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The Inheritance Cycle #1-2
Eragon & Eldest
Enjoy every word of the first two books in the Inheritance cycle in one convenient volume. Featuring brand new cover art and never before seen original manuscript pages!
1197 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2005
140 people are currently reading
4,528 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Paolini
102Ìýbooks41.5kÌýfollowersChristopher Paolini was born in Southern California and has lived most of his life in Paradise Valley, Montana. He published his first novel, Eragon, in 2003 at the age of nineteen, and quickly became a publishing phenomenon. His Inheritance Cycleâ€�Eragon and its three sequels—have sold nearly 40 million copies worldwide.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
was his first adult novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
November 23, 2015
I feel as though this series is one whereby only the generation it was brought into enjoyed it.
I will admit these are not my favourite dragon stories, but as I’ve always had a love for dragon stories I’m one of those people who enjoyed the books somewhat. That being said, the first book was probably the only one that I really enjoyed.
As a whole if you love a good dragon story they’re worth a read if you’re willing to go in with a mind free of negative reviews otherwise you’ll be picking up on things you’d probably be able to overlook otherwise.
I will admit these are not my favourite dragon stories, but as I’ve always had a love for dragon stories I’m one of those people who enjoyed the books somewhat. That being said, the first book was probably the only one that I really enjoyed.
As a whole if you love a good dragon story they’re worth a read if you’re willing to go in with a mind free of negative reviews otherwise you’ll be picking up on things you’d probably be able to overlook otherwise.
July 13, 2020
Check out my reviews on the main page of each individual book!
November 4, 2011
I loved it. I have already started Brisinger and the 4th book will be headed my way as soon as it is released Tuesday. Had to add this one the the favorites shelf and hopefully the other two will find their way there as well.
July 22, 2017
All those words, and not one original idea among them.
August 13, 2008
I had a really hard time with how bad the writing was in the first novel - Ben and I were reading this aloud while driving, and I kept interrupting with exclamations of dismay. (Really, how many times can something be described as 'liquid silver'? And how many chapters do you need to end with someone being hit on the back of the heading and blacking out?)
Given the lack of resolution at the end of the first book, however, and given that I had the second right there in my hands, I continued on. Paolini's writing does improve, thankfully. And there were some satisfying climaxes at the end, though with enough left hanging that I could see eventually reading the third, once it comes out. Though I probably won't be rushing to do so.
Given the lack of resolution at the end of the first book, however, and given that I had the second right there in my hands, I continued on. Paolini's writing does improve, thankfully. And there were some satisfying climaxes at the end, though with enough left hanging that I could see eventually reading the third, once it comes out. Though I probably won't be rushing to do so.
September 2, 2021
Eragon andÌýEldest is slow-paced, predictable, repetitive and extremely descriptive, but it's these aspects that make for a relaxing, calming and enjoyable audiobook experience.Ìý
Eragon is one of the OG Gary-Stu's. I don't mind the Farmboy-Becomes-The-Chosen-One trope, as long as the character is compelling and there's no deus ex machina happenings, but Eragon is just alright. While I do like some of the secondary characters, such as Saphira, Arya, Angela, Nasuada and Murtagh,ÌýI didn't get attached to any of them.Ìý
My favourite part is obviously the dragons. I love books with dragons, but it's so difficult to find amazing ones. The bond between Eragon and Saphira is fantastic and heartwarming and Saphira is so EPIC.Ìý
While this book has a traditional fantasy world, it's still rich and extensive. The world becomes more expansive in Eldest as Eragon travels to different places and it is interesting to see how the different races live and interact.Ìý
The plot progression has ups-and-downs. There are parts where the plot is action-packed and fast-paced and other parts that are slow and bogged down - usually having too many descriptive passages and not enough happenings.Ìý
A worldÌýthat's predictable and formulaic, one where you know exactly what to expect, but still a great audiobook experience. I'm so glad that I reread Eragon and Eldest via audiobook because I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much otherwise.Ìý
Eragon is one of the OG Gary-Stu's. I don't mind the Farmboy-Becomes-The-Chosen-One trope, as long as the character is compelling and there's no deus ex machina happenings, but Eragon is just alright. While I do like some of the secondary characters, such as Saphira, Arya, Angela, Nasuada and Murtagh,ÌýI didn't get attached to any of them.Ìý
My favourite part is obviously the dragons. I love books with dragons, but it's so difficult to find amazing ones. The bond between Eragon and Saphira is fantastic and heartwarming and Saphira is so EPIC.Ìý
While this book has a traditional fantasy world, it's still rich and extensive. The world becomes more expansive in Eldest as Eragon travels to different places and it is interesting to see how the different races live and interact.Ìý
The plot progression has ups-and-downs. There are parts where the plot is action-packed and fast-paced and other parts that are slow and bogged down - usually having too many descriptive passages and not enough happenings.Ìý
A worldÌýthat's predictable and formulaic, one where you know exactly what to expect, but still a great audiobook experience. I'm so glad that I reread Eragon and Eldest via audiobook because I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much otherwise.Ìý
February 28, 2019
Eragon is an eccentric tale of a young relatable farm boy from carvahall. This book will leave you wanting more with all of its twists and turns and cliffhangers. If your looking for a good read thats excititing from starting to end, choose Eragon.
