What do you think?
Rate this book
Paragon
When Hannibal met Will Graham (the man who had, three years prior, been mistaken for the Chesapeake Ripper), he expected amusement. What he got was his first taste of obsession. Dark and bitter in the back of his throat but achingly sweet on the tongue. He knew at once that this feeling, this Man, would consume him.
And Hannibal would consume Will right back.
78 chapters.
And Hannibal would consume Will right back.
78 chapters.
2120 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2022
18 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 29, 2025
This was my introduction to the world of Hannigram fics.
It taught me things I did not know exist.
Not for people who craves the sweet.
It taught me things I did not know exist.
Not for people who craves the sweet.
February 26, 2025
Paragon is often hailed as the holy grail of the Hannigram fandom, and after reading it for the third time, I can confidently say it more than earns that title. This story is haunting, immersive, and relentlessly dark—so dark, in fact, that I hesitate to recommend it to just anyone. But for those who can stomach its intensity, Paragon stands as one of the most compelling and well-crafted works I’ve ever read.
Rooted in Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal universe, the story thrives on the psychological tension and twisted dynamic between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham. While a deep familiarity with the show, Thomas Harris’s Red Dragon, or even Anthony Hopkins’s portrayal of Lecter isn’t strictly necessary, having some background in the source material certainly enhances the experience.
That said, Paragon is not for the faint of heart. It pushes boundaries in ways that make it unforgettable—but also difficult to recommend without serious caution. If you’re drawn to dark, beautifully written narratives that explore obsession, manipulation, and the fragile line between devotion and destruction, this is a masterpiece worth experiencing. Just be prepared for it to linger in your mind long after you’ve finished.
TW for near everything, really.
May 6, 2022
God, some fanfics just outshine so many popular published books. This 2000+ pg epic is absolutely not for everyone. But if you are even remotely into Hannigram you are likely already aware of the worst taboo.. ie blatant violence and romanticized cannibalism. This fic is DARK, one of the more dark, kinky, and just unashamed embracement of romanticized horror and codependency of messed up monsters. I enjoyed everything second of this fic because the writing was tight and the full on obsessive toxic love was engrossing.
Despite it’s very impressive length this did not feel too long and I was sad it ended. The upside is that wild this is this author‘s first Hannibal fanfic it will not be their last according to comments. Do you think the show runner Brian Fuller would absolutely love this and feel its tone mimics that of the show
Despite it’s very impressive length this did not feel too long and I was sad it ended. The upside is that wild this is this author‘s first Hannibal fanfic it will not be their last according to comments. Do you think the show runner Brian Fuller would absolutely love this and feel its tone mimics that of the show
January 12, 2024
update: realmente serían unas muy buenas 4 ⭐, pero me rehúso a colocarle menos de cinco estrellas a algo de practicamente dos mil páginas que estuve leyendo casi por un año.
Es un fanfic muy de nicho, Hannigram, y demasiado específico en sus tropes, o lo amas o te desagrada, acá no hay puntos intermedios. La mayor parte se sufre, no por nada los tropes más utilizados en este fandom es Angst y el s03e13 (el episodio mas depresivo).
Después de mencionar lo anterior como un pequeño contexto, mi opinión se puede resumir en: lo ame, pero se me hizo innecesariamente largo en varias ocasiones.
El Murder husbands, se lleva muy bien, en muchas ocasiones es hermoso leer todas las metáforas y los pensamientos tanto de Hannibal como de Will, son un complemento perfecto, igual de dementes y obsesionados el uno con el otro.
Es el Found family más peculiar que he leído, pero disfrute de esa pequeña y retorcida familia que se robó mi corazón.
Ahora bien, a mi gusto abusa de las escenas sexuales, dios mio, al principio lo entendía pero después de la número 30 ya estaba saturada, para mi de las como 100 que ofrece, con unas 20 bastaban. Esta es la razón por la que se me hizo largo en algunas ocasiones, pero la trama sabe exactamente como sobrellevarlo. Amé el final, amé, amé, lloré, me emocioné. grité, me enojé, reí y volví a amar.
Es un fanfic muy de nicho, Hannigram, y demasiado específico en sus tropes, o lo amas o te desagrada, acá no hay puntos intermedios. La mayor parte se sufre, no por nada los tropes más utilizados en este fandom es Angst y el s03e13 (el episodio mas depresivo).
Después de mencionar lo anterior como un pequeño contexto, mi opinión se puede resumir en: lo ame, pero se me hizo innecesariamente largo en varias ocasiones.
El Murder husbands, se lleva muy bien, en muchas ocasiones es hermoso leer todas las metáforas y los pensamientos tanto de Hannibal como de Will, son un complemento perfecto, igual de dementes y obsesionados el uno con el otro.
