Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2) (original 2005; edition 2007)

ANIMOTO http://animoto.com/play/MuSQVDMPuc0s23PfvwMeew ( )

My comment on Eragon can be repeated here. ( )

Have not read this book yet.

See review for Eragon, book one in The Inheritance Series. It was meant to be a Trilogy originally, but with the third book due out soon, the news is that there will be a fourth book. Eldest holds up well following Eragon, it was every bit as engaging as the first and made me impatient for the third. ( )

I actually prefer this installment to the first. A decent chunk of the book is dedicated to Roran, Eragon's cousin, as he tries to save his village and escape from the forces of the empire. I like him better. Eragon trains with the elves and learns more about the different races and their/his histories culminating in the battle bw the Varden and the Empire. *The escape that kept me sane this week. ( )

Transferring information from 2006 spreadsheet

This is the second book of the series and overall I liked it. In particular I liked Eragon’s brother’s story that played out the most. Eragon’s was a bit slow and detailed. Not that its not important just that I really liked the brother’s journey a ton better.
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I liked the first book in this trilogy more than this work, because I felt the first book was more original overall. While reading this book, I felt that some plot twists and themes were influenced by works like Star Wars (the original, thank God) and Tolkien. A bad thing? No - many themes are pretty universal, and Paolini could have looked in many, many worse places for influences. ( )

Just as good as the first book, story-wise. Written a little better, although the writing skill still leaves a lot to be desired. I have a lot of the same opinions about this book as I do it's predecessor, so that's about all I really have to say for this review. ( )

This review has been crossposted from my blog Review from Rose's Book Reviews Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me.

'Eldest' is the next breathtaking book in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. The series was originally intended to be a trilogy, but after this novel Paolini declared he was going to make it a quartet (or his publisher decided to let him). The story splits between Eragon and his cousin Roran, adding a nice balance to the narrative.

'Eldest' follows on almost continually from 'Eragon', which makes it nice that there is a quick synopsis of the first book in the first couple of pages. I skipped that and moved on as I'd just read it. In the aftermath of the battle, Eragon must recover from his back wound and continue his training. Beset by his desire for the unattainable Arya, he follows her to the forests of the elves so that the eldest may teach him.

At the same time, Eragon's cousin Roran is fighting to save their home town - they can fight or flee, but something must be done. We see a distinct development of his character, which was great as Eragon can be a little stupid at times. Often I wonder why Saphira puts up with him! Personally I hope Roran gets a dragon of his own, but time will tell.

Eragon's personality further develops, and he also has some physical characteristics change on him. His time with the elves is peaceful, and he takes his dwarf friend with him. It is somewhat frustrating that Eragon misses things right under his nose, and his instruction is painful to watch as he struggles with things the discerning reader knows will be expected of him.

The final battle is almost nail-biting, except that you know Eragon must triumph for the next two books to be written! Nevertheless, the twist at the end is shocking, if expected by more canny readers. I'm hanging out to read the next book (I really don't remember it from last time I read it), but I have a new Mercedes Lackey waiting for me from the library.

I'd recommend 'Eldest' for more mature children (there is a lot of gore, although it is not really gratuitous and the value of life is addressed), and teens. It does continue nicely from 'Eragon', although it is disappointing that there is not much development in Paolini's style. ( )

More reviews at: http://www.onstarshipsanddragonwings.com/2012/03/09/eldest/

Note: this post will contain spoilers if you haven’t read the first book (Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)) which I highly recommend reading, and I’ll keep the spoilers minimal so it won’t ruin too much if you do read this post.
When I first read Eragon (book 1 of this series), I loved it, but then I just couldn’t get through Eldest when I tried. I was also only 13 years old so that might have been part of it. Almost ten years later, I found it a much more enjoyable read and I do recommend people rereading if they didn’t get through these books the first time.

Title: Eldest (series is Inheritance Cycle)
Author: Christopher Paolini
Pages: ~668 (hardcover)
Setting: A continent called Alagaesia in a fairly typical fantasy world with dragons, elves, dwarves and magic. The people of the continent don’t know what is beyond the sea, but it is known that elves, dragons and humans didn’t originate on this continent.
Premise: Eragon found a dragon egg and proceeded to run for his life in the first book. The second book opens with Eragon crippled and trying to sort out the aftermath of a battle in the rebels’ refuge. He needs to continue his training with the elves to become a full dragonrider and face the evil emperor of the continent who is a very old and powerful dragonrider, but he’s conflicted about some personal feelings as well.
Strengths:
Keeps the epic high fantasy feel going which is always fun
Paolini writes pretty good battle scenes really, and there are a few of them with the whole evil needing to be vanquished thing
A lot more about the world is revealed in this book, including the fact that there are a lot of mysteries still to understand (and I hope they get covered in later books….)
The magic system is interesting and further explained and expanded on
The main characters’ imperfections make them more believable
Crazy plot twists that I never saw coming!
Weaknesses:
There is a teenage angst plot line that doesn’t get focused on too much, but is a bit annoying when it crops up
The extensive descriptions of scenery bored me in my first read through, and are likely to bore a younger audience, sometimes you have to be patient or okay with skimming
The book jumps between Eragon and a couple other characters’ perspectives and adventures and that can be a bit disorienting when you were just getting into the last plot line
The most knowledgeable beings we know of (the elves) still know depressingly little about the rest of the world, and I really hope that gets filled in in later books
At times the elves, dwarves and humans are a bit too stereotypical high fantasy, though not always
Summary: I found these two books to be very enjoyable evening reads. They are relaxing most of the time because of the traditional pacing, but I find myself happy to spend time in the world and wanting to know what happens next. The plot line doesn’t get too boring though because Paolini is able to write some good twists and I definitely didn’t see coming, but find very intriguing. I’m excited to read the next book, which I just got for my birthday and would love to hear your thoughts, but no spoilers for the last two books please :-). ( )

