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The Devil Pulls the Strings
The Devil Pulls the Strings is the pulse-pounding first tale in the Archivist series.
Set in modern-day Wentzville, MO, New York City, and 1813 Genoa, Italy, weaves bromance, Slavic mythology, secret societies, Paganini's music and time travel.
Twenty-two-year-old Boone Daniels has problems, debilitating panic attack, gut-wrenching guilt, a wendigo haunting him since age six, and now he almost killed his best friend in a joust. But when he fills in for his injured friend at a New York gig, he goes to meet the gig's contact at his NYC brownstone. A body falls from the brownstone balcony and the place explodes with gun fire. Boone barely escapes but uncovers a sinister plot to perform a rare Paganini piece that summons the Devil to trap Baba Yaga and destroy modern-day New York City.
He then finds himself on a race through time, to capture the cursed melody. Along the way, a Romani immortal, steampunk vampires and Baba Yaga set the stage for war, and Boone shall have to risk death for redemption. All Boone wants is to keep a promise to a friend. The same friend, he almost killed last Sunday during a joust.
Can a small-town Missouri musician outplay the supernatural and save NYC's soul?
If you like when tortured heroes, epic battles, time travel, twisted history and secret societies collide, then you'll love J. W. Zarek's spectacular page-turner.
Set in modern-day Wentzville, MO, New York City, and 1813 Genoa, Italy, weaves bromance, Slavic mythology, secret societies, Paganini's music and time travel.
Twenty-two-year-old Boone Daniels has problems, debilitating panic attack, gut-wrenching guilt, a wendigo haunting him since age six, and now he almost killed his best friend in a joust. But when he fills in for his injured friend at a New York gig, he goes to meet the gig's contact at his NYC brownstone. A body falls from the brownstone balcony and the place explodes with gun fire. Boone barely escapes but uncovers a sinister plot to perform a rare Paganini piece that summons the Devil to trap Baba Yaga and destroy modern-day New York City.
He then finds himself on a race through time, to capture the cursed melody. Along the way, a Romani immortal, steampunk vampires and Baba Yaga set the stage for war, and Boone shall have to risk death for redemption. All Boone wants is to keep a promise to a friend. The same friend, he almost killed last Sunday during a joust.
Can a small-town Missouri musician outplay the supernatural and save NYC's soul?
If you like when tortured heroes, epic battles, time travel, twisted history and secret societies collide, then you'll love J. W. Zarek's spectacular page-turner.
- GenresFantasyParanormalFiction
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2021
45 people are currently reading
735 people want to read
About the author
J.W. Zarek
2 books27 followersJ.W. Zarek is a three-time bestselling author and award-winning screenwriter who helps catch naughty folk for the Government. His global adventures include teaching English in Japan, climbing to the top of Mount Fuji, getting kicked off of Mount Rainier, navigating the Suez Canal, hunting pirates in the Persian Gulf, and successfully completing the Walt Disney World Marathon as a woman.
His academic research on relationship dynamics led to an invitation to present a paper at the International Forensics Congress in China, influencing his approach to character development and plot construction. Drawing from these diverse experiences, Zarek brings real-world authenticity to his storytelling.
His debut novel "The Devil Pulls the Strings" has garnered over 41 awards, including the Overall Best Book of 2021 from the Chanticleer International Book Awards and multiple CIBA ceremony honors. The novel's adapted TV pilot recently earned the Best American Script Award at the 2024 International Berlin Film Festival, further cementing his reputation in both literary and screenwriting circles.
His other acclaimed works include "Writer's Success Secrets," which reached the Wall Street Journal bestseller list, and the widely successful "The Happiness Code." Looking ahead, Zarek is preparing to launch the Bella Brown series, a whimsical six-book children's collection that follows an eight-year-old girl who discovers magical secrets in her grandmother's garden and befriends a mischievous house spirit named Pip. The series is scheduled to launch between September 2025 and January 2026.
His academic research on relationship dynamics led to an invitation to present a paper at the International Forensics Congress in China, influencing his approach to character development and plot construction. Drawing from these diverse experiences, Zarek brings real-world authenticity to his storytelling.
His debut novel "The Devil Pulls the Strings" has garnered over 41 awards, including the Overall Best Book of 2021 from the Chanticleer International Book Awards and multiple CIBA ceremony honors. The novel's adapted TV pilot recently earned the Best American Script Award at the 2024 International Berlin Film Festival, further cementing his reputation in both literary and screenwriting circles.
His other acclaimed works include "Writer's Success Secrets," which reached the Wall Street Journal bestseller list, and the widely successful "The Happiness Code." Looking ahead, Zarek is preparing to launch the Bella Brown series, a whimsical six-book children's collection that follows an eight-year-old girl who discovers magical secrets in her grandmother's garden and befriends a mischievous house spirit named Pip. The series is scheduled to launch between September 2025 and January 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
December 12, 2021
Free Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review as a reviewer on OnlineBookClub.Org.
After an unfortunate jousting accident in which Flynn gets hurt, his best friend Boone Daniels promises to step in for him at a gig in New York City. Trying to find professor Stone, Flynn's contact, Boone comes right in time to see professor die. After that moment, Boone gets pulled into a centuries-old feud between two secret societies hell-bent on retrieving three invaluable pieces of composition by Niccolò Paganini. All the while, he has Sapphire by his side, a talented violinist and professor Stone's secretary. Sapphire and Boone find out that these three compositions played together have the ability to summon the Devil. Can they make it in time to save the world and New York City?
J. W. Zarek’s The Devil Pulls The String has domovoi, Baba Yaga, wendigo, Chupacabra, and so many other mythological creatures. I think it is wonderful that in the USA, a melting pot of the world's cultures, different cultures be represented, not just Western European.
This book keeps you on your toes with adventures piling up on each other. The main character seems to not have time to rest, as he only has two days to save the world. He is bouncing all over New York City, trying to find the rest of the composition pieces, getting in all sorts of trouble. Forced to make deals, like the deal he made with the vampire to use music and summon Ambrogio, a vampire all-father. Boone's ability to see visions, some that have happened and some that have yet to happen, allows us to dwell further into the story and learn more about the history between the societies while keeping a track of all that is happening. Using music as the main source of the dispute between the two secret societies is something that is not often found in fantasy books. One of the personal favourite aspects of this book is the inclusion of Slavic cultural elements, primarily found with Baba Yaga and domovoi. As a Slavic person myself, I don’t often see my culture represented in the books.
The biggest complaint I have with The Devil Pulls The String is hurry with the pacing of the storyline. While two days is not a long time to pile all events leading to the big finale, it could have used more fluff scenes. While not necessarily crucial for the plot, all of Boone and Sapphire's adventures have been one after the other, with no change of pace for us to simply get acquainted with characters and connect with them.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I liked the storyline, and as I mentioned, found it unique and entertaining. The book seems to be professionally edited and I have found no errors. But I am subtracting one star because of the abovementioned problem with the pacing. There was no cursing in the book. While there is mention of the Devil and other creatures from different pagan mythologies, some still being practiced today, I believe the content is not triggering in the religious sense.
I would recommend this book for all lovers of the fantasy and the paranormal genre, especially people who like folk tales.
After an unfortunate jousting accident in which Flynn gets hurt, his best friend Boone Daniels promises to step in for him at a gig in New York City. Trying to find professor Stone, Flynn's contact, Boone comes right in time to see professor die. After that moment, Boone gets pulled into a centuries-old feud between two secret societies hell-bent on retrieving three invaluable pieces of composition by Niccolò Paganini. All the while, he has Sapphire by his side, a talented violinist and professor Stone's secretary. Sapphire and Boone find out that these three compositions played together have the ability to summon the Devil. Can they make it in time to save the world and New York City?
J. W. Zarek’s The Devil Pulls The String has domovoi, Baba Yaga, wendigo, Chupacabra, and so many other mythological creatures. I think it is wonderful that in the USA, a melting pot of the world's cultures, different cultures be represented, not just Western European.
