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The Devil and the Wolf
In this comedy, Heaven, Hell and Earth collide as Mephistopheles and his assistant JR attempt to outmaneuver an obsessed angel, a power-hungry devil, and a vindictive employee; all while entertaining old friends, new friends, and a would-be assassin.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2016
48 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Richard L. Pastore
3 books8 followersRichard L Pastore was born in Brooklyn, New York on a sweltering summer’s day. He spent his entire formative years in that city until moving to New Jersey at the age of 21. Pursuing an education in Cognitive Psychology led to a career in User Interface Design. During a minor behavioral glitch called "midlife crisis" he switched careers to become a Business Analyst. Although having traveled across the country quite a bit, he feels most at home along the eastern shore of these United States. Be forewarned, should you choose to engage him in a conversation regarding anything food-related; whether it be the history of, growing of, or cooking of; he won’t shut up.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 14, 2020
This is not my typical favorite book. I’m more into sci fi and historical fiction. This had a more fantasy gothic feel to me. But it caught me and I loved it. I’m not quick to give 5 stars. And the ending had some beautiful parts that tied it all together so well. Many books feel like a story I’ve read before ... but this was entirely new. It fully deserves the 5 stars.
May 13, 2020
What a fun book. Original, clever, well-paced, and very funny. Never did I imagine I'd be reading about celestial beings learning how to drink from juice boxes. Had me laughing out loud, as did many other great scenes and one-liners. Terrific characters too. JR and Mephistopheles play wonderfully off of each other, and I adored them both. Pastore's writing makes for a highly entertaining read.
December 13, 2016
I loved this book! The characters were so well-written, the dialogue so lively - and funny! - and the plot so well thought out that it's hard to believe it's Mr. Pastore's first novel.
An underlying theme, that there are more things in heaven and earth (and hell) than are dreamt of in our philosophy, is presented in an entertaining yet not-watered-down manner. It reminded me of Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice at points (intended as a high compliment).
It was fun to imagine the multiple realities posited in this novel, but nowhere near as much fun as meeting and watching JR Wolfe in action. I couldn't help but picture a young Kevin Kline saying and doing all the things JR said and did.
Mephistopheles was much more nuanced than I imagined when I started the novel - certainly more palatable than most devils I've read about. While the bulk of the novel was light in tone, the short vignette detailing Mephistopheles' first wolf encounter was surprisingly touching and emotionally evocative.
I highly recommend this novel, and I look forward to much more to come from Mr. Pastore
An underlying theme, that there are more things in heaven and earth (and hell) than are dreamt of in our philosophy, is presented in an entertaining yet not-watered-down manner. It reminded me of Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice at points (intended as a high compliment).
It was fun to imagine the multiple realities posited in this novel, but nowhere near as much fun as meeting and watching JR Wolfe in action. I couldn't help but picture a young Kevin Kline saying and doing all the things JR said and did.
Mephistopheles was much more nuanced than I imagined when I started the novel - certainly more palatable than most devils I've read about. While the bulk of the novel was light in tone, the short vignette detailing Mephistopheles' first wolf encounter was surprisingly touching and emotionally evocative.
I highly recommend this novel, and I look forward to much more to come from Mr. Pastore
January 27, 2021
A Brooklynite Author Who Gives Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett a Run for Their Money
A review of The Devil and the Wolf by Richard L Pastore
I’m delighted to have read The Devil and the Wolf — a dark comedy fantasy by Richard L Pastore.
It’s worth a read if you love Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, or the late Terry Pratchett — and who doesn’t love them?
Demons. That’s who.
To be honest demons are most likely rather fond of these writers, and of comedy fantasy in general, but I digress.
If it feels like I’m stalling that’s because I am. What’s more I’ve got a horrible confession to make.
Are you ready?
I’ve had this review to write for over a year. A year. I’m going to Hell; please excuse me whilst I pack.
At least the fact that I’ve been thinking about the book for over a year tells you something good about it.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the book. But there’s definitely something wrong with me as a writer and with the idea of book reviews in general.
What’s the purpose of a book review? I mean it. What’s the point? I realise that’s not the best opening gambit for a book review but please bear with me.
For the past year I’ve tried and failed to describe why you’ll get a kick out of this book — even though I know you will.
