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bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Some spoilers for this book and the previous books to follow.
This book was published twelve years after Inheritance and more than twenty years after the initial publication of Eragon. In that time, Christopher Paolini has definitely grown as a writer. His descriptions are tighter and more vivid. Side characters are differentiated in ways that they weren't before. Murtagh's character arc is difficult and mostly well-executed. And unlike in the previous books, the ableism, in this case Murtagh and Thorn's internalized ableism around their PTSD, feels more like an intentional character choice and less like the author violently hating disabled people.
Elsewhere, Paolini has also learned how to write evil girlbosses. Yay?
And he seems to have developed a more nuanced understanding of cult members and survivors of trauma in the intervening years, though that understanding still feels incredible surface level.
While I know that there is an overarching thing that he's aiming for with further installments in this series, it felt to me like half of this book was just Paolini realizing that he'd broken his magic system in Inheritance and trying to find ways to deal with that. On the whole, I didn't mind this. Murtagh encounters challenges that can't be surmounted using the Name of Names. He realizes how limited his vocabulary in the Ancient Language really is. He finds creative solutions to his problems. I liked this.
What I did NOT like was the reveal that the new big bad had been the big bad the whole time and the reason why Galbatorix was the way he was. Maybe this is a personal taste thing, or maybe it's just down to the execution, but I was so excited when there was a new threat that was different from Galbatorix and so disappointed at the reveal that *gasp* it was Azlagur the whole time! It felt lazy to me.
The pacing was, as usual with Paolini's books, horrendous. I know that a lot of the side quest things (like the stuff with the werecat children) will be picked up again in a later book, but it was still very inelegantly done. Even if plots are ongoing, the main threads of a book should be resolved in that book. There was definitely a better way to weave things together.
And the one long chapter in Ilirea at the end to wrap everything up and attempt any sort of proper development of Murtagh and Nasuada's relationship? Silly. Ridiculous. Yes, better than the 200 pages of conclusion at the end of Inheritance, but come ON. Both characters deserved more than that.
Overall, this book is generally better than the previous installments on a craft level, and Murtagh is a more compelling character than Eragon, who also faces much harder personal challenges, but the pacing was so bad and the Nal Gorgoth section dragged SO MUCH and overall it needed some restructuring and reconsidering in places. Also, I didn't have any nostalgia making me like it more than I naturally would have (other than a general fondness for Murtagh and for Nasuada), and this made the rough parts even more difficult for me.
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
loveat1stwrite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn, reflect upon the abuse they experienced as side characters in the original 4 books. This is reflected in Thorn's fear of confinement and panic attacks when in enclosed spaces in the current plot.bethboo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
First off, who knew lil mormon boy Christopher Paolini had it in him, to write a back story so dark?? Like I though he'd you know make it a little easier to swallow....but no. The shit that happened to Thorn and Murtagh was sick and I was wading through tears every single time. Especially now that we get to see the inside of their heads and learn how eager and good they are.
Next, Murtagh is such a little rich boy and I LOVED getting to see how that affected his POV. Like he's constantly wishing for a bath, wanting others/servants to treat him as his courtly position is due, he's comfortable being in charge, and misses the food that comes with money. Its so crazy that he is so much more educated than Eragon, he knows much more of the world, but he was never trained in magic and knows much less than Eragon. Ughhhhhh What I would do to see Eragon all giddy to teach Murtagh a magic lesson!!
If Christopher Paolini doesn't return to this story I will kms
It's also cute that he has a brother that's an urgal now and he's all not-racist now and he understands family!!
AND NASUADA!!! HIMM STAYING???? HIM CRYING ON HER!!! HE SPILLED HIS TRAUMA AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER!!!
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
abby_can_read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had such a wonderful time reading this book. It was hard to put down. I loved this.
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Gore, Slavery, and Blood
Minor: War
offtheraels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Slavery, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent and War
kirjakimalainen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Trafficking, and Alcohol
yellowbinge's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
The book as a meal: Tasteful jerky, but I am worried it might be poisoned as I chew ...
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Slavery, and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
wookieepahookie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Abandonment, and Alcohol
vbzshenanigans's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Alcohol
nikkihill22's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
The story itself was a little slow paced. For much of it, it felt like it didn't have any larger impact on the world, although the way Paolini left the end of the book makes me certain that this will come back. This may not be "the book 5" of the inheritance series, but i definitely do not think that it will be a skippable part of it. I do think that a lot of it was reminiscent of the Roran chapters of Eragon- if you didn't like those when you read them, this might also be a miss for you.
A lot of it read like filler, for instance everything prior to Nal Gorgoth feels like part of a different story, as if Paolini wasn't sure how to quickly bridge the gap between Inheritance and Murtagh. But i did enjoy the character moments that that portion of the book brought us, so i can't complain too much about it.
All in all, it wasn't my favorite part of the World of Eragon, but i did think it was an enjoyable read and it makes me excited for a return to the world and the main series.
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Blood
Moderate: Religious bigotry