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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
I enjoyed the book as I enjoyed the entire series. However the author really needs to edit his use of descriptive words I don't need to know how every single thing tasted for the character, just saying. Otherwise I really like it!
This was a fun return to the world of Alagaësia. I loved hearing more about what happens to Murtagh after the defeat of Galbatorix, but I do think this book dragged on a bit at points. However, it was pretty obvious that Mr. Paolini is setting this book up to continue with a new series, and if you listen to his comments at the end of the audiobook, he says there is much more to come. I enjoyed this story, but there was not clear villain for me. In the Eragon books, we always knew who the villain was and that provided a clear goal. I definitely think that was missing in this book, but then again that might have been intentional as Mr. Paolini sets us up for future books. All in all, I really liked this, but didn't love it. However, I look forward to future books.
Amazing book!! Felt like I was diving right back into my childhood and was just a fantastic read
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What is up with all the dragon fantasy books being so slow. Murtagh drags forever to get the story across. A literal third of the book is just the main character being mind-controlled and drugged. There was no brevity in this book. I get that Paolini probably wanted the reader to empathize with the characters. And It did. This book made me sad a depressed. I didn't want to go on...reading the book that is.
I like the characters though, I like the world. I truly loved Eragon and Eldest, but the bloat is harming these books.
I like the characters though, I like the world. I truly loved Eragon and Eldest, but the bloat is harming these books.
- 3.5 stars -
I listened to the audiobooks of all four novels in the Inheritance Cycle last year, and I found them generally quite enjoyable reads, with interesting characters, some truly engaging moments and scenes, yet stories that didn’t always feel terribly investing due to the somewhat nebulous nature of the primary antagonist’s villainy—Galbatorix was unfailingly talked about as totally and completely evil, but… what exactly did he do that was so bad to his people, as opposed to the heroes and their particular (and very small) social groups specifically? We didn’t see nearly enough of how the Empire negatively affected the peoples in its territories, as opposed to interpersonal conflicts like Galbatorix having betrayed the Riders, and been cruel to baby Murtagh. The books also grew to feel quite overlong by the end, and I found myself absolutely dreading chapters from Roran’s point of view. Still, the majority of the novels were engaging fantasy, and I find myself remembering quite fondly some of the quieter moments, such as Eragon observing the ant colony, or forging his blue sword, Brisingr, as much as I may recollect flashy battles, which to me is the mark of a successful piece of genre work.
The novel Murtagh is more of the same, for better and for worse. This story starts out feeling more episodic in nature, not unlike a John Carter adventure (which Paolini actually shouts out in the afterword, funnily enough!), but, as with the Inheritance books, stages of the journey simply take too long. The character evolutions of Murtagh and Thorn are engaging, but they play out across plot stretched quite thin, to the point that some final resolutions simply don’t hit as hard as they ought to have. We kick things off with Murtagh inquiring after a witch of some sort, named Bachel, as he simultaneously protects a young girl. This is a fine way to set the plot in motion, and reintroduce Murtagh as a kind of wandering knight. But then we enter a series of detours, from and WAIT A MINUTE wasn’t he looking for a witch?!?
There’s just too much stuff going on in the first half or so of the novel that had me wondering, when are we going to get started? Not that Murtagh isn’t an interesting enough character, but how many times must we belabor the tragedies of his childhood, only to reveal that deep down he’s had true strength of character and moral virtue all along? The novel doesn’t tread a load of new ground, and its length is entirely inappropriate to the revelations (or lack thereof).
Speaking of belaboring points, I’ve said several times now the book is too long. Besides this, I do like the challenge Murtagh faces with the witch Bachel, and the ultimate personal outcomes of that conflict for Murtagh and Thorn, even if they feel a little redundant in the course of the series as a whole. New characters of import feel few and far between, but I quite.
If you enjoy the Inheritance books, you’ll enjoy this one. I definitely liked it enough, and there are definitely enough dangling plot threads and open-ended character endings, that I’m interested in reading more from this world.
