kal_jdb 's review for:

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
4.25
adventurous medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

At times, I had to remind myself that reading is a journey, and it’s okay to meander along. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and returning to Alagaesia. I read the Eragon series as a middle-schooler, and I was not about to reread them all, which ended up being fine. There were a few references I didn’t fully remember, but none of them were critical to understanding the book or plot. I enjoyed the adventure and was surprised at how dark it got but appreciated the adult-level of it.
My main complaint is that, until the end, this book was mostly free of romance. Adding in the romantic bit in the last few pages seemed unnecessary, and I wish we could’ve seen Murtagh make a real friend, rather than progress towards a partner. I think it would’ve shown the work he’s done towards trusting others without putting romantic love above and before platonic love and relationships.