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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I really want to give it 3 stars for being so long, 29 hour audio book, lol! I mean I’m also reread/listening to the third book of Wheel of Time and it’s 4 hours shorter! but the world and the writing has expanded so much more beyond the first two books and the thin differences from other fantasy ancestry is significant. I’m not sure this is YA anymore. But the story was still too bloated; lots of background building for all the races of dwarves and elves and dragons a bit more, and Ergols that is helpful to know how this world works, but it’s not so uniquely different from other fantasy worlds, is the length earned I wonder? I say it’s a little too much, not because there are too many characters introduced, but because there are too many characters for needed development, and not all of them get the time they need (did I just say I wanted it longer?)
I really liked this book. It continues the story of Eragon and Saphira and gives a lot of good back story to other events that have been hinted at in earlier books. Some of the imagery may have been a bit drawn out and overdone, but I enjoyed it overall.
The book is an easy read in terms of reading level, but it is long enough that it still takes some work to finish. I'm looking forward to reading Inheritance now.
The book is an easy read in terms of reading level, but it is long enough that it still takes some work to finish. I'm looking forward to reading Inheritance now.
adventurous
funny
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
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In the third book of this series, we experience a wider array of character POVs, something new inherited, some ends tied and some foreshadowing foe the 4th book
I decided this year I would read the rest of Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, since I had read the first couple as a young teen and, like a lot of readers of my age, dropped off before the publication of the third book, and I've heard good things about Murtagh and his scifi novels.
The upshot is, it's a lot of fun as a straight-ahead epic fantasy, but there is also a lot of immaturity reflected in the character development and world building. To take an example, I imagine A bit eye-rolling, but fine for young readers.
The storytelling is very simple. Virtuous characters are to be taken as incredibly virtuous, wise characters as unfailingly wise, etc. And these virtues and wisdom are demonstrated primarily through a lot of preachy or self-righteous dialogue to other characters. It passes the show-don't-tell rule, but only just. I was reminded of a similar tendency in Brian Jacques' Redwall series.
This all sounds like I'm complaining, but there's a certain charm and even joy to childlike stories and straightforward plots. I feel particularly fond of it coming off of John Gwynne's Shadow of the Gods, which while its characters are much more plausibly adult, manages this largely through making them much less dynamic and interesting in the first place. Young enthusiasm can be cringe! And cringe is okay! I will definitely be finishing out this series this year.
The upshot is, it's a lot of fun as a straight-ahead epic fantasy, but there is also a lot of immaturity reflected in the character development and world building. To take an example, I imagine
Spoiler
the contest of the long knives was meant as an epic scene demonstrating character badassery, but it really reads like a child's understanding of how tough adults would engage in this activity, both logistically and in how the characters experience it.The storytelling is very simple. Virtuous characters are to be taken as incredibly virtuous, wise characters as unfailingly wise, etc. And these virtues and wisdom are demonstrated primarily through a lot of preachy or self-righteous dialogue to other characters. It passes the show-don't-tell rule, but only just. I was reminded of a similar tendency in Brian Jacques' Redwall series.
This all sounds like I'm complaining, but there's a certain charm and even joy to childlike stories and straightforward plots. I feel particularly fond of it coming off of John Gwynne's Shadow of the Gods, which while its characters are much more plausibly adult, manages this largely through making them much less dynamic and interesting in the first place. Young enthusiasm can be cringe! And cringe is okay! I will definitely be finishing out this series this year.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
I’m DNFing at 200 pages. I just cannot force myself to read. Therefore I will not rate the book. But I literally just cannot force myself to try to read this anymore. It has been months and months and I do not feel connected with characters or storyline and I feel so bored… like I can’t wait to move onto a different book. So I’m going to cut my losses. I’ll probably DNF the rest of the series as well and find something better suited for me. It was a good try lol