This book keeps you on your toes with adventures piling up on each other. The main character seems to not have time to rest, as he only has two days to save the world. He is bouncing all over New York City, trying to find the rest of the composition pieces, getting in all sorts of trouble. Forced to make deals, like the deal he made with the vampire to use music and summon Ambrogio, a vampire all-father. Boone's ability to see visions, some that have happened and some that have yet to happen, allows us to dwell further into the story and learn more about the history between the societies while keeping a track of all that is happening. Using music as the main source of the dispute between the two secret societies is something that is not often found in fantasy books. One of the personal favourite aspects of this book is the inclusion of Slavic cultural elements, primarily found with Baba Yaga and domovoi. As a Slavic person myself, I don’t often see my culture represented in the books.
The biggest complaint I have with The Devil Pulls The String is hurry with the pacing of the storyline. While two days is not a long time to pile all events leading to the big finale, it could have used more fluff scenes. While not necessarily crucial for the plot, all of Boone and Sapphire's adventures have been one after the other, with no change of pace for us to simply get acquainted with characters and connect with them.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I liked the storyline, and as I mentioned, found it unique and entertaining. The book seems to be professionally edited and I have found no errors. But I am subtracting one star because of the abovementioned problem with the pacing. There was no cursing in the book. While there is mention of the Devil and other creatures from different pagan mythologies, some still being practiced today, I believe the content is not triggering in the religious sense.
I would recommend this book for all lovers of the fantasy and the paranormal genre, especially people who like folk tales.
Want to read
July 21, 2022Okay so literally— The Librarians meets The Magicians? Slavic freaking mythology ?! Steampunk vampires? allofthethingsssss?!?— This has got me so damn SOLD that the metaphorical “for sale” sign done been ripped out the groundddd ! 😉
Just wowed by this whole premise. And that cover? I AM SO INTRIGUEDDD!!!
Just wowed by this whole premise. And that cover? I AM SO INTRIGUEDDD!!!
May 30, 2022
The Devil Pulls the Strings is a hauntingly beautiful novel that will stay with you forever! Life is often full of beauty and joy. But life can also be cruel and painful at times. In this book, author Joe Zarek embodies both the wonderful and terrible aspects of life. Boone Daniels, who is now twenty-two years old, has been plagued by difficulties such as terrible panic attacks, upsetting guilt, and a wendigo haunting him ever since he was six years old.
In a tragic jousting accident, he almost killed his closest friend, Flynn. Following this horrible incident, Boone Daniels has promised to fill in for Flynn at a gig that is scheduled to take place in New York City. While searching for professor Stone, Flynn's contact, Boone arrives at the scene of the professor's death just in time. After squeaking out of danger, Boone discovers a devious plot to play an obscure piece by Paganini that would invoke the presence of the devil, causing Baba Yaga to be captured and bringing about the destruction of modern-day New York City.
Boone becomes involved in a centuries-old conflict between the two secret societies who are singularly focused on recovering three priceless pieces of composition by Niccolò Paganini. During this time, he is accompanied by Sapphire, a skilled violinist and professor Stone's secretary. Sapphire and Boone have discovered that the combination of these three pieces, when performed together, has the power to call out the Devil. Along the way, a Romani immortal, steampunk vampires, and Baba Yaga set the situation for war, and Boone will have to risk his life. Will he be able to get there in time to prevent the destruction of the world and New York City?
Narrated in lyrical prose, Mr. Joe Zarek weaves a tale no less compelling for its slow, gradual development. Like all the best fantasy tales, the author draws on the setting to create an atmosphere that promises magic and suggests many horrors. One reason why this book works so well is that the stakes remain extremely high throughout the entire story. Everything seems hopeless, and you see no way out. You keep waiting for the protagonist to get a break, but then things keep getting worse, and even worse. But there is also a sense of hope in spite of all the darkness, of wonder and discovery, of healing and renewal. A hope for an end to the vicious cycle of violence.
The music itself becomes a character, fierce and vengeful, creepy and cunning, and so powerful. The magic pours out of this beautiful story, and the more we learn about this world, the more we want to know. The characters are excellent, the descriptions of magic and creatures are brilliant and original, and the story is action-packed from start to finish, yet the author manages to fit in character development and to engage the reader's emotions as they follow Boone's journey.
The world-building in this book was fantastic. Firstly, there is no learning curve, the story starts small and expands slowly and subtly, we are never bombarded with information. Secondly, this novel creates an incredible atmosphere that makes the story even more captivating. Mr. Zarek based the world on Slavic mythology and folklore, which added another layer of originality and authenticity to the whole. The world was dark and whimsical, and coupled with the author’s beautiful writing, this book is unputdownable.
In a tragic jousting accident, he almost killed his closest friend, Flynn. Following this horrible incident, Boone Daniels has promised to fill in for Flynn at a gig that is scheduled to take place in New York City. While searching for professor Stone, Flynn's contact, Boone arrives at the scene of the professor's death just in time. After squeaking out of danger, Boone discovers a devious plot to play an obscure piece by Paganini that would invoke the presence of the devil, causing Baba Yaga to be captured and bringing about the destruction of modern-day New York City.
Boone becomes involved in a centuries-old conflict between the two secret societies who are singularly focused on recovering three priceless pieces of composition by Niccolò Paganini. During this time, he is accompanied by Sapphire, a skilled violinist and professor Stone's secretary. Sapphire and Boone have discovered that the combination of these three pieces, when performed together, has the power to call out the Devil. Along the way, a Romani immortal, steampunk vampires, and Baba Yaga set the situation for war, and Boone will have to risk his life. Will he be able to get there in time to prevent the destruction of the world and New York City?
Narrated in lyrical prose, Mr. Joe Zarek weaves a tale no less compelling for its slow, gradual development. Like all the best fantasy tales, the author draws on the setting to create an atmosphere that promises magic and suggests many horrors. One reason why this book works so well is that the stakes remain extremely high throughout the entire story. Everything seems hopeless, and you see no way out. You keep waiting for the protagonist to get a break, but then things keep getting worse, and even worse. But there is also a sense of hope in spite of all the darkness, of wonder and discovery, of healing and renewal. A hope for an end to the vicious cycle of violence.
The music itself becomes a character, fierce and vengeful, creepy and cunning, and so powerful. The magic pours out of this beautiful story, and the more we learn about this world, the more we want to know. The characters are excellent, the descriptions of magic and creatures are brilliant and original, and the story is action-packed from start to finish, yet the author manages to fit in character development and to engage the reader's emotions as they follow Boone's journey.
The world-building in this book was fantastic. Firstly, there is no learning curve, the story starts small and expands slowly and subtly, we are never bombarded with information. Secondly, this novel creates an incredible atmosphere that makes the story even more captivating. Mr. Zarek based the world on Slavic mythology and folklore, which added another layer of originality and authenticity to the whole. The world was dark and whimsical, and coupled with the author’s beautiful writing, this book is unputdownable.
October 15, 2021
The Devil Pulls the Strings by J. W. Zarek is a rare piece of urban fantasy that blended multiple themes such as magic, history, music, humor, and mythology. Zarek beautifully narrates the story gradually intensifying the curiosity of the readers while creating captivating images throughout the read.
He is meticulous about the story but as well as the surroundings, sounds, and smells that perfectly match a cinematic experience. Each chapter is enthralling and magical. There are plenty of characters involved in the story.
The plot is quite exciting, capturing the reader from the first few pages. It revolves around Boonie Daniels, a young guy of twenty-two years old, who’s suffering from panic attacks, guilt, and haunts of evil spirits. Equipped with time travel, he embarks on a war with Baba Yaga and puts his life in stakes for redemption. Will our young protagonist succeed?
If you’re a fan of horror, and supernatural types of novels this is a must-read. Highly Recommended!
He is meticulous about the story but as well as the surroundings, sounds, and smells that perfectly match a cinematic experience. Each chapter is enthralling and magical. There are plenty of characters involved in the story.
The plot is quite exciting, capturing the reader from the first few pages. It revolves around Boonie Daniels, a young guy of twenty-two years old, who’s suffering from panic attacks, guilt, and haunts of evil spirits. Equipped with time travel, he embarks on a war with Baba Yaga and puts his life in stakes for redemption. Will our young protagonist succeed?