Es el Found family más peculiar que he leído, pero disfrute de esa pequeña y retorcida familia que se robó mi corazón.
Ahora bien, a mi gusto abusa de las escenas sexuales, dios mio, al principio lo entendía pero después de la número 30 ya estaba saturada, para mi de las como 100 que ofrece, con unas 20 bastaban. Esta es la razón por la que se me hizo largo en algunas ocasiones, pero la trama sabe exactamente como sobrellevarlo. Amé el final, amé, amé, lloré, me emocioné. grité, me enojé, reí y volví a amar.
May 19, 2023
A++++ alternate universe Hannigram.
July 23, 2022
I did not finish it. I liked the characters bc they felt real, but at some point the plot was lost In porn and characters changed ig? Seriously, where did my sassy Graham go to?
July 7, 2025
if you know what Paragon is; no I didn’t like it, yes I still finished it, and yes it took me 3 months to get through it was tough. If you liked it, to each their own, but I could not stand the mischaracterization of Will. Everything else was okay ig.
If you have no idea what Paragon is; good, and please if you are innocent or a Hannibal fan then keep as far away as you can.
If my life was a coming of age movie, me reading this would be the catalyst event propelling me into madness, happiness, freakiness, but ultimately and apparently my truest self. I can now read whatever I feel like without turning an eye when something odd happens (or freaky). However, it also taught me that when something is not true to character and you feel the plot going south; just stop. Nothing and nobody is going to do anything to you for not finishing a book because it’s cringy (and, again, freaky). So do I kinda hate myself for reading it just because every other Hannibal fan did? A little. Do I regret reading it? Honestly a lot. I could have saved so much time reading literally anything better. However, I would not be who I am today without it. That may also not be a very good thing, but it is what it is now because I’ve spiraled so much further into the black depths of AO3 that not even David Lynch would venture if prompted and high on LSD.
For my final words: If you read Paragon and try to watch Saltburn afterwards, the shock value will be out the window. It will seem tame compared to all else. Also, the movie sucks outside of its shock value, so don’t recommend it anyways. Is this from personal experience? maybe….
1.5/5
Do not recomend
If you have no idea what Paragon is; good, and please if you are innocent or a Hannibal fan then keep as far away as you can.
If my life was a coming of age movie, me reading this would be the catalyst event propelling me into madness, happiness, freakiness, but ultimately and apparently my truest self. I can now read whatever I feel like without turning an eye when something odd happens (or freaky). However, it also taught me that when something is not true to character and you feel the plot going south; just stop. Nothing and nobody is going to do anything to you for not finishing a book because it’s cringy (and, again, freaky). So do I kinda hate myself for reading it just because every other Hannibal fan did? A little. Do I regret reading it? Honestly a lot. I could have saved so much time reading literally anything better. However, I would not be who I am today without it. That may also not be a very good thing, but it is what it is now because I’ve spiraled so much further into the black depths of AO3 that not even David Lynch would venture if prompted and high on LSD.
For my final words: If you read Paragon and try to watch Saltburn afterwards, the shock value will be out the window. It will seem tame compared to all else. Also, the movie sucks outside of its shock value, so don’t recommend it anyways. Is this from personal experience? maybe….
1.5/5
Do not recomend
Read
December 21, 2023yes i am counting this on goodreads this was 2,000 pages and i read it until my eyes burned and my innocence was suddenly gone
January 15, 2023
Lo mejor que he leído hasta ahora en toda mi vida, sin dudarlo. Paragon te rezo. Me tomé mi tiempo para terminarla pero era porque no la quería soltar, definitivamente la volveré a leer durante el año.
August 15, 2024
Este libro tan largo es como una curita a mi corazon. Si es turbio y bizarro pero es la cosa mas dulce que lei. Hannibal y Will son supremacy juntos y ame como en este libro le dieran un desarrollo justo.
RELECTURA 2024/04/27: Sigue siendo tan hermoso como lo recordaba
RELECTURA 2024/04/27: Sigue siendo tan hermoso como lo recordaba
Read
August 12, 2025So objectively, let’s clear a few things up before we actually talk about this:
1. This is the first fanfiction I’ve read since high school when I was deep in the throws of my One Direction Infection - so choosing the most popular (and incredibly lengthy) Hannigram fanfic on ao3 at around 2,000 pages seemed like a pretty natural progression.
2. As Donna Tart (The Secret History) once beautifully wrote, “I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive,” and it was probably one of the first times I saw myself described so fully in just one sentence. Everything I’ve ever loved, if you took it away from me, you’d see the imprints of my nails trying to mark it as my own in the same way that which holds my love has become a part of me within my psyche. Can I dare to tack on the sentiment “This has always been my design”? Could I propose that I’ve been designed to obsessively consume?