Every time I sat down to write I’d see the mental image of someone carrying a flaming torch and casting light in the dark. You know, real Indiana Jones type stuff.
And that’s the point to me — as hokey as it sounds — to shine a light on books that are worth reading. To say: “You there, come here, read this.”
What good’s a book review except as a torch to lead readers to discover a book they wouldn’t have otherwise found?
That’s why I’m reviewing this book. I want to shine a light on it. But dark things tend towards darkness. And the funny thing about this book is that it seems to prefer hanging out in the shadows.
Judging by the other reviews that I’ve read The Devil and the Wolf is dear to the hearts of everyone who reads it. And it’s easy to understand why once you meet and fall in love with the characters.
But it’s not meant for everyone. It’s something of a well-kept secret. And, like all good secrets, only a select few seem to know about it.
It’s the sort of book that has a coterie of devoted fans and gets passed from person to person in secret. Those that are in the know read it and pass it on to their friends.
You see the only thing I want you to get out of reading this review is that you buy the book and read it. So go do that. Right now. I’ll wait.
If you’re not into this kind of stuff? That’s ok. You can read it too. I won’t judge you. That was the sound of me not judging you. But it’s not for you.
Oh, I know, writers want everyone to read them.
What I’m saying is that this book deserves to find its way into the hands of the right readers. The passionate fans of this particular genre.
The right type of reader, left to their own devices, will devour this book in one sitting.
Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett. If your bookshelves are full of these writers — their books, I mean, not their corpses — then buy this book. If you covet the bones of Roger Zelazny you should definitely check it out too.
Especially if you read and adore most everything by them that you can get your grubby little hands on. Because then you’re the right kind of reader. You’re one of the ones who will get it.
The ones who will recognise the names of demons. The ones who will talk at length about the metaphysics of the book. The ones who will appreciate it’s clever take on the world of demons and angels.
The ones who will laugh at all the jokes.
The Devil and the Wolf is the debut novel of Richard L Pastore, a Brooklynite, currently based in New Jersey.
Pastore has a kaleidoscopic imagination. a devilish sense of humour, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the arcane. I mean that in a good way.
To call his first novel ambitious is an understatement.
The devil Mephistopheles is one of the Princes of Hell. Lucifer is his boss but he’s the right hand man; the one who gets things done.
Heaven and Hell used to be at war with each other but have reached a sort of uneasy peace. They spend most of their time bickering instead of trying to destroy each other.
There’s a lot of bad blood between demons and angels; none more so than when it comes to the issue of humans.
They squabble over trivial details like the meaning of human life. What is the true nature of man’s soul and what does it mean to have free will?
How come God loved humans more than angels? After all they’re little more than talking monkeys.
Why did he give them free will?
It’s such a contentious issue that Heaven and Hell must always hold humans to account. It’s the only way they could agree upon to keep the peace down through the ages.
This is why Mephistopheles has to perform a Humanity Test. It’s his job to put the talking monkeys through their paces.
Mephistopheles picks a person and offers to fulfil their wishes. They must make a deal with the devil in exchange for what they want.
Heaven and Hell kick back and watch how things play out. Then a panel of demons and angels debate about whether humanity is good or evil based on the outcome.
The Humanity Test never ends because Heaven and Hell never seem to reach a consensus.
Mephistopheles picks the candidates. They judge them. And the wheels on the bus go round and round.
Needless to say Mephistopheles is sick to the back teeth of this.
He doesn’t like the Humanity Test. The angels put him up to it in the first place and it doesn’t sit right with him.
He resents the imposition of Heaven telling him what to do and thinks it’s unfair to the humans.
He’s even started to feel a strange sort of affection for humanity. This is something that his boss would be none too pleased about should he ever find out.
So the devil comes up with a plan that will throw a spanner in the works and stop the Humanity Test once and for all.
Mephistopheles decides to turn a wolf into a human. If Heaven and Hell can’t tell the difference then the Humanity Test falls apart.
The novel begins as the devil finds a wolf in the wilds of Montana and cuts the deal.
The wolf becomes JR Wolfe — yes, he knows how that sounds — but it turns out the devil has bitten off more than he can chew.
That’s an excellent pun and you know it.
JR is so much more than the devil had bargained for. All dogs are good dogs but, now that he’s human, this wolf aims to misbehave.