If you’re a fan of horror, and supernatural types of novels this is a must-read. Highly Recommended!
June 17, 2022
The Devil Pulls the Strings is beautifully written, with an unusual setting and a great set of characters, realistic and flawed but admirable. There's a wonderful, touching, layered relationship between Boon and his friend, Flynn. It explores good and evil, love for friends, family and nation, and other complex themes in a nuanced way.
Mr. Zarek did a fantastic job by taking us on a journey to a magical world; quite a mash-up of Slavic folklore and mythology with a modern day setting. The characters were written so well that they will remain with you, even long after you have finished reading the book. This book has a distinctive flavour like nothing you've read before in fantasy. It calls to a person's soul and demands entrance; it's harsh and cutting and ruthless.
The book builds a little slowly at first, setting down rich details that help create the vivid atmosphere of the story. Though slow it may be to start, I never found it dull. I savoured every detail: the masterful writing, the haunting atmosphere. Building tension crescendos to an ending that had me quite breathless.
I’m completely in awe that this was a debut novel by an author whose previous writing experience is not much spoken of. The raw talent poured into this novel is astounding. Author Joe Zarek's prose is lush and lyrical. Over all, it was such an amazing book! If you love strong, defiant, and brave characters, mythology, secret societies, music, and fantasy, then you should definitely give this one a chance!
Mr. Zarek did a fantastic job by taking us on a journey to a magical world; quite a mash-up of Slavic folklore and mythology with a modern day setting. The characters were written so well that they will remain with you, even long after you have finished reading the book. This book has a distinctive flavour like nothing you've read before in fantasy. It calls to a person's soul and demands entrance; it's harsh and cutting and ruthless.
The book builds a little slowly at first, setting down rich details that help create the vivid atmosphere of the story. Though slow it may be to start, I never found it dull. I savoured every detail: the masterful writing, the haunting atmosphere. Building tension crescendos to an ending that had me quite breathless.
I’m completely in awe that this was a debut novel by an author whose previous writing experience is not much spoken of. The raw talent poured into this novel is astounding. Author Joe Zarek's prose is lush and lyrical. Over all, it was such an amazing book! If you love strong, defiant, and brave characters, mythology, secret societies, music, and fantasy, then you should definitely give this one a chance!
June 17, 2022
The Devil Pulls the Strings is a richly imagined novel, incredibly atmospheric, a work of fiction with hints of the fantastical set in modern-day Wentzville, MO, New York City, and 1813 Genoa, Italy, and is a wonderful book to curl up with on the couch and be utterly transported elsewhere.
Mr. Zarek juggles many concepts like bromance, Slavic mythology, secret societies, Paganini's music and time travel. Ultimately, all are weaved in to the larger story, an enchanting, updated fantasy of good versus evil with a wild, independent, strong character at its center. It starts slowly and coalesces and builds to a climax.
The writing is good for the book's hybrid nature of fantastical fiction and Slavic mythology: descriptive without slowing pace, a light enough touch to propel forward but also able to capture the moody air of increasing peril and fear as the plot advances. The fantastical component is the main action, but there is musical background that makes it a unique read.
Mr. Zarek juggles many concepts like bromance, Slavic mythology, secret societies, Paganini's music and time travel. Ultimately, all are weaved in to the larger story, an enchanting, updated fantasy of good versus evil with a wild, independent, strong character at its center. It starts slowly and coalesces and builds to a climax.
The writing is good for the book's hybrid nature of fantastical fiction and Slavic mythology: descriptive without slowing pace, a light enough touch to propel forward but also able to capture the moody air of increasing peril and fear as the plot advances. The fantastical component is the main action, but there is musical background that makes it a unique read.
February 18, 2022
The Devil Pulls the Strings by J.W. Zarek is an engaging fantasy adventure novel packed with drama, mystery, a bit of time travel, and some hints of paranormal. Boone Daniels is just an average 20+ year old man who is just trying to get by in life. But things tend to go awry for him. He lost his parents young and now he almost killed his best friend in a joust. Yikes! Well, things are about to get even more wild for him when his friend asks him a simple favor. Go to New York and fill in with the band for a gig they have scheduled for that weekend. Simple, right? Yeah, until the contact he was supposed to meet ends up dead. Buckle up buttercup. It’s going to be a wild ride ahead!
The Devil Pulls the Strings is packed with engaging moments. Boone is both engaging and a bit dull at times. There are a variety of characters that will pull you into the story as you read along and try to figure out how all these players work together. It seems that Boone will frequently find himself in the path of danger. He was just thinking this would be a simple task and then he gets more than he bargained for. Of course, the pretty girl he meets is some salve to the wound though. LOL!
The race is on to find this mysterious music that is supposed to summon the devil. Secret societies either want him out of the way or want his help in acquiring the music. One wants to use it, but the other wants to rid the world of it. Who’s really pulling the strings here?
This book is packed with a lot of good stuff, but then it gets broken up a bit by start-stop flow of writing. Not everything flows perfectly and it reminds me of learning how to drive stick. You stay in the wrong gear too long and you’re going to stall out until you shift.
I’m rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. I like the comparison to the Librarians and the Magicians, and while this book aspires to reach those heights it’s not quite there yet. Once the author really hits their stride, I think this book will grab them. Currently with the overly wordy places, and broken flow of writing in other spots this book falls a bit short for me. I enjoyed this story though and I look forward to Boone’s next adventure.
The Devil Pulls the Strings is packed with engaging moments. Boone is both engaging and a bit dull at times. There are a variety of characters that will pull you into the story as you read along and try to figure out how all these players work together. It seems that Boone will frequently find himself in the path of danger. He was just thinking this would be a simple task and then he gets more than he bargained for. Of course, the pretty girl he meets is some salve to the wound though. LOL!
The race is on to find this mysterious music that is supposed to summon the devil. Secret societies either want him out of the way or want his help in acquiring the music. One wants to use it, but the other wants to rid the world of it. Who’s really pulling the strings here?
This book is packed with a lot of good stuff, but then it gets broken up a bit by start-stop flow of writing. Not everything flows perfectly and it reminds me of learning how to drive stick. You stay in the wrong gear too long and you’re going to stall out until you shift.
I’m rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. I like the comparison to the Librarians and the Magicians, and while this book aspires to reach those heights it’s not quite there yet. Once the author really hits their stride, I think this book will grab them. Currently with the overly wordy places, and broken flow of writing in other spots this book falls a bit short for me. I enjoyed this story though and I look forward to Boone’s next adventure.
July 27, 2022
The Devil Pulls the Strings
by J.W. Zarek
Paranormal Fantasy Folk Lore
Scribd Audio
Boone Daniels is haunted by a wendigo and he also has a few gifts: the ability to feel, see, taste, and smell music, then being able to play that same tune after hearing it only once.
He promises his best friend, the man he almost killed during a jousting event, to go to New York to play in the man's band, and upon arriving, Boone is drawn into a plot to summon the Devil, trap Baba Yaga, ends up making deals with vampires, and time travels.
Yeah, there's a lot going on in this book and at times things seem to have been thrown in just to add to the confusion in Boone's (and the reader's) head.
I listened to the audio version, and there were sound effects. They reminded me of comic books, or better yet, the old Batman and Robin TV series. If these 'bams', 'bops', 'pows', and other noises were included in the text, I have no clue. And having the narrator cough and sniff, wasn't entertaining. But if they were and this was meant to be a comic book, then it might have been a better read.
For me, the sound effects were distracting from the story. But I will admit that hearing the violin music is a way for the non-musical readers to hear this music, but too bad it was only snippets. And the all-important promise to play in the band, there was no music there. Just a quick, 'yep, we played,' and again only snippets for the summoning spell. More would've made listening to the sound effects and other things worth it, but instead, I was left hanging.
As for the story itself, it was okay. I liked the idea, but there was a lot of rambling, repeating, and going from here and there, and back again without much explaining or vivid details except for a few buildings. I can't even remember if the MC was even described. But maybe it's because of all of the extras in the audio covered up those details.
