Christopher Paolini, Eldest Review

Overall Rating

Eldest
Christopher Paolini
Knopf, September 2006, $24.00
ISBN: 037582670X

Following the battle at Farthen Dur (see ERAGON) the young rider now called Eragon the Shadeslayer due to his heroism and his dragon Saphira continue their journey to Ellesmera, where he hopes to complete his training as a rider and to better understand the magic. In the elven city, Eragon meets Oromis the rider and his dragon Glaedr, who agree to mentor the lad and his dragon, though that might expose them, as they have hidden since Galbatorix's coup slaughtered the Riders.

While the lad is training under Oromis' tutelage, Galbatorix's inhumans assault the village Carvahall, intending to abduct Eragon's cousin Roran. Though these monsters overwhelm the village and abduct Roran's fianc e Katrina, many escape. Roran leads the survivors as they join the Varden counterinsurgency to overthrow Galbatorix.

The second Inheritance tale is a solid coming of age fantasy, though it lacks some of the shock and awe of the first novel, as too much descriptive detail is given on Eragon's specific training, though ironically that depth makes Paolini's world seem genuine, but can be tedious to read (this reviewer skipped some of those passages). Still, the adventures of Roran and his villagers are exhilarating, and when Eragon is outside the classroom the escapades of him and his dragon are also exciting, especially with fans expecting the two heroes to unite. Overall, this is a fine fantasy targeting young teens.