By Christopher Paolini
4 stars
Eragon is the first of four books in the Inheritance Cycle series written by Christopher Paolini. It is a fantasy novel that has enthralled readers like me for years. This story follows a boy named Eragon as he scales his way through magic, wonder, awe, and danger.
The story starts with Eragon discovering a mysterious blue gem-like stone in a dangerous mountain range known as the Spine. The stone turns out to be a dragon egg, and when it hatches, Eragon finds himself bonded to a dragon he names Saphira (because of her sapphire-like colour). This bond flings Eragon into a majorly unknown world of magic, power, responsibility and danger. Guided and mentored by the wise storyteller Brom, Eragon embarks on a perilous journey to avenge the death of his uncle and to fight against King Galbatorix (cool name!), a former Dragon Rider who has destroyed their land Alagaësia in search of ancient power, the extent of which never seen before.
The author's writing is extremely descriptive and well-written. Paolini portrays the book's characters and their underlying connections and discoveries about the world and themselves in utmost detail, capturing more about them, and yet not too much to ward off skeptic readers. He also writes with younger audiences in mind, creating a world of wonder and magic just as well as other authors without utilizing huge words that I have been privy to in some of his other books.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Some readers like myself might find the plot somewhat common, drawing heavily from classic fantasy tropes and stories like The Lord of the Rings. The plot has oftentimes gone off to tea parties without us, leaving readers holding on, waiting patiently, yet increasingly reluctantly, for its return.
Overall, Eragon is a great start to an amazing series. The book lays a solid foundation for the books to come, and its rich world of magic and dragons makes Eragon a worthwhile read for fantasy enthusiasts.
Reviewed by Nishka
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