The Inheritance Cycle: 451 Kindlings #2

As a young writer, I drew a lot of inspiration from the books that I read. None influenced me more than when I read the very first book of The Inheritance Cycle, titled Eragon. It was filled with danger, dragons, magic, swords, and forbidden romance. It heavily appealed to the twelve-year old Robbie who started reading it. One of the major influences in my continued pursuit of writing was Christopher Paolini, the 15-year old homeschooler who wrote Eragon. His work inspired me, showing me that truly any kid can do something. You can never be too young. His ability to excel as a person who was homeschooled also motivated me to do more and work hard, so that I could have a chance at what he achieved.

But this is a book review, no? So let’s turn back to the books.

Eragon starts off by telling us the story of a young boy who finds a dragon egg while hunting. This egg hatches and a dragon named Saphira comes into the world, forging a psychic link with Eragon (the boy). With the help of an old man named Brom, Eragon must travel across the world of Alagaësia to unite with those who will help him fight against the evil ruler Galbatorix. There once was an order of warriors called Dragon Riders, who had access to powerful magic, but Galbatorix destroyed them all in order to seize power. With Eragon now the only Rider besides him, he immediately sends his minions to hunt Eragon down, including the nightmarish Ra’zac and the deadly Shade (possessed wizard) named Durza.

This might seem like a tremendous amount of vocabulary for those who have never read these books, so I will hold back from any further information. Suffice to say that he falls in love with an elf (young for her race but much older than him) and he goes on an epic journey throughout all four books, but the preceding paragraph is the extent of the story that you will get from me.

What I loved about this series is the enormous canon behind it and its excellent mixture of traditional and original medieval story. Traditional, because there’s dragons, elves, magic, dwarves, et cetera. But it is so original, with its Riders who essentially become mind-melded to their dragons, magic that is fueled by your own strength (which puts a limit on how much power you can wield without dying) and directed by an ancient language that specifically does what you say. I also love the massive world that Paolini has created and fleshed out, which mirrors my own love of creating worlds from when I was a child. The world of Alagaësia is a unique and enchanting place, even amid the ongoing civil war.

But the main reason that I fell in love with these books is because of the characters. There are so many interesting characters with their own individual stories and emotions, including Roran Stronghammer, Nasuada, Orik, Murtagh, Angela, Jeod, Arya, and many, many more. A man who embarks on a long journey to rescue his bride from the chilling Ra’zac, who essentially are humanoid crows who eat people. A woman that must take control of her people while commanding many forces, striving to run a country that once followed her father but shows her little respect. A delightfully eccentric witch who whisps in and out of the story when it suits her tastes. And that’s just three of these amazing characters that could be considered side characters next to Eragon and Saphira’s dynamic relationship and story.

All of this goes to say, if you love Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Reign of Fire, World of Warcraft, Pan's Labyrinth, Harry Potter, Robin Hood, King Arthur or any of the Knights of the Round Table, The Pendragon Cycle, How to Tame Your Dragon (which came after these books, FYI), or anything similar, this is a great book series for you to begin reading. Heck, if you just love good books, great stories, or great character arcs, then this is for you! Don’t judge the book by its movie (gah, I still have nightmares of that awful film they made of the first book…). This will keep you interested, pacing between thrills and wonders as you follow Eragon and his dragon down whatever path that destiny has placed before them.

Best Print Editions

- Eragon: Paperback, Amazon, $6.28

- Eldest: Paperback, Amazon, $9.98

- Brisingr: Paperback, Amazon, $10.98

- Inheritance: Paperback, Amazon, $9.03

- 4-Book Set: Trade Paperback Boxed Set, Amazon, $40.58

Best Electronic Editions

- Eragon: Kindle eBook, Amazon, $5.97

- Eldest: Kindle eBook, Amazon, $7.99

- Brisingr: NOOK Book, Barnes & Noble, $9.99

- Inheritance: Kindle eBook, Amazon, $7.99

- 3-Book Set: Inheritance Cycle Omnibus, Amazon, $19.99