The takeaway... the story was okay, not scary, not graphic, not sexual, so okay for readers 14 and older, but don't listen to the audio unless you want sound effects.
2 Stars
by J.W. Zarek
Paranormal Fantasy Folk Lore
Scribd Audio
Boone Daniels is haunted by a wendigo and he also has a few gifts: the ability to feel, see, taste, and smell music, then being able to play that same tune after hearing it only once.
He promises his best friend, the man he almost killed during a jousting event, to go to New York to play in the man's band, and upon arriving, Boone is drawn into a plot to summon the Devil, trap Baba Yaga, ends up making deals with vampires, and time travels.
Yeah, there's a lot going on in this book and at times things seem to have been thrown in just to add to the confusion in Boone's (and the reader's) head.
I listened to the audio version, and there were sound effects. They reminded me of comic books, or better yet, the old Batman and Robin TV series. If these 'bams', 'bops', 'pows', and other noises were included in the text, I have no clue. And having the narrator cough and sniff, wasn't entertaining. But if they were and this was meant to be a comic book, then it might have been a better read.
For me, the sound effects were distracting from the story. But I will admit that hearing the violin music is a way for the non-musical readers to hear this music, but too bad it was only snippets. And the all-important promise to play in the band, there was no music there. Just a quick, 'yep, we played,' and again only snippets for the summoning spell. More would've made listening to the sound effects and other things worth it, but instead, I was left hanging.
As for the story itself, it was okay. I liked the idea, but there was a lot of rambling, repeating, and going from here and there, and back again without much explaining or vivid details except for a few buildings. I can't even remember if the MC was even described. But maybe it's because of all of the extras in the audio covered up those details.
The takeaway... the story was okay, not scary, not graphic, not sexual, so okay for readers 14 and older, but don't listen to the audio unless you want sound effects.
2 Stars
December 15, 2021
J. W. Zarek appears to have a boundless imagination and is able to develop an engrossing atmosphere that makes for one epic adventure.
Read full review in the 2021 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 17, 2022
The Devil Pulls the Strings is the first book in the Archivist series. This is a fantasy tale mixed with a lot of history, mythology, and folklore. This book's merits and charms worked perfectly on me: I was captivated by the foreign, historic setting, enchanted by the aspects of Slavic mythology, interested by secret societies, Paganini's music and time travel.
The world created by Mr. Zarek is breathtakingly magical and beautiful and chilling at the same time. This fantasy world, filled with spoken magical words, the forces of good and evil, enchanted creatures and the foreboding woods was just so enveloping. It’s the little details that made the world really come to life.
The book has everything what a good fantasy needs, is scary and dark when it necessary and refreshingly magical to maintain the balance as well. Everyone needs a bit of magic in own mundane and day to day existence and this novel works out perfectly.
The world created by Mr. Zarek is breathtakingly magical and beautiful and chilling at the same time. This fantasy world, filled with spoken magical words, the forces of good and evil, enchanted creatures and the foreboding woods was just so enveloping. It’s the little details that made the world really come to life.
The book has everything what a good fantasy needs, is scary and dark when it necessary and refreshingly magical to maintain the balance as well. Everyone needs a bit of magic in own mundane and day to day existence and this novel works out perfectly.
February 2, 2024
✨2.5✨
I enjoyed most of this book, I really liked the story, the characters and the world building was very thought out and genuine. But I felt like it was quite clunky in parts, the dialogue felt unrealistic and pulled me out of the story often. I wasn’t a fan of the use of repeating words three times (this happened often) but I think that may be personal preference over bad writing. I was also disappointed to get over halfway through, to find the use of an unnecessary disablist slur, which felt so out of place.
Sometimes the dynamic between characters didn’t work (partly due to the dialogue) but I enjoyed their relationships nonetheless. I’m glad I read the book, as I did enjoy it. But I think it was just let down by the writing style and editing choices.
I enjoyed most of this book, I really liked the story, the characters and the world building was very thought out and genuine. But I felt like it was quite clunky in parts, the dialogue felt unrealistic and pulled me out of the story often. I wasn’t a fan of the use of repeating words three times (this happened often) but I think that may be personal preference over bad writing. I was also disappointed to get over halfway through, to find the use of an unnecessary disablist slur, which felt so out of place.
Sometimes the dynamic between characters didn’t work (partly due to the dialogue) but I enjoyed their relationships nonetheless. I’m glad I read the book, as I did enjoy it. But I think it was just let down by the writing style and editing choices.
March 10, 2022
Overall I enjoyed this book. For me, it started out slow, and I had a hard time getting into it. But after reading on into it, I enjoyed it. The main character is likable and you find yourself invested in his story
November 15, 2021
Boone has had a rather unlucky life. He has been involved in the magical world that most people don’t even know exists as a wendigo has been chasing him since he was six years old. This has caused him to develop terrible anxiety and have horrible panic attacks often. Now, he is 22 and mostly has his life under some control. He works at the local Ren Fair in his state and jousts with his friends from time to time. When a joust goes wrong, he travels to New York to fill in for his injured friend at a gig. Immediately he meets an NYU violin student when her professor falls off his brownstone’s balcony. This short sequence of events throws him into an adventure that he definitely did not sign up for, with a colorful cast of characters to help him along the way.
This book had me searching for the word onomatopoeia, which is basically using words as sound effects in stories. The author loves doing this and these sound effects often make you feel as if you are reading a video or movie.
This author also clearly had knowledge of New York City. I worked in NYC for over a year and spent a lot of time commuting through the city. Most books set in “urban fantasy” environments make up some random fantasy city that doesn’t match up with any particular real-world location. This story was ingrained in NYC culture and locations, and I found myself smiling when I remember seeing some of the locations in the story during my commutes and visits to NYC in real life.
I struggled to get through this book. Although the story was interesting and unique, the writing was a bit difficult to contend with. Two characters seemed to be set up to have some sort of romantic connection, but I didn’t see any chemistry whatsoever between them. Just awkward scenes where out of nowhere the girl would lay her head on the guy or they would randomly hold hands. The story jumped around so much that it was hard to keep up with. I remember being close to the end of the book and hearing Boone remember how a character had died, and I realized that I didn’t even remember the page where Boone was supposed to find out that the character died. I felt very disconnected from the characters of this book.
The thing that saved the book for me was the monsters. I found the monsters and magical creatures in this universe to be unique and fun to read about although they were based on various fantasy tropes and old tales. I also enjoyed how music was woven into this story and could truly be felt through the pages. If you can get past the writing style and the pacing, there is truly a unique urban fantasy tale at the heart of this book.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
This book had me searching for the word onomatopoeia, which is basically using words as sound effects in stories. The author loves doing this and these sound effects often make you feel as if you are reading a video or movie.
This author also clearly had knowledge of New York City. I worked in NYC for over a year and spent a lot of time commuting through the city. Most books set in “urban fantasy” environments make up some random fantasy city that doesn’t match up with any particular real-world location. This story was ingrained in NYC culture and locations, and I found myself smiling when I remember seeing some of the locations in the story during my commutes and visits to NYC in real life.
I struggled to get through this book. Although the story was interesting and unique, the writing was a bit difficult to contend with. Two characters seemed to be set up to have some sort of romantic connection, but I didn’t see any chemistry whatsoever between them. Just awkward scenes where out of nowhere the girl would lay her head on the guy or they would randomly hold hands. The story jumped around so much that it was hard to keep up with. I remember being close to the end of the book and hearing Boone remember how a character had died, and I realized that I didn’t even remember the page where Boone was supposed to find out that the character died. I felt very disconnected from the characters of this book.
The thing that saved the book for me was the monsters. I found the monsters and magical creatures in this universe to be unique and fun to read about although they were based on various fantasy tropes and old tales. I also enjoyed how music was woven into this story and could truly be felt through the pages. If you can get past the writing style and the pacing, there is truly a unique urban fantasy tale at the heart of this book.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
February 12, 2022
When his friend was injured in a jousting accident Boone promised to take his place as lead in the upcoming gig happening in New York. What started out as a simple request soon turned into a chaotic whirlwind of danger, mystery, and crazy magic which lead Boone on some extraordinary adventures in both the present and the past. This book is a time traveling musical orientated composition filled with melodic motion.