June 12, 2018
This is by far my favorite book series I have ever read, it's about a kid named Eragon who finds a dragon egg. It is a very well-written book.
December 31, 2011
Eragon:
I found this treasure during my junior year of high school, recommended by a fellow classmate in science class. I picked it up,intrigued by the idea of an epic adventure, and was not disappointed in the least. I remember diving into its pages on the bus after school, completely lost in the world Paolini created. Having never been a real fan of the LOTR book series (though i loved the movies) I was wary of any novel of the same genre, but this book left me enraptured and eagerly anticipating what would happen next. Eragon's emotions to the things that happen are incredibly relate-able and you find yourself rooting for him (and his awesome dragon, who by the way is incredibly intelligent and witty) very early on. All in all, it is on my favorite's list for a reason and I never get tired of reading it over and over again.
Eldest:
I had forgotten how much I like this book. Eragon's story intrigued me from the beginning and I wanted to see where it led. It begins right where the first left off, in the dwarf capital in the midst of an ambush. After sustaineing considerable losses, Eragon and Saphira travel to Ellesmera, t home of the elves to continue their training in both the fighting arts and magic. Meanwhile, the book also focuses on the happenings of Eragon's cousin and the trials he faces. The ending caught me by surprise and left me with a thousand questions and no answers...at least until I read the the third book. Overall it was another exciting adventure from the pen of Christopher Paolini.
I found this treasure during my junior year of high school, recommended by a fellow classmate in science class. I picked it up,intrigued by the idea of an epic adventure, and was not disappointed in the least. I remember diving into its pages on the bus after school, completely lost in the world Paolini created. Having never been a real fan of the LOTR book series (though i loved the movies) I was wary of any novel of the same genre, but this book left me enraptured and eagerly anticipating what would happen next. Eragon's emotions to the things that happen are incredibly relate-able and you find yourself rooting for him (and his awesome dragon, who by the way is incredibly intelligent and witty) very early on. All in all, it is on my favorite's list for a reason and I never get tired of reading it over and over again.
Eldest:
I had forgotten how much I like this book. Eragon's story intrigued me from the beginning and I wanted to see where it led. It begins right where the first left off, in the dwarf capital in the midst of an ambush. After sustaineing considerable losses, Eragon and Saphira travel to Ellesmera, t home of the elves to continue their training in both the fighting arts and magic. Meanwhile, the book also focuses on the happenings of Eragon's cousin and the trials he faces. The ending caught me by surprise and left me with a thousand questions and no answers...at least until I read the the third book. Overall it was another exciting adventure from the pen of Christopher Paolini.
October 19, 2015
The books Eragon and Eldest were . . . Interesting to say the least, though I did enjoy the storyline. The books just seemed a bit, well, plagiarized. When I read the story all I could think of is Star Wars. I mean a boy who believes his parents to be dead is taken under the wing of an old mysterious man. The old mysterious man just so happens to be skilled in many different areas and teaches the boy everything he knows. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Just wait, it gets better. The boys dead dad? He just so happens to be the evil bad guy. If that isn’t similar to Star Wars I don’t know what is.
Another problem I had with this story was a feeling of old age with it. I felt too old to read this story, as if it were meant for someone much younger than I. To sum it up, It was an easy read for me. The only challenge would be learning the ancient language. He used simple words and phrases, not to mention the characters were bland. I mean, there was nothing special about Eragon. He just so happened to be the ‘chosen one�, or whatever you want to call it. All in all he was the stereotypical hero of the story. I mean a guy who can do everything on his own ‘like a big boy�. It’s silly. There’s really no point to making such an overused character. If you do decide to carry on and read this book, may the force be with you.
Another problem I had with this story was a feeling of old age with it. I felt too old to read this story, as if it were meant for someone much younger than I. To sum it up, It was an easy read for me. The only challenge would be learning the ancient language. He used simple words and phrases, not to mention the characters were bland. I mean, there was nothing special about Eragon. He just so happened to be the ‘chosen one�, or whatever you want to call it. All in all he was the stereotypical hero of the story. I mean a guy who can do everything on his own ‘like a big boy�. It’s silly. There’s really no point to making such an overused character. If you do decide to carry on and read this book, may the force be with you.
