The Devil, The Dog, and The Wind

The Devil, The Dog, and The Wind by Alejandro Werner was an interesting supernatural story that explores faith, temptation, free will, and the struggle between good and evil. I appreciated the creativity behind the premise and the different spiritual beliefs, religious traditions, and supernatural elements incorporated throughout Richard’s journey. There were some genuinely thought-provoking ideas about faith, morality, and the consequences of our choices. Unfortunately, while I found the concept intriguing, I struggled quite a bit with the actual storytelling.

One thing I appreciated was that Richard wasn’t portrayed as a perfect character. He makes questionable decisions, struggles with temptation, and occasionally had me wondering what on earth he was thinking. But that’s what made him believable. I don’t expect characters to be perfect, and I actually enjoy seeing them make mistakes, learn from those experiences, and grow. Unfortunately, I didn’t always feel Richard’s development happened naturally. So much of his transformation relied on supernatural encounters and spiritual guidance that I wanted to see more of those lessons reflected in his everyday decisions, actions, and relationships. I understood the growth the author was trying to portray, but I didn’t always feel that Richard had earned it.

The world-building was another aspect I found interesting. I enjoyed the different settings and the incorporation of various religious traditions and supernatural beliefs. However, there were times when I struggled to understand how certain spiritual encounters connected to the larger storyline. Richard experiences so many extraordinary things, but I didn’t always feel those experiences built naturally upon one another. I would have appreciated clearer connections, more consistency, and a stronger sense of how each encounter contributed to his overall journey.

My biggest struggle was with the pacing, sentence structure, and overall flow of the writing. Some sections felt unnecessarily drawn out, particularly when explaining religious or philosophical ideas, while other developments happened so quickly that I barely had time to appreciate their significance. There was also quite a bit of repetition, with certain ideas and explanations being revisited without necessarily adding anything new. I understand that faith and spirituality are central to this story, but I would have preferred those themes to come through more naturally through the characters and their experiences rather than having so much explained to me.

I also found the writing choppy and disconnected in places. There were passages where short, fragmented sentences, awkward wording, and abrupt transitions interrupted the natural flow of the story. I don’t mind short sentences when they’re used effectively, especially during tense or emotional moments, but here they sometimes made the narration feel mechanical rather than immersive. There were occasions when I had to stop, reread a sentence, or mentally connect thoughts that should have flowed together more smoothly. Unfortunately, when that happens repeatedly, it becomes difficult to lose yourself in the story.

The dialogue was another area that didn’t always work for me. Some conversations felt more like explanations of religious or philosophical beliefs than natural interactions between characters. I wanted the dialogue to feel more conversational, with the characters’ personalities coming through rather than having everyone serve as another opportunity to explain the story’s underlying message. I also noticed some awkward phrasing and editing inconsistencies that added to the interruptions in the reading experience.

I would have liked stronger development from the supporting characters as well, particularly in Richard’s relationships with Dreads, Max, Paola, and his family. These relationships had the potential to bring considerably more emotional depth to the story, but I didn’t always feel they were given enough attention. Some important developments happened too quickly, and moments that should have carried considerable emotional weight didn’t quite have the impact I was hoping for. I wanted to feel more connected to Richard and the people in his life, especially considering how much of the story centers around his personal and spiritual transformation.

The ending also left me wanting a stronger emotional payoff. After everything Richard experienced, I wanted to look back at the person he was at the beginning and really feel how much he’d changed. Not simply because of the supernatural forces he’d encountered or overcome, but because of the choices he’d made, the lessons he’d learned, and the relationships he’d built along the way. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel that connection as strongly as I wanted to.

What ultimately held this book back for me wasn’t the premise or the religious and philosophical themes. I actually appreciated those aspects. It was the combination of uneven pacing, repetitive explanations, awkward dialogue, fragmented sentence construction, underdeveloped relationships, and inconsistent storytelling. Individually, some of these issues might not have affected my rating very much, but together they made it difficult to stay invested. I found myself paying more attention to the problems with the writing than becoming absorbed in the story itself.

Would I recommend it? I think readers who enjoy supernatural fiction with strong religious and philosophical themes may find the premise intriguing, particularly if they appreciate stories centered around spiritual struggles, morality, and personal transformation. However, readers who prefer natural dialogue, smooth storytelling, tighter pacing, and emotionally engaging characters may struggle with some of the same issues I did.

My Final Verdict: The Devil, The Dog, and The Wind has an imaginative premise and some genuinely thought-provoking ideas, but I found myself appreciating the concept far more than the actual reading experience. I think the story would benefit considerably from tighter pacing, less repetition, stronger character development, more natural dialogue, smoother sentence construction, and a thorough round of editing. I initially considered giving this book three stars because I appreciated the creativity behind it, but after reflecting on how much I struggled throughout the story, two stars feels like a more accurate representation of my experience. While I can appreciate the ambition behind what the author was trying to accomplish, there were simply too many issues that prevented me from fully enjoying it.

Final Book Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5) | Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️ (2/5)

NOTE: This review reflects the digital ARC version provided to me as of October 13, 2026, and may not reflect any revisions, corrections, or updates made to subsequent editions.