In Chronicles of Ara: Creation by Joel Eisenberg and Stephen Hillard, the reader will step into a world of fantasy where dragons and literary heroes come to life. When the legendary book of Beowulf is found, J.R.R. Tolkien is called upon to test its authenticity. Tolkien and Lewis Carroll have to judge the manuscript and judge its fate. However, things are not that simple. When power and corruption take hold of a goddess and muse, things can turn nasty. Put an enslaved dragon in the midst and you have the perfect recipe for an epic fantasy.

Magical and astounding, Chronicles of Ara: Creation is perhaps one of the best novels I have read. It certainly takes its place on the list where The Hobbit and The Harry Potter Series reside. There is a lot of drama and fantastical moments that make the reader bite their nails and wait breathlessly. Of course, the presence of a dragon and that of J.R.R. Tolkien will do that for the reader. I especially loved the cover of the book. It described the novel in a perfect way and sat perfectly well with the theme.

It was nice to actually get a feel of what Tolkien and Carroll would have been like. Certainly, it is not easy to portray such literary heroes. This is not a light read. The novel will keep you guessing and second guessing your verdicts. You will be thinking about it days after you are done reading it. I simply adored this novel.

Chronicles of Ara: Creation by Joel Eisenberg and Stephen Hillard is a story of creative fantasy, a combination of science, fantasy and creativity. The “lost” book of Beowulf has been discovered and JRR Tolkien has been asked to help authenticate it. What happens then will have far reaching effects. The art and the creation of the world have been inspired by a Muse, a Muse who is so corrupt that she plays games with all of mankind, all because of a tragedy in her life. She has inserted code into the famous books of famous authors, warning the world of the end of humanity as we know it and the beginning of a new time. We meet dragons and dragon slayers. We find worlds that have been lost, and scenarios abound about the end of the world as we know it. Who is character X and where does he fit in? Would we have had the opportunity to read all these great works without Ara?

Chronicles of Ara: Creation by Joel Eisenberg and Stephen Hillard is an explosive story that everyone must read. It is a book of pure genius, a story that incorporates authors we all know and love with the promise of more in future stories. It is an excellent combination of science and art, all woven neatly into one big tale of fiction – or is it? I guarantee the book will leave you with more questions, will leave you wondering about the world we live in now. Those of you who are familiar with Mirkwood will recognise Ara, who gets a much bigger part to play in this book. The story is well presented and written in a way that forces the reader to pay attention – believe me, if you lose concentration for just one minute, you are lost. The book travels between ages, jumping back and forth in history to bring you a masterpiece that teeters on the brink of darkness. I must congratulate the authors on the way they have written this book; it is compelling reading and I look forward to the next chapter in the creation of mankind.

“She has always existed. Always. She was never born, conventionally or otherwise, and, to date, she has never died. She just always . . . was. And is.” Chronicles of Ara: Creation by Joel Eisenberg and Stephen Hillard is a literary piece that combines a healthy mix of fantasy, sci-fi and myth into an intriguing tale laced with philosophical views. After a long lost manuscript of Beowulf is found, the story leads deeper into the tale of Ara, a goddess and a muse, who storms into human lives as she pleases.

We venture into Earth’s earliest days; Mirkwood – a volatile landscape available for claiming by the strongest creatures. We read about the centuries of adversary between men and dragons, the survivor and the mighty, where these two species race to propagate the land and surpass each other. Ara’s beloved, Eron the dragonslayer, and Taebal the dragon will be the catalysts that change Ara and the universe forever.

Chronicles of Ara is original and ambitious, yet these qualities are a double edged sword as they lead to a peculiarity of the story that may not appeal to everyone. Is it a literary find? Yes. Is it easily comprehensible to every reader? Not quite. It proposes the altered reality of our world in dark and strange ways. That said, Eisenberg and Hillard are taking a risky but commendable step with this series. Fantasy readers who love some philosophical challenges will love this book. It'll be interesting to see how the story continues.

The mystery of inspiration has been captured throughout history through the concept of a Muse, a strange being that gives individuals bursts of creative genius and allows their imaginations to become a part of humanity's overall story. Middle Earth, Wonderland, even the Saga of Beowulf, all and more are but reflections of the truth that Ara allows individuals to see. Thomas McFee is a seeker of truth in today's modern times. His life will never be the same as he becomes caught in the maelstrom encircling the mysterious Ara.

Joel Eisenberg and Stephen Hillard's Chronicles of Ara: Creation is a breath of fresh air in a genre rife with recycled tropes and archetypes. Eisenberg and Hillard manage to weave fantasy elements with real life storytelling icons in a tale that melds mythology, history, and the authors' vivid imagination. The pace and storytelling can be jarring, the authors use drastic shifts to encompass events separated by time and space and chance, and it make take a few rereads, or regular breaks between chapters for readers regain their footing and have a firm grasp of the authors' vision. Fans of Steven Erikson's Malazan series will be more forgiving of the authors' style.

The numerous tales and threads contained in the book may prove difficult for readers to keep track of, the last few chapters in particular feel like the authors took the reader along on an LSD trip. Indeed, with a plot that is just genius in its conception, storytelling that leaves no perspective unseen, and characters that manage to engage, Chronicles of Ara: Creation would have had more than enough to be at the top of the fantasy genre. What sets this novel apart is the sheer audacity of the authors to challenge readers and make their minds work on levels most are not used to as they attempt to piece together fragments and facets of a story that is beautiful, complex, and vast. I, for one, look forward to the continuation of this gem of a story.