Eldest

Het heeft een lange tijd geduurt maar ik heb het boek eindelijk uit. Het is een boek wat ik in vlagen las maar erg leuk nogsteeds. Nu ben ik eindelijk weer waar ik als kind ben geeindigd en kan nu eindelijk verder.

Definitely better than the first book. I was much more thrilled to learn about eragon's journey, especially on magic, and the twists and turns were a bit expected but still surprising.

I was a bit annoyed at the sudden change of points of view every few chapters, and I understand the need of it, but if the first book had been just like this one I would’ve at least prepared myself. This change in the course was a bit difficult to deal with.

anyway, i even cried during some scenes so :)

Reading as part of the Inheritance buddy read held by @bookstagram.buddy.reads on Instagram!

Rating: 3.5

Paolini's world keeps on surprising me. The second title to the Inheritance Cycle continues were it left off in Eragon with twice as much adventure, romance and dangers. So, for everyone who wanted more action, romance and many things more are given in this book. As a former hater of the series I can say they just keep on amazing me. The book's content as is the quality of its writing is really above the age in which Paolini wrote it, which was when he was around sixteen to nineteen years old. Overall, the series is hugely enthralling once you get to know the world and its characters. Unlike in Eragon, in Eldest the reader is already familiarized with the world, so there's not as much lagging. I can now say I am a fan of the series and I'm terrified to read the third installment knowing I will have to wait for the fourth book.

This one was way harder to get through than the first book - getting through Roran's chapters was an absolute slog since he seems to be one of the most dislikable secondary-protagonists ever... Not a bad book, just... idk. 2.5 stars

I didn’t expect to like this series so much and am shook I haven’t read it so far. This book is definitely a middle-of-a-series book, mainly there for character development, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. There were some turns I didn’t see coming and some I was happy to see them unfold.

Did this book have to be that long for what happened? Probably not. I could have done without some description of happy trees and pointless dialogues but maybe that’s a me-problem.

Anyways, I’m excited to continue!

i love this this series it is interresting

Empire strikes back in LOTR. Enjoyed the twists and Roran’s arc.