April 1, 2008
alright, here goes my first review ever, bear with me if it's terrible! These books, Eragon and Eldest, are decent books for being written by a 15 year old, but they do have flaws. As a die hard Lord of the Rings fan, this series seems to take a lot from LOTR. I actually have a theory that the Eragon series takes place many years after the LOTR trilogy, but we won't get into the details of that now. The reading is easy, and flows nicely, Paolini does a good job of keeping the reader involved. The last book in the series, Brisinger, is due out September 28 2008, so we'll have to see how the story ends. as it stands now,This is my prediction, it looks like it will climax with the destruction of the ruthless enemy king and Eragon will be raised up on the new throne and married to the elf of his dreams, sort of a Hollywood ending. Of course there will be a twist, which i predict will be the dragon, Saphiera, kicking the bucket. well thats all i have as far as random ramblings, thanks for reading.
April 14, 2015
cannot believe it has taken me two years to get around to reading the second book in the Inheritance Cycle. The book begins with Eragon and Saphria traveling to Ellesmera to complete their dragon rider training amongst the elves. But while they try to fit decades of training in to mere weeks and months, we learn about Eragon 's cousin Roran as he attempts to protect the mountain community from the Empire. While I found the book enjoyable to read but is pales in comparison to other fantasy novels. Having said that the book was an easy read, and a great sequel to the first book.
"Life is both pain and pleasure. If this is the price you must for the hours you enjoy, is it too much?"
By far my favourite characters are Arya and Saphria, they are more than happy to put Eragon in his place, which needs to happen often enough for it to create two brilliant - dare I say - sassy characters. Well sort of. I am not sure whether I will bother with the next books as it was not compelling enough to make me want to read it over other books on my reading list.
"Life is both pain and pleasure. If this is the price you must for the hours you enjoy, is it too much?"
By far my favourite characters are Arya and Saphria, they are more than happy to put Eragon in his place, which needs to happen often enough for it to create two brilliant - dare I say - sassy characters. Well sort of. I am not sure whether I will bother with the next books as it was not compelling enough to make me want to read it over other books on my reading list.
December 31, 2007
This book starts out with a boy named Eragon. When he found an egg which hatch into a Dragon, he was pulled into an adventure that change his life instantly. While in it, he had met some people such as Brom a so called merchant and Murtagh a mysterious warrrior. Each one has a past realted to him. With the help of hsi dragan Saphira bonded to me in a certain way, he travels to Vaden territory to take shelter against the evil king of an empire. He late discovered his true abilities in a battle to save to rebellion against the King.
A very imaginative story; it seems to talk to to you in a certain way like a teacher or guide about life. It is also very emotional in some part where some of teh people closest to Eragon dies. This reminds me part of what makes a good story; something which you can make the reader relate to or feel for. It also kept you worried aobut Eragon because he was always accoplishing task that seem impossible and ended up very lucky.
A very imaginative story; it seems to talk to to you in a certain way like a teacher or guide about life. It is also very emotional in some part where some of teh people closest to Eragon dies. This reminds me part of what makes a good story; something which you can make the reader relate to or feel for. It also kept you worried aobut Eragon because he was always accoplishing task that seem impossible and ended up very lucky.
February 25, 2009
I started reading this because I won it at the release party and it happened to be upstairs while I was searching for something to read.
Someone told me this book (these books) wasn't very well written so I hadn't been going out of my way... Anyway, it was definitely clunky in the beginning, felt a little thesaurusy, if you know what I mean, and a few of the ideas in the story got off to a rocky beginning (all the sudden something the main character could do something that really didn't make sense, nor was it explained very well) but I do give him credit where credit is due - there's no way I could write like this now, let alone at 15. I feel like his writing definitely improved dramatically over time and even though he borrows storyline aspects from a lot of older works I liked the story pretty well.
Someone told me this book (these books) wasn't very well written so I hadn't been going out of my way... Anyway, it was definitely clunky in the beginning, felt a little thesaurusy, if you know what I mean, and a few of the ideas in the story got off to a rocky beginning (all the sudden something the main character could do something that really didn't make sense, nor was it explained very well) but I do give him credit where credit is due - there's no way I could write like this now, let alone at 15. I feel like his writing definitely improved dramatically over time and even though he borrows storyline aspects from a lot of older works I liked the story pretty well.