Before you know it JR is a businessman, getting up to mischief, and chewing on the devil’s furniture.
I hope that’s enough about the plot to whet your appetite. As for what happens next you’ll have to read the book to find out.
The devil is in the details. Do you see what I did there?
Suffice to say this might be one of the few places where it’s actually permissible to say “And then all Hell broke loose.”
I used to teach Creative Writing to young people on residential courses — I swear to god this is relevant.
One time I confessed to my students that I’d never managed to get into reading Terry Pratchett.
They said: “We forgive you” but gave me Good Omens to read as homework.
They chose Good Omens because it was co-written by Neil Gaiman who they knew I already liked.
So I read Good Omens and I loved it. The angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley are my favourite ‘mismatched buddy’ characters.
I mention this because Good Omens was my touchstone when reading Pastore’s novel. There are a lot of similarities between these books and what I like about them.
The devil the wolf remind me of the demon and the angel even though they’re different characters. That’s how fond of them I am.
The friendship between ‘Meph’ and ‘JR’ is central to the success of the book. Their comical interactions are, hands down, my favourite bits.
Among a large supporting cast of demons and angels the standout, for me, is Lilith. She’s a notorious demon, thought by many to be the first woman, and as smart and sexy as Hell.
She understands Mephistopheles, flirts with the wolf, and can run rings round both of them.
There are also some human characters. The most notable are Delia, Jenna, Levi, and Rob, who serve much the same function as a Greek chorus.
They’re not there to make up the numbers, so much as stand-ins for humankind, but they do tend to play second fiddle. Mephistopheles even dubs them the Scooby Gang.
The book also presents an interesting theology. The war between Heaven and Hell ended in a stalemate. Demons and angels are two sides of the same coin.
Heaven and Hell are in a shambles. Their bureaucracy is more like the European Union than what you’d find reading Dante, Milton or the Bible.
Today this vision of Heaven and Hell seems like a prescient and damning critique of Brexit. This was no doubt unintentional.
If anything I wanted the book to have more of a satirical edge.
The best fantasy and science fiction usually acts as a commentary on the present. But the fictional world has to correlate to the real world for that to work.
The books is not without some minor flaws. This is little more than nit-picking on my part. Or should that be flea-picking?
It’s a sprawling work that contains enough great ideas to fuel a full comedy fantasy trilogy. So much so that I would have rather seen them played out over three books.
Things go a little too according to plan to be suspenseful all the way through. Mephistopheles is so cunning that he always appears to be in control and one step ahead of everyone else.
For all the promise of fire and brimstone the world is more likely to end in an argument than armageddon. But that’s because demons and angels are a fickle bunch.
If this book was the first of a trilogy — as it stands — I’d read the rest in a heartbeat. I’d love the excuse to hang out with these characters again. It’s also very funny. Did I mention that it’s funny?
A good time will be had by anyone who reads The Devil and the Wolf. A wolf makes a deal with the Devil. What more do you want?!
The book includes a fascinating postscript about its origins, development, and literary influences.
For all my talk about Neil Gaiman Pastore’s biggest influence is Christopher Moore.
I like that Pastore is a careful writer. He respects the craft. This level of care and attention is evident on every page.
The Devil and the Wolf was a long time coming. Pastore developed the characters of Meph and JR over several years. He even wrote vignettes about them for his friends.
Good Omens and American Gods have both recently made it to the small screen after many years.
I hope that this book will now find a larger audience than it did when it was first published.
I also hope that Richard forgives me for taking so long to write this review.
I’d find it much easier to review books if I didn’t read them first. Especially books that I enjoy reading. My head gets so full of thoughts about what I loved that I don’t know what to say.
Sorry about that.
No doubt by the time you read this you’ll be able to read his next book; which I do have it on good authority that he’s working on.
Good things come to those who wait.
Pastore has a loyal circle of readers. You can buy the book here or visit his website if you want to join the pack.
A review of The Devil and the Wolf by Richard L Pastore
I’m delighted to have read The Devil and the Wolf — a dark comedy fantasy by Richard L Pastore.
It’s worth a read if you love Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, or the late Terry Pratchett — and who doesn’t love them?
Demons. That’s who.
To be honest demons are most likely rather fond of these writers, and of comedy fantasy in general, but I digress.