Below is mostly my review posted on Brisingr, Eldest and Eragon with some rehashing/added stuff... So this is my first time reading Inheritance, (Eragon, Eragon/Eldest, Eragon/Eldest/Brisingr...) this being my first time listening to the audiobook too. To put it simply, Gerard Doyle is fantastic. His character voices and narration fit perfectly, and I loved the job he did. I'm actually going to continue on with The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Tales from Alagaësia: Volume 1- Eragon, now because he does them all. I obviously fell off for some years seeing that Inheritance was released 9 years ago, but what can you do... I'm sure there's a hundred reviews on here talking about how this all started when Paolini was fifteen, and how at the time of Brisingr, he had spent a decade with Eragon, so I'll just say--WOW. He takes so many things from others (in terms of influence) and handles them all so delicately that he created this wonderful, lush, dense lore that continues to grow throughout the rest of the novels. He was like a mini-Tolkien with his languages and flushed out geographic ideas. He created the Urgals and Kull instead of just recycling the typical Orcs and Uruk-hai. I found multiple points of similarity between Martin's 'Game of Thrones' dragons and Paolini's, and yet past those he once again branched off and created his own world and lore for them in a refreshing way. I think the training and wiseness from Brom most similarly matches the ideas of Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker, including the necessary death of a mentor/father figure that thus propels the main character towards greatness. I suppose you could also easily argue that it is also like Gandalf/Frodo, however I think it's a harder argument to make that Frodo actually grew based off lessons from a knowledgable mentor (HE IS A HERO, JUST A DIFFERENT KIND!). Or, you could also point out Harry/Dumbledore--I'm sure we've all seen the memes about needing an old man mentor and a young hero to make a successful series--even though Dumbledore hid questionable important details from Harry, he still fulfilled that role. I actually read a bitter sounding review under Eldest on here where they claim the opposite of what I am saying--ie. that Paolini does not do any of these things delicately/well and all I can say is that I'm genuinely surprised by that reaction. The main complaint I saw was drawing a comparison to Star Wars and almost calling these similarities blatant stealing. IE. "I am your father [Morzan]." And also saying that the reemergence of the twins and Murtagh was stupid/not earned. All I can say is that 1. I am a HUGE SW fan, as you can obviously see in my read books section, and I think that if your basis for disliking this book/series/author is that you think SW is the end-all for original ideas, you're just misguided. I mean right off the bat, just read Dune and see how many things are super close to some of the original SW ideas in A New Hope... 2. I have now read this book three times and each time I have loved the "surprise" of Murtagh coming back. Every single time. Sure, I also thought he was alive, but riding atop a new RED DRAGON? No, that hadn't crossed my younger mind at all. 3. If you dislike reading things that have any kind of similarities at all, I'm sorry to inform you but fantasy is not the genre for you at all. Find me something that doesn't pull strings from Tolkien, Lewis, Herbert, Martin and many others. I don't believe it can be done. Those similarities are the reasons WHY I love these kinds of books and genre. Originality would come at a cost. Probably the cost of that comfortability many look for in fantasy and that wouldn't work for me and many others. I'm sure there are also countless ideas and influences that he drew from the million and one dragon rider series that exist in this world. However, I first started reading these books in the sixth grade, so as an eleven year old I hadn't much experience elsewhere, and afterwards this was more my basis for that kind of story than any other. I know we've all seen/heard Paolini say things like "trying to write like Tolkien at his best" and various other stupid and pompous sounding things, but he was young and humility doesn't come easy for everyone. He had great success with these books at an early age, that could certainly do that to your head. And to be honest, it'd have been better for someone else to have said that for him, but I don't really disagree with it. I even call him a mini-Tolkien at the beginning of this review... (but lets be real...Tolkien was always at his "best") I will say that I think Paolini is lucky that he had spent so much time working his characters in book two, because honestly without it I would not have given a single f**k about Roran getting married or trying to become a leader. Nor about them having a baby or Eragon healing a hairlip either... It's because of his earlier work and attention to detail that leads fans to desire more information about other characters and the day to day activities. The trouble with the dwarves even borders on getting too dry and he still (in my opinion) reels it in enough, and splits it with action, to save its enjoyability. I feel like he manages the same with the ending of Inheritance. The political magical stuff and the rebuilding isn't my favorite, but he cuts it up with a NEW DRAGON and NEW QUEEN OF THE ELVES? A great win in my opinion. Even though it's a bit of a stretch for this dragon to get a cover when he exists for so little. The world of Alagaesia needs more dragon power. I will say though one thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how Lord Barst was portrayed. Not only was he there simply to be killed my Roran (in my opinion) but he also was described for so much longer, and seemingly stronger, than Galbatorix himself was? I feel like with perhaps even a single Eldunarí he appeared more powerful than I even imagined Eragon to be... the main character, who not only had quite of few of the Eldunarí, but it was purposefully still said DID NOT have enough to outright defeat the Mad King. Barst has so much page-time that we see him kill perhaps hundreds of men, elves, dwarves, Kull, and werecats. Not to mention Islanzadí, a feat that I'm still not sure I believe Eragon should have been capable of? I understand that this was supposed to add the big-bad warrior feel to the climax because Galbatorix had to be defeated by either cunning or magic but still. That was my only major gripe. I understand that his writing style, and seemingly his incessant need to write bible length books, is not for everyone, but this has been a 5*/100% novel since the first time I read it. Now after finishing it for my second time I still don't have any real complaints. I love it and not just for the nostalgic feel, it's amazing.

