Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Inheritance
By: Christopher Paolini
Released: November 8, 2011
Published by Random House
Hardcover/860

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

When I learned about the release of Inheritance about a month after its release and I became immediately exited. The moment I got my copy I read the synopsis to recap what I had forgotten from the past titles. The synopsis is superbly written and very effectively informs you of what you might have forgotten in the past titles.


Reading the first several chapters had me realize that once again Christopher Paolini had improved his use of language for his newest book. The characters you recognize are still within the book and the interactions between them are always very well put together and the interactions all have a very lifelike feeling. Many of the things you’ve wanted to learn about the characters are revealed in ways that seemed very logical and well timed. However, many pieces of information on some characters are kept secret, as Paolini wants to continue to write in his world created by the Inheritance series, which means that sometime in the future we may see Alagaesia again.


The book's beginning is fantastic, as it begins in the middle of a large battle for an important Imperial city, Eragon and Saphira are leading the charge of the Varden troops through the city. The combat flows extremely well during this scene and manages to explain the story in a way that doesn't confuse the reader in the middle of the combat, which is fantastic. This scene, however, only sets the low point for combat in the book. Every battle grows more intense and interesting throughout the entire story, which sets up for some amazing suspense moments.


Now, while Inheritance contains more combat than the previous entry’s, it doesn't put all of its focus into it. There are still plenty of intense moments where characters do things other than fighting. One such example is the protection of minds, where entire scenes will focus on will power and focus. Another example would be the politics within the Varden, which become quite interesting throughout the story.


Wrapping up this review I find difficult. I would love to go on and on about the parts in the book that truly made me feel emotionally touched or amazed, but in the effort of not spoiling the book for anyone, I will stop. On a final note I just want to say that Inheritance is a fantastic book, and if you are interested in fantasy or dragons you should most definitively pick it up. To me, it has almost been as addicting as Harry Potter.

~Jack