bap01 's review for:

Murtagh: Deluxe Edition: The World of Eragon by Christopher Paolini

4.25

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

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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 think the most interesting scene is Murthag kills the group of villagers, because he is under control and thinks they are armed enemies. 
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,

especially combined with the mystery surrounding the dark dragon-monster Azlagur.

4. Weaknesses

I think the imprisonment and the almost slavery of Murthag and Thorn was frustrating at times, and took too long. I felt like it may have been realistic, but it was a pretty slow part that wasn’t very interesting except the scene where Murthag massacres the innocent people.

Also I didn’t really like the setting of Nal Gorgoth, with only rocks and funghi. I like forest and desert settings more in fantasy. This, in my mind, lookes very drab. 
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.