Below is mostly my review posted on Eragon with some rehashing/added stuff... So this is my third time reading Eldest, (Eragon, Eragon/Eldest, Eragon/Eldest/Brisingr...) this being my first time listening to the audiobook. To put it simply, Gerard Doyle is fantastic. His character voices and narration fit perfectly, and I loved the job he did. I'm actually going to continue on with Brisingr now because he does them all. I obviously fell off for some years seeing that Inheritance was released 9 years ago, but what can you do... I'm sure there's a hundred reviews on here talking about how this all started when Paolini was fifteen so I'll just say--WOW. He takes so many things from others (in terms of influence) and handles them all so delicately that he created this wonderful, lush, dense lore that continues to grow throughout the rest of the novels. He was like a mini-Tolkien with his languages and flushed out geographic ideas. He created the Urgals and Kull instead of just recycling the typical Orcs and Uruk-hai. I found multiple points of similarity between Martin's 'Game of Thrones' dragons and Paolini's, and yet past those he once again branched off and created his own world and lore for them in a refreshing way. I think the training and wiseness from Brom most similarly matches the ideas of Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker, including the necessary death of a mentor/father figure that thus propels the main character towards greatness. I suppose you could also easily argue that it is also like Gandalf/Frodo, however I think it's a harder argument to make that Frodo actually grew based off lessons from a knowledgable mentor (HE IS A HERO, JUST A DIFFERENT KIND!). Or, you could also point out Harry/Dumbledore--I'm sure we've all seen the memes about needing an old man mentor and a young hero to make a successful series--even though Dumbledore hid questionable important details from Harry, he still fulfilled that role. I actually read a bitter sounding review under Eldest on here where they claim the opposite of what I am saying--ie. that Paolini does not do any of these things delicately/well and all I can say is that I'm genuinely surprised by that reaction. The main complaint I saw was drawing a comparison to Star Wars and almost calling these similarities blatant stealing. IE. "I am your father [Morzan]." And also saying that the reemergence of the twins and Murtagh was stupid/not earned. All I can say is that 1. I am a HUGE SW fan, as you can obviously see in my read books section, and I think that if your basis for disliking this book/series/author is that you think SW is the end all for original ideas, you're just misguided. I mean right off the bat, just read Dune and see how many things are super close to some of the original SW ideas in A New Hope... 2. I have now read this book three times and each time I have loved the "surprise" of Murtagh coming back. Every single time. Sure, I also thought he was alive, but riding atop a new RED DRAGON? No, that hadn't crossed my younger mind at all. 3. If you dislike reading things that have any kind of similarities at all, I'm sorry to inform you but fantasy is not the genre for you at all. Find me something that doesn't pull strings from Tolkien, Lewis, Herbert, Martin and many others. I don't believe it can be done. Those similarities are the reasons WHY I love these kinds of books and genre. Originality would come at a cost. Probably the cost of that comfortability many look for in fantasy and that wouldn't work for me and many others. I'm sure there are also countless ideas and influences that he drew from the million and one dragon rider series that exist in this world. However, I first started reading these books in the sixth grade, so as an eleven year old I hadn't much experience elsewhere, and afterwards this was more my basis for that kind of story than any other. I know we've all seen/heard Paolini say things like "trying to write like Tolkien at his best" and various other stupid and pompous sounding things, but he was young and humility doesn't come easy for everyone. He had great success with these books at an early age, that could certainly do that to your head. And to be honest, it'd have been better for someone else to have said that for him, but I don't really disagree with it. I even call him a mini-Tolkien at the beginning of this review... (but lets be real...Tolkien was always at his "best") I understand that his writing style, and seemingly his incessant need to write bible length books, is not for everyone, but this has been a 5*/100% novel since the first time I read it. Now after finishing it for my third time I really still don't have any complaints. I love it and not just for the nostalgic feel, it's amazing.

And thats how it ends... i can t say i enjoyed it and i didn t like the ending at all. I don t want to give any spoilers so i will not analyse it further. In my not so humble opinion the last Inceritance and Brisignr could have easily been 1 solid book. If you take out all the unessesary exposition yes you don t have to read two relatively large books. As was the case with Brisignr in Inheritance you can easily claim that only 30% of the book is devoted to the actual plot!!! We are forced to read through numerous irrelevant story arcs and even through countless descriptions of facts and figures which mean nothing important to the story. The main arc is undermined so much that you may firelget about it sometimes . I really liked the series at first and i devoured Eragon and Eldest as i was captivated by them. I can t say the same for the last two unfortunately. If you start the series beware that you are going to need tremendous amount of patience to get through the last books and finally understand what is happening.

Plot twist at the end🙊 It took so long to read I became illiterate by the end. It had over 600 pages. Worth it though

Beautiful world, created in a way so complex it seems like it really exists. I don't know if it's my fault but I don't feel a connection with the characters tbh. Nothing really major happened in the book until the last pages where we discover things that could have been explored more if only there were more than two povs. I will listen to the rest of the series because it calms me down and takes my mind of to some place peaceful. Extra points for making me company for so long every night. Well I hope we get more in the next book cus I really need it.

