From the Bookshelf of WM Independent Readers…

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, is the first book in The Inheritance Cycle Series. It follows the story of Eragon, a simple farm boy whose life is turned upside down when he discovers a dragon egg in the forest. The dragon hatches and bonds with Eragon, thus beginning a new generation of dragon riders. When his uncle is killed by strange creatures, he is suddenly thrown into a world of magic, mystery, and danger with only an old story teller named Brom and his new friend, a sassy dragon named Sa

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, is the first book in The Inheritance Cycle Series. It follows the story of Eragon, a simple farm boy whose life is turned upside down when he discovers a dragon egg in the forest. The dragon hatches and bonds with Eragon, thus beginning a new generation of dragon riders. When his uncle is killed by strange creatures, he is suddenly thrown into a world of magic, mystery, and danger with only an old story teller named Brom and his new friend, a sassy dragon named Saphira, to guide him on his quest to hunt down his uncle’s killers. As Eragon struggles to live up to the legend left by the dragon riders of old, he uncovers many secrets and powers that created the rise of the riders so long ago. He also learns of powerful dark forces that wish to control him and Saphira. What started as a quest for revenge, turns into a race for his life.

Paolini does a fantastic job bringing the words on the pages to life. The way the story is written makes the reader feel like they are actually there, living the events of the story with the characters. There is never a dull moment, even when there is no conflict. Eragon is the perfect combination of dramatic twists, comedic banter, and fast-paced action with an ending that leaves the reader begging for more. My only complaint is that the story was sometimes confusing. At some points in the story, there was too much going on at one time and the plot would tend to quickly and randomly change direction in a way that didn’t always make sense. But all and all, I enjoyed this book and recommend it for fantasy lovers everywhere, especially fans of The Ranger’s Apprentice series.