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Fiends and Paragons #1
The Entangled Dragon
Rick is plodding along through an uneventful life, just a regular family guy working at a coffee shop. His life will be irrevocably changed when a stranger spots his most unexpected potential and offers him the chance to become something more.
Soon, Rick discovers that the world is not as it seems. Demons walk among us. Actually, they don’t walk, they ride, carried along in the bodies and souls of otherwise ordinary people. Such people are categorized as either fiends or paragons. Fiends are classically possessed, their souls entangled with a sentient demon, whereas paragons are conduits for simpler demonic energy that crafts them into idealized humans. These fiends and paragons are powerful entities, incredibly hardy, with abilities far beyond those of mortals. A secretive industry with an unusual business model has spawned from this strange phenomenon. Security companies leverage these special people and their diabolical soulmates, harnessing their powers to keep the public safe from all manner of evil.
This dark reality is thrust upon Rick when he becomes entangled with a demonic dragon, a fearsome beast of immense appetites and ill intents. As he acclimates to this new monstrous normal, he is put on a team working to track and defeat a group of rampaging vigilante paragons.
While Rick and his family enjoy the financial benefits of his mysterious new career, they quickly realize that all is not well. The dragon may be more than Rick’s mild persona can handle. He is quickly becoming a passive bystander in his own mind as the dragon takes control and seeks to fulfill its own agenda, one of death, destruction, and hoarding treasure. Rick’s grip on humanity is slipping.
Maintaining the straight and narrow path in the company of demons, especially those that reside within you, can be a torturous task.
Soon, Rick discovers that the world is not as it seems. Demons walk among us. Actually, they don’t walk, they ride, carried along in the bodies and souls of otherwise ordinary people. Such people are categorized as either fiends or paragons. Fiends are classically possessed, their souls entangled with a sentient demon, whereas paragons are conduits for simpler demonic energy that crafts them into idealized humans. These fiends and paragons are powerful entities, incredibly hardy, with abilities far beyond those of mortals. A secretive industry with an unusual business model has spawned from this strange phenomenon. Security companies leverage these special people and their diabolical soulmates, harnessing their powers to keep the public safe from all manner of evil.
This dark reality is thrust upon Rick when he becomes entangled with a demonic dragon, a fearsome beast of immense appetites and ill intents. As he acclimates to this new monstrous normal, he is put on a team working to track and defeat a group of rampaging vigilante paragons.
While Rick and his family enjoy the financial benefits of his mysterious new career, they quickly realize that all is not well. The dragon may be more than Rick’s mild persona can handle. He is quickly becoming a passive bystander in his own mind as the dragon takes control and seeks to fulfill its own agenda, one of death, destruction, and hoarding treasure. Rick’s grip on humanity is slipping.
Maintaining the straight and narrow path in the company of demons, especially those that reside within you, can be a torturous task.
- GenresFantasy
336 pages, Paperback
Published January 14, 2023
8 people are currently reading
4593 people want to read
About the author
D.S. LaLonde
5 books84 followersDS LaLonde is a pen name for Dave and Sara LaLonde, a married writing team who live in Northern Virginia with their child, cats, and dog. They completed graduate training in the biological sciences and have worked in biomedical research, veterinary diagnostics, and national security. DS enjoys reading, writing, and ruminating on the existence of cryptids.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 26, 2023
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
This is really a super hero novel, even though it's billed as a fantasy. Some schlub is recruited by a mysterious corporation for a mysterious job. He is possessed by a demon, and gets super powers. There's a vigilante group running around that must be stopped.
A good premise largely undone by the box checking that follows.
This is really a super hero novel, even though it's billed as a fantasy. Some schlub is recruited by a mysterious corporation for a mysterious job. He is possessed by a demon, and gets super powers. There's a vigilante group running around that must be stopped.
A good premise largely undone by the box checking that follows.
January 14, 2024
Epic!
My first read by LaLonde, but certainly not my last. THE ENTANGLED DRAGON is a fast-paced, beautifully written, and completely absorbing modern fantasy. I'm looking forward to more from LaLonde. Highly recommended!
My first read by LaLonde, but certainly not my last. THE ENTANGLED DRAGON is a fast-paced, beautifully written, and completely absorbing modern fantasy. I'm looking forward to more from LaLonde. Highly recommended!
November 15, 2023
If you like books with A LOT going on, then try this one out. Bit of fantasy, a dash of horror, and a fair bit of action. There was an undercurrent of Highlander and Nighbreed at times, but LaLonde has created something with its own flavour here. I enjoyed the everyman main character aspect, although I felt a little lost at times as names and information were poured into this ambitious project. Obviously, that's going to happen in book 1 of a series. Very confident writing that is executed well with much more to come.
January 28, 2023
So, so good!
What an incredibly imaginative concept! Loved the humour scattered throughout, how the characters were developed, the twists & turns, the well thought out descriptions. Great read, really excited for the next installment!
What an incredibly imaginative concept! Loved the humour scattered throughout, how the characters were developed, the twists & turns, the well thought out descriptions. Great read, really excited for the next installment!
August 24, 2025
A fun story to enjoy with a bucket of popcorn. Combines elements of dark fantasy and superhero action.
Many cool ideas mashed into a presentation that is at times gruesome and at times utterly hilarious.
Full review at SFF Insiders.
Many cool ideas mashed into a presentation that is at times gruesome and at times utterly hilarious.
Full review at SFF Insiders.
March 2, 2023
Huge thanks to the awesome DS for sending me a digital ARC of this one. I had tried really hard to get it read and reviewed before release date, but alas a jam packed reading schedule and personal and family colds threw that plan into the fire!
