Eldest (Inheritance Cycle #2)

Christopher Paolini

After successfully evading an Urgals ambush, Eragon is adopted into the Ingeitum clan and sent to finish his training in magic and swordsmanship so he can further help the Varden in their struggle against the Empire.

Eldest

Taryn

No matter how great a warrior you were, as often as not, pure chance dictated who lived and who died in war. 

Only do not ignore reality in order to comfort yourself, for once you do, you make it easy for others to deceive you. ~ Saphira 

The only certainty is that, eventually, all things shall pass.

“Live in the present, remember the past, and fear not the future, for it doesn’t exist and never shall. There is only now.” ~ Saphira 

“No, this isn’t your best. We shall recognize your best when it appears.” ~ Oromis

“A good compromise leaves everyone angry” - Ajihad 

“I don’t have enough time each day to solve all these problems” - Nasuada 

😂… When Eragon tries to shave for the first time 

“Be more careful. I’d rather you were as ragged as a molting deer than have you decapitate yourself for the sake of a close shave” - Saphira. 

When will I finally know who and what I am? 

YES U TELL HIM BOYYYY, nobody speaks about Brom in that tone

“Brom was more concerned with keeping me alive than teaching me about people who are already dead,” retorted Eragon 

Wish I could think like that 😂😂😂

He liked how he looked. It matched his feelings. 

A dead silence followed. Then: I'm afraid.

Because... He hesitated. Because nothing I do will prevent another attack. I don't know when or where it will happen, but I do know that it's inevitable. So I wait, and every moment I fear that if I lift something too heavy or stretch in the wrong way, the pain will return. My own body has become the enemy. 

Saphira hummed deep in her throat. I have no answers either. Life is both pain and pleasure. If this is the price you must pay for the hours you enjoy, is it too much? 

Whether fate and destiny really exist, the only thing I can do is enjoy the present and live as honorably as possible.

On the first day from Tarnag, Eragon made an effort to learn the names of Undin's guards. They were Ama, Tríhga, Hedin, Ekksvar, Shrrgnien -which Eragon found unpronounceable, though he was told it meant Wolfheart- Dûthmér, and Thorv.

“Elves’ only concept of time is late and even later.” ~ Orik

“Then smile, because if it’s not your execution, you should be happy!” ~ Angela 

“What is a king, after all, but a man imprisoned by his duties?” ~ Trianna

“The worst a king can do is look foolish.” ~ Hrothgar

Nothing was more comforting than having everything where it should be. 

If any honor existed in war, he concluded, it was in fighting to protect others from harm. 

Tem Nugmanov

It was as if bands had been cinched around his mind, and those bands had snapped, allowing him to ponder ideas that were previously unimaginable. Such as the fact that he might not become a farmer, or that justice — the greatest standby in songs and legends — had a little hold in reality. At times these thoughts filled his consciousness to the point where he could barely rise in the morning, feeling bloated with their heaviness.

The second book in The Inheritance Series Darkness falls . . . Despair abounds . . . Evil reigns . . . Fresh from their battle for the rebel state against King Galbatorix, Eragon has no time to rest. He and his dragon, Saphira, must travel to Ellesméra, the land of the elves for more training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of a Dragon Rider. Even though he’s heading off on the journey of a lifetime, chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and Eragon doesn’t know who to trust. And while he’s off on his own journey, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle back home in Carvahall - one that puts Eragon in even graver danger. Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life . . .

Book Two

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.

Bart Veldhuijsen 

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 :)

mirta <3

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 :)

Sunny

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

The young Dragon Rider Eragon must finally confront the evil king Galbatorix to free Alagaesia from his rule once and for all.

Inheritance

Vicky  Nuñez 

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.

After successfully evading an Urgals ambush, Eragon is adopted into the Ingeitum clan and sent to finish his training so he can further help the Varden in their struggle against the Empire.