I listened to the audiobooks of all four novels in the Inheritance Cycle last year, and I found them generally quite enjoyable reads, with interesting characters, some truly engaging moments and scenes, yet stories that didn’t always feel terribly investing due to the somewhat nebulous nature of the primary antagonist’s villainy—Galbatorix was unfailingly talked about as totally and completely evil, but… what exactly did he do that was so bad to his people, as opposed to the heroes and their particular (and very small) social groups specifically? We didn’t see nearly enough of how the Empire negatively affected the peoples in its territories, as opposed to interpersonal conflicts like Galbatorix having betrayed the Riders, and been cruel to baby Murtagh. The books also grew to feel quite overlong by the end, and I found myself absolutely dreading chapters from Roran’s point of view. Still, the majority of the novels were engaging fantasy, and I find myself remembering quite fondly some of the quieter moments, such as Eragon observing the ant colony, or forging his blue sword, Brisingr, as much as I may recollect flashy battles, which to me is the mark of a successful piece of genre work.
The novel Murtagh is more of the same, for better and for worse. This story starts out feeling more episodic in nature, not unlike a John Carter adventure (which Paolini actually shouts out in the afterword, funnily enough!), but, as with the Inheritance books, stages of the journey simply take too long. The character evolutions of Murtagh and Thorn are engaging, but they play out across plot stretched quite thin, to the point that some final resolutions simply don’t hit as hard as they ought to have. We kick things off with Murtagh inquiring after a witch of some sort, named Bachel, as he simultaneously protects a young girl. This is a fine way to set the plot in motion, and reintroduce Murtagh as a kind of wandering knight. But then we enter a series of detours, from
Spoiler
traveling to another city to taking on an undercover mission to taking on a monster hunt to having to search for bait for the monster before going to hunt it and back to the undercover missionThere’s just too much stuff going on in the first half or so of the novel that had me wondering, when are we going to get started? Not that Murtagh isn’t an interesting enough character, but how many times must we belabor the tragedies of his childhood, only to reveal that deep down he’s had true strength of character and moral virtue all along? The novel doesn’t tread a load of new ground, and its length is entirely inappropriate to the revelations (or lack thereof).
Speaking of belaboring points, I’ve said several times now the book is too long. Besides this, I do like the challenge Murtagh faces with the witch Bachel, and the ultimate personal outcomes of that conflict for Murtagh and Thorn, even if they feel a little redundant in the course of the series as a whole. New characters of import feel few and far between, but I quite
Spoiler
like the Urgal named Uvek whom Murtagh encounters and allies himself withIf you enjoy the Inheritance books, you’ll enjoy this one. I definitely liked it enough, and there are definitely enough dangling plot threads and open-ended character endings, that I’m interested in reading more from this world.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a treat to return to the land of Alagaesia -- it definitely felt like coming home after a long trip away. Though I absolutely miss Eragon and Saphira, it was a pleasure to get to know Murtagh and Thorn.
As expected, Murtagh and Thorn are widely different from Eragon and Saphira but their connection to each other and complexity as characters make the pair easily likeable and relatable. It was emotional to learn of their shared trauma under Galbatorix, but rewarding to watch them overcome their fears, doubts, and reservations and ultimately come into their own.
In regards to the plot, the novel was a successful standalone story that reintroduces the reader to Alagaesia and the aftermath of Galbatorix, but still manages to weave new elements, answer some lingering questions from the Inheritance Cycle, and expands the world and lore as we know it. I know many had reservations regarding the "side quests/diversions", but I felt like it gave the reader opportunity to get to know Murtagh and Thorn's dynamic, voice, and how they make decisions.
I'm very excited to see what Paolini has up his sleeve next!
As expected, Murtagh and Thorn are widely different from Eragon and Saphira but their connection to each other and complexity as characters make the pair easily likeable and relatable. It was emotional to learn of their shared trauma under Galbatorix, but rewarding to watch them overcome their fears, doubts, and reservations and ultimately come into their own.
In regards to the plot, the novel was a successful standalone story that reintroduces the reader to Alagaesia and the aftermath of Galbatorix, but still manages to weave new elements, answer some lingering questions from the Inheritance Cycle, and expands the world and lore as we know it. I know many had reservations regarding the "side quests/diversions", but I felt like it gave the reader opportunity to get to know Murtagh and Thorn's dynamic, voice, and how they make decisions.
I'm very excited to see what Paolini has up his sleeve next!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing to be back in Alagaesia. It feels exactly the same, but new too. The Murtagh perspective is quite different from Eragon. The story too, but it is connected in a natural way. So yes, delicious new exploration of Alagaesia that I definitely want to continue.