This is a fast-paced story with believable characters. After the vague prologue this book picks up speed and flows well for the rest of the narrative. The only issue I had with this book is at one point the female protagonist was looking at her phone causing her to bump into the male character as a first meeting. Later, when the male said "Use your phone. Call the police!" She said "My phone battery died this morning." She even reiterated its low power status when it rang later she took the phone out of her purse and said. "I was sure my phone died this morning." This issue could just be a simple clerical error which may not bother anyone but me. It does not detract from the overall story and I suppose she could have been looking at her phone to see the status out of habit as if she was confused why it was out of power. This action would explain the statement later when it rings, but at no time bumping into the main character does she put it back in her purse. That issue aside, I would still recommend this read for anyone who likes action, swashbuckling, mystery, self discovery, classical music, magic or an all around quick read that leaves you satisfied and still has an open ended storyline which could continue into future novels.
This is a fast-paced story with believable characters. After the vague prologue this book picks up speed and flows well for the rest of the narrative. The only issue I had with this book is at one point the female protagonist was looking at her phone causing her to bump into the male character as a first meeting. Later, when the male said "Use your phone. Call the police!" She said "My phone battery died this morning." She even reiterated its low power status when it rang later she took the phone out of her purse and said. "I was sure my phone died this morning." This issue could just be a simple clerical error which may not bother anyone but me. It does not detract from the overall story and I suppose she could have been looking at her phone to see the status out of habit as if she was confused why it was out of power. This action would explain the statement later when it rings, but at no time bumping into the main character does she put it back in her purse. That issue aside, I would still recommend this read for anyone who likes action, swashbuckling, mystery, self discovery, classical music, magic or an all around quick read that leaves you satisfied and still has an open ended storyline which could continue into future novels.
October 12, 2021
The Devil Pulls the Strings by J.W. Zarek is an entertaining, quirky urban fantasy read that hooked and reeled me in right away - and that is really saying something considering that isn't my normal genre! When I first picked the book up I was slightly intimidated and feeling quite out of my comfort zone. However, I connected instantly with Boone as a character and the story had such an elegant flow to it.
The writing style is beautifully captivating. It really sucks you in with the intricate detail, making you feel like you really are in Wentzville, MO, New York City, and 1813 Genoa, Italy. We follow musician Boone on an epic, fast-paced time traveling adventure to a world dazzled by magic. He's the kind of character you just understand and feel for as he battles to complete certain quests involving all sorts of fascinating mythical creatures / beings.
I love how unique and creative the plot is, Zarek's brilliant imagination really shines through in that respect. The author dabbles in so many different genres effortlessly weaving them all together and has concocted a very interesting, witty, impressive first book! It's edgy and wicked and keeps you on your toes.
It's the kind of book that keeps you gripped even after the very last page! A real page turner that had my heart hammering out of my chest!
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series - and truly see this series exploding and going far. It's Harry Potter on steroids, in my humble opinion!
The writing style is beautifully captivating. It really sucks you in with the intricate detail, making you feel like you really are in Wentzville, MO, New York City, and 1813 Genoa, Italy. We follow musician Boone on an epic, fast-paced time traveling adventure to a world dazzled by magic. He's the kind of character you just understand and feel for as he battles to complete certain quests involving all sorts of fascinating mythical creatures / beings.
I love how unique and creative the plot is, Zarek's brilliant imagination really shines through in that respect. The author dabbles in so many different genres effortlessly weaving them all together and has concocted a very interesting, witty, impressive first book! It's edgy and wicked and keeps you on your toes.
It's the kind of book that keeps you gripped even after the very last page! A real page turner that had my heart hammering out of my chest!
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series - and truly see this series exploding and going far. It's Harry Potter on steroids, in my humble opinion!
February 18, 2022
One of the reasons I love The Review Crew* so much is the opportunity to discover great books like this one that I would probably have missed otherwise.
This book was a great mix of mythology and action. Once it got going, the action and adventure rarely let up. Definitely a thrill-a-minute kind of read, and I found it hard to put the book down without knowing what happened next.
The characters were also very good. Boone, Sapphire, and Rizos were all detailed and believable, with distinct personalities. I also enjoyed Mac the cat, who added both mystique and humor to the story.
I especially enjoyed the mythological elements that were part of the book. Some were new to me, but some were familiar but used in new ways.
A creative, exciting story!
*https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookR...
This book was a great mix of mythology and action. Once it got going, the action and adventure rarely let up. Definitely a thrill-a-minute kind of read, and I found it hard to put the book down without knowing what happened next.
The characters were also very good. Boone, Sapphire, and Rizos were all detailed and believable, with distinct personalities. I also enjoyed Mac the cat, who added both mystique and humor to the story.
I especially enjoyed the mythological elements that were part of the book. Some were new to me, but some were familiar but used in new ways.
A creative, exciting story!
*https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookR...
Read
September 24, 2021The novel's many complex elements are skillfully woven into something extremely entertaining. It’s a fun piece of world-building that blends history and folklore (Baba Yaga, wendigos, domovoi) with entirely original elements (the clandestine Lavender and Roses Society and its nemesis, the Dragons and Nymphs Society), and sets the stage for the next book in the Archivist series. If it’s anything like this one, prepare yourself for a wild ride.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/09/15/the-d...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/09/15/the-d...
October 3, 2021
DNF at 50%. Oh boy I tried so hard with this one. Boone is a fine character and the story was really interesting, but the writing jumped around so much that it was unreadable. It was super hard to follow without thinking really hard. There was a lot of potential, but it was obscured by the fragmentation of the writing. eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2023
I went into this book extremely hopeful. As a classical musician, the concept of a book that revolved around New York City, magical secret societies, and summoning the devil through a Paganini violin concerto excited me. However, after beginning the novel it slowly became apparent that it lacked the excitement I hoped for.
The book begins quickly with the protagonist, Boone Daniels, a musician and worker at a Renaissance Faire who is enlisted to play with a band at a charity event in New York City. And everything afterward unfolds rapidly. From the get-go, everything is a whirlwind, jumping from place to place, often with little to no transition, and no room for explanation. Even as I took notes throughout the book, I, more often than not, would find myself completely lost, as the author would breeze over events or jump from scene to scene with no warning. This issue was made even worse during reading due to the main character, who for some reason never properly explained, has flashbacks in his dreams, jumping through different scenes and timelines, making it extremely difficult to follow.
Another aspect of the novel that left me with a sour taste was the dialogue. For lack of a better description, the dialogue fell flat. All of the characters spoke the same, lacking defining voices. Additionally, the dialogue over and over felt like a way to dump information, rather than tell a story. The book, but specifically the dialogue, was a perfect example of telling and not showing. While it’s usual for books targeted at younger audiences to have less complex or intricate dialogue, there are so many ways to simplify writing without losing character voices or flavor.
That leads me to the disappointment that was the characters. Similar to the dialogue, none of the characters truly felt distinctive. The audience spends the entire novel reading through Boone’s perspective but still, I don’t know anything about who he is other than that he likes to save people. Boone’s best friend Flynn, the character who kick-starts the story, is never truly fleshed out and is used purely as motivation for other characters. Another lead character, Sapphire, a French violinist, is introduced early on. She is featured in a large portion of the book, yet what few characteristics that they gave her, wittiness and well-preparedness, are not consistently followed through, leaving a character lacking a complete personality who serves best as a cookie-cutter will-they-won’t-they romantic interest.
The novel isn’t just inconsistent in its characters, but also in every other aspect, including the plot. Having a book that is extremely difficult to follow through its progression and timelines is a challenge in itself. However when the plot is filled with holes and lore that is glossed over, never explained, or inconsistent with itself, the challenge of understanding becomes so much bigger. The concept of the novel, summoning the Devil through long-lost Paganini pieces, is constantly changed throughout, with lore rewritten and the rules of the magic system disobeyed at every turn with no consequences. Similarly, plot points or characters are brought up and ignored for the rest of the book, resulting in what feels heavily like plot armor, when new characters are introduced to save Boone and are never brought up again, or several other similar scenarios.
