Hello there,
I am beyond honored to share this excellent recap of author Zachary Hagen’s “Eternal Chronicles Series.” This five-book series follows a group of people suffering their own losses who must band together to fight and stop an ancient evil in a powerful fantasy-driven narrative. Below you will find the synopsis for each book, my review, and links to the full reviews and the book’s purchase links. I hope you will take the time to read each one carefully and take the plunge yourself to read this series, enjoying it as much as I did. Please enjoy.
The Synopsis
When you lose family, friends, and country, how far is too far?
Elior watched as his twin brother, the only real family he had left run into a building as it disappeared.
Nyx, a cursed merman, watched as his father and best friend were killed in front of him.
Opal’s father died leaving her with a legacy to live up to and a throne to protect.
When they join forces with a wise professor to find the Well of Eternity, can they find answers to their problems? Can the ancient evil lurking in the shadows of society be stopped before it’s too late, or will blood be spilled killing their hope and dooming Lux Terra forever?
Eternity’s Well will hook you from the very beginning and take you on a spellbinding, breathtaking journey through a new world where anything is possible.
My Impression
This was such an imaginative and visceral read. The author did an incredible job of capturing the magic and wonder of this new fantasy world while balancing this with emotion and realism that brings these characters’ struggles a healthy dose of emotional reality. The world-building and atmosphere felt epic in this book, giving the reader a look into the mythos and dynamics of this world and the cultures of these characters in a way that feels relatable yet magical all at once.
The character development and tension that the book builds to in this novel were the highlights of this incredible novel. The infusion of the world’s mythos into these character arcs made the world feel vibrant and alive, and the emotional toll that the losses that bond these characters together take will resonate with many readers. Amongst the chilling villains and ancient evils that the group must battle and navigate through, it is the theme of loss that plays the most prevalent, and the imagery in this writing helps to bring this theme to life in a thrilling way.
The Synopsis
Flip the coin and find a whole new world on the other side.
The Circle is uniting the countries of Lux Terra. Elior, Nyx, and Opal are finding that some things have changed as the result of their adventures with Michael. Yrahkaz has been tasked with squashing the growing obsession with Michael.
When an important clue to finding Eliam and fixing Nyx’s and Opal’s problems is given to them, they recruit the help of a disgraced magi-technician to get to him, but their initial success is more then they bargained for.
The other side of the Mirror of Eternity is filled with wonders and dangers they never imagined. Will they still be able to prevail against an evil that is bent on devouring them whole, or will they fall prey to its cunning pursuit?
Eternity’s Mirror is the thrilling continuation of The Eternal Chronicles picking up where Eternity’s Well left off.
My Impression
The world-building in this novel is simply incredible. While I am new to this series and I would recommend reading the first book in the series to really be able to capture the backstory and history of these characters, the author did an amazing job of building a story that could stand on its own two feet and a mythos that is rich with dynamic history and storytelling. The way the setting allowed readers to be brought into a brand new world while seeing how magic and sword & sorcery style storytelling could reflect in a more modern world was incredible to see and made the journey feel that much more engaging.
The character growth was spectacular here. The way the author was able to introduce a wide array of characters to help flesh out this growing mythos while also giving more depth to the main cast of characters, both the protagonists and antagonists alike, was beautifully done. The heart of the narrative really did a great job of balancing out the larger, fate of the world dangers with the more personal character struggles, like Elior’s journey to finding Elliam.
Eternity’s Refuge (Book Three)
The Synopsis
Blindness isn’t the only thing that keeps you from seeing.
Elior and his friends have been through a lot together. They journeyed through trials with Michael to reach the Well of Eternity and drink from it. They gained new powers and went through the Mirror of Eternity to the other side of the world to rescue Elior’s brother from a dragon and restored light to Nox Terra in the process. Now they’ve returned to Lux Terra, but the adventure is far from over.
When an ominous warning finds them in Gabrielle’s beach house, they have no choice but to join Michael’s followers in the underground, Eternity’s Refuge. They are welcomed with open arms and the promise of a place to belong away from a world gone mad. But when they find out that Taariq’s right hand man, Iblis, has infiltrated Eternity’s Refuge in every major city, they have to find a way to protect their new friends and their new home from the inside.
Now they must determine who their friends are and who their enemies are, and almost nothing is as it seems. Will Taariq and his minions be successful in bringing Eternity’s Refuge down from the inside? Or will Elior, Opal, Nyx, and Nereza be able to stop him and bring even more people to the cause?
Eternity’s Refuge is the thrilling continuation of the Eternal Chronicles series following Eternity’s Mirror. The magic leaping off the page and deepening the mystery will hook you from cover to cover and leave you breathless.