3. I am a sucker (absolute and complete sucker) for cannibalism as a metaphor for all-consuming and devouring (pun intended) love. Naturally, the NBC TV series Hannibal was going to become something that sunk its teeth deep into my heart. (Despite my opinion that while cannibalism in the show does not represent consuming love, the act of cannibalism together in Hannigram does) (And despite the fact that I truly was not expecting myself to become so completely obsessed with this show).
4. I LOVE Hannigram. I’ll say it loud and proud. I am a huge Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter shipper. It’s obvious as much when the actors themselves and the rest of the cast feel as much the same. It’s obvious in the way the two men yearn for each other. It’s clear in every scene and both men’s actions.
5. I read this for about an hour before bed every night since I finished the show and needed something to hold me over before the actual books became available at my library. I’m also learning that the show and books are different. Probably the only reason I chose to read this was because it’s literally the most popular. That said, if you’re planning on reading this ever, just note that this is the freakiest most insane fanfic I’ve ever read. Good Lord.
Okay, so now that I’ve prefaced the actual review, I will start by saying I am at a loss for what I would rate this mammoth of a book. One because it was so well written, but two because it was so out of character from the actual TV characters. If I removed who each character was from the way I knew them to be, this book was pretty fun despite all the odd shit. BUT it’s so hard to separate them. After a certain point, it’s like the author just turned Will into a girl/dog. Will Graham is a sassy but MASCULINE and THICK MAN! But that’s not how he was presented in this fic. Okay, fine, it’s somewhat an alternate universe given Will and Hannibal meet under different circumstances - but even Hannibal is so different. Alana, Jack, Beverly - everyone - so different. And it’s almost cringey after a certain point. I did see on reddit that this fic was actually the author’s attempt to practice writing bdsm/kinks which I totally understand because what other safer space can you practice your writing, but it’s almost like - ok who are these people and why am I reading something so personal? But then there are some scenes that are so well written and felt so true to the characters where you’re thinking - wow wait this could’ve totally happened in the show.
So realistically, it’s hard to rate fanfiction when you’re such an avid real book (-in a non offensive way- maybe the right word is published?) reader because you can take both the characters and the writing into account as a complete work living within just those pages, rather than with fanfiction where you’ll still be comparing it to the original source material.
Ultimately, my rambles have to stop somewhere and I’ll choose to end by explicitly saying I find myself quite into Will Graham the TV character. Honestly just perfect character design. Perfect glasses, curly brown hair, canonically a runner, mentally messed up, sassy, gruff… I’ll consider reading more fanfic on the side while I slowly nurse myself out into the peripherals of this fandom and carry on with my life…
1. This is the first fanfiction I’ve read since high school when I was deep in the throws of my One Direction Infection - so choosing the most popular (and incredibly lengthy) Hannigram fanfic on ao3 at around 2,000 pages seemed like a pretty natural progression.
2. As Donna Tart (The Secret History) once beautifully wrote, “I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive,” and it was probably one of the first times I saw myself described so fully in just one sentence. Everything I’ve ever loved, if you took it away from me, you’d see the imprints of my nails trying to mark it as my own in the same way that which holds my love has become a part of me within my psyche. Can I dare to tack on the sentiment “This has always been my design”? Could I propose that I’ve been designed to obsessively consume?
3. I am a sucker (absolute and complete sucker) for cannibalism as a metaphor for all-consuming and devouring (pun intended) love. Naturally, the NBC TV series Hannibal was going to become something that sunk its teeth deep into my heart. (Despite my opinion that while cannibalism in the show does not represent consuming love, the act of cannibalism together in Hannigram does) (And despite the fact that I truly was not expecting myself to become so completely obsessed with this show).
4. I LOVE Hannigram. I’ll say it loud and proud. I am a huge Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter shipper. It’s obvious as much when the actors themselves and the rest of the cast feel as much the same. It’s obvious in the way the two men yearn for each other. It’s clear in every scene and both men’s actions.
5. I read this for about an hour before bed every night since I finished the show and needed something to hold me over before the actual books became available at my library. I’m also learning that the show and books are different. Probably the only reason I chose to read this was because it’s literally the most popular. That said, if you’re planning on reading this ever, just note that this is the freakiest most insane fanfic I’ve ever read. Good Lord.
Okay, so now that I’ve prefaced the actual review, I will start by saying I am at a loss for what I would rate this mammoth of a book. One because it was so well written, but two because it was so out of character from the actual TV characters. If I removed who each character was from the way I knew them to be, this book was pretty fun despite all the odd shit. BUT it’s so hard to separate them. After a certain point, it’s like the author just turned Will into a girl/dog. Will Graham is a sassy but MASCULINE and THICK MAN! But that’s not how he was presented in this fic. Okay, fine, it’s somewhat an alternate universe given Will and Hannibal meet under different circumstances - but even Hannibal is so different. Alana, Jack, Beverly - everyone - so different. And it’s almost cringey after a certain point. I did see on reddit that this fic was actually the author’s attempt to practice writing bdsm/kinks which I totally understand because what other safer space can you practice your writing, but it’s almost like - ok who are these people and why am I reading something so personal? But then there are some scenes that are so well written and felt so true to the characters where you’re thinking - wow wait this could’ve totally happened in the show.
