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Eragon (2003)

Author:  Christopher Paolini

Genre:  Fantasy

Point of View:  1^st person

Age Recommendations:  12 and up

Main Characters:  Eragon, Saphira, Brom, Ra’zak, Murtagh, Galbatorix

Plot:  A country boy named Eragon finds a blue stone in the forest by his house while hunting.  He can’t fine anyone to buy it, so he keeps it and discovers that it is a dragon egg.  Then the stone cracks open and a dragon pops out.  He names the dragon Saphira, with the help of Brom, a local Storyteller, Eragon becomes a Dragon Rider, who everyone thought was extinct.  Eragon, Brom, and Saphira leave to find the Varden, to start Eragon in his training that Brom isn’t able to do.  While traveling, they encounter some of Galbatorix’s servants, the Ra’zak, who want to kill Eragon and take his dragon to Galbatorix, the tyrant King who wants to enslave all of Alagaesia.  Eragon gets captured and imprisoned along with an elf named Arya. During the capture, Brom dies. Murtagh and Saphira get Eragon and Arya out and they continue their journey.  They find the Varden and they meet the Urgalls and begin to fight.  With the help of Saphira and Arya, Eragon is able to stab to stab the Shade named Durza in the heart, which kills it.  After Eragon kills Durza, he passes out.  When he comes to, he has a big, deep scar that goes from one shoulder blade, to the opposite hip.  The story ends with Murtagh, Arya, and Eragon promising the presence in his mind that they will find him and continue to train.

Theme:  The biggest theme is tyranny, through Galbatorix who is persecuting his subjects, and the rebel alliance with Eragon.

Impressions:  The  style of writing keeps the reader’s attention and the overall plot is interesting and motivating.  The story has enough action to engage the reader and leave them wanting more.

Inheritance Cycle Omnibus: Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr

Books One, Two, and Three in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle—the complete texts now in a single grand volume.Books One, Two, and Three in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle—the complete texts now in a single grand volume.

List Price: $ 38.93

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Cover of Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2)

Eldest (2005)

Author:  Christopher Paolini

Genre:  Fantasy

Point of View:  1^st person

Age Recommendations:  12 and up

Main Characters:  Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Roran, Elva, the twins, and Orik

Plot:  Ajihad, leader of the Varden, dies.  Murtagh and the twins disappear because they are captured by Urgals, and assumed dead.  Nasuada, Ajihad’s daughter, becomes the new leader of the Varden.  Eragon swears allegiance to Nasuada.  In Carvahall, Roran has to go to battle with the Ra’zak because they are trying to lure Eragon out of hiding.  The town defeats them, but Katrina is captured.  Eragon then goes to Du Weldenvarden to further his training.  He discovers that the elven queen is Arya’s mother.  Eragon trains with Oromis, the mourning sage, ‘the cripple who is whole’ and his dragon Glaedr. Eragon’s power and knowledge grow.  On the blood oath celebration, Eragon’s wound gets healed and he takes on Elvish qualities that enhances his strength and agility.  Nasuada decides to move the Varden to Surda, because of this move, was with Galbatorix becomes imminent.  Eragon leaves and goes to fight in the battle.  Eragon learns of two powerful spell casters, and discovers that it is the twins who he thought were dead.  He sees that the enemy has a dragon rider whom he battle with and unmasks and discovers that it is Murtagh whom he assumed was also dead.  Eragon then discovers that he and Murtagh share the same father, Morzan.  Galbatorix wants Murtagh to bring Eragon’s dragon, Saphira, to him so she can breed with a male dragon, since she is the only surviving female.  Eragon refuses and Murtagh lets him go.  Roran is also at Surda and Eragon helps him defeat Galbatorix’s army with the aide of the dwarves.  After defeating the army, Eragon and Roran decide to go and rescue Katrina from the Ra’zak.

Theme:  The continuation of the battle between good and evil, and discovering who your real family is.

Impressions:  This second book has a lot more story development since the characters and setting were previously established in Eragon.  The action was more intense and keeps the reader wanting more.  Little to no dull moments helps move the story and development forward at a swift pace.  Paolini does a good job keeping the readers interest.

Eldest (Inheritance Cycle, Book 2) (The Inheritance Cycle)

Book Two in the Inheritance Trilogy

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of the Dragon Rider.Surpassing its popular prequel Eragon, this second volume in the Inheritance trilogy shows growing maturity and skill on the part of its very young author, who was only sev

List Price: $ 12.99

Price: $ 6.71