If it feels like I’m stalling that’s because I am. What’s more I’ve got a horrible confession to make.
Are you ready?
I’ve had this review to write for over a year. A year. I’m going to Hell; please excuse me whilst I pack.
At least the fact that I’ve been thinking about the book for over a year tells you something good about it.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the book. But there’s definitely something wrong with me as a writer and with the idea of book reviews in general.
What’s the purpose of a book review? I mean it. What’s the point? I realise that’s not the best opening gambit for a book review but please bear with me.
For the past year I’ve tried and failed to describe why you’ll get a kick out of this book — even though I know you will.
Every time I sat down to write I’d see the mental image of someone carrying a flaming torch and casting light in the dark. You know, real Indiana Jones type stuff.
And that’s the point to me — as hokey as it sounds — to shine a light on books that are worth reading. To say: “You there, come here, read this.”
What good’s a book review except as a torch to lead readers to discover a book they wouldn’t have otherwise found?
That’s why I’m reviewing this book. I want to shine a light on it. But dark things tend towards darkness. And the funny thing about this book is that it seems to prefer hanging out in the shadows.
Judging by the other reviews that I’ve read The Devil and the Wolf is dear to the hearts of everyone who reads it. And it’s easy to understand why once you meet and fall in love with the characters.
But it’s not meant for everyone. It’s something of a well-kept secret. And, like all good secrets, only a select few seem to know about it.
It’s the sort of book that has a coterie of devoted fans and gets passed from person to person in secret. Those that are in the know read it and pass it on to their friends.
You see the only thing I want you to get out of reading this review is that you buy the book and read it. So go do that. Right now. I’ll wait.
If you’re not into this kind of stuff? That’s ok. You can read it too. I won’t judge you. That was the sound of me not judging you. But it’s not for you.
Oh, I know, writers want everyone to read them.
What I’m saying is that this book deserves to find its way into the hands of the right readers. The passionate fans of this particular genre.
The right type of reader, left to their own devices, will devour this book in one sitting.
Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett. If your bookshelves are full of these writers — their books, I mean, not their corpses — then buy this book. If you covet the bones of Roger Zelazny you should definitely check it out too.
Especially if you read and adore most everything by them that you can get your grubby little hands on. Because then you’re the right kind of reader. You’re one of the ones who will get it.
The ones who will recognise the names of demons. The ones who will talk at length about the metaphysics of the book. The ones who will appreciate it’s clever take on the world of demons and angels.
The ones who will laugh at all the jokes.
The Devil and the Wolf is the debut novel of Richard L Pastore, a Brooklynite, currently based in New Jersey.
Pastore has a kaleidoscopic imagination. a devilish sense of humour, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the arcane. I mean that in a good way.
To call his first novel ambitious is an understatement.
The devil Mephistopheles is one of the Princes of Hell. Lucifer is his boss but he’s the right hand man; the one who gets things done.
Heaven and Hell used to be at war with each other but have reached a sort of uneasy peace. They spend most of their time bickering instead of trying to destroy each other.
There’s a lot of bad blood between demons and angels; none more so than when it comes to the issue of humans.
They squabble over trivial details like the meaning of human life. What is the true nature of man’s soul and what does it mean to have free will?
How come God loved humans more than angels? After all they’re little more than talking monkeys.
Why did he give them free will?
It’s such a contentious issue that Heaven and Hell must always hold humans to account. It’s the only way they could agree upon to keep the peace down through the ages.
This is why Mephistopheles has to perform a Humanity Test. It’s his job to put the talking monkeys through their paces.
Mephistopheles picks a person and offers to fulfil their wishes. They must make a deal with the devil in exchange for what they want.
Heaven and Hell kick back and watch how things play out. Then a panel of demons and angels debate about whether humanity is good or evil based on the outcome.
The Humanity Test never ends because Heaven and Hell never seem to reach a consensus.
Mephistopheles picks the candidates. They judge them. And the wheels on the bus go round and round.
Needless to say Mephistopheles is sick to the back teeth of this.
He doesn’t like the Humanity Test. The angels put him up to it in the first place and it doesn’t sit right with him.
He resents the imposition of Heaven telling him what to do and thinks it’s unfair to the humans.
