Inheritance- Christopher Paolini

And here we are again… I find myself reading the fourth, and last book in Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series, the third book of which made me want to swear them off forever. But after several years’ anticipation for the final book, and apparently a dulling of how excruciating I found Paolini’s writing, I put a hold on Inheritance and waited, more eagerly than I’d care to admit, for my turn to read the end of the series.

For those who might not know, the Eragon series is a typical fantasy epic that includes dragons, elves, dwarves, and humans. Some may say too typical, as a lot of the elements of the story are strikingly similar to those of other series’. This one is focused on a dragon, Saphira, and Eragon, her “Rider,” a special bond between dragon and human or elf, called upon to save the empire from a malevolent dictator.

Now, keep in mind that I hated myself for wanting to know how this series ends badly enough to slog through 850 pages of what I was certain would be more of the same rambling and self important prose that Brisingr (book three) contained. But here I am. I want it on record that I am the appropriate amount of ashamed that I’ve read (and for the most part, enjoyed) this series that at best can be called a good plot with poor writing.

But dammit if I wasn’t hooked. This was the first book I’ve read in awhile that had me thinking about what was going to happen next while I was at work and staying up late to read. It actually disappoints me a little when I think about how good this series could have been if not put in the hands of Christopher Paolini. Take one look at the incredibly poorly written recap of the first three books and I guarantee you’ll see what I mean.

What Paolini needs more than anything is a good editor. The parts of the book that deal with Eragon and Saphira, as well as those including Angela the herbalist are nothing short of captivating. But I could 100% go without the Roran (Eragon’s cousin) and Nasuada (the leader of the Rebels) parts. In fact, at one point I caught myself skimming through these. There are only so many battles and deaths I can read about before it becomes monotonous. Basically, Paolini needs to get on with it. The way he makes huge revelations and then dilly dallies into another plot line drives me freaking crazy.

That said, one of Paolini’s strengths is his build up to conflicts. The crescendos. But he ABSOLUTELY SUCKS at writing the big moments. Even coming close to delivering on the huge pronouncements he makes seems impossible. The last 100 pages of this book took FOREVER. That’s not how this should go. And the final battle with the so-called unstoppable villain? Mysteries that have been building up for several books? Unbelievable let down. It’s like he a) ignored some of the things he made huge plot points out of in the first place, b) knew that he made this guy completely unbeatable and couldn’t come up with a way to get out of it, and c) realized that he had messed something up and scrambles to fix it at the last minute. So ridiculously anticlimactic that no description will even begin to cover it.

However, that being said, I was pleased with this book as the end of the series, as well as the series as a whole. I can get past the writing enough to know that I wouldn’t have gotten through four giant books if the idea behind them wasn’t interesting. I just wish Paolini had done a better job.

3- despite all the complaining, I liked this book enough, and this is another fantasy series that I think at some point I’ll be re-reading (although I’m pretty sure I’ll be skipping over book 3).