Lastly, and most importantly, in a book like The Devil Pulls the Strings, where every aspect is brought together by music, the music should come alive. I felt no love from this book. There are constant references to sonatas, concertos, and all sorts of music, yet no time is devoted to it. The few times that music is played, it's practically skipped over, as if it were unimportant, even though it is the entire premise of the novel. And even when described, it’s minimal and lacking any passion. For a book about the beauty of art and the mysteries of music, I couldn’t help but wonder if the author even truly understands or enjoys music.
I rated The Devil Pulls the Strings 2 out of 5 stars. I won’t say that I hated this book because, honestly, there were so many times that I felt I was enjoying myself. I enjoyed Boone and Sapphire's friendship, albeit with a never addressed romantic tension. I love Paganini, so the concept interested me, and while I don’t think I would ever reread it, it was an experience. All in all, I feel like this book could be saved with heavy rounds of editing. It felt to me like an advanced reading copy, yet to be sent to editors, so I feel that with the right amount of editing, plot holes can be taken out, characters can be developed more, and maybe with between 50-100 more pages, you could begin to truly flesh out the magic system and strive for a more consistent pace and therefore, a more enjoyable experience.
The book begins quickly with the protagonist, Boone Daniels, a musician and worker at a Renaissance Faire who is enlisted to play with a band at a charity event in New York City. And everything afterward unfolds rapidly. From the get-go, everything is a whirlwind, jumping from place to place, often with little to no transition, and no room for explanation. Even as I took notes throughout the book, I, more often than not, would find myself completely lost, as the author would breeze over events or jump from scene to scene with no warning. This issue was made even worse during reading due to the main character, who for some reason never properly explained, has flashbacks in his dreams, jumping through different scenes and timelines, making it extremely difficult to follow.
Another aspect of the novel that left me with a sour taste was the dialogue. For lack of a better description, the dialogue fell flat. All of the characters spoke the same, lacking defining voices. Additionally, the dialogue over and over felt like a way to dump information, rather than tell a story. The book, but specifically the dialogue, was a perfect example of telling and not showing. While it’s usual for books targeted at younger audiences to have less complex or intricate dialogue, there are so many ways to simplify writing without losing character voices or flavor.
That leads me to the disappointment that was the characters. Similar to the dialogue, none of the characters truly felt distinctive. The audience spends the entire novel reading through Boone’s perspective but still, I don’t know anything about who he is other than that he likes to save people. Boone’s best friend Flynn, the character who kick-starts the story, is never truly fleshed out and is used purely as motivation for other characters. Another lead character, Sapphire, a French violinist, is introduced early on. She is featured in a large portion of the book, yet what few characteristics that they gave her, wittiness and well-preparedness, are not consistently followed through, leaving a character lacking a complete personality who serves best as a cookie-cutter will-they-won’t-they romantic interest.
The novel isn’t just inconsistent in its characters, but also in every other aspect, including the plot. Having a book that is extremely difficult to follow through its progression and timelines is a challenge in itself. However when the plot is filled with holes and lore that is glossed over, never explained, or inconsistent with itself, the challenge of understanding becomes so much bigger. The concept of the novel, summoning the Devil through long-lost Paganini pieces, is constantly changed throughout, with lore rewritten and the rules of the magic system disobeyed at every turn with no consequences. Similarly, plot points or characters are brought up and ignored for the rest of the book, resulting in what feels heavily like plot armor, when new characters are introduced to save Boone and are never brought up again, or several other similar scenarios.
Lastly, and most importantly, in a book like The Devil Pulls the Strings, where every aspect is brought together by music, the music should come alive. I felt no love from this book. There are constant references to sonatas, concertos, and all sorts of music, yet no time is devoted to it. The few times that music is played, it's practically skipped over, as if it were unimportant, even though it is the entire premise of the novel. And even when described, it’s minimal and lacking any passion. For a book about the beauty of art and the mysteries of music, I couldn’t help but wonder if the author even truly understands or enjoys music.
I rated The Devil Pulls the Strings 2 out of 5 stars. I won’t say that I hated this book because, honestly, there were so many times that I felt I was enjoying myself. I enjoyed Boone and Sapphire's friendship, albeit with a never addressed romantic tension. I love Paganini, so the concept interested me, and while I don’t think I would ever reread it, it was an experience. All in all, I feel like this book could be saved with heavy rounds of editing. It felt to me like an advanced reading copy, yet to be sent to editors, so I feel that with the right amount of editing, plot holes can be taken out, characters can be developed more, and maybe with between 50-100 more pages, you could begin to truly flesh out the magic system and strive for a more consistent pace and therefore, a more enjoyable experience.
April 11, 2022
"The Devil Pulls the Strings" has become one of my top recommendations for fantasy books. I read it in just a week, wondering what would happen next every time I closed the book. It has a strong beginning, introducing us to the main character and world right away without having to explain itself too much. Although it is fantasy and has a lot of fantasy themes, the author manages to make both Boone Daniels and the characters surrounding him feel real. On the subject of our main guy, he manages to be the dark and tortured “hero that doesn’t really want to be a hero” trope without it becoming too cliché or annoyingly edgy. You both feel for him and the situations he has been through and admire his coolness. In fact, that is the feeling throughout the whole book. The author managed to find a nice balance between typical fantasy tropes while making them feel fresh. The best way I can describe the story is “What if a tortured modern fantasy bard was the main character of a Slavic gothic mystery?”
I must say, as a fantasy fan, a violinist, and a mythology lover, this book delighted me in every aspect. The references to Paganini and his suspected relation to The Devil in the world of music were a very interesting and compelling plot point, and the Slavic mythological beings, although with a lot of creative liberties, were very well written as well. I have to give kudos for using Slavic mythology, as it is not one often used in fantasy books, but has so many interesting fantasy creatures that can be used in ingenious ways, as Zarek displays.
The story can feel a little too fast at times, I would have enjoyed hearing more about the world, but it is made up by the amazing adventure and mystery that follows that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is written in a way that is both intricate and careful but straightforward, making it an easy read, even if you have no previous experience with fantasy or know nothing about mythology.
A definite must for any urban fantasy lover.
I must say, as a fantasy fan, a violinist, and a mythology lover, this book delighted me in every aspect. The references to Paganini and his suspected relation to The Devil in the world of music were a very interesting and compelling plot point, and the Slavic mythological beings, although with a lot of creative liberties, were very well written as well. I have to give kudos for using Slavic mythology, as it is not one often used in fantasy books, but has so many interesting fantasy creatures that can be used in ingenious ways, as Zarek displays.
The story can feel a little too fast at times, I would have enjoyed hearing more about the world, but it is made up by the amazing adventure and mystery that follows that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is written in a way that is both intricate and careful but straightforward, making it an easy read, even if you have no previous experience with fantasy or know nothing about mythology.
A definite must for any urban fantasy lover.
June 3, 2022
Boone Daniels is your typical knight in shining armor. His sense of justice and loyalty is strong, especially after a terrible accident at a jousting match that puts his best friend, Flynn, in the hospital. Unable to perform with his band, the Village Idiots, Flynn asks Boone to take his place in New York at a charity ball. Provided with an address and time, Boone heads to NYC to meet the Village Idiot’s benefactor, Professor Stone. Boone soon stumbles upon his true purpose for being in New York – to stop Sinti from summoning the devil and stop Baba Yaga, an immortal being who has been trapped in a deep sleep for centuries, from destroying NYC. Along with his new friend, Sapphire, Boone helps a secret organization fight a long-time war with the Dragon and Nymph society.
In The Devil Pulls the Strings, Joseph Zarek brings to life magic and monsters found in European lore. This is an exciting story that I found to be fast-paced and full of action. The author hits on thrilling plot points rapidly, moving Boone through his next steps to stopping Sinti quickly with just enough time to digest what happened before moving on.
Readers are immediately introduced to intriguing magic and mythological creatures before the main character, which sets readers up to know what kind of imaginative story they are delving into, but I feel like this prevents readers from discovering this secret world along with the main character.
