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Book Review of Eragon (Inheritance, Bk 1)

Eragon (Inheritance, Bk 1)
BaileysBooks avatar reviewed on + 491 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


If Eragon is the first fantasy book you have ever read in your entire life, then you will probably enjoy it. Otherwise, you will find it to be a poorly rendered patchwork of various fantasy elements from other more well-known works, stitched together in a way that is neither cohesive or convincing. I think you'll probably be as disappointed in it as I was.

Eragon is the typical farmboy-turned-struggling-epic-hero who happens to come across the typical wise-old-hermit-turned-mentor who is able to mold Eragon into the shape of a slightly-less-struggling-epic-hero-who-rides-a-blue-dragon.

While I give Paolini credit for creating something like this at age 15, that doesn't make this book any better for what it really is: simple, cliche, predictable, and flat. I found Eragon's progress as a warrior to be too quick and easy to be really believable. Supporting characters are semi-likeable only because they are semi-developed. I found that I really wasn't pulling for anyone in particular. If I wasn't so stubborn about finishing books that I start, I probably would have given up on this one.

If you are in any way well-read in the fantasy genre, you will probably find this book to be little worth your time. But if you are looking to start reading fantasy for the first time (especially if you're 12) and want something of a kiddie pool warm-up in the genre, then this book might be an option. But if you decide to read it, just lower your expectations and expect very little. That way you won't be very disappointed.