One of today’s most compelling horror writers, Joe Hill, has delivered a monumental new novel just in time for Halloween. King Sorrow, his fifth novel, arrives this week on October 21st. This epic 896-page hardcover, which is Hill’s longest work to date, tells a gripping horror-fantasy tale. It follows a group of college friends who inadvertently summon a terrifying dragon. Hill is widely recognized for his acclaimed works like Locke & Key, The Black Phone, and NOS4A2, and for carrying on his father Stephen King’s legacy in the horror genre.
King Sorrow is also available in ebook and audiobook formats. For those who enjoy immersive listening experiences, the audiobook features an ensemble cast of talented performers. Various subscription services often offer promotional deals for new members, providing credits that can be used towards new releases.
Fans have eagerly awaited King Sorrow since Hill’s last novel, The Fireman, was released in 2016. This 896-page tome, his longest novel to date, unfolds at the fictional Rackham College in Maine.
The story centers on Arthur Oakes, a book-loving college student blackmailed into stealing rare books. Desperate, Arthur and his friends attempt to summon a dragon to deal with the drug dealer coercing him. Their ritual involves an ancient journal bound in human skin – a choice that, predictably, unleashes a malevolent entity. The friends soon discover they must choose one among them for an annual sacrifice, or all will perish.
20th Century Ghosts: A Story Collection (20th Anniversary Edition)
Joe Hill’s acclaimed debut short story collection, 20th Century Ghosts, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special paperback edition. This collection notably includes “The Black Phone,” the short story adapted into a popular Blumhouse horror film starring Ethan Hawke. With Black Phone 2 recently in theaters, now is the perfect time to delve into the original story and 14 other chilling tales.
The 336-page Anniversary Edition boasts a ghoulish cover, featuring misty blue and magenta artwork, complete with unique stained page edges adorned with violet, blue, magenta swirls, and neon pink insects. This edition also includes a new afterword by Hill and an introduction by author Christopher Golden.
Beyond “The Black Phone,” the collection offers remarkable stories such as “Abraham’s Boys,” a compelling follow-up to Dracula; a Kafka-esque narrative about a boy transforming into a giant insect; and “Pop Art,” a poignant tale of friendship between a troubled boy and a boy made of inflatable plastic.
First released in 2005 with a limited print run, 20th Century Ghosts achieved significant critical acclaim, earning both the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Awards. At the time of its publication, Joe Hill’s connection to his father, Stephen King, was unknown to the public, a fact he revealed in 2007 while promoting his debut novel, Heart-Shaped Box.
This 336-page collection features 15 stories, an introduction by Christopher Golden, and a new afterword by the author.
As noted, Joe Hill is the eldest son of the legendary horror author Stephen King. The father-son duo has collaborated on various projects, including two stories found in Hill’s 2019 short story collection, Full Throttle.
Catch Up on Joe Hill’s Novels and Collections
Joe Hill’s Novels
All four of Joe Hill’s previous novels have been bestsellers and several have won awards. His 2007 debut novel Heart-Shaped Box won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. His 2010 novel Horns was adapted into a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe in 2014. NOS4A2 (pronounced Nosferatu) was published in 2013 and later adapted into a two-season television series by AMC. The 2016 novel The Fireman is a post-apocalyptic novel about a deadly fungus that is definitely worth reading if you enjoyed The Stand.
- Heart-Shaped Box (2007)
- Paperback
- Mass Market Paperback
- Hardcover
- Horns (2010)
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- NOS4A2 (2013)
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- The Fireman (2016)
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- King Sorrow (2025)
- Hardcover
Short Story and Novella Collections
Along with 20th Century Ghosts, Hill has published two additional collections of shorter fiction. The 2017 collection Strange Weather features four novellas (short novels), and the 2019 collection Full Throttle was Hill’s most recent book-length prose project before King Sorrow. 20th Century Ghosts actually has four paperback editions because of movie tie-in versions. The edition with Black Phone 2 cover art is actually more expensive than the Anniversary Edition.
- 20th Century Ghosts (2005)
- 20th Anniversary Paperback
- Black Phone 2 Tie-in Edition
- Black Phone Tie-in Edition
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- Strange Weather: Four Short Novels (2017)
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- Full Throttle (2019)
- Paperback
- Hardcover
Joe Hill’s Locke & Key series and other comics
Joe Hill has also had a prolific career in comic books. Most notably, Hill co-created Locke & Key with illustrator Gabriel Rodriguez. The duo collaborated on 37 issues of the supernatural fantasy series from 2008-2013. Netflix adapted the comic into an original series that ran for three seasons from 2020-2022.
Locke & Key is part of Kindle Unlimited libraries, and new subscribers often receive a free first month. For those who prefer physical comic books and graphic novels, numerous options are available due to the immense popularity of the IDW series.
Locke & Key: Keyhouse Compendium (Hardcover)
Released in 2021 a few months before Locke & Key Season 2 streamed on Netflix, the hardcover Keyhouse Compendium is a 976-page omnibus collecting all six volumes in the mainline series.
There’s also a six-volume paperback box set dubbed Locke & Key Slipcase Set, but availability and pricing can vary.
Prices for both of these collections are volatile. They often still sell for full price but randomly receive steep discounts that tend to disappear fast.
- Locke & Key: Keyhouse Compendium (Hardcover)
- Locke & Key 6-Volume Slipcase Set (Paperback)
Locke & Key: Master Editions (Hardcover)
- Master Edition: Volume 1
- Master Edition: Volume 2 – Sold out
- Master Edition: Volume 3
A trio of hardcover Master Editions offer another premium way to read the series, but Volume 2 is difficult to find for a reasonable price. Volume 1, however, is often available at a significant discount. Each Master Edition includes two volumes from the original run. It’s often cheaper to buy Locke & Key: Master Edition Volume 1 than it is to buy trade paperback or hardcovers of the first two volumes.
Locke & Key (Hardcovers)
- Welcome to Lovecraft
- Head Games
- Crown of Shadows
- Keys to the Kingdom
- Clockworks
- Alpha & Omega
Locke & Key (Paperbacks)
- Welcome to Lovecraft
- Head Games
- Crown of Shadows
- Keys to the Kingdom
- Clockworks
- Alpha & Omega
Locke & Key Prequels + One-Shots (Hardcover)
In 2022, an 8-issue prequel arc called The Golden Age was collected in hardcover format. The Golden Age includes Small World, but the Deluxe Edition of the latter has additional exclusive content. Heaven and Earth collects three one-shots in a budget-friendly hardcover edition.
- Locke & Key: The Golden Age
- Locke & Key: Heaven and Earth
- Locke & Key: Small World Deluxe Edition
More comics by Joe Hill
For more Joe Hill comics, check out the list below. We’d especially recommend taking a look at the 6-volume Hill House Comics Box Set and Joe Hill: The Graphic Novel Collection, a nearly 500-page compilation containing five graphic novels.
- The Cape Omnibus (Paperback) – December 9
- The Cape (Hardcover)
- The Cape: Fallen (Hardcover)
- Hill House Comics 6-Volume Box Set (Paperback)
- Joe Hill: The Graphic Novel Collection (Paperback) – Preowned
- Joe Hill’s Rain (Hardcover)
- Thumbprint (Hardcover)
- Basketful of Heads
- Hardcover
- Paperback
- Plunge
- Hardcover
- Paperback
- Dying is Easy
- Paperback – November 4
- Hardcover