Favorite series seqeul to Eragon ( )

Good story, great characters. I really like Rorans story. ( )

way confusing. it was like harry potter 7 times 10!!! ( )

The story of Eragon picks up but does not finish in this next book. I enjoyed this one just as much as it brought about the knowledge of the Riders and the struggles that Eragon, Nasuada, and Roran have to face. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next with both Eragon's teaching and the Varden's struggle. ( )

Marginally better than its predecessor. I didn't hate it, but it gave me nothing new. The taint of wish fulfillment hovers over it, however, and is difficult to shake off. ( )

Another great Paolini book. Maybe not quite as good as the first book, but still a great story. ( )

Loved the whole series, but this one was definitely my favorite! I loved reading about ellesmara and getting to see Eragon's training! So many plot twists! Loved it!!! ( )

I absolutely adored this book. I had almost forgotten how much I liked Eragon when I started this one, but it sucked me straight in. Even though it's been a while since I read Eragon I had little trouble following this book. I look forward to reading the other volumes in this saga. ( )

When Eragon left off, Eragon and the varden had just defeated the urgals the attempted to invade Farthen Dur, the underground dwarf city. When everyone thought war was over, Ajihad (leader of the varden) and his group of men were fighting off the remainder of the urgals when they were over powered and killed. Among those men were Eragon's friend Murtagh. Murtagh's body along with the twin magicians was never found. Arya (an elf) then leads Eragon to Ellesmara ( the elven capital city) to finish his training. Meanwhile back in Carvahall, the Ra'zac come back looking for Eragon's cousin Roran. when the Ra'zacdont leave, Roran organizes Carvahall to fight against them.

I like this book for a lot of the same reasons that i liked the first one. There is so much fantasy and adventure, and even some mystery, plus the author's writing is amazing. But, in Eldest I can get Roran's point of view and not just Eragon's, in some chapters the reader even gets Nasuada's (Ajihad's daughter and succesor) point of view.

The reason I rated Eldest five stars and not four and a half like Eragon, is because when I read Eragon, there were some parts that were really boring, but I didnt feel that way about Eldest. Also, in Eldest there are such huge twists, that made my jaw drop open when I read them. This book was awesome and I would definitely recomend this series to anyone who enjoys or doesnt mind reading. ( )

Review by: thefunkylama

please see the reviews for Eragon and join the hate/dislike club.
Review by: Funky Chicken Returns

This book was even WORSE than Eragon. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!Unfortunately for me I read it.
Review by: heebeejeebees

SOOOO good. I mean i got it free (yipee) and it rocked! I didn't even have to put it on hold!
Review by: jimmy

i found this book extremely slow-paced and i definetly don't think they should make a movie of eragon
Review by: Ojive

See my review of Eragon. Even if a book is written by a 17 year old, it has no excuse for being shallow and derivative. It does not take very much experiance (Or talent) to plagiarize, as Eldest clearly shows. The sheer amount of sources that Eragon/Eldest lifts stuff from is impressive. Also, thefunkylama, if that really was you retracting your previous statement and you are who I think you are, we need to talk. There are too many fanboys in the world without YOU becoming one... ( )

It was fun to find out that Saphira wasn't the only one. ( )

1445

There are sweet settings, epic battle, and amazing characters. Q5P5 AHS/Nathan W.

The land of Alagaesia is suffering under the Empire of the wicked Galbatorix, and Eragon and his dragon Saphira, last of the Riders, are the only hope. But Eragon is young and has much to learn, and so he is sent off to the elven forest city of Ellesmera, where he and Saphira are tutored in magic, battle skills, and the ancient language by the wise former Rider Oromis and his elderly dragon Glaedr. Meanwhile, back at Carvahall, Eragon's home, his cousin Roran is the target of a siege by the hideous Ra'zac, and he must lead the villagers on a desperate escape over the mountains. The two narratives move toward a massive battle with the forces of Galbatorix, where Eragon learns a shocking secret about his parentage and commits himself to saving his people. ( )