Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1) by Christopher Paolini -- Restarting April 1st 2025

[Maddie]

Yay!! Should get to 70% today!

[Maddie]

64% (view spoiler)[Poor Brom :( So glad he's bonded more with Saphira, and it learning his power!
One thing that does annoy me is how good he is at swordfighting, after knowing nothing. Same with reading! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

76% (view spoiler)[Still just a whole bunch of journey. Super slow. I tend to zone out which is a little frustrating, but I still kept track. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Finished. Review: This book was just as boring than the second time I read it, which was more boring than the first time.. Seems like the whole entire time was just (view spoiler)[a journey from one place to another. (hide spoiler)] And the only thing that broke up said (view spoiler)[journey (hide spoiler)] was the (view spoiler)[attacks of the Urgals. (hide spoiler)] So pleased I got into the audio of this book, and even though I tuned out at times and got a little lost, I got it over with faster. I know the way I'm writing this makes it seem like I didn't enjoy it, but I did. I liked the narrator, the way he used different voices and accents for the characters, but the downside to him was the way he did Saphira's voice. I know she is a dragon, but when I started I read it as a normal woman's voice, not all gravelly and harsh. Eragon was consistently annoying me, and I seriously agreed with Murtagh when he said (view spoiler)[that Eragon constantly needed saving (hide spoiler)]. It's so frustrating how (view spoiler)[he didn't know how to read, he knew nothing about riding a dragon, ancient magic language or how to use magic, how to fight with a sword, (hide spoiler)] and then suddenly he's the master of everything. It's just so frustrating yet typical.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting April 30th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[✨ A ✨]

started!

19%/ The Madness of Life chapter done (view spoiler)[I really love the bond that Eragon and Saphira form. I feel so sorry for Eragon. He keeps losing people in his life and he only has Saphira now. At least Brom is there to help him. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

That's into Eldest right Azrah?

[Maddie]

Thought we were starting on the 16th

[callie]

@Maddison Its for Eragon, Azarah and I have to read it before Eldest on the 16th

[callie]

Page 50 (view spoiler)[I thought this was fairly hard to get into because the first 20 or so pages were just descriptions, descriptions, and descriptions. Once I pushed past the first 20-30 pages I started to quite enjoy it!

I honestly didnt know anything about this book going into it, all I knew was that it had dragons in it because of the cover (honestly, I thought the dragon's name was Eragon before I started it!)

The story Brom told about the Riders honestly wasn't all that orginal, it gives me King Aurther/Shadowhunters vibes. Yes, those are two totally different things (specifically the TV show, shadowhunters) idk why, but that's literally the only way I can think to explain it!

I'm not very far into it so I dont have much else to say! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Oh right! Gotcha XD

[✨ A ✨]

40%/ ‘of reading and plots’ chapter done (view spoiler)[Eragon finally meets Angela!! She's one of my favourite characters. I have a suspicion about whats happening to the ships. Maybe it's the razac's flying beasts? Hmm I'll have to wait and see. (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Page 132 Chapter 13(?), Deathwatch. Is this Middle Grade or YA? I can't quite tell. (view spoiler)[I'm having a pretty hard time getting into it, but I heard it gets better as it goes on so I'm trudging through the first part. Eragon is kinda angsty but in a way I'm not sure if I like... He just seems mad at the world. Wow... he was named after the first Dragon Rider.... what a coincidence! *eye roll* Why couldn't Eragon pick an original name? Why did he have to use a different dragon's name? I mean I totally guessed it would be that name but still. Be a little original won't you Eragon? I can definitely tell it's an older fantasy based on some of the things that have happened already. I don't hate it, so far it's a 3/5 star, but I'm only about 130 pages in out of 730 so, plenty of room to get better! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I think it's definitely more YA

[✨ A ✨]

@callie you'll see when you get to the other books that there's a reason for everything. Paolini actually left quite a lot of Easter eggs in this book. But yeah it does get better as the series moves on, once everything starts to make more sense.

[callie]

@okay cool. I'll be on the look out for Easter eggs but tbh they usually go over my head till someone points them out, lol. Like that Eragon's name is dragon with an E (though to be fair I was only 50 pages in by the time someone told me that)

[Maddie]

Oh man! Yeah I never ever pick up on Easter Eggs

[Courtney]

What book are you on? I just got Eragon so I might join.

[✨ A ✨]

@Courtney We're on Eragon. I'll edit my comments to show the book cover. Sorry about that. Hope you can join!

