The Devil Pulls the Strings

"J. W. Zarek weaves magic on the page, developing an epic, urban fantasy - first in series - readers will want to stick with for a long time. Highly recommended." - Chanticleer Reviews

"A remarkable paranormal tale that delivers plenty of plot developments, curious characters, and otherworldly things." - Kirkus Reviews

"With the glimmer of a potential series in the making, The Devil Pulls the Strings is an urban fantasy novel whose broken hero stumbles through Earth-shattering events, carried by the music and humor in his heart." - John M. Murray, Clarion Reviews

"The world Zarek creates for readers is a wonderful blend of science fiction and present day reality. The contrast between the two is amazing and gives readers the best of both worlds. Readers looking for an exhilarating storyline will become instant fans. The plot is involved but will have readers on the edge of their seats rooting for its main character, Boone." - Literary Titan

"The Devil Pulls the Strings is a twisted, joyous, and bloody shifting kaleidoscope of a fantasy adventure. It is a story so arresting, so action-packed and personality-filled, that even readers unfamiliar with or not usually interested in the historical setting will be enthralled by it. Author J. W. Zarek's writing is immediate, vivid, and easy to sink into." - Andrea Marks-Joseph, Independent Book Review (Starred Review)

"A combination of the television series Warehouse 13, The Librarians, and The Magicians, the storyline flows swiftly and is spellbinding from the first page until the last. The story ends on the ideal place to segue into a sequel and is the perfect beginning for a sensational series." - Readers' Favorite

"The Devil Pulls the Strings is a brilliant blend of time travel, suspense, action, mythology, secret societies, humor, adventure, and history." - Readers' Favorite

"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." - The Bookish Elf

"J. W. Zarek appears to have a boundless imagination and is able to develop an engrossing atmosphere that makes for one epic adventure." - InD'tale Magazine

"The story is unique, ingenious, thrilling, distinctive, and just plain fun to read, and told at a good pace that kept my interest. I also enjoyed the unexpected and warmly written ending very much." - Brian M., New Zealand

"This is great writing and over the top imagination. I could visualize everything and loved every minute of it. This will have a huge audience." - Betty K., California

"The story was very entertaining to read. I found the plot and the writing style pretty captivating. Boone's character is funny, lighthearted, and easy to like. Its tone reminds me of the adventure/fantasy books I enjoyed as a kid." - Francis K., Arizona

"Zarek is a talented writer who did an outstanding job of blending fantasy elements and characters from a variety of cultures to create a unique story. His world building is excellent." - Amazon Reviewer (United States)

"It's refreshing and original. There are many fascinating and unique characters with varied and complex personalities. Our male lead Boone feels real and you get very attached to him. He's not your typical main character, and I liked that." - Amazon Reviewer (Canada)