The plot twist wasn't really a plot twist for me, but sure. I'm curious to see how the story progresses, but I'm a bit underwhelmed..

Just as good as I remember it being. Pays homage to some of the best parts of fantasy with a fresh twist. Always a favorite.

An amazing second book. It made me cry, laugh, and fear just like the first one indeed! I cannot find something I didn't like in this story and although I wasn't at all ready for the enormous plot twist at the end I still loved it!

** spoiler alert ** Sono proprio contenta che questa saga sia finita, perché ho adorato i primi due libri per quanto non fossero scritti in maniera particolarmente brillante e lo ammetto, ma dal terzo in poi la saga è andata in picchiata e con questo libro si è definitivamente schiacciata a terra (non oso neanche immaginare un ipotetico quinto libro, mi vengono i brividi). Onestamente meriterebbe una stella, ma arrotondo a due perché voglio un pochetto premiare una saga che almeno all'inizio prometteva bene ma che ha finito per fare veramente orrore. Diciamo la verità, trovo sbagliato quasi tutto in questo libro, sopratutto l'idea che hanno praticamente tutti gli scrittori di trilogie e compagnia di aggiungere una serie infinita di dati nel libro finale per giustificare cose che altrimenti sarebbero inspiegabili. Il cattivo della storia è troppo forte? Fa niente! aggiungiamo 200 pagine in cui Eragon trova un potere ancora più forte che però neanche userà perché arrivato da Galbatorix quello con una sola parola lo metterà al tappeto. Dobbiamo spiegare come Oromis è diventato storpio e Gladr ha perso una gamba? Nessun problema! Basta sfidare ogni legge della fisica con combattimenti nei cieli tra Cavalieri dei Draghi e mosse spastiche ed è tutto risolto. Insomma, niente si collega veramente in questo volume è semplicemente tutto una grande forzatura. Vogliamo parlare dei risolti da fanfiction? Murtagh e Nasuada, qualcuno non se lo aspettava? Arya regina degli elfi, ma non avevamo detto che non si diventata re o regine negli elfi per sague? strano che abbiamo scelto come regina un'elfa che per gli elfi non ha mai fatto un bel niente dato che è stata sempre tra i Varden. Cavaliere poi, per favore! Arya non è un personaggio che mi piace (che ci posso fare, ho sempre odiato le Mary Sue), non mi è mai stata troppo simpatica ma ho le mie buone ragioni mi sembra, possibile che Paolini non si renda conto di quanta roba ha dato ad un personaggio solo? E poi non può essere Regina e Cavaliere nello stesso tempo, era una regola com'è che ora se ne freano allegramente tutti? Eragon allora poteva dare una gomitata a Nasuada e prendersi lui il trono degli umani e invece no lui ovviamente non lo può fare ma miss perfezione invece può e lo fa. Saphira poi vede il drago verde e non ci pensa un secondo a.. beh avete capito, insomma quel drago è un cucciolo! Saphira, non ti sapevo con tendeze pedofile. Ci mancava solo che facesse davvero risorgere Brom e sarebbe stato proprio il massimo. Anche se il massimo è stato lo scontro con Galbatorix, il grande Re, ex Cavaliere che conosce tutti i segreti della magia ma si fa battere dal senso di colpa dei draghi uccisi! Insomma, è ridicolo quasi quanto Voldemort che muore con un Expelliarmus. Altra cosa, i draghi. Ma non dovevano estinguersi? Non poteva lasciare questo fatto drammatico, concedendo a Saphira e (dato che voleva proprio redimere Murtagh, altra cosa che io non approvo) Castigo magari di ricreare con calma la loro stirpe? Dato che davvero voleva tenere Murtagh tra i buoni, nonostante tutto quello che ha fatto (e io non credo che una sola azione buona possa cancellare una serie di azioni cattive e codarde, ma mi sembra che io e Paolini non la pensiamo affatto nello stesso modo) sarebbe stata una buona scusa per tenersi Murtagh tra i buoni (sempre meglio Murtagh comunque di personaggi con zero profondità come Arya, Roran e spesso anche Eragon!). Ma poi a qualcuno gliene frega qualcosa dei POV di Roran?! O meglio, ma qualcuno lo sopporta almeno Roran? ogni volta che iniziava un suo POV mi sparavo un colpo, maledivo Paolini e tutta la sua famiglia! C'ho messo una vita a finire questo libro perché ogni volta che arrivava Roran chiudevo il libro per una settimana. Avrei dato un pochino di più a Inheritance se non fosse esistito l'epilogo, lo ammetto. Diciamo che per l'80 su Inheritance non succede niente, e quel 20% di fatti che Paolini ci propina sono nell'epilogo e avrei preferito non saperli mai.