Some of the information the author uses is factual and conforms to the original mythology, which I loved, but in some areas the author bends mythological rules in unique ways, which I love even more. For example, Wendigos prey on people who are socially disconnected or corrupt, greedy and/or weak. I enjoyed the author’s fresh take on these mythological creatures.
The Devil Pulls the Strings is a quirky epic fantasy adventure that is relentlessly moving forward and never forgets to entertain the reader. The modern reimagining of old mythologies and the mash-up of multiple mythologies makes this a one-of-a-kind fantasy that readers will surely enjoy.
In The Devil Pulls the Strings, Joseph Zarek brings to life magic and monsters found in European lore. This is an exciting story that I found to be fast-paced and full of action. The author hits on thrilling plot points rapidly, moving Boone through his next steps to stopping Sinti quickly with just enough time to digest what happened before moving on.
Readers are immediately introduced to intriguing magic and mythological creatures before the main character, which sets readers up to know what kind of imaginative story they are delving into, but I feel like this prevents readers from discovering this secret world along with the main character.
Some of the information the author uses is factual and conforms to the original mythology, which I loved, but in some areas the author bends mythological rules in unique ways, which I love even more. For example, Wendigos prey on people who are socially disconnected or corrupt, greedy and/or weak. I enjoyed the author’s fresh take on these mythological creatures.
The Devil Pulls the Strings is a quirky epic fantasy adventure that is relentlessly moving forward and never forgets to entertain the reader. The modern reimagining of old mythologies and the mash-up of multiple mythologies makes this a one-of-a-kind fantasy that readers will surely enjoy.
April 16, 2022
The main character of the book Boone Daniels is a Missouri musician who has many obstacles in his life. The major trouble that revolves around his life was a panic attack. When he was six, He lost his parents to an evil spirit. At the age of 22, he runs into the same evil spirit when he suffers from a panic attack. Whenever he encounters himself in a precarious dark zone, the evil spirit surges. During a St. Louis Ren Faire joust against his best friend Flynn Michales, an air horn on the tables spooks Flynn’s horse. Flynn thrust into Boone’s lance. And the tale goes on. Demons, Vampires, devils, all the things that will scare you for sure.
The book unquestionably daunted me. The characters are literally spooky, and the plot and the manner of illustration are stupefying. In specific areas of the novel, I forestalled certain plots but to my bewilderment, it had an utterly twisted story. If you want to terrorize your friends and family, this book will certainly petrify them. From first to last, it gives me chills. I handed out this to my friends who give me an intimated feedback to me. They thoroughly enjoyed the book. Looking forward to producing more books in the future. Thank you, J.W. Zarek, for this staggering book
The book unquestionably daunted me. The characters are literally spooky, and the plot and the manner of illustration are stupefying. In specific areas of the novel, I forestalled certain plots but to my bewilderment, it had an utterly twisted story. If you want to terrorize your friends and family, this book will certainly petrify them. From first to last, it gives me chills. I handed out this to my friends who give me an intimated feedback to me. They thoroughly enjoyed the book. Looking forward to producing more books in the future. Thank you, J.W. Zarek, for this staggering book
August 3, 2023
The element of fiction of The Devil Pulls the Strings that I found captivating are the unpredictable twists and turns. When you think you have reached the end, J.W. Zarek introduces unexpected and surprising plot twists that excited me page after page.
It sets the stage for an enthralling supernatural urban fantasy novel. Serving as the debut book in the Archivists series, it unravels the captivating adventures of Boone Daniels, a musician hailing from Missouri. Little does he know that his life will take an extraordinary turn as he becomes entangled in a dark and sinister plot to summon the Devil, all centered around a rare Paganini piece.
As Boone's journey unfolds, he is thrust into a world where Slavic mythology, secret societies, steampunk vampires, time travel, and even the enigmatic Baba Yaga come to life. The amalgamation of these elements weaves a mesmerizing tapestry, one that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly devouring every twist and turn that befalls our daring protagonist.
"The Devil Pulls the Strings" promises an exhilarating and immersive experience, exploring a world where the boundaries of reality and the supernatural blur, setting the stage for an unforgettable adventure in this thrilling and imaginative urban fantasy novel.
It sets the stage for an enthralling supernatural urban fantasy novel. Serving as the debut book in the Archivists series, it unravels the captivating adventures of Boone Daniels, a musician hailing from Missouri. Little does he know that his life will take an extraordinary turn as he becomes entangled in a dark and sinister plot to summon the Devil, all centered around a rare Paganini piece.
As Boone's journey unfolds, he is thrust into a world where Slavic mythology, secret societies, steampunk vampires, time travel, and even the enigmatic Baba Yaga come to life. The amalgamation of these elements weaves a mesmerizing tapestry, one that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly devouring every twist and turn that befalls our daring protagonist.
"The Devil Pulls the Strings" promises an exhilarating and immersive experience, exploring a world where the boundaries of reality and the supernatural blur, setting the stage for an unforgettable adventure in this thrilling and imaginative urban fantasy novel.
August 3, 2023
J.W. Zarek's "The Devil Pulls the Strings" is a thrilling fantasy adventure that seamlessly entwines history, music, and gripping action, leaving readers fully immersed in its world. The dynamic characters, propelled by a fast-paced plot and vibrant descriptions, guarantee an exhilarating reading experience.
The moral dilemma faced by the protagonist, Boone Daniels, takes center stage, particularly after a near-fatal joust with his best friend, adding profound depth to the story's ebbs and flows. As Boone strives to protect his family and friends from the clutches of Sinti, the wendigo, and other unknown dangers, the plot intensifies, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
The author’s journey shines brightly, holding readers captive as they eagerly anticipate the unfolding events. His adept portrayal of the 1800s era adds an intriguing vibe to the narrative, and the author's evident passion for music infuses the book with uniqueness and an enjoyable flair.
In summary, "The Devil Pulls the Strings" is a one-of-a-kind, enthralling read, perfectly blending historical charm, musical allure, and heart-stopping action.
The moral dilemma faced by the protagonist, Boone Daniels, takes center stage, particularly after a near-fatal joust with his best friend, adding profound depth to the story's ebbs and flows. As Boone strives to protect his family and friends from the clutches of Sinti, the wendigo, and other unknown dangers, the plot intensifies, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
The author’s journey shines brightly, holding readers captive as they eagerly anticipate the unfolding events. His adept portrayal of the 1800s era adds an intriguing vibe to the narrative, and the author's evident passion for music infuses the book with uniqueness and an enjoyable flair.
In summary, "The Devil Pulls the Strings" is a one-of-a-kind, enthralling read, perfectly blending historical charm, musical allure, and heart-stopping action.
August 4, 2023
While reading this heart-thumping, and engrossing epic novel, I was blown away by the settings, characters, and plot. I wanted to leap into the pages and help little Boone battle the dark creatures, and Sinti.
The narrative unfolds across the contemporary landscapes of Wentzville, MO, and the bustling metropolis of New York City, while also transporting readers back in time to the historical splendor of 1813 Genoa, Italy. Described as a blend of "The Librarians" and "The Magicians," this book weaves together the elements of these two beloved worlds, creating a thrilling and magical experience that will leave readers enchanted and eager for more.
This is a novel that portrays all aspects of the thrill and excitement, both good and bad, leaving nothing out of the shadows that lurk in each reader’s murky heart and mind. The story of minor characters was beautifully woven into the plot to continue a magnificent story that not only tells a story but also teaches readers important lessons. What a remarkable book! Rated this one five over five as always. Zarek proved to me that his books are worth reading.
The narrative unfolds across the contemporary landscapes of Wentzville, MO, and the bustling metropolis of New York City, while also transporting readers back in time to the historical splendor of 1813 Genoa, Italy. Described as a blend of "The Librarians" and "The Magicians," this book weaves together the elements of these two beloved worlds, creating a thrilling and magical experience that will leave readers enchanted and eager for more.