He’s even started to feel a strange sort of affection for humanity. This is something that his boss would be none too pleased about should he ever find out.
So the devil comes up with a plan that will throw a spanner in the works and stop the Humanity Test once and for all.
Mephistopheles decides to turn a wolf into a human. If Heaven and Hell can’t tell the difference then the Humanity Test falls apart.
The novel begins as the devil finds a wolf in the wilds of Montana and cuts the deal.
The wolf becomes JR Wolfe — yes, he knows how that sounds — but it turns out the devil has bitten off more than he can chew.
That’s an excellent pun and you know it.
JR is so much more than the devil had bargained for. All dogs are good dogs but, now that he’s human, this wolf aims to misbehave.
Before you know it JR is a businessman, getting up to mischief, and chewing on the devil’s furniture.
I hope that’s enough about the plot to whet your appetite. As for what happens next you’ll have to read the book to find out.
The devil is in the details. Do you see what I did there?
Suffice to say this might be one of the few places where it’s actually permissible to say “And then all Hell broke loose.”
I used to teach Creative Writing to young people on residential courses — I swear to god this is relevant.
One time I confessed to my students that I’d never managed to get into reading Terry Pratchett.
They said: “We forgive you” but gave me Good Omens to read as homework.
They chose Good Omens because it was co-written by Neil Gaiman who they knew I already liked.
So I read Good Omens and I loved it. The angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley are my favourite ‘mismatched buddy’ characters.
I mention this because Good Omens was my touchstone when reading Pastore’s novel. There are a lot of similarities between these books and what I like about them.
The devil the wolf remind me of the demon and the angel even though they’re different characters. That’s how fond of them I am.
The friendship between ‘Meph’ and ‘JR’ is central to the success of the book. Their comical interactions are, hands down, my favourite bits.
Among a large supporting cast of demons and angels the standout, for me, is Lilith. She’s a notorious demon, thought by many to be the first woman, and as smart and sexy as Hell.
She understands Mephistopheles, flirts with the wolf, and can run rings round both of them.
There are also some human characters. The most notable are Delia, Jenna, Levi, and Rob, who serve much the same function as a Greek chorus.
They’re not there to make up the numbers, so much as stand-ins for humankind, but they do tend to play second fiddle. Mephistopheles even dubs them the Scooby Gang.
The book also presents an interesting theology. The war between Heaven and Hell ended in a stalemate. Demons and angels are two sides of the same coin.
Heaven and Hell are in a shambles. Their bureaucracy is more like the European Union than what you’d find reading Dante, Milton or the Bible.
Today this vision of Heaven and Hell seems like a prescient and damning critique of Brexit. This was no doubt unintentional.
If anything I wanted the book to have more of a satirical edge.
The best fantasy and science fiction usually acts as a commentary on the present. But the fictional world has to correlate to the real world for that to work.
The books is not without some minor flaws. This is little more than nit-picking on my part. Or should that be flea-picking?
It’s a sprawling work that contains enough great ideas to fuel a full comedy fantasy trilogy. So much so that I would have rather seen them played out over three books.
Things go a little too according to plan to be suspenseful all the way through. Mephistopheles is so cunning that he always appears to be in control and one step ahead of everyone else.
For all the promise of fire and brimstone the world is more likely to end in an argument than armageddon. But that’s because demons and angels are a fickle bunch.
If this book was the first of a trilogy — as it stands — I’d read the rest in a heartbeat. I’d love the excuse to hang out with these characters again. It’s also very funny. Did I mention that it’s funny?
A good time will be had by anyone who reads The Devil and the Wolf. A wolf makes a deal with the Devil. What more do you want?!
The book includes a fascinating postscript about its origins, development, and literary influences.
For all my talk about Neil Gaiman Pastore’s biggest influence is Christopher Moore.
I like that Pastore is a careful writer. He respects the craft. This level of care and attention is evident on every page.
The Devil and the Wolf was a long time coming. Pastore developed the characters of Meph and JR over several years. He even wrote vignettes about them for his friends.
Good Omens and American Gods have both recently made it to the small screen after many years.
I hope that this book will now find a larger audience than it did when it was first published.
I also hope that Richard forgives me for taking so long to write this review.
