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Critics' Opinion:
Readers' Opinion:
First Published:
Aug 2005, 704 pages
Paperback:
Mar 2007, 704 pages
Book Reviewed by:
BookBrowse Review Team
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Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…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 the skills of the Dragon Rider. Ages 12+.
Darkness
falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…
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 the skills
of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a
lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled
with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and
nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn't know whom he can trust.
Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in
even graver danger.
Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with
even his life. . . .
Saphira's breathing quickened, and she opened
her eyes, yawning expansively. Good morning, little one.
Is
it? He looked down and leaned on his hands, compressing
the mattress. It's terrible . . . Murtagh and Ajihad . . .
Why didn't sentries in the tunnels warn us of the Urgals? They
shouldn't have been able to trail Ajihad's group without being
noticed. . . . Arya was right, it doesn't make sense.
We
may never know the truth, said Saphira gently. She stood,
wings brushing the ceiling. You need to eat, then we must
discover what the Varden are planning. We can't waste time; a
new leader could be chosen within hours.
Eragon
...
Paolini appears to be firmly of the belief that one should never use one adjective when five will do. The reviewer for The Boston Globe sums up his writing style with the immortal words: "He is to English as a dog to a chainsaw: he worries it, and worries it, and devastation spreads around him." Having said that, nothing that I or other reviewers say can take away from the fact that a multitude of children absolutely adore these books...continued
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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Paolini says that the top three authors who influenced him were Anne McCaffrey, Ursula K. LeGuin and Raymond Feist (with Feist's novel Magician making a particularly strong impact on him). Read more about Paolini at BookBrowse.
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