[✨ A ✨]

75% / ‘the horns of a dilemma’ chapter done (view spoiler)[brom's death was heartbreaking. Eragon does have a knack for getting into trouble but that's expected since he was just a farm boy before.
I'm glad murtagh found them even though I'm not his biggest fan. Eragon has already had so many losses in his life and at least he had someone else around once he lost brom.

I love how Saphira is such a protective mom. Lol and I forgot how wise she is. (hide spoiler)]

[✨ A ✨]

Finished! (view spoiler)[i had so much fun with this! The politics of the Barren is very interesting especially when you learn more about them I'm book 2. At least now I know why some dwarves hate Eragon! It's understandable but also I think they hate that none of the riders were ever a dwarf. I'm so glad we finally got to meet Orik. He is one of my favourite characters. I hate the twins so much 😱. They're so horrible! (hide spoiler)]

I'm excited to reread eldest!! I really loved that one!

@Maddie I also listened to the audiobook and I hated the voice done for Saphira it really ruined the experience.

[Maddie]

Yeah exactly. I mean I know she's a dragon, but eh.

[callie]

43% Thieves in the castle (chapter 28?) (view spoiler)[ I'm pretty bored with this, it's taking me a while to read it because I just don't feel the urge to pick it up and read it. I honestly don't care or relate to any of the characters. They could all die and I wouldn't really care.

Some of the dialect gets of my nerves because it doesn't feel quite natural. I can't really explain it but some of the stuff that it said sounds fake, like how something is worded? I don't know if that makes sense but it's really annoying me.

Literally the ONLY character I am interested in is Solembum (too bad his name sucks). A werecat? Yes please!

Angela.... I liked the idea of her character she just seemed one dimensional. That's it! All of the characters are one dimensional to me.

The only thing I think about this book is the fact it has dragons, and the history of the dragons and the Riders. I think that is really fascinating but I could care less about Eragon and Saphira. I'm also kinda interested in the elves, we don't know too much about them though.

Brom is kinda giving me Dumbledore vibes and I honestly wasn't the biggest fan of dumbledore (though I do prefer him a LOT more than Brom)

Sometime when Brom and Eragon were riding the horses (before he started riding his dragon) I think they were camping for the night, Brom and Eragon were talking, Eragon said something and Brom got like livid angry for like 0.2 seconds then was completely calm again. That really annoyed me, because it wasn't like his anger diffused or anything it just stopped. And whatever Eragon said (I don't really remember what exactly it was) wasn't even something the get angry over.

I am going to try to make it through this books, so far it's looking like a 2-3 star book. I'm honestly just really bored and don't care about any of the characters so I'm not really enjoying it at all. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Of Eragon? Or Eldest?

[callie]

I'm still reading Eragon

[Maddie]

Okay perfect, as I've still got audios on my list XD

[✨ A ✨]

@Maddie Here's the thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I can't remember who requested it for us but that was the thread that was set for the 16th XD

[Maddie]

Thanks!

[callie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[I FINALLY finished this book! I'm honestly not sad at all Brom died (I was kinda happy if I felt anything at all) because I didn't really like him. I didn't really like any of the characters. I thought it was super boring and the characters one one-dimensional, I thought a lot of the dialogue seemed forced and the writing style was really dry (if that makes sense) and I just didn't care for it. I don't think it's a really bad book I just don't think it was for me. Literally nothing interested me about the plot, I am curious about the elf land place because it kinda reminds me a bit of a Faerie land and I LOVE faeries, but I'm only slightly interested in it. I will give Eldest a chance because I hear they get better but if I still am bored and don't care about it 100/15 chapters in I am going to DNF the series. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Maddison (this is you)
2473 books | 320 friends
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Date changed. Restarting September 1st 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Ryn]

Yay!

Initial Impressions (Prologue)
The intro feels very Lord of the Rings-ish to me, which may be good or bad since I've never made it all the way through that series. But the characters and opening feel slightly lifted from Fellowship. My vague memories from last time suggest that I found this book too long and very wieldy in spite of being a decent story. However, it's well known that I read too fast and often discover I love a book the second time around that I didn't really care for the first time through. I am not a fan of books where the hero(es) are chased by bad guys through most of the text; I find them rather exhausting to read.

25% through "Therinsford"
So far initial impressions are correct... I feel like this book is overly flowery and bogs down in description and explanations. It's not a bad story, but I believe there's a reason I didn't remember it particularly well, and don't expect to remember it that well after this reading either. Is it just me or does Eragon seem to have a really obnoxious attitude most of the time -- he even barks at Saphira for basically no reason at all, and keeps yelling at adults who aren't being horrible just because... I'm not sure... it's his story so he can?

I feel like a lot of this is reused fantasy tropes mashed into a "new" novel -- hero is special/chosen/whatever. Hero goes on quest with wise sage. Hero suffers learning to right and swordfight. Hero is gifted for no apparent reason with ancient magical sword. Hero can master powers without realizing it that most people have to work really hard for. And yet I'm not really absorbed into the story the way I was when, say... Robin McKinley did similar things in The Blue Sword. Of course, I didn't read this for the first time as a middle schooler. To me, the author's youth shows through frequently, especially as he attempts to develop characters with immense age, wisdom and life experience. (Not that I'm unimpressed at the book -- for a sixteen year old, it's incredibly impressive. He'd get an A in my English class.) Brom is both a little too convenient and a little too alternating between teen snark and defensiveness and ridiculously patient/gentle sage. Saphira is very anthropomorphized and feels incredibly human in her interactions with Eragon.

That said, I did like (and remember) the mark on Eragon's hand. I thought that was kind of neat.

Am I being too hard on this book?

[Ryn]

250 pp, through "Master of the Blade"

So I'm finally starting to warm up to this story, although there are still some things I don't love. I like the werecat; now that I'm reading about him again, I vaguely remember him and I think I liked him before.

Saphira still bothers me; she sounds like a cross between a snarky teenager and a snarky teenager trying to be a wise sage. I get that dragons are mystical and wise and all that but she's still basically just a baby with very little world experience. She sounds a bit too human for my taste -- this works in children's fantasy like Wings of Fire but YA and adult fantasy is less forgiving here. Too many old people with the tempers of teenagers. And there are so many places and people groups that I'm having a bit of trouble following all of them and keeping them straight.

Still... finally being able to be absorbed in the story was nice. I'm enjoying the journey and some of Eragon's training. I'm not sure how I feel about Brom the way he's written but I've enjoyed some of their interaction, particularly the "oversized lizard" crack... even if I think it was anachronistic and out of character. It was still funny.

[Kinsey]

Just saw this! I have the book on Kindle and plan to start tonight.

[Ryn]

Oo yay :D I'm slogging through it. I don't dislike it but I'm not desperate to pick it back up once I've set it down either.

It is getting better :)

[Ryn]

378 pp, through The Horns of a Dilemma

There's so much about this book I'm not really sure I like, but at the same time... while it isn't going on my shelf o'favorites, I wouldn't mind reading the rest of the series and I'm feeling mildly entertained by it. I can sit here and list the books it reminds me of, which is never a good thing, but...

So the language is still pompous and overbearing. Lines like "Behold! I am a Rider!" are a little too cringey, and Eragon is a little too special for my liking. All the adults have obnoxious teenage attitudes, and I swear 3/4 of this book consists of Eragon and his mates getting chased all over creation. And Saphira remains the most annoying "awesome, majestic, wise, snarky teen human" dragon ever written. She's very Judgey McJudgerson, isn't she?

BUT

I think Murtagh's storyline is interesting. I don't remember how his situation with the Varden resolves so I'm looking forward to that. (Although Eragon did him a really crappy turn by (view spoiler)[ continually promising him a way out and then "Oh, oops, my bad. There isn't one. AND NOW I AM MAD AT YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE UPSET, CAN'T YOU JUST GET OVER IT?" Just sayin') (hide spoiler)] I'm very interested in Arya's line too and learning why she's been showing up in Eragon's dreams.

So... 25% left to go. I'm not going to rush out and get Eldest... but I may just hop in and read it sometime down the road. Just because.

[Aneta]

First of all I'm sorry it taking me so long to read this book. I'm struggling a little bit with it.

Finished chapter - Therinsford
I remeber I really liked this book first time I read it but as I already said I'm struggling with it now. I hope I will get into it soon. I agree there are a lot of tropes which are overused now. But this book came out in 2003 (I think) and some of these tropes weren't used as much back then. So I'm okay with it. My problem right now is dialog. I'm cringing so hard at times! :D I can't talk much about writing style because I have translated book but that dialog is painful :D I'm not suprised that I didn't catch on that when I first read it (I was 12). But it super impresive that teen published this story and came up with this world.

[Ryn]

Yes, I don't think you're alone. It bogs down a lot.

I'm not disparaging his accomplishment. And he's worth like... 25 million dollars now so obviously he did something right. I think a lot of people read this when they were kids; I remember even after I was old enough to teach school, my fourth graders going crazy for copies of it, and kids don't have the reading experience to be really discerning, nor the sensitivity to what adults see as melodramatic.

And yes, the dialogue, lol. I completely agree. Completely.

As for overuse... I've said before, I feel like this is very Lord of the Rings-y. Or maybe Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, Shannara... I think he was very inspired... maybe a little too inspired by the great high fantasy series that were prevalent before then. I feel like there's been a dearth of good high fantasy by now because so much of it was done so well by the more classic authors, but what I meant by overuse is that I feel like he reused, took, morphed, etc a lot of the stories that he probably grew up reading. But obviously he knew his audience :D

[Ryn]

Fin

Well... finished it for the second time. It was a decent book, but I seem to recall thinking about the same last time. Too many people being all mysterious and stuff. I like the story well enough -- Angela and Solebum are fun characters. Still too Lord of the Rings-y IMHO.

Still feeling like Eragon is a little too Mary Sue-ish, too "special." And I will admit to finding it annoying that he seems to keep reminding himself of this in his own thoughts. He's not a farm boy anymore, he's done amazing things and deserves recognition, etc. It does kind of ring true for a teen, but as a reader, I can decide and see that for myself.

So overall, basically decent story, might be worth reading the rest of the series, suffers from way too much melodrama all around, not going to be purchased for my personal bookcase, but reasonably okay/good. What do you think?

[Aneta]

Finished chapter Du Súndavar Freohr

Good news is I'm starting to like this again. Yes, there are still things which bothers me a little bit but I got used to them and it's not so bad anymore.

I enjoy most of Eragon's training but at some parts it's a little bit too much. I got impression he is fast learner and he does some things instinctively. BUT he constantly forgets about his pain! One moment he is complaining and next it looks like nothing happend to him.

I agree about Saphira. She is way too human. But she remainds me more cross between mother and snarky teenager (as you said). And she is about six months old! :D

I hope I managed to write this without bigger mistakes. I'm not on my computer and autocorrect is killing me! :D

[Ryn]

Aneta wrote: "Finished chapter Du Súndavar Freohr

Good news is I'm starting to like this again. Yes, there are still things which bothers me a little bit but I got used to them and it's not so bad anymore.

I..."

Yes to all of this. You're right, she's a cross between snarky teen and ancient wisdom, which I have trouble suspending disbelief for. And you're right about Eragon being *poof*fine. I didn't dislike the book overall, I really didn't, but if I'm critiquing fairly the writing left some things to be desired.

[Aneta]

Finished chapter Ažihad (I hope it's same name in English)

Almost finished with Eragon! I agree with you about Murtagh's storyline and I can't wait to know more about him (I forgot almost everything).

Trojnheim sounds interesting but my biggest interest is in political system. Two "kings" and their coexistence in one place.

[Ryn]

That's a good point. I could have read it wrong; I thought (view spoiler)[ one was "king" of the Varden and the other was king of the dwarves. Trojnheim belongs to the dwarves but I think they're letting the Varden stay there. That was my impression, but I could be wrong. I really liked the king of the dwarves (hide spoiler)]

[Aneta]

I have same impression as you but I think it's an interesting part. (view spoiler)[ If king of the dwarves changes, Vardens might have to leave Trojnmeim. Everything at that point would be fight for survival for them. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Aneta wrote: "I have same impression as you but I think it's an interesting part. [spoilers removed]"

You're quite right. And they (view spoiler)[ wouldn't survive. Especially now that the king knows where they are. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Nari--Atlantisgirl wrote: "On 20%, but I don't think it is very interesting. I am bored to tears because of reading Eragon"

It's not the worst book I've ever read, but it's definitely not the best. He was pretty young when he started writing it. It's kind of one of those things where I have to say... wait, he's worth $25 million dollars because of this book? But... why?

[Ryn]

True story. I looked it up.

[Ryn]

Me too... I wish I could come up with an idea this meh and make $25 million off it.

[Aneta]

Finished
I think I'm going to reduce my first rating to 3 stars. It's different than I remember and I got an issue with cringey dialog and surprisingly Saphira. But I actually liked battle at the end and (view spoiler)[ I think that twins are up to something! (hide spoiler)]
Angela and Solebum are really fun characters! I hope they are in next books more but I don't really remember them there.

I'm still going to read Eldest and probably next month. If I finish this series this year I would be happy.

[Ryn]

I might do the same, and yes, your issues with it sound a lot like my issues with it. I've never read the rest of the series but I'm a little OCD completionist so I'm considering it.

[Aneta]

Ryn wrote: "I might do the same, and yes, your issues with it sound a lot like my issues with it. I've never read the rest of the series but I'm a little OCD completionist so I'm considering it."

I only haven't read last book and I want to finaly finish this series. I remember a little bit about second and third book but it's not enough. Would you like to do BR for Eldest next month as well?