“Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the world.” — First sentence
Eragon (503 pages) by the young Christopher Paolini will take you on an exhilarating, dangerous, and magical journey—a journey that will unveil his destiny as a Dragon Rider. This is Book 1 of the Inheritance Cycle, and it’s easy to read. When I discovered that Paolini was only fifteen when he started writing the book, I was even more amazed. I loved what he did with the characters and how each event unfolded.
Readers can see Eragon’s progression from a brash fifteen-year-old farm boy to a more mature sixteen-year-old warrior as he prepares to face battle. His life turns upside down almost overnight. Throughout the story, Eragon’s curiosity serves him well, even though he often irritates his sage, Brom, by barraging him with endless questions about dragons and how certain things came into being. Brom initially masks himself as a storyteller, but there is more to him than that. His true identity is slowly exposed as the story gains momentum.
Paolini did a great job in portraying the affection between Eragon and his she-dragon, Saphira. I almost could hear or imagine Saphira’s voice as she speaks with her Rider. It’s rather cute to hear her call him “hatchling” or “little one.” With Saphira, Eragon’s magic is stronger.
Eragon’s adventure is also filled with tragedy, causing the death of his loved ones. But not all is lost. He makes new friends along the way and learns many new things, including the ancient language to perform his magic. He even learns how to read.
There will be four books in the Inheritance Cycle series. The sequel is Eldest. I enjoyed Eragon and will definitely keep reading the series.
