Captive Demon A Dark God Ascends Book #1
Occult, Fiction, Demons, Paranormal
Raven Tale Publishing
May 30, 2022
Kindle
244
Amazon
Discovering a city of Demons...
All grad student Tucker Upchurch wanted was to earn summer credits on an archaeological dig in Central America, so he could graduate and marry his fiancée. The discovery of a thriving city in the jungle was icing on the cake.
Millennia ago, a volcano erupted in the Yucatan, the explosion tossing a group of demons out of Hell and into the Mayan city of Nikte-Uaxac. For five thousand years, the misplaced Dark Lords ruled the city. Now, one of them is being thrust into the Twenty-first Century—against his will.
All Semris wanted was to escape the monotony of his life and its burdens as the son of the god of death. Being kidnapped was never in his plan nor was his being stranded far from home at the mercy of a publicity-hungry archaeologist.
A grad student and a demon king.
When these two meet, their worlds—separated by thousands of years, culture, and custom—will change.
Forever.
Review By Sherry Perkins
Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
““I do not think it will be that simple, but the plan is sound enough, I suppose. After I overcome Wescott, may I kill him?” He asked so politely Tuck shivered.”—Captive Demon
Tony-Paul de Vissage is a go-to sort of writer whose books are easy to read, with not too complex plots or characterizations, and are generally suitable for most audiences. These books are often referred to as “summer reads.” For me? I do love a summer read!
But before delving into the crux of the story, let’s talk about its dedication. I don’t normally comment on book dedications but there is a quite touching dedication for “Captive Demon.” Make sure you read it before moving onto the prologue. BTW, if you’re someone who usually skips the dedication in a novel, train yourself to read it. Authors spend a considerable amount of time and effort on writing and the craft itself. Anyone who inspired or facilitated the creative process certainly deserves to be recognized and remembered. Effusively.
“Captive Demon” has a prologue that is interesting. When done right, a prologue sets the tone for the intrigue to come. Don’t get caught up in the names that may be difficult to pronounce though. Focus instead on the story told about pre-historical Yucatan Peninsula, the indigenous people and Mayan pantheon since it will turn up again in an oddly satisfying, familiar way!
Jumping forward to the present, the plot and setting shift to an anthropological dig in the Peninsula. The main character is an unassuming academic, but infinitely likeable fellow, named Tucker Upchurch, the third, who happens to work for a jerk, Dr. Lane Wescott. You know the type: sanctimonious, ready to sacrifice anything or anyone to prove his theories in furtherance of his career and tenure. You won’t like him much. You’ll like him even less when one of those Mayan demons—Semris, in his human manifestation—is captured at the dig site.
Semris is an interesting creature. I won’t say more because it would give away the surprise! However, his backstory is quite interesting. That Tucker could form such an instant, enduring friendship with him is the axis on which this story turns.
My only regret was this wasn’t a paranormal romance, which is my forte. But that would have made an entirely different book and it would have been unfair to this unique tale of friendship. There is some romance. It serves to reinforce Tucker’s nice guy persona and move the story along, a bit of summarization and character development, if you will. Also, there is a nod to familial connections and hereditary responsibility.
“Captive Demon” is one of Tony-Paul de Vissage’s book catalog, a catalog well worth exploring. You will be pleased to note the glossary, and research notes/links at the end of “Captive Demon.” I find these front and back matter helpful, especially in stories that leave me wanting to know more about the author’s process and content.
A four-star read with just enough supernatural thrills, human foibles, and an exploration of real friendship in a setting where Mayan demons are not the only exported product of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Capturing demons? That’s usually a bad idea!