Inheritance #2

Ashley Stock

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

Die Dämmerung naht ... Die Verzweiflung wächst ... Finstere Mächte regieren! Erschöpft, aber siegreich gehen Eragon und sein Drache Saphira aus der ersten Schlacht gegen den Tyrannen Galbatorix hervor. Eragon ist zum Hoffnungsträger vieler Elfen, Zwerge und Varden geworden, doch nicht alle sind ihm wohlgesinnt. Die kräuterkundige Angela prophezeit einen Verräter, der aus Eragons eigener Familie stammen soll. Eragon ist sich sicher: Der einzig lebende Verwandte ist sein Cousin Roran - aber niemals würde dieser sich gegen ihn wenden! Doch die Prophezeiung spricht: "So wird es kommen, selbst wenn du es zu verhindern suchst." Der erste Teil von Angelas Prophezeiung ist eingetreten. Sie hatte geweissagt, dass die gewaltigen Mächte des Landes darum ringen würden, den Willen und das Schicksal des jungen Drachenreiters Eragon zu beherrschen. Wie auch immer dieser Machtkampf ausgehen sollte - es würde blutig werden. Und tatsächlich: In der Schlacht gegen König Galbatorix und seine Urgal-Armee schlägt sich Eragon zwar erfolgreich auf der Seite der Varden, Elfen und Zwerge, doch die Auseinandersetzung um Farthen Dûr kostet Unzählige das Leben - nicht zuletzt den Vardenkönig Ajihad, der Eragon in seiner letzten Stunde den Auftrag erteilt, über sein Volk zu wachen, um es vor drohender Anarchie zu bewahren. Nur so könnten sich die Verbündeten im Kampf um das Königreich Galbatorix entgegenstellen. Um die schweren Verluste trauernd, aber doch stolz auf den Sieg, geht Eragon aus seiner ersten Schlacht hervor. Nun gilt es, der schönen Arya, die ihm stets zur Seite stand, nach Ellesméra zu folgen, um in der Elfen-Hochburg seine magischen Fertigkeiten und den Umgang mit dem Schwert zu verfeinern. Doch bereits vor seiner Abreise muss er sich der ersten Herausforderung stellen: Der Rat der Ältesten wählt ausgerechnet Ajihads schwache Tochter Nasuada zur neuen Anführerin der Varden - um seinen eigenen Einfluss zu vergrößern. Eragon soll zum Spielball seiner Macht werden, doch er durchschaut die Tücke, und mit höchstem diplomatischem Feingefühl sichert er sich während Nasuadas Krönung nicht nur deren Loyalität, sondern auch ein wachsendes Ansehen bei den Varden, Zwergen und Elfen. Eragon weiß: Er ist derjenige, der bei einem erneuten Schlag Galbatorix all diese sich immer noch misstrauisch gegenüberstehenden Parteien wird vereinen müssen. Und ein Gegenschlag wird immer wahrscheinlicher. Galbatorix kann den Verlust der Schlacht um Farthen Dûr nicht hinnehmen und sammelt seine Armeen. Überall im Reich herrschen Chaos und Verrat. Eragon weiß schon bald nicht mehr, wem er noch trauen kann. Angelas Weissagung, dass ein Verräter aus der eigenen Familie erstehen würde, erhält neue Brisanz, als Eragons letzter lebender Angehöriger, sein Cousin Roran aus Therinsford, wieder auf der Bildfläche erscheint. Was weiß er über Eragons Fertigkeiten, davon, dass er inzwischen Drachenreiter ist? Wird Roran die schwerste aller Prüfungen bestehen, die Eragon in höchste Gefahr bringt? Oder kann am Ende doch König Galbatorix seinen Widerstand brechen? Und welche Rolle spielt Murtagh, der nach der Schlacht um Farthen Dûr wie vom Erdboden verschluckt war? Wenn er ein Verräter wäre wie sein Vater - und noch dazu der Verräter, den Angela in ihrer Prophezeiung vorausgesehen hat -, hieße dies nicht, dass er mit Eragon verwandt ist ...? Aber auch die Zwillinge sind nicht vertrauenswürdig. Und die Tochter des verstorbenen Ajihad, Nasuada, hadert mit ihrer Führungsrolle. Eragon muss einmal mehr das Heft in die Hand nehmen. "Ein Fantasy-Thriller von ungewöhnlichem Format!" SPIEGEL spezial "Der junge Herr der Ringe." Frankfurter Rundschau "Christopher Paolinis Erstling blitzt aus den Schwert- und Zauberei-Büchern hervor wie Eragons Schwert Zar'roc aus einem Berg gewöhnlicher Waffen." DIE ZEIT

