Title: The Entangled Dragon

Author: DS LaLonde

Release date: January 14, 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!

4/5