I’d find it much easier to review books if I didn’t read them first. Especially books that I enjoy reading. My head gets so full of thoughts about what I loved that I don’t know what to say.
Sorry about that.
No doubt by the time you read this you’ll be able to read his next book; which I do have it on good authority that he’s working on.
Good things come to those who wait.
Pastore has a loyal circle of readers. You can buy the book here or visit his website if you want to join the pack.
February 22, 2017
I loved this book. It's a great weekend read. It is very light hearted and easy to read and you will fall in love with the characters. (Especially JR).
It was not as dark as I expected, being about the devil. ...a devil. ..devils... etc. Don't take it too seriously, or you will ruin your own good time.
Very thought provoking about what makes someone good or evil. I think it would be fun to read with a book club or friends, to inspire discussion.
I definately recommend it. I hope there is a sequel. I'd like to see these characters come out to play again!
It was not as dark as I expected, being about the devil. ...a devil. ..devils... etc. Don't take it too seriously, or you will ruin your own good time.
Very thought provoking about what makes someone good or evil. I think it would be fun to read with a book club or friends, to inspire discussion.
I definately recommend it. I hope there is a sequel. I'd like to see these characters come out to play again!
October 26, 2024
Compelling modern Fantasy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*no spoilers but some minor mentions of plot in review
Loved this!
I knew very little going in but having read one of the author's other books (Perseus Kills His Grandfather) and enjoyed it, I saw this title was also listed similarly as a Fantasy Comedy. I already knew I enjoyed the author's dry sense of humour, and I was not disappointed with The Devil and The Wolf.
The story begins simply, with the two MC's. The devil (one of many devils in this title, including Lucifer, Beelzebub, and more) strikes a bargain with a wolf to become human, seemingly for lols and japes alone.
From there, as the two embark on a comedic buddy-duo journey, the story unfolds along with more celestial characters, and things become complex and exciting.
The politics between Heaven and Hell, and its characters, are vibrant and amusing, and it reminds me of early Lucifer seasons, which I very much enjoyed.
Indeed if you enjoyed Lucifer (or similarly Good Omens or Constantine, or anything with a heaven politics vs. hell politics theme), you'd probably enjoy this book as much as I have.
Though the stakes were high I knew I was in safe hands, which is reassuring to me as a reader. I love morally grey characters, and when typically 'bad' or 'evil' characters such as devils get the spotlight and show a deeper character. I know whose side I'd be on! 😈
The cast was so much fun. Some of the humans were my favourites because they made me chuckle with their antics.
How they all were connected and came together later was clever and felt natural.
What surprised me most was the closing chapters, which offered further insight into the Main Characters themselves and packed an emotional punch I didn't expect but was very impressed with. It added a deep emotional layer to the story and left me with a satisfied feeling.
All the characters and the imagery has stuck in my mind for several days, especially the celestial poolside gathering.
Certainly would recommend this book, it kept me entertained and engaged. Five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*no spoilers but some minor mentions of plot in review
Loved this!
I knew very little going in but having read one of the author's other books (Perseus Kills His Grandfather) and enjoyed it, I saw this title was also listed similarly as a Fantasy Comedy. I already knew I enjoyed the author's dry sense of humour, and I was not disappointed with The Devil and The Wolf.
The story begins simply, with the two MC's. The devil (one of many devils in this title, including Lucifer, Beelzebub, and more) strikes a bargain with a wolf to become human, seemingly for lols and japes alone.
From there, as the two embark on a comedic buddy-duo journey, the story unfolds along with more celestial characters, and things become complex and exciting.
The politics between Heaven and Hell, and its characters, are vibrant and amusing, and it reminds me of early Lucifer seasons, which I very much enjoyed.
Indeed if you enjoyed Lucifer (or similarly Good Omens or Constantine, or anything with a heaven politics vs. hell politics theme), you'd probably enjoy this book as much as I have.
Though the stakes were high I knew I was in safe hands, which is reassuring to me as a reader. I love morally grey characters, and when typically 'bad' or 'evil' characters such as devils get the spotlight and show a deeper character. I know whose side I'd be on! 😈
The cast was so much fun. Some of the humans were my favourites because they made me chuckle with their antics.
How they all were connected and came together later was clever and felt natural.