Eragon - der Auftrag des Ältesten

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. 

Stephanie 

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! 

George

i love this this series it is interresting

This book was at times so funny to me. For example, Eragon tells Arya about his love for her and she just fully rejects him. That’s because she’s about a thousand years old and in her eyes Eragon is just a little child 😂. It’s the absolute weirdest thing to her that Eragon loves her in that way. 

This book also has multiple revelations. There’s another rider and dragon still alive! 

At the end, there’s a battle between the Varden and the Empire. Another dragon appears on the Empire’s side. Eragon fights the rider and discovers that it’s Murtagh! Murtagh takes Eragon’s sword and says that it’s his right to take it, because he is ‘the eldest’. Eragon and Murtagh are brothers. Morzan and Selena are their parents. 

Murtagh was forced to swear loyalty to Galbatorix. He is stronger than Eragon… But he told Galbatorix he would ‘try’ to capture Eragon. And well, he tried, so he lets Eragon go. 

Galbatorix wants Eragon and Saphira alive, because Saphira is the last female dragon. He wants her to breed with the other dragons. 

In this book, we get multiple point of views: Eragon, Roran and Nasuada. 

We learn more about the riders, elves and Eragon evolves into his true rider form. 

This book was at times so funny to me. For example, Eragon tells Arya about his love for her and she just fully rejects him. That’s because she’s about a thousand years old and in her eyes Eragon is just a little child 😂. It’s the absolute weirdest thing to her that Eragon loves her in that way. 

This book also has multiple revelations. There’s another rider and dragon still alive! 

At the end, there’s a battle between the Varden and the Empire. Another dragon appears on the Empire’s side. Eragon fights the rider and discovers that it’s Murtagh! Murtagh takes Eragon’s sword and says that it’s his right to take it, because he is ‘the eldest’. Eragon and Murtagh are brothers. Morzan and Selena are their parents. 

Murtagh was forced to swear loyalty to Galbatorix. He is stronger than Eragon… But he told Galbatorix he would ‘try’ to capture Eragon. And well, he tried, so he lets Eragon go. 

Galbatorix wants Eragon and Saphira alive, because Saphira is the last female dragon. He wants her to breed with the other dragons. 

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

C. J. Daley 

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.

Katerina Matzavinou 

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

Liz Hunsaker

Beatriz Pereira

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..

Mary Sprey

It began with Eragon . . . It ends with Inheritance Not so very long ago, Eragon - Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider - was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to imagine. But can they topple the evil king, Galbatorix, and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

Inheritance ; Or the Vault of Sands

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. 

Jacque

Abigaël Chevillard 

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!

The astonishing, masterful conclusion to the Inheritance Cycle, perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings! The New York Times bestselling series has sold over 35 million copies and is an international fantasy sensation. Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must defeat Galbatorix. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost? Features interlocking art that reveals an image across the spines of all four books! And don’t miss the most recent book set in Eragon's world, The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Tales from Alagaësia! "Christopher Paolini is a true rarity." —The Washington Post

Book IV

Ofelia

** 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.

Jeet Jhaveri

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.

Callie Anna

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.

Allie Herrington

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.

Brianna

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.

Eldest (Inheritance Cycle #2)

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