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June 5th.

As promised, I'll be joining you guys for this one! I'm reading the german version, which has 992 pages... My progress is definitely going to be slow, since this series has not really been my favourite so far, but I'm eager to finally complete it :)

I've read the summary of the previous 3 books to remind myself what happened. It's been a while since i completed brisingr.
Now I'm ready to dive into the story tomorrow!

I'm going to be a bit late to this one. I'm currently about 60% of the way through Brisingr so I should be ready to start this one around about Monday.

Disclaimer: I'll try to translate the german chapter titles as best i can, so open my spoilers with caution.

Chapter Tharsvergûndnzmal
(view spoiler)[finally we're back with eragon and saphira! I don't dislike roran, but his chapters tend to be rather boring for me.
Nevertheless, his plan to conquer aroughs was awesome! I don't even want to imagine how much pain his injuries are causing him now... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Hammer and Helmet
(view spoiler)[the scene in the tunnels was intense! I'm glad angela arrived at the last second and saved eragon and arya.
When they were fighting against the last priest in the cathedral, i was convinced the priest had compelled angela to kill eragon, when she was slowly coming towards both of them... Now I'm super curious who she really is. She can fight off mental attacks better than eragon and even arya, and the priest got scared when she told him her real name. Hmmm.
I just finished the first chapter from saphira's point of view! I don't remember how many there were in the previous books, but having the first one on page 380 seems like not a good sign for many more of them. (hide spoiler)]

Started a few days ago, about 25% through (at chapter Thardsvergûndnzmal)

King Cat: (view spoiler)[The werecats are pretty cool, and I had forgotten they were joining the Varden in this final book, so it was a pleasant surprise when I read this chapter. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters "A Toss of the Bones" to "Interregnum": (view spoiler)[I was really bored with these chapters. Roran was one of my favorite characters in Eldest, but since joining the Varden, I don't really enjoy reading his chapters. They just feel like a constant cycle of fighting... Even though I am sorry that Carn died � I liked him :( (hide spoiler)]

Chapter "The Way of Knowing": (view spoiler)[I liked this chapter, especially because Glaedr is back in the story again. The ending was a little bit cheesy though – it reminded me of Avatar (the movie) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter "Discovery": (view spoiler)[I... do not see the point of whatever happened in this chapter. Like, at all. And I don't understand why Saphira didn't make more of a fuss about it. Eragon could have died!!! (hide spoiler)]

Kathrine wrote: "Chapter "The Way of Knowing": [spoilers removed]

Chapter "Discovery": [spoilers removed]"

Re The Way of Knowing: (view spoiler)[i was so happy that glaedr broke his silence! I've always liked him. With him, they have a much better chance at accomplishing things and they can profit from his knowledge too. (hide spoiler)]

Re Discovery: (view spoiler)[totally agree. Eragon just wanted to prove something pointless to himself and risked death to do it. Dumb idea if you ask me. (hide spoiler)]

I'm at the chapter "Departure":

(view spoiler)[even though I'm kind of bored with all the talks and political intricacies, I'm super excited to see what they'll find on vroengard! Hopefully not a trap...
I'd also like to know who was speaking through solembum in the tent. I hope we get to find out at some point. (hide spoiler)]

I'm about 12% in and have just finished 'No Honour... Only Blisters...'

I've found it slightly boring so far but I know that it will definitely pick up action wise soon. King Cat was definitely the most interesting chapter to me (view spoiler)[ I too had forgotten that they joined the war in this book I've also forgotten what the 'cheep cheep' referred to so I'm looking forward to finding that out again ;-) (hide spoiler)]

'Mooneater': (view spoiler)[Haha I didn't realise I would end up finding out about the 'cheep cheep mystery in the very next chapter!! (hide spoiler)]

Angela Jr. wrote: "I'm at the chapter "Departure":"

(view spoiler)[I've also found myself a bit bored but I'm really excited about going to Vroengard too – I love everything associated with the riders. I know what they'll find in the Vault of Souls, but I'm excited to hear what you think – any theories? :D (hide spoiler)]

Hailee wrote: "'Mooneater': [spoilers removed]"

I loved the 'cheep cheep' story, haha! Angela is such a weird and funny character, while also being extremely badass

Chapter "Under Hill and Stone" to "By the Banks of Lake Leona": (view spoiler)[This was an extremely long section with lots of things going on; some stuff bored me, like Eragon and co. bumbling around undeground with the crazy priests. I'm glad they exterminated the last of the Ra'zac though. And Angela is, as always, full of surprises.

The most exciting part for me was the battle of Saphira and Thorn, and also Saphira tearing down the Cathedral. After the final season of Game of Thrones, I've gained a newfound respect for dragons fighting in a closely populated place. The way Saphira casually sets fire to a row of houses kinda had me thinking about all the people she just fries because she can.

I feel like that's an aspect that was kinda glossed over her and in other books: the loss of civilians on Saphira's part. The book examines Eragon's part in civilian casualties, but it never addresses how everyone feels about Saphira's side of it.

Eragon using Aren was pretty cool. Like him, I kinda wanted him to save it for later but it was needed at this moment. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter "The Word of a Rider" to "Departure": (view spoiler)[Oh no, Nasuada D: Again, I love the battle scenes with the dragons. I would absolutely love to see it on the big screen (though it will probably never happen... sigh :( ).