February 13, 2008
I loved Eragon from the start. It flowed and had a great pace to it. It was fun and different from anything I'd read in a while. I really liked it so I was excited to read Eldest when it came out. Eldest was a disappointment. It was almost as if the author had one idea when he started (was supposed to be part of a trilogy) and then realized he could sell more books by stretching things out to four books and kind of patched the second book together sloppily. It was not as fast-paced as Eragon and I tended to lose interest as the book wore on. In fact, I probably won't even bother reading the last two books in the series. The author should have stuck with his original plan for a trilogy rather than struggle to make it into a quadrology or whatever it is called. So four stars to Eragon but two to Eldest.
March 30, 2018
Eldest was a grabbing, action packed sequel to the first novel. The story line only got more interesting and characters more complex. Eragon was pushed more and more out of his comfort-zone and each time came an even more striking outcome. I enjoyed the character development as well, by the end of the book I had a complete different picture of the character than at the beginning. Overall, this novel is an engaging and fascinating read and I would highly recommend it to a friend.
January 9, 2008
Excellent books (don't let the movie delude you, the book is so much better). I did like the second, Eldest, every better than the first. However, if you are like me and don't like waiting for the next in a series, the third book isn't scheduled to come out until next September and then who knows when the fourth and supposedly final book will be release. Science fiction well written.
September 27, 2008
A little long and wordy, but I liked them. I guess my only complaint is that at times you can really tell they were written by a teenager, but still I was impressed. There is no way I would have been able to write books like these when I was seventeen.
Want to read
December 26, 2011Finished the Eragon section 02-06-10
Can't wait to find out what happens next!!! Very upset with myself for letting the size of the 2 books together in one volume keep me from reading this for so long. So far, could be one of my favorite!!!
Started reading Eldest 12-109-11
Can't wait to find out what happens next!!! Very upset with myself for letting the size of the 2 books together in one volume keep me from reading this for so long. So far, could be one of my favorite!!!
Started reading Eldest 12-109-11
April 6, 2018
I finished Eragon, and I had really liked it, so I began to read Inheritance, but I didn’t finish it. I thought it was because it had been a bad book, but I had honestly gforgotten why, so I recently started re-reading and I just finished it, and I actually really liked it.
July 25, 2009
My favourite books so far, though I know I have much more to read. I can't wait for the third one, and I've already read these both twice, but I like Eragon quite a lot more.
April 6, 2008
Not much original work in these two novels.
April 18, 2008
I started reading Eragon with my kids and got totally sucked into the story. It is full of imagination and plot- unlike the movie. Can't wait to read the 3rd one together.
February 2, 2019
I read some reviews saying this book is a copy of lotr. That is an extreme exaggeration. There are elements(such as the presence of elves and dwarves) and moments(such as one moment during the main battle) that surely reminded me of lotr. But this book holds its own by far. There are very unique elements to this book, one major one being a connection to your own dragon. I enjoyed the style of writing, there were some very picturesque scenes that still stand in my mind. I didn't enjoy the book as much as my husband, who has read the series many times, but i looked forward to reading more every night. It was a bit long, which he enjoyed more than I. The story surprised me at times, i felt like things were explained and made sense. I felt like the story was very well thought out. I had a few character gripes, a few of the main characters had a similar bold and reckless streak that got on my nerves, seeing as they could of got people killed. Some parts of war and character choices were a little too harsh and real for me, i do like fantasy as a way to escape reality... But i'm sure I will come back to the series to finish it to see what happens.
May 27, 2017
I loved this book. Paolini created an entire world full of mythical beings who have actual character unlike other books. He has given a new perspective to dragons and has made a plot line that is easy to follow and can quickly excite you. I can understand why this might not be some people's preferred type of reading but if your willing to see this series to the end please do. The characters develop at lot more throughout the last two books and you get to see a whole new side of things. And if you have to criticise every little thing you won't enjoy the books as much as I did.
November 8, 2018
i read this as a young teenager and plan to re-read to give a more knowledgeable in-depth review, I enjoyed the premise of this book and fell in love with Saphira and Eragon, and the world.
However, one thing that I will always remember were the boring and unnecessary Dwarf Politics that too many chapters are focused on, I liked the concept of the dwarf city in the mountains, but as a teenager more interested in the adventure and action, made me roll my eyes. I felt like they were there just as fillers and felt they were mostly unnecessary .
However, one thing that I will always remember were the boring and unnecessary Dwarf Politics that too many chapters are focused on, I liked the concept of the dwarf city in the mountains, but as a teenager more interested in the adventure and action, made me roll my eyes. I felt like they were there just as fillers and felt they were mostly unnecessary .
April 30, 2021
A generic fantasy that is painful clear it was written, by a teenage boy. It does remain interesting enough that it can be a fun read, but is endlessly frustrating in places. Mostly in its portrayals of women.
October 31, 2017
After all the hype I was disappointed. Not even going to bother reading book three.
November 11, 2018
My favorite fiction story
Read
October 25, 2019Wow, that's a great book!
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