Surpassing its popular prequel Eragon, this second volume in the Inheritance trilogy shows growing maturity and skill on
the part of its very young author, who was only seventeen when the first volume was published in 2003. The story is
solidly in the tradition (some might say derivative) of the classic heroic quest fantasy, with the predictable cast of
dwarves, elves, and dragons--but also including some imaginatively creepy creatures of evil.
The land of Alagaesia is suffering under the Empire of the wicked Galbatorix, and Eragon and his dragon Saphira, last
of the Riders, are the only hope. But Eragon is young and has much to learn, and so he is sent off to the elven forest
city of Ellesmera, where he and Saphira are tutored in magic, battle skills, and the ancient language by the wise former
Rider Oromis and his elderly dragon Glaedr. Meanwhile, back at Carvahall, Eragon's home, his cousin Roran is the target
of a siege by the hideous Ra'zac, and he must lead the villagers on a desperate escape over the ains. The two
narratives move toward a massive battle with the forces of Galbatorix, where Eragon learns a shocking secret about his
parentage and commits himself to saving his people.
The sheer size of the novel, as well as its many characters, places with difficult names, and its use of imaginary
languages make this a challenging read, even for experienced fantasy readers. It is essential to have the plot threads
of the first volume well in mind before beginning--the publisher has provided not only a , but a helpful synopsis of
the first book and a much-needed Language Guide. But no obstacles will deter the many fans of Eragon from diving
headfirst into this highly-awaited fantasy. (Ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell
Meet Author Christopher Paolini
Christopher Paolini’s abiding love of fantasy and science fiction inspired him to begin writing his debut novel, Eragon,
when he graduated from high school at age 15.
"Writing is the heart and soul of my being. It is the means through which I bring my stories to life. There is nothing
like putting words on a page and knowing that they will summon certain emotions and reactions from the reader. In my
writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney’s translation of
Beowulf." --Christopher Paolini
The Eragon/Eldest Boxed Set
Want to learn more about the series? Check out our review of Eragon: Here's a great big fantasy that you can pull over
your head like a comfy old sweater and disappear into for a whole weekend. Christopher Paolini began Eragon when he was
just 15, and the book shows the influence of Tolkien, of course, but also Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and perhaps even
Wagner in its traditional quest structure and the generally agreed-upon nature of dwarves, elves, dragons, and heroic
warfare with magic s. Read more
Order your copy of the boxed set today
Learn the Lingo
Our quickie pronunciation guide will help you get to know some of the names and places in the Inheritance series.
Ajihad
AH-zhi-hod The Leader of the Varden
Argetlam
ARE-jet-lahm Elven word to describe Dragon Riders meaning "silver hand"
Arya
AR-ee-uh A powerful elf who is both beautiful and a master swoman
Eragon
EHR-uh-gahn A Dragon Rider from Carvahall
Ra-zac
RAA-zack Evil creatures
Saphira
suh-FEAR-uh Eragon’s dragon
*Art copyright © 2004 John Jude Palencar