The Inheritance Cycle - Eragon Review

Every year we see books such as Terry Goodkind's Confessor make the top of bestsellers' lists. Despite containing few literary merits, these books make millions of dollars and garner fame and recognition for their authors. I expected Eragon to be much of the same with the added bonus of a teenager writing the book. Imagine my surprise when Eragon turned out to be decent.  Click here to read the rest of this review.
Eragon's plot, while not entirely original, is interesting and leaves you asking for more. Some of the characters are memorable and interesting, and the magical system is well thought out. That is not to say the book is without its flaws. The writing style can be quite amateurish and is beneath the standards of some of the books out there, and many of the ideas in the book have been, how do i put this, used. Christpoher Paolini seems to have used every single common fantasy trope he could think of: the commoner-turned-hero (Eragon), the powerful villain (Galbatorix), the quest (Vengeance), the romantic interest (Arya), elves etc. I could go on and on but I think I will stop here. One aspect of Eragon that kept throwing me off was its linear nature. Eragon's plot is predictable to say the least and is an almost exact copy of Star Wars.  If you approach this book expecting a work worthy of some of the great names like J.R.R. Tolkien, you will be disappointed. However, if you want a quick read, nothing too intelligent, then this is the book for you.

Score

Plot (5): 3 (Interesting plot but it is too predictable)
Magic System (5): 3 (Interesting magic system with the ancient language)
Writing (5): 2.5 (Can be amateurish)
Ideas (5): 1 (Ideas in this book seem to only be clichés)
Characterization (5): 3.5 (You will develop connections with some of the characters)
Overall (5): 2.5 (A light read for those new to the fantasy genre)

Closing Comments: Christopher Paolini deserves much of the attention he has gained, especially considering his young age. This is definitely a book worth at least one read. Give it a try, you might like it. I believe he will improve and look forward to his future works.

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