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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Was slower than the other books, but that could be because Murtagh was never one of my favorite characters. However, as I reached the halfway mark, my attention was gripped and I couldn’t stop turning pages until I reached the end. Murtagh went through such character development that he became a deeply lovable character, complete with all his flaws.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Well that was disappointing
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
It was fun to be in the world again and to get to know Murtagh better, action felt pretty constant and not in an amazing way, there are some good parts but it’s probably my least favorite related to IC
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What I love most about this series is how clear it is how much love, care, and respect Christopher has for the incredible world he’s created. This story was certainly different from the others of the inheritance cycle, but I really enjoyed the deep dive into Murtagh and Thorn’s psyche, both past and present. Seeing the world of Alagesia outside of Eragon’s circle was fascinating. I look forward to our next visit to this wonderful world :)
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
1. Overall Impression
I really liked it. I think the novel is a great addition to the inheritance cycle.
It exceeded my expectations.
2. Standout Aspects
I was surprised by how serious and bloody and focused on flaws the novel is. Where Eragon was almost a Godlike perfect guy with only some small flaws, and Saphira was an amazong but arrogant godess, Murthag and Thorn are much more flawed and this makes it so much more interesting.
The focus is, as expected and as in the Inheritance Cycle, mostly on the plot. However, Paolini has clearly changed in this regard, and the introspectiveness and the focus on how flawed the main characters are and how they grow, makes the novel much more character driven than previous books.
3. Strengths
As I said before, it’s main strength for me is the focus on character development, and how realistic the characters are.
I think it really has a very interesting adventure, which reads like an rpg, where the protagonist has to do some side quests which end up leading to a conclusion of the main quest. Also the overall vibe and the enemies are very well constructed and very interesting. I love how it is very clearly foreshadowing a new cycle with Eragon.
I also love the cult feeling of the dreamers. It made the novel a bit creepy and eerie at times,
4. Weaknesses
However, this didn’t really impact my enjoyment. It was only a small percentage overall and the ending of the novel was great.
5. Rereadability & Long-Term Impact
I think it is rereadable, but not very. It is clearly a link between the inheritance cycle and a future cycle, but it is still a standalone finished story. I think that makes it less interesting to reread than the entire inheritance cycle.
The story is pretty easy to summarise. The main plot points are clear and the structure is simple. The details and character construction, while present, are still secondary.
6. Final Thoughts & Who It’s For
Fans of the inheritance cycle, but more specifically of the Roran parts, would most enjoy this. Murthag feels more like Roran than Eragon, since he isn’t all-powerful and perfect, but flawed and human. It is significantly darker than the Inheritance Cycle.
I would recommend it, but not as a standalone novel. Read the inheritance cycle first, then read Murthag.
A very nice follow-up to the magic of Eragon and the inheritance cycle, that is a great beginning of a new cycle that will be darker and more introspective in tone.