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Chi Chiu Michael Mak wrote: ↑08 May 2024, 07:20 [Following is a volunteer review of "The Devil Pulls the Strings" by J. W. Zarek.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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I enjoyed The Devil Pulls the Strings for 2 reasons:

First, the pacing is just right for a story filled with chase scenes, quests, portal-hopping, and fights. The short, digestible paragraphs create a sense of urgency, compelling me to read the next pages to discover what happens next. Moreover, the breaks are strategically interspersed between the intense moments so the reader can catch their breath and process the exhilarating action that happened before. Those precise pauses provide a non-disruptive flow in the narrative. A natural, immersive reading experience.

Second, the world-building is rich yet simple. The world of The Devil Pulls the Strings is a mix of Paganini music, Slavic mythology, and other folkloric beings. While most fantasy stories overdo the world-building in a way that makes the story feel tedious, The Devil Pulls the Strings doesn't bombard you with walls of exposition and intricate histories. It keeps the focus on the main narrative: the quest to find the music pieces and stop Sinti. The plot takes centre stage while providing just enough information on the fantastic elements to understand the context. In case you do want to explore further (and recall the character names), there is a glossary/trivia page at the back. It ensures you finish the story first, then look for other things if you are interested. The book strikes a balance between full engagement of the main narrative and further exploration if desired.

However, there was one small issue I encountered while reading the book: the portrayal of music performance scenes. Given the limitations of the medium - text only, no audio - it is challenging to fully capture and describe the intricacies of those moments. Zarek faced a daunting task in conveying the beauty and intensity of the music performances, such as when multiple musicians play sonatas with their violins, or when Sapphire and Boone showcase their distinct interpretations of the same song, one on the violin and the other on the guitar. While the text provides glimpses into their passion and skill, the full impact is somewhat lost in translation. Regardless, I recognise Zarek's effort. This particular issue does not diminish the book's strong points.

To sum up, if you're looking for a fast-paced mystery/action book sprinkled with supernatural, musical, and folkloric elements, I recommend The Devil Pulls the Strings. The editing is superb - no typos, no grammatical errors. The book has great readability, appropriate pacing, and smooth flow. I look forward to reading it a third time and exploring Zarek's works. I rate this book 5/5 stars.

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The Devil Pulls the Strings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Claudia Angelucci wrote: ↑03 Jun 2024, 17:42

Chi Chiu Michael Mak wrote: ↑08 May 2024, 07:20 [Following is a volunteer review of "The Devil Pulls the Strings" by J. W. Zarek.]

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5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

I enjoyed The Devil Pulls the Strings for 2 reasons:

First, the pacing is just right for a story filled with chase scenes, quests, portal-hopping, and fights. The short, digestible paragraphs create a sense of urgency, compelling me to read the next pages to discover what happens next. Moreover, the breaks are strategically interspersed between the intense moments so the reader can catch their breath and process the exhilarating action that happened before. Those precise pauses provide a non-disruptive flow in the narrative. A natural, immersive reading experience.

Second, the world-building is rich yet simple. The world of The Devil Pulls the Strings is a mix of Paganini music, Slavic mythology, and other folkloric beings. While most fantasy stories overdo the world-building in a way that makes the story feel tedious, The Devil Pulls the Strings doesn't bombard you with walls of exposition and intricate histories. It keeps the focus on the main narrative: the quest to find the music pieces and stop Sinti. The plot takes centre stage while providing just enough information on the fantastic elements to understand the context. In case you do want to explore further (and recall the character names), there is a glossary/trivia page at the back. It ensures you finish the story first, then look for other things if you are interested. The book strikes a balance between full engagement of the main narrative and further exploration if desired.

However, there was one small issue I encountered while reading the book: the portrayal of music performance scenes. Given the limitations of the medium - text only, no audio - it is challenging to fully capture and describe the intricacies of those moments. Zarek faced a daunting task in conveying the beauty and intensity of the music performances, such as when multiple musicians play sonatas with their violins, or when Sapphire and Boone showcase their distinct interpretations of the same song, one on the violin and the other on the guitar. While the text provides glimpses into their passion and skill, the full impact is somewhat lost in translation. Regardless, I recognise Zarek's effort. This particular issue does not diminish the book's strong points.

To sum up, if you're looking for a fast-paced mystery/action book sprinkled with supernatural, musical, and folkloric elements, I recommend The Devil Pulls the Strings. The editing is superb - no typos, no grammatical errors. The book has great readability, appropriate pacing, and smooth flow. I look forward to reading it a third time and exploring Zarek's works. I rate this book 5/5 stars.

******
The Devil Pulls the Strings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

It was intriguing to read your review of this book, Chi, especially since I just finished reading and reviewing the same book! I have to admit, I wasn't as generous with my rating. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book as well; it is certainly an engaging read. Your review is fascinating, Chi, with a great writing style!

Chi Chiu Michael Mak wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 01:29

Claudia Angelucci wrote: ↑03 Jun 2024, 17:42

Chi Chiu Michael Mak wrote: ↑08 May 2024, 07:20 [Following is a volunteer review of "The Devil Pulls the Strings" by J. W. Zarek.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

I enjoyed The Devil Pulls the Strings for 2 reasons:

First, the pacing is just right for a story filled with chase scenes, quests, portal-hopping, and fights. The short, digestible paragraphs create a sense of urgency, compelling me to read the next pages to discover what happens next. Moreover, the breaks are strategically interspersed between the intense moments so the reader can catch their breath and process the exhilarating action that happened before. Those precise pauses provide a non-disruptive flow in the narrative. A natural, immersive reading experience.

Second, the world-building is rich yet simple. The world of The Devil Pulls the Strings is a mix of Paganini music, Slavic mythology, and other folkloric beings. While most fantasy stories overdo the world-building in a way that makes the story feel tedious, The Devil Pulls the Strings doesn't bombard you with walls of exposition and intricate histories. It keeps the focus on the main narrative: the quest to find the music pieces and stop Sinti. The plot takes centre stage while providing just enough information on the fantastic elements to understand the context. In case you do want to explore further (and recall the character names), there is a glossary/trivia page at the back. It ensures you finish the story first, then look for other things if you are interested. The book strikes a balance between full engagement of the main narrative and further exploration if desired.

However, there was one small issue I encountered while reading the book: the portrayal of music performance scenes. Given the limitations of the medium - text only, no audio - it is challenging to fully capture and describe the intricacies of those moments. Zarek faced a daunting task in conveying the beauty and intensity of the music performances, such as when multiple musicians play sonatas with their violins, or when Sapphire and Boone showcase their distinct interpretations of the same song, one on the violin and the other on the guitar. While the text provides glimpses into their passion and skill, the full impact is somewhat lost in translation. Regardless, I recognise Zarek's effort. This particular issue does not diminish the book's strong points.

To sum up, if you're looking for a fast-paced mystery/action book sprinkled with supernatural, musical, and folkloric elements, I recommend The Devil Pulls the Strings. The editing is superb - no typos, no grammatical errors. The book has great readability, appropriate pacing, and smooth flow. I look forward to reading it a third time and exploring Zarek's works. I rate this book 5/5 stars.

******
The Devil Pulls the Strings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

It was intriguing to read your review of this book, Chi, especially since I just finished reading and reviewing the same book! I have to admit, I wasn't as generous with my rating. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book as well; it is certainly an engaging read. Your review is fascinating, Chi, with a great writing style!

Oh really? You read it too? I'll be checking out your perspective on the book.

This book is one of the few I'll be reading a 3rd time.

And I'm glad you enjoyed my review! Alas, the review didn't get a high score from the editors. Grammarly got wonky, haha... :'|

Out of curiosity, how did you find my volunteer review?

Marvelly wrote: ↑03 Jun 2024, 08:44 I recommend this book for anyone who likes a fast-paced mystery/action book sprinkled with supernatural, musical, and folkloric element.

NetMassimo wrote: ↑08 Jun 2025, 09:37 Probably, I don't know enough about music to fully appreciate this novel, but as a thriller, it seems engaging, and I guess it contains enough information about Paganini and mythology to enable me to follow the plot's ramifications. Thank you for your great review!

Seetha E wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025, 12:09 Your review shows how much you liked it. This is a very good review.
It sure feels satisfying when the writing connects well with readers. Great review, thank you.

Julie Marie Basil wrote: ↑20 Apr 2025, 22:50 This sounds like a very interesting story and I am intrigued to know more after reading your review. I can appreciate your critique about the scenes involving music performances not translating well to the written medium. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!