Eldest was an exciting and action-packed sequel to the first novel. The story line became even more interesting, with the characters evolving into more complex beings. Eragon was continuously pushed out of his comfort zone, and each time, the outcome was even more astonishing. I also relished the character development. By the end of the book, my perception of the characters had completely changed compared to the beginning. Overall, this novel is an engaging and captivating read that I would highly recommend to a friend. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, with its thrilling adventures and unexpected twists. The author has done a great job of creating a vivid and immersive world that you can't help but get lost in. If you're a fan of fantasy novels, then Eldest is definitely a must-read.
Alright, so, years ago, "Eragon" was my absolute favorite book. This wasn't at all unusual as I had - and still have - a profound love for dragons. Whether it was "Eragon" or "Dragon Rider" by Cornelia Funke, I would carry those books around with me and eagerly reread my favorite parts.
Not so long ago, I managed to get my hands on "Eldest". Well, I was still completely in love with Eragon, so "Eldest" wasn't bad at all. Of course, I was furious at the ending (but I won't say why here as it's a spoiler). It was when I got halfway through "Brisingr" that I just couldn't finish that book. In fact, I couldn't finish the entire series.
The "Inheritance Cycle" has received a lot of love, but also a fair amount of not-so-much-love. At first, I was seriously in love with the books. By that, I mean it could have easily stopped at "Eragon", and I would have been fully invested in that one book alone.
But it didn't stop at the first book. It just kept going and going. There's nothing wrong with a long book or a series, mind you! I understand that the story line needed to progress, with different struggles and unresolved issues. However, I lost interest. I lost interest in the series because of what the author did to his characters. To me, they seemed to lose their spark, their "umph". The whole story kind of lost its essence, you might say.
To me, it just seemed like the characters were shortchanged and a lot of things were simply thrown in haphazardly. I didn't like what happened to most of the characters at all. I loved "Eragon" (book one), but after that, things just went downhill. It's no longer a series that I enjoy, although it was nice while it lasted. :)
Eragon and Eldest are novels that possess a unique set of characteristics. They are often described as slow-paced, predictable, repetitive, and extremely descriptive. However, it is precisely these aspects that contribute to a relaxing, calming, and enjoyable audiobook experience.
Eragon is one of the original Gary-Stu characters. The Farmboy-Becomes-The-Chosen-One trope can be engaging if the character is compelling and there are no deus ex machina events. In the case of Eragon, he is just average. While some of the secondary characters, such as Saphira, Arya, Angela, Nasuada, and Murtagh (whose appearance at the end of Eldest could potentially be the origin of an amazing anti-hero), are likeable, the reader doesn't necessarily become deeply attached to them.
The dragons are undoubtedly the favorite part of these books. Loving books with dragons, it can be challenging to find truly outstanding ones. The bond between Eragon and Saphira is both fantastic and heartwarming, and Saphira is truly EPIC.
Although the world in these books is a traditional fantasy one, it is still rich and extensive. In Eldest, as Eragon travels to different places, the world becomes even more expansive, and it is interesting to observe how the various races live and interact.
The plot progression has its ups and downs. There are moments when the plot is action-packed and fast-paced, but there are also parts that are slow and burdened, usually due to an excess of descriptive passages and a lack of significant events.
In conclusion, this is a world that is predictable and formulaic, where you know exactly what to expect. Nevertheless, it offers a great audiobook experience. I am so glad that I reread Eragon and Eldest via audiobook because I don't believe I would have enjoyed them as much otherwise.