And the mystery of the Rock of Kuthian is (partially) solved! I enjoyed these chapters with Eragon figuring out where it is, and the whole memory thing. The scene with Eragon trying (and failing) to explain about the Rock to Glaedr and Arya had me simultaneously amused and frustrated.

And I can't wait to see Vroengard! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter "The Torment of Uncertainty" to "Small Rebellions": (view spoiler)[And we officially meet Galbatorix for the first time! He's been hyped up for three books and it's hard to live up to that, but I think Paolini succeeds in making him sound as manipulative as he's been described. He often sounds reasonable but then there's a streak of insane power hunger underneath it.

I'm also glad we get to see Murtagh as something other than a villain. I liked him a lot in the first book, and I'm glad we see him struggling with his position. Does anyone else catch a lil' bit of a romance vibe between him and Nasuada though? xD (hide spoiler)]

Infidels on the Loose: (view spoiler)[This chapter made me like Angela a lot more. Before this I was becoming increasing irritated with her arrogance and superiority but she definitely started to redeem herself in this chapter. (hide spoiler)]

Kathrine wrote: Angela Jr. wrote "Chapter "The Way of Knowing": [spoilers removed]

Chapter "Discovery": [spoilers removed]"

I agree with both of you. (view spoiler)[ To be honest both these chapters demonstrate what I think is a weakness in this series. Eragon picks up skills unbelievable and unrealistically fast. The spell to discover somethings true form is described as something that could kill even the strongest magicians yet Eragon does it on his first attempt with only a ten minute pep talk to prepare him? (hide spoiler)]

Hailee wrote: "Kathrine wrote: Angela Jr. wrote "Chapter "The Way of Knowing": [spoilers removed]

Chapter "Discovery": [spoilers removed]"

I agree with both of you. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, agree!

So I finished a few days ago, but haven't had the opportunity to write down my thoughts until now.

Chapter "A Question of Character" to "Return": (view spoiler)[It had to happen, right? The dragon species being doomed completely would be too depressing, so of course they find a stash of dragon eggs somewhere. It's a bit deux ex machina.... but I can't say I'm too disappointed because I want the dragons to survive. And it's fun to meet more of the dragons, especially Umaroth. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter "Over the Wall and into the Maw" to "The Gift of Knowledge": (view spoiler)[Yay, Galbatorix is dead! And I liked how he wasn't defeated on pure strength, but something else. I also really liked how Murtagh and Thorn came around, and then battle between the dragons was pretty cool (even though I couldn't figure out how big Shruikan really was). I'm sad we didn't get to explore Shruikan's story more � as Eragon, I wanted them to save him :( (hide spoiler)]

Ending: (view spoiler)[I.... don't completely hate it, but I also don't love it. My main issue is Arya becoming the final Rider. She's already cool and badass and extremely powerful, why does she also need to be a Rider? Also, she knows the name of names, so the logic that makes Eragon leave (because he's too powerful) should now also apply to Arya.

I didn't necessarily need them to end up romantically but they worked so well together, and seemed to have gained a deep understanding for one another – if Arya is the final Rider, they should rebuild the Riders together.

Another issue is that not enough people died – it was a little too Disney-ending for me, especially because this final fight was the fight against the main villain, Galbatorix. It's like The Long Night in GoT � it was supposed to be a catastrophe! I needed to feel how high the stakes were in this battle, but I didn't. Even if just those two poor children had died, that would have granted the fight some more weight. (hide spoiler)]

Overall thoughts on book: 3 stars. (view spoiler)[I haven't read this book as much as the former three as a child, and that means this book isn't full of nostalgia for me. I love the story, I love the characters because they were such a big part of my childhood, but with this book I can better see the flaws of the story. I also do believe this one is weaker than especially the first two books. But I'm still very happy that I've reread this series, and I wouldn't mind doing it again. (hide spoiler)]

I've just started 'Questions Unanswered' (view spoiler)[and laughed when I read what Solembum said about 'men who age backwards' and 'rooms that are bigger on the inside than the outside.' I totally missed these Doctor Who references when I read them the first time around. Wouldn't it have been cool if Doctor Who had helped them fight at the end of the war ;-) (hide spoiler)]

I'm still reading this one... Just finished the chapter "the name of all names"

I am interested in how the story will end, but at the same time it's hard to pick up the book and read on for some reason...

Finally finished yesterday YAY

(view spoiler)[totally agree with you, katherine. I also had issues with arya becoming a rider. But eragon and arya are raising the next generation of riders together in a way - arya is going to take care of and educate them until they are big enough to join eragon wherever he ended up going, to continue their education.

It seems like only minor characters and nameless soldiers died in the battle of urû'baen, which was a bit disappointing. Your disney comment made me laugh lol.

And another big thing i disliked: how the storyline with sloane resolved. Eragon gave him his sight back, but that's it? Isn't the hero supposed to forgive and give second chances? I don't know, it still seemed pretty cruel to me, even though the author made it look like eragon being merciful.

Overall, I'm giving the book, and the series, 3 stars. It isn't my favourite, but it's also not terrible. There are a lot of things that i wish would have gone differently, but having read so much fantasy already, i guess I'm bound to see the same tropes again and again. (hide spoiler)]