The Devil Pulls the Strings is the pulse-pounding first tale in the Archivist series.
This second edition exists because readers, producers, and studio executives took the time to share what they wanted: a protagonist who arrives sooner, whose motivation hits harder, who drives the story instead of chasing it, along with deeper backstory and expanded details. Their feedback made this story better, and this edition is the result.
For readers who felt lost keeping track of the book's rich cast of characters, a character glossary was added to the front of the book. For fantasy readers who craved deeper detail on the world and its mythology rooted in authentic Slavic folklore, a comprehensive glossary was added to the back.
The Librarians. The Magicians. The Dresden Files. Neil Gaiman's Sandman. The Devil Pulls the Strings belongs in that conversation, and then goes somewhere none of them have gone before.
Set across modern-day Wentzville, MO, New York City, and 1813 Genoa, Italy, the story weaves bromance, Slavic mythology inherited from oral tradition, secret societies, Paganini's music, and time travel into something that operates on layers upon layers upon layers.
Twenty-two-year-old Boone Daniels experiences the world differently. Music floods his vision with color and taste. Action words materialize around him like panels leaping off a comic book page. And his memory never lets anything go.
Not helping is the evil spirit, a wendigo, that has haunted him since age six, nor the debilitating panic attacks and gut-wrenching guilt he feels for almost killing his best friend in a joust. And when he fills in for that same injured friend at a New York gig, he goes to meet the gig's contact at a NYC brownstone, only to watch him fall from the balcony as gunfire erupts around him.
Boone barely escapes and uncovers a sinister plot to perform Paganini's secret sonata that summons the Devil, to be used to trap Baba Yaga. Not the two-dimensional villain you have seen before, but the full, ancient, terrifying supernatural force of Slavic folklore. And destroy modern-day New York City.
Now he is racing through time to capture a cursed melody before it ends everything. A Romani immortal, steampunk vampires, and Baba Yaga herself set the stage for war. Boone will have to risk death for redemption. All he really wants is to keep a promise to a friend. The same friend he almost killed last Sunday.
Can a small-town Missouri musician outplay the supernatural and save NYC's soul?
If you love tortured heroes, epic battles, time travel, twisted history, and secret societies colliding, and a Baba Yaga rendered in her full folkloric glory for the first time, you will love J. W. Zarek's spectacular page-turner, The Devil Pulls the Strings, Second Edition.
About the Author :
J. W. Zarek is a 2025 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Bronze Medal Winner and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Senior Federal Adjudicator and court-qualified expert witness in Federal and State Court, who has written or co-authored seventeen books, twelve of which are picture books for children ages four to eight.His mission is simple yet powerful: to write stories that inspire kids, spark their imagination, and feed their souls by showing them they can handle life's big feelings and challenges when someone believes in them. Every children's book begins with the same dedication to readers: "Look in the mirror and think and say aloud 'I am enough.'"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. The novel's adapted TV pilot earned the Best American Script Award at the 2024 International Berlin Film Festival.His global adventures include teaching English Conversation in Japan, climbing Mount Fuji, getting kicked off Mount Rainier, hunting pirates in the Persian Gulf, navigating the Suez Canal, and completing the Walt Disney World Marathon as a woman, experiences that fuel his authentic, diverse storytelling perspectives.Beginning in 2027, he will transition to full-time educational advocacy, launching a school visit program to directly combat America's literacy crisis while ensuring every child hears the "I am enough" message. Suzanne Purvis is a writer, artist, and editor transplanted from Canada to the northwest Florida Panhandle. She writes poetry and fiction of the long, short, and flash variety for both children and adults, usually with a touch of humor. Her awards include first place in the University of Toronto Trinity College Short Fiction Contest and RWA Launch a Star. She teaches writing workshops and offers private editing services. Find her at suzannepurvis.com. Peter Johnston has produced concept art and illustrations for clients around the world. Born in Tooting, London and raised on a diet of military history, Greek mythology and comic books, his earliest drawings were strange re-imaginings of the Battle of Hastings with Normans fighting the Avengers. He studied visual art and printmaking in Wales, learning various techniques of painting, etching and mezzotint. He has since replaced the printing press with Photoshop and has been a digital artist for over 15 years, designing and creating illustrations in many styles and genres including steampunk, sci-fi and fantasy scenes for books, games and software. Find him at petejohnstonart.com.
Review :
"A remarkable paranormal tale that delivers plenty of plot developments, curious characters, and otherworldly things." -Kirkus Reviews
"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
"The Devil Pulls the Strings is a twisted, joyous, and bloody shifting kaleidoscope of a fantasy adventure. Author J.W. Zarek's writing is immediate, vivid, and easy to sink into." -Andrea Marks-Joseph, Independent Book Review, Starred Review
"A brilliant blend of time travel, suspense, action, mythology, secret societies, humor, adventure, and history." -Readers Favorite
"The world Zarek creates for readers is a wonderful blend of science fiction and present day reality. Readers looking for an exhilarating storyline will become instant fans." -Literary Titan
"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 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
"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