This is a novel that portrays all aspects of the thrill and excitement, both good and bad, leaving nothing out of the shadows that lurk in each reader’s murky heart and mind. The story of minor characters was beautifully woven into the plot to continue a magnificent story that not only tells a story but also teaches readers important lessons. What a remarkable book! Rated this one five over five as always. Zarek proved to me that his books are worth reading.
August 7, 2023
For those who relish the convergence of tortured heroes, epic battles, twisted history, and enigmatic secret societies, this spectacular page-turner promises an enthralling and gripping experience that will leave you thoroughly captivated.
Brace yourself for a riveting journey through time and space in this action-packed book filled with humor, unexpected twists, and delightful surprises. Follow Boone as he ventures from modern-day America to the enchanting landscapes of 19th-century Italy, where he encounters historical figures, mythical creatures, and shadowy secret societies, all woven into an enthralling tapestry.
Boone, the relatable and sympathetic protagonist, grapples with his inner demons, fears, and uncertainties, yet his journey is also defined by acts of courage, unwavering loyalty, and a witty sense of humor that shines through even in the darkest of times.
As the narrative unfolds, the book delves into profound themes, exploring the intricacies of friendship, the quest for redemption, the role of fate, and the significance of free will. Get ready to embark on an adventure that will keep you enthralled, heart in hand, until the final page.
Brace yourself for a riveting journey through time and space in this action-packed book filled with humor, unexpected twists, and delightful surprises. Follow Boone as he ventures from modern-day America to the enchanting landscapes of 19th-century Italy, where he encounters historical figures, mythical creatures, and shadowy secret societies, all woven into an enthralling tapestry.
Boone, the relatable and sympathetic protagonist, grapples with his inner demons, fears, and uncertainties, yet his journey is also defined by acts of courage, unwavering loyalty, and a witty sense of humor that shines through even in the darkest of times.
As the narrative unfolds, the book delves into profound themes, exploring the intricacies of friendship, the quest for redemption, the role of fate, and the significance of free will. Get ready to embark on an adventure that will keep you enthralled, heart in hand, until the final page.
August 7, 2023
I've always thought that a book reflects the writer's deepest thoughts and feelings, and J.W. Zarek’s The Devil Pulls the Strings truly embodies this idea.
Meet Boone Daniels, the musician hailing from Wentzville. Behind his musical talents lies a troubled soul burdened with panic attacks and remorse stemming from a haunting childhood incident involving a wendigo, a mythical creature that continues to haunt his thoughts.
Despite the weight of his fears, Boone possesses remarkable qualities that define him. Loyalty, courage, and sharp wit make him a steadfast companion, particularly to his best friend. However, a fateful accident during a joust leaves his friend injured, adding an additional layer of guilt to Boone's already heavy heart. Life takes an unforeseen turn when Boone accepts a request to stand in for him at a gig in the bustling city of New York.
Through this meeting, Boone finds himself drawn into a world of secrets, magic, and danger as he becomes entangled in the Archivists' quest to protect humanity from the unknown forces lurking in the shadows. Highly recommended!
Meet Boone Daniels, the musician hailing from Wentzville. Behind his musical talents lies a troubled soul burdened with panic attacks and remorse stemming from a haunting childhood incident involving a wendigo, a mythical creature that continues to haunt his thoughts.
Despite the weight of his fears, Boone possesses remarkable qualities that define him. Loyalty, courage, and sharp wit make him a steadfast companion, particularly to his best friend. However, a fateful accident during a joust leaves his friend injured, adding an additional layer of guilt to Boone's already heavy heart. Life takes an unforeseen turn when Boone accepts a request to stand in for him at a gig in the bustling city of New York.
Through this meeting, Boone finds himself drawn into a world of secrets, magic, and danger as he becomes entangled in the Archivists' quest to protect humanity from the unknown forces lurking in the shadows. Highly recommended!
August 8, 2023
A highly readable, exciting, and engaging novel for those people who are fantasy enthusiasts.
In a stunning revelation, the main character, Boone, stumbles upon a nefarious group of steampunk vampires. Their sinister plan involves performing a rare piece of music by Paganini, the legendary violinist, and composer, a melody said to have the power to summon the Devil and entrap the mighty Baba Yaga, the formidable witch and guardian of nature.
Unveiling their dark intentions, the vampires seek to harness the Devil's malevolent might to wreak havoc upon modern-day New York City, striving to establish a new world order under their dominance. A cataclysmic threat looms, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
The book is filled with non-stop action, sprinkled with elements of drama and bro-mance. There's nothing I found displeasing about the novel, and it's evident that the author poured their passion and skill into its creation. The author’s storytelling keeps you engaged throughout, with vivid descriptions that bring each scene to life. I am thrilled to give this book a five-star rating!
In a stunning revelation, the main character, Boone, stumbles upon a nefarious group of steampunk vampires. Their sinister plan involves performing a rare piece of music by Paganini, the legendary violinist, and composer, a melody said to have the power to summon the Devil and entrap the mighty Baba Yaga, the formidable witch and guardian of nature.
Unveiling their dark intentions, the vampires seek to harness the Devil's malevolent might to wreak havoc upon modern-day New York City, striving to establish a new world order under their dominance. A cataclysmic threat looms, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
The book is filled with non-stop action, sprinkled with elements of drama and bro-mance. There's nothing I found displeasing about the novel, and it's evident that the author poured their passion and skill into its creation. The author’s storytelling keeps you engaged throughout, with vivid descriptions that bring each scene to life. I am thrilled to give this book a five-star rating!
August 8, 2023
The plot and characters in The Devil Pulls the Strings are truly remarkable. They were carefully planned and skillfully developed. The story combines drama, action, and time-travel. Zarek's writing prowess shines through as he expertly weaves the rumors surrounding Paganini and the devil, lending an air of mystique and allure to the story. The result is a remarkable and unforgettable reading experience that leaves readers spellbound, immersed in a world where the lines between reality and myth blur into one.
The plot of the book had me completely engrossed, particularly when Boone started to play the piece. Overall, the ending became my favorite part, as it had me wholeheartedly rooting for the main character during his epic battle of swords and power against the antagonist.
This book defies initial expectations set by its title, as the author weaves an incredibly intricate web that ensnares readers in a world fueled by their own imagination, set against the backdrop of significant historical people, marvelous setting, and well-developed characters. For this reason and more, I have given this book a flawless five-star rating.
The plot of the book had me completely engrossed, particularly when Boone started to play the piece. Overall, the ending became my favorite part, as it had me wholeheartedly rooting for the main character during his epic battle of swords and power against the antagonist.
This book defies initial expectations set by its title, as the author weaves an incredibly intricate web that ensnares readers in a world fueled by their own imagination, set against the backdrop of significant historical people, marvelous setting, and well-developed characters. For this reason and more, I have given this book a flawless five-star rating.
August 8, 2023
The unveiling of Paganini's piece, the resurrection of the devil, the presence of the wendigo, the intense joust, and numerous other elements that continually unfold in the story possess a life of their own, becoming dynamic entities within the narrative. From its gripping and intense beginning to the climactic turning points, each element of the story evolves unexpectedly, leading to a crescendo of excitement that leaves readers utterly enthralled. The narrative is masterfully crafted, engaging both the hearts and minds of those who delve into its pages, ensuring an inescapable and captivating reading experience.
In this book, we follow Boone Daniels, a talented musician, as he becomes entangled in a malevolent conspiracy aimed at summoning the Devil and wreaking havoc upon New York City.
As events unfold and the plot deepens, the intensity continues to grow, captivating me to the point of almost obsession. The enthralling nature of the whole story keeps me hooked, eagerly anticipating every twist and turn that lies ahead. J.W. Zarek has got everything down pat and produced such a great masterpiece.
In this book, we follow Boone Daniels, a talented musician, as he becomes entangled in a malevolent conspiracy aimed at summoning the Devil and wreaking havoc upon New York City.
As events unfold and the plot deepens, the intensity continues to grow, captivating me to the point of almost obsession. The enthralling nature of the whole story keeps me hooked, eagerly anticipating every twist and turn that lies ahead. J.W. Zarek has got everything down pat and produced such a great masterpiece.
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