So realistically, it’s hard to rate fanfiction when you’re such an avid real book (-in a non offensive way- maybe the right word is published?) reader because you can take both the characters and the writing into account as a complete work living within just those pages, rather than with fanfiction where you’ll still be comparing it to the original source material.
Ultimately, my rambles have to stop somewhere and I’ll choose to end by explicitly saying I find myself quite into Will Graham the TV character. Honestly just perfect character design. Perfect glasses, curly brown hair, canonically a runner, mentally messed up, sassy, gruff… I’ll consider reading more fanfic on the side while I slowly nurse myself out into the peripherals of this fandom and carry on with my life…
June 6, 2023
Dnf chapter 21. Idk there just isn't a lot happening, but it's still a really good story 😭😭😭
January 30, 2024
while the plot is seemingly simple, the attention to detail is what makes it shine. the characterization is so well done it makes me want to scream. as fanfiction go this should be considered a book.
January 30, 2024
El amor tanto el dolor tiene un línea de separación muy delgada que es cruzada por quién conoce el camino
November 14, 2024
dnf at maybe 200 pages because will just became a girl (not consciously on the part of the author--more so in the fujo way) and the writing got too juvenile to keep even my shit attention span
November 30, 2024
idgaf if it was ooc this is MY shit
June 8, 2025
i can’t count how many times i’ve read this fanfic i am so happy it’s on goodreads it’s a novel of its own at this point
December 26, 2024
considering this is fanfiction, it's by far one of my favorite pieces of literature that i've read this year. it was incredibly well written in all aspects and, despite obvious divergences, was very much in-character! i was so sad when i finished it and have been in a slump ever since.
it does have darker themes (as always, when reading on ao3, check tags!!) that are absolutely not for everybody. i will say it didn't feel very heavy in terms of violence while reading, but there definitely are many scenes containing it. also, before i read it, loads of people made it seem like it was way worse than it actually was? it wasn't "horrifying," and anything off putting or even questionable was tagged, so anybody reading it knows what they're walking into. i haven't read anything even half as intense as paragon and had an absolute blast reading it, lol.
like i mentioned before, it is not for everybody. just because many, including myself, could handle all of its darker and venereal/explicit themes and scenes, does NOT mean everyone can. always read tags xxx and happy reading!
it does have darker themes (as always, when reading on ao3, check tags!!) that are absolutely not for everybody. i will say it didn't feel very heavy in terms of violence while reading, but there definitely are many scenes containing it. also, before i read it, loads of people made it seem like it was way worse than it actually was? it wasn't "horrifying," and anything off putting or even questionable was tagged, so anybody reading it knows what they're walking into. i haven't read anything even half as intense as paragon and had an absolute blast reading it, lol.
like i mentioned before, it is not for everybody. just because many, including myself, could handle all of its darker and venereal/explicit themes and scenes, does NOT mean everyone can. always read tags xxx and happy reading!
Read
February 14, 2025DNF at 64% . . .
Em 2021 eu comecei a ler essa fanfic pela primeira vez e larguei por volta do meio pro final, por não estar com tanto tempo. Ano passado eu decidi dar uma nova chance acabei largando por volta do capítulo 53/54.
Antes de tudo, eu não achei a história ruim, ou mal escrita, ou tive problema com ser Dead Dove, acho que meu maior problema é que em alguns momentos as cenas de sexo são muitas e eu sinto falta de um pouco mais de plot. Tem vezes que são capítulos seguidos e não me entendam mal, se estivesse sendo pudica nem ir ler essa história teria, mas um tico a mais de plot não ia matar.
Um dia finalizo essa, só vou tirar da prateleira de "currently-reading" por enquanto.
Em 2021 eu comecei a ler essa fanfic pela primeira vez e larguei por volta do meio pro final, por não estar com tanto tempo. Ano passado eu decidi dar uma nova chance acabei largando por volta do capítulo 53/54.
Antes de tudo, eu não achei a história ruim, ou mal escrita, ou tive problema com ser Dead Dove, acho que meu maior problema é que em alguns momentos as cenas de sexo são muitas e eu sinto falta de um pouco mais de plot. Tem vezes que são capítulos seguidos e não me entendam mal, se estivesse sendo pudica nem ir ler essa história teria, mas um tico a mais de plot não ia matar.
Um dia finalizo essa, só vou tirar da prateleira de "currently-reading" por enquanto.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews