Eragon

By Christopher Paolini,

Book cover of Eragon

Book description

The first book in The Inheritance Series

When poor farm boy Eragon finds a polished stone in the forest, he thinks it's a lucky discovery. Perhaps, he will be able to buy his family food for the winter.

But, when a baby dragon hatches out of the stone, Eragon realises…

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Why read it?

11 authors picked Eragon as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I loved the relationship between the boy and the dragon in this book. Although stories showing the bond between child and dragon are common, Paolini makes it new by sharing a depth of feeling between the two.

The development of that relationship and the world-building of the setting make for a fascinating read that kept my attention. This book was so captivating that I had to read the other two in the trilogy.

I first read The Inheritance Cycle in middle school. It was my introduction to high fantasy, and I relished joining Eragon on his adventures into a world of dragons, elves, and dwarves.

Fast forward quite a few years, and I listened to the audiobooks with my husband. This is a series that can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages and was worth repeating. I especially recommend the audiobook for the voice of the dragon, Saphira, and the pronunciation of the dwarfish and elvish languages.

It was this series that inspired me to escape into the dragon-riding daydream that…

This is a book that was admittedly hard for me to get into at first. It was written by a teenager and feels like it at times. But it is well worth the effort in the end, especially if you are planning on reading the whole series. And of course, it is a must read for any self-professed dragon lovers.

Despite some awkward wording here and there, it is a grand tale of adventure and pursuit, not wholly unlike Lord of the Rings in size and scope. Although the protagonist is a good deal younger than LOTR’s, his scaly companion…

From J.S.'s list on YA fantasy series to start with.

An Heir of Realms

By Heather Ashle,

Book cover of An Heir of Realms

Heather Ashle Author Of An Heir of Realms

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Why am I passionate about this?

My favorite fantasy novels tend to be rather complex. Winding plotlines, mysteriously interconnected characters, whimsical settings, and intricate, thoughtful worldbuilding combine to create immersive stories that stick in the mind like overworn folklore. Time travel or interworld travel lend additional layers of intrigue and mystery, forcing the inescapable contemplation of a more thrilling, alternate reality. And if it’s all packaged in artful, breathtaking prose that breeds full-color images, audible noises, indelible flavors, nose-crumpling odors, and tangible textures, I will happily lose myself in the pages, truly forgetting about the strictures of everyday life… at least until I get hungry and remember I need to consume more than books to survive.

Heather's book list on adult fantasy that won’t make you grow up too much

What is my book about?

An Heir of Realms tells the tale of two young heroines—a dragon rider and a portal jumper—who fight dragon-like parasites to save their realms from extinction. 

Rhoswen is training as a Realm Rider to work with dragons and burn away the Narxon swarming into her realm. Rhoswen’s dream is to Ride, but her destiny will pit her against her uncle and king, who have scorned her since before her birth. 

In the Exchange, the waystation between realms, Emmelyn fights the G’Ambit, a gambling ring with members more intent on lining their pockets than protecting the realms—or their own lives.

Both…

An Heir of Realms

By Heather Ashle,

What is this book about?

Realm-devouring parasites threaten all existence. The Exchange is desperate to destroy them. But could their radical plans endanger the realms, too?

Soul-sucking parasites are overwhelming the realms.

Rhoswen of Stanburh is of age to train as a Realm Rider—a defender of the realms. Riders and their dragons work together to burn away infiltrating Narxon as they swarm in through tears in a realm’s fabric. But it’s not an easy battle: the mere touch of the smoky, dragon-like adversaries can reduce the lively winged beasts—and their Riders—to ash.

Becoming a Realm Rider is Rhoswen’s dream, but she carries far more responsibility…


After I was taken on an adventure with Eragon, I now compare all the stories I read with this book, it will be hard to find a book that can stand up to the emotions this story brought out of me. The story kept my mind captivated with every flip of a page, and I couldn’t wait to open the next book of this series once I finished.

Eragon will bring you to a world where dragons once roamed, and maybe one day where dragons may live again. If you enjoy stories about dragons, magic, battles, and where anything…

From Jodee's list on fantasy books from dragons to ghosts.

To quote from the inside sleeve, “Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power.”

…And my heart raced!

This book has everything I ever dreamed and more. It makes my pulse race, my stomach knot, and my mind soar. For such a young author, Christopher Paolini, is a marvel and “Eragon” was a lit match about to set my fueled imagination ablaze.

From beginning to end this was an epic adventure into a realm of magic and intrigue, kinship, and betrayals, and good versus evil.

I had to…

This entire series is captivating. I love young adult books. In this timeless series, the world-building is outstanding. It’s about good overcoming evil and sacrifices. The characters have faults and strengths and continue to grow. The magical world is a favorite of mine with all sorts of beings, including elves which I’m particularly fond of. Read this book with your children, and neither will be disappointed.  

Eragon slipped into the reading community quietly and, within a year, was 3rd on the NY Times Bestseller’s List. I read this book in my mid-20s, and I loved its character depth, expansive worldview, and strict magical system. Christopher Paolini was only 15 years old when he wrote Eragon. Still, he found a way to write an epic fantasy without relying on standard fantasy tropes. Alagaësia is a world much like Earth but filled with Elves and Dragons. He’s careful to obey the magical laws he created for his world, and each character is flawed, allowing the reader…

You might be noticing a trend in my recommendations. I have a thing for dragons. Eragon is a brilliant tale about, well, Eragon and his dragon. After an attack on his home, Eragon swears revenge against those who killed his only family. With his dragon, and a mentor, he sets out on his adventure. But there’s so much more to this story than a simple hero who suffers tragedy/hero sets out on a quest plot. There are elves and surprises, magic and hidden heroes. This is a coming-of-age tale that can remind you that even when you feel you’re the…

From Toni's list on fantastic fantasy to get lost in.

A poor boy. A dragon. A grumpy mentor. An elf princess. They’re all going to have to work together. Yes, it’s a classic trope (a bunch of them together actually), but the relationship between boy (Eragon) and dragon (Saphira) is so fantastically drawn and executed throughout the series, you just can’t help but love them both.

From Jean's list on fantasy with unlikely friends.

I’ve always had a soft spot for books with dragons. Eragon not only has dragons, but also the right blend of drama and danger that makes it the kind of story that is hard to put down. One of the things I specifically like about Eragon is that the main character gets to learn how to use magic and struggles with it because it’s difficult, which is a nice change from many books where the main character tends to be naturally good at things. 

From Jodi's list on fantasy featuring drama and danger.

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