This is one that I only read so I could finish the series. It was certainly better than #2 and #3, but overall felt like a hotchpotch of clichés more than a fitting end to the series.

The book is as everyone knows the end to the inheritance cycle. Earlier Christopher Pasolini wanted to end the series in 3 books but he couldn't fit in all that he wanted to write. So here came the 4th book, some say its a disappointment, to me it's a fruitful ending to the story. The reasons are that Eragon had nowhere else to go, to lives dear those circumstances. But what hurts me is the way the character of Galbotorix was killed. This character has been spoken of since book 1 and yet when Eragon comes to face him, no lengthy description, no kind of war of words and swords between them. All in all read it if you're a fan of the author and of the character Eragon.

I got this book as an early Christmas present on the day that it came out! I think that it ended the series well. Eregon isn't a super duper fantasy, but I did like it.

Librarian: See my review of Eragon for my thought on this series as regards libraries. Reader: Wow. I know that I remembered this book being more than a little preachy, but I forgot just how insufferable it was. Honestly, this thing is basically one of those awful in everybody else's business vegetarian/vegans that is constantly yelling at you for daring to eat meat. Also one of the insufferable atheists that feels the constant need to tell everyone how much better they are than people who believe in ANY religion. And how stupid people who believe in anything even vaguely supernatural are. (And yes I'm serious about that. A book about DRAGONS and MAGIC spends a large amount of time talking about how stupid people who believe in God and miracles are. Appreciate the irony.) Also NONE of the characters are likable. Like none of them. And even the good guys are basically incapable of basic human decency. Also, has there ever been a "superior race" (in this case the elves) in all of fiction who weren't absolutely insufferable, to the point where it's almost understandable why others want to exterminate them? Because honestly I kind of understood Galbatorix's point regarding them kind of being tyrants. They ARE all absolutely obnoxious (except for the smith elf, but she's in like 2 scenes), and Eragon's worship of them makes ABSOLUTELY no sense, considering the condescending way they treat him. This reread was supposed to be fun and nostalgic. Not annoyingly infuriating. At this point I'm more hate reading than fun reading. But alas I'm far too stubborn to stop now.

2 years ago, I read Eragon and hated it. 2 weeks ago, a sudden urge to read Eldest hit because, while I had never read the Inheritance Cycle, it was a major part of my childhood and I’m nothing but nostalgic these days. I ended up being pleasantly surprised and entertained having finally accepted this series for what it is; a pot chock full of stolen ingredients. Identifying the thievery makes for a great drinking game! (13 Forsworn — don’t you mean Forsaken? Elves unable to lie but getting around it like Aes Sedai? Eragon literally having Rand’s injury? Looks like more stolen parts from Wheel of Time! chug) Other than Wheel of Time, there is clear Dune, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings elements used with very weak masking. And I mean very weak masking. I’m sure there’s more, but that’s all I’ve picked up on given my own reading experiences. It truly amazes me this series is as popular as it is given its existence is just loosely tied together pieces lacking the original sources’ quality. Besides drinking game potential, a redeeming factor is Paolini’s prose. I like it. It’s amateur in parts but I can forgive it and the series as a whole given how young and inexperienced he was. It’s simple, entertaining in a way it probably isn’t meant to be, and a comfortable read if you can get over how unoriginal it is. 2 years, 2 weeks, or 2 days from now I might even read Brisingr. We shall see.