My Impression
The world-building continues to amaze in this third entry in the Eternal Chronicles. The author infuses a great deal of intrigue and mystery into the story, as the question of loyalties and who the protagonists can trust is tested. The imagery and use of magical and mythical world-building allow the reader to feel transported into the story.
What made this story shine was the robust character development in this story. The protagonist, Elior, is tested in this book, exploring his call to lead their people and how to rise above the hardships and struggles their journey has thrown in their path. The story of redemption some characters take, especially one who has been on the wrong side of the battle thus far, draws the reader into the story and keeps them emotionally invested as the losses pile on in this story.
The Synopsis
After Taking over the leadership of the Refuge, Elior and His friends have a time of peace, but when Taariq makes good on his promise to marry Viola and make her his empress, no one could withhold the wrath of the people when they rebel against djinn rule.
The Refuge must become a beacon of light in a world darkened by rebellion, but when a self-proclaimed “Holy Army” rises up, will Elior and his friends be able to keep that light shining bright? Will Aelon’s call prove too much to handle? Will the past keep them from moving forward?
Eternity’s Edge is the penultimate book in the Eternal Chronicles series. Its pages will take you on an epic journey to the absolute Edge of the world where the end of this spellbinding tale will begin.
My Impression
This was a mesmerizing and entertaining read. The author does an excellent job of continuing to push the limits of the world they have crafted, engaging with the existing mythos while also adding new elements into the narrative to keep the balance of ancient magic with modern technology alive in the reader’s mind. Although this book definitely benefits the reader after reading the previous entries in the series, the story in this fourth book pays off the experiences and hardships that these characters have endured in the past.
Yet amidst all of this narrative’s action, adventure, and magical circumstances, the rich character dynamics speak to the reader as the themes of social classes, family, friendship, and love all take center stage. The romance between Elior and Nereza, the friendship between Elior and Nxy, and even the power-mad elitism of the villain Taariq all speak to the reader on a deeper level. It made the action and mythological nature of the narrative feel more grounded yet powerful.
The Synopsis
Taariq has continued his descent into madness, and his supporters are more devoted than ever, at least for a time. As he pursues his ultimate goal of reclaiming his dragon form and tearing Aelon and Michael from their throne, Elior, Nereza, Opal, and Nyx aim to follow Michael’s call, but it isn’t easy.
Building a boat in the peaks of Nanony seems foolish to most, and plagues divide the faithful from the merely present until dragon-fire rains down and flood waters rise. Will Taariq finally be defeated, or will his mad rush for power prove successful against the forces of light?
This final installment of The Eternal Chronicles brings together old friends and lovers for one final battle that will decide the fate of Lux and Nox Terra forevermore. This fast-paced tale will keep you hooked from cover to cover with a whiplash race to the end of our heroes’ journey.
My Impression
This is a compelling and thought-provoking final chapter in this epic fantasy series. The author does an incredible job of layering the story with imagery and tone that reflects an almost biblical atmosphere while still delivering epic world-building and fantasy elements to keep readers enthralled. The exploration of both the good and negative aspects of blind faith and the classic theme of good versus evil throughout this series pays off spectacularly in this book.
The heart, as always, rests in this novel’s fantastic world-building, mythos, and character development. The various levels of magic power each creature has and the small band of heroes brave enough to face the challenges a powerhouse like Taariq presents to the world represent the power of light over darkness perfectly. The emotional bonds each of the heroes had with one another in their quest made the story more engaging.
Overall Series Impression
This was a compelling, imaginative, and heartfelt fantasy series. The full character arcs that the reader was given, the world-building, and the atmospheric nature of the overall series felt cinematic and almost biblical in a sense, speaking to themes of destiny and facing the darkness both outside and within ourselves. The theme of light versus darkness was exemplified well in this story, as was the narrative of blind faith overall, making this a truly enthralling series to get lost in. Be sure to check it out for yourselves today!
About the Author
Zachary Hagen is a fantasy author and editor. He lives his wife, Claudia, and their dog, Flynn. When he isn’t busy writing his next book or teaching, you can often find him walking around his neighbor hood or up hiking in Hanging Rock Park with his wife and their friends.
From a young age he was enthralled with the world of story. From the stories his parents read to him from his blue bedtime story books (if you know, you know) to the first two series that he read, The Chronicles of Narnia and A Series of Unfortunate Events, Zachary’s tastes continued to develop throughout his years of reading.
The influences for his first series, The Eternal Chronicles, include Christopher Paolini, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and others.