But, here I am, having devoured this in a few sittings and gleefully smiling over the contents that LaLonde has delivered this time around.
I read their prior novel, ‘A Bleak Remedy’ last year, and while this one has shades of similarities, it is its own beast, while still showcasing LaLonde’s snappy prose.
What I liked: The story begins by following middle-of-the-road, Rick. A middle manager, living a meager existence, getting by without being flashy or having too much money in the bank. Just a regular dude. That is, until he gets invited to participate in a trial. At first, he’s convinced it’s a scam. But soon enough he discovers its not – but the truth of what it is, is where we leap off.
At this trial, he discovers demons exist, that there’s more to the world than what we see on directly before us, and its this starting off point that LaLonde uses to then unleash a fantastic romp of a story.
LaLonde has really created an imaginative and very in-depth world here, one that has layers and texture and feels fully fleshed out and lets us become immersed completely in it. Rick is a solid character and the secondary characters who are introduced and play various roles in the ever growing story all feel solid as well.
The ending is both engaging, but if you look at the cover you see it says Book One, which means we get a fair number of open ended questions that will most likely contribute to wherever we end up going in the sequel.
What I didn’t like: While I did appreciate how much was thrown at us, sometimes it did feel a bit overwhelming. This could be because – in comparison to ‘A Bleak Remedy’ – it is a shorter page count/word count, but it also comes down to the large scope of the world LaLonde’s created. On the flip side, cutting some away would feel awkward, so there really isn’t a solution, just more me finding there to be a lot going on haha!
Why you should buy this: LaLonde has a really easy and engaging way of telling their stories and between the two novels I’ve read of theirs now, they definitely work hard to create sprawling set pieces that are filled with crazy corporations, secret society type aspects and compulsive plot points.
Another solid winner from LaLonde!
But, here I am, having devoured this in a few sittings and gleefully smiling over the contents that LaLonde has delivered this time around.
I read their prior novel, ‘A Bleak Remedy’ last year, and while this one has shades of similarities, it is its own beast, while still showcasing LaLonde’s snappy prose.
What I liked: The story begins by following middle-of-the-road, Rick. A middle manager, living a meager existence, getting by without being flashy or having too much money in the bank. Just a regular dude. That is, until he gets invited to participate in a trial. At first, he’s convinced it’s a scam. But soon enough he discovers its not – but the truth of what it is, is where we leap off.
At this trial, he discovers demons exist, that there’s more to the world than what we see on directly before us, and its this starting off point that LaLonde uses to then unleash a fantastic romp of a story.
LaLonde has really created an imaginative and very in-depth world here, one that has layers and texture and feels fully fleshed out and lets us become immersed completely in it. Rick is a solid character and the secondary characters who are introduced and play various roles in the ever growing story all feel solid as well.
The ending is both engaging, but if you look at the cover you see it says Book One, which means we get a fair number of open ended questions that will most likely contribute to wherever we end up going in the sequel.
What I didn’t like: While I did appreciate how much was thrown at us, sometimes it did feel a bit overwhelming. This could be because – in comparison to ‘A Bleak Remedy’ – it is a shorter page count/word count, but it also comes down to the large scope of the world LaLonde’s created. On the flip side, cutting some away would feel awkward, so there really isn’t a solution, just more me finding there to be a lot going on haha!
Why you should buy this: LaLonde has a really easy and engaging way of telling their stories and between the two novels I’ve read of theirs now, they definitely work hard to create sprawling set pieces that are filled with crazy corporations, secret society type aspects and compulsive plot points.
Another solid winner from LaLonde!
February 10, 2024
A dark fantasy that blends comedy and horror really well. You really get pulled into this one, your guide being a nobody who is suddenly forced to share the same body with an ancient and powerful entity. LaLonde really fleshes out a world where a supernatural war is happening just under our feet, but one that has devolved into a corporate power struggle with our fates at their mercy. So, fantasy and not at the same time...
April 12, 2023
This was a slow burn, but once it catches fire it gets going. It's very original well written and definitely worth checking out. Plus it has a demon dragon in it
February 14, 2024
The only thing to say is, I cannot wait until the next book in this series comes out!
August 28, 2023
D.S. LaLonde reimagines the cosmological underpinning of this world with The Entangled Dragon. This is fantasy in a modern setting, taking the familiar and distorting it enough to create something new, fun, and engaging. The world of angels and demons is recast as that of fiends and paragons, and a dragon saga is given a fresh spin.
LaLonde has a smooth writing style that makes switches between narrative and background info easy and seamless. The action is clear, the wit prevalent, and characters drive the tale. Recommended!
LaLonde has a smooth writing style that makes switches between narrative and background info easy and seamless. The action is clear, the wit prevalent, and characters drive the tale. Recommended!
February 12, 2023
Fantastic, Original Book! Cool concept, well executed, with well-realized characters and plenty of action.
February 27, 2023
An exceptional book by an exceptional, far too overlooked, author. This world was so exciting and memorable and I enjoyed every single word.
June 10, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
The story started a bit slowly but really picked up about halfway through and there were some surprising events that kept me hooked until the end. One thing I didn't enjoy was the formatting of the book, which I'm not sure how much the author had a role in. But, there was minimal white space which made it more difficult for me to read.
The story started a bit slowly but really picked up about halfway through and there were some surprising events that kept me hooked until the end. One thing I didn't enjoy was the formatting of the book, which I'm not sure how much the author had a role in. But, there was minimal white space which made it more difficult for me to read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews