Review of The Devil Pulls the Strings
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Adele Pooley
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- Latest Review: The Devil Pulls the Strings by J. W. Zarek
Review of The Devil Pulls the Strings
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Devil Pulls the Strings" by J. W. Zarek.]
The Devil Pulls The Strings by J. W. Zarek is a wonderful mix of magical and musical tones which transport the young protagonist, Boone Daniels, from his familiar life in Wenztville into a world mixed with beautiful violins and chases through New York City. The present is affected by many circumstances within the past, which Boone needs to travel through to gain knowledge and collect artifacts to eventually achieve his objective.
Boone is destined to be caught in this whirlwind from the beginning. His fate is to step into a world of supernatural beings and time travel, and learn about the life and works of the great violinist Nicolo Paganini. Along the way he will be joined by new friends who will help his cause, while others are in it to hinder his efforts and turn the tide in their favour. While he is haunted by his own past and actions, Boone pushes on accomplish his goals.
I have never been big on stories written in the present tense, however this book has definitely changed my mind. Along with the choice of tense, the book is written in the first person. This gives the reader a real sense of motion and excitement, compelling them to always want to read one more page. They are swept up in the commotion of the modern day jousting arena, and step through 19th Century dark Italian forests right alongside Boone.
The alliterations within the storyline give an elegant feel, especially where it relates to the playing of the violin. To quote my favourite part: “to fidget, to fiddle, to fixate, to play, to sail with every nuance written in the bars.” The appreciation for the instrument and its qualities is well defined. Musical knowledge is also clearly depicted, both for modern and classical instruments, which is a breath of fresh air.
My only reservation is the use of onomatopoeias, which I find are a rather overdone, however this is more a personal preference. They definitely are used correctly to bring sound to a written storyline.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars as this has been a delightful read. It has clearly been professionally edited, and the author has put great love into his work. I really hope that J. W. Zarek writes a sequel as he has set the base for a wonderful series, which will enchant many readers for years to come.
The Devil Pulls The Strings would suit any reader looking for a lighthearted story, however I think older children and teenagers wanting to delve into longer and more complex books would find this a lovely stepping stone.
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The Devil Pulls the Strings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Devil Pulls The Strings by J. W. Zarek is a wonderful mix of magical and musical tones which transport the young protagonist, Boone Daniels, from his familiar life in Wenztville into a world mixed with beautiful violins and chases through New York City. The present is affected by many circumstances within the past, which Boone needs to travel through to gain knowledge and collect artifacts to eventually achieve his objective.
Boone is destined to be caught in this whirlwind from the beginning. His fate is to step into a world of supernatural beings and time travel, and learn about the life and works of the great violinist Nicolo Paganini. Along the way he will be joined by new friends who will help his cause, while others are in it to hinder his efforts and turn the tide in their favour. While he is haunted by his own past and actions, Boone pushes on accomplish his goals.
I have never been big on stories written in the present tense, however this book has definitely changed my mind. Along with the choice of tense, the book is written in the first person. This gives the reader a real sense of motion and excitement, compelling them to always want to read one more page. They are swept up in the commotion of the modern day jousting arena, and step through 19th Century dark Italian forests right alongside Boone.
The alliterations within the storyline give an elegant feel, especially where it relates to the playing of the violin. To quote my favourite part: “to fidget, to fiddle, to fixate, to play, to sail with every nuance written in the bars.” The appreciation for the instrument and its qualities is well defined. Musical knowledge is also clearly depicted, both for modern and classical instruments, which is a breath of fresh air.
My only reservation is the use of onomatopoeias, which I find are a rather overdone, however this is more a personal preference. They definitely are used correctly to bring sound to a written storyline.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars as this has been a delightful read. It has clearly been professionally edited, and the author has put great love into his work. I really hope that J. W. Zarek writes a sequel as he has set the base for a wonderful series, which will enchant many readers for years to come.
The Devil Pulls The Strings would suit any reader looking for a lighthearted story, however I think older children and teenagers wanting to delve into longer and more complex books would find this a lovely stepping stone.
******
The Devil Pulls the Strings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Devil Pulls the Strings by J. W. Zarek