What surprised me most was the closing chapters, which offered further insight into the Main Characters themselves and packed an emotional punch I didn't expect but was very impressed with. It added a deep emotional layer to the story and left me with a satisfied feeling.
All the characters and the imagery has stuck in my mind for several days, especially the celestial poolside gathering.
Certainly would recommend this book, it kept me entertained and engaged. Five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 14, 2021
This fantasy-comedy takes a really fresh look at Heaven and Hell and the inhabitants of those two realms. The story is centered around a plot by Mephistopheles to end something called the Humanity Test. Think Faust, except with lots of yummy food and banter.
I'm not sure how theologically accurate this story is, but "Meph" and his outrageous somewhat human assistant Mr. JR Wolfe are appealing characters. It seems Mephistopheles has a real estate company in Florida and a nice beachfront house. Throw in some dubious humans and a group of young people trying to come up with a gimmick for a reality show, and you get a series of hilarious scenes. And that's before the hosts of Heaven and the hordes of Hell show up.
A fun read with a few elements that might make you think between laughs.
I'm not sure how theologically accurate this story is, but "Meph" and his outrageous somewhat human assistant Mr. JR Wolfe are appealing characters. It seems Mephistopheles has a real estate company in Florida and a nice beachfront house. Throw in some dubious humans and a group of young people trying to come up with a gimmick for a reality show, and you get a series of hilarious scenes. And that's before the hosts of Heaven and the hordes of Hell show up.
A fun read with a few elements that might make you think between laughs.
June 7, 2023
An enchanting fusion of Douglas Adams' wit and Neil Gaiman's mystical storytelling, delivering a wildly entertaining spin on the Faustian bargain. With an intriguing plot, a captivating cast of characters drawn from the realms of angelology and demonology, and well thought out rules of engagement, this book seamlessly blends amusement with depth. A true gem that pays homage to the genius of L. Sprague de Camp, it is a must-read for anyone seeking a delightful and thought-provoking adventure.
December 21, 2021
Oh wow! Where do I begin? This book was so unique. It had a great cast of characters and I just loved the humor. I read a lot but I have never come across a book like this one. This writer has a true gift for storytelling. If you are looking to kick back and really have some fun reading pick this up! Pure enjoyment!
December 27, 2018
Fantastic
A very enjoyable, laugh out loud, interpretation of how and why Heaven and Hell fight over the souls of earth.
A very enjoyable, laugh out loud, interpretation of how and why Heaven and Hell fight over the souls of earth.
July 4, 2018
When I first opened this book, I was a little worried. Pastore’s pitch was intriguing but ambitious. The story appeared to focus on heavy questions regarding the human condition, as well as an elaborate setting between our reality and that of Heaven and Hell. Now when I hear that kind of ambition, I know only one thing: that it will be amazing or fall flat on its metaphorical paperback face. The Goodreads profile only makes side-hints to the fact the story is in fact very humorous and fairly light-hearted, which I didn’t discover until later. I read the first few pages and felt my heart sinking: there were already several grammatical errors. Pastore was a charming and supportive chap who was supporting us constantly on social media, so as I began the book I felt that I was heading for a difficult situation: having to give a bad review to someone I really liked.
However, this book has undoubtedly made it into my Top 10 favourite books of all time. Now I don’t say that lightly, if anyone asks me what my favourite book is I will give you three titles and ‘um’ for ten minutes straight about others. Despite the rocky start, Pastore’s characters completely won me over and I found myself wishing I could sit in Mephistopheles’ lounge and watch JR Wolfe wreak adorable, charmed havoc.
See the full review on www.selcouthstation.com
However, this book has undoubtedly made it into my Top 10 favourite books of all time. Now I don’t say that lightly, if anyone asks me what my favourite book is I will give you three titles and ‘um’ for ten minutes straight about others. Despite the rocky start, Pastore’s characters completely won me over and I found myself wishing I could sit in Mephistopheles’ lounge and watch JR Wolfe wreak adorable, charmed havoc.
See the full review on www.selcouthstation.com
January 5, 2020
Premise was interesting, but the phrasing, grammar, and narrative voice need work.
July 21, 2023
Since other readers have already gone into great depths about the ins and outs of the story, I will only add that I also found it an very enjoyable book. Engaging characters, an interesting story with plenty of twists and turns, great dialog, and clever humor. Give it a try.
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