forbidden rituals and supernatural pacts serves as a stark reminder that some bargains with the unknown carry a cost far greater than anyone could imagine.

I’m a huge Joe Hill fan. I have to admit that before diving into this review. I have all his novels. I’ve been looking forward to King Sorrow since I first heard of it. A new Joe Hill novel about a dragon?! Sign me up! I never thought in a million years I’d get an early copy of the book from Net Galley and get to read/review it before release. Yet, here we are. Here’s my review:

In King Sorrow by Joe Hill, Arthur is in trouble. He has to steal some books for some really bad people or they’ll hurt his mother. And then he and his friends have an idea: they’ll summon a dragon to take care of the bad people. It works but they get more than they bargained for: this dragon wants a new sacrifice every Easter or else Arthur and his friends will be on the menu. GULP

The above synopsis barely scratches the surface of King Sorrow. It introduces you to Arthur and the dragon and the starting problem but there is so much more to this book. King Sorrow is a huge book! Its 896 pages long. I’m pretty sure its Joe Hill’s biggest book yet. It contains five “books”, some interludes, and an epilogue. You’ll meet Arthur, Gwen, Donna, Allie, Colin, Van, Robin, Tana, and more. Things start with a Dragon and get much more complicated as they progress with lots of twists and turns. I won’t spoil any of the big surprises for you. There are some really jaw-dropping things in this book though.

Joe Hill makes you care about all the characters, especially Arthur and Gwen, and he takes his time to show you their world. The descriptions are really good in this book. The dialogue is killer. This is absolutely Joe Hill at his best.

King Sorrow is a fantastic book. I had a hard time putting this one down. And I have to say that I’m very satisfied with the book’s ending too. I definitely love this book and I’m pretty sure I’ll get a physical copy of this one sometime in my future. I have all his other novels after all.

This a fantastic novel. Its a horror novel, but it has fantasy, suspense, and a bit of mystery to it too. All the best novels are more than one thing. Joe Hill has a wonderful book here. I highly recommend it.

You’ll want to pick this book up when it releases on October 21st, 2025. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital copy of the book for this review.