Eragon

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… show more.

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… show more.

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… show more.

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… show more.

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… show more.

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… show more.

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.

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. 

A classic for all fantasy writers, and one of the most requested movies to be re-booted (since it hasn’t had the fair and proper representation) this book sets some guidelines for all epic-fantasy lovers. If you, like me, love stories written simply and effectively, then Paolini’s Eragon series will seem one of those reads that finishes way too soon.