Eldest
By: Christopher Paolini
“The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living.” And so began “Eldest,” the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller, “Eragon”. This gripping novel written by Christopher Paolini starts off with the main character, Eragon, in the dwarves’ city of Tronjheim, located in the Beor Mountains. The 16 year old Rider and his dragon, Saphira, arrived at the Varden’s hiding place just days before.
When Ajihad, the Varden’s leader, is killed by Urgals, Eragon is faced with a difficult decision. Who should he support as the Varden’s next commander? As a Rider, his choice will greatly influence the overall outcome. Should he choose Nasuada, Ajihad’s daughter? Or perhaps Jӧrmundur, his right hand man? What will he do when the Council of Elders orders him to swear fealty to them? Obey their unjustly command? Not likely! Eragon is quick to come up with a better option, one that will ensure that the Varden is in the hands of a well deserving leader.
After the new leader is appointed, Eragon and Saphira travel to Ellesmera, the capital of the elves’ land, to continue their training. Eragon is going to be tutored in magic, swordsmanship, and the ancient language there. When they arrive at their destination, Eragon is surprised when he discovers the identity of his mentor. He thought he was going to be trained by normal elves, but the reality is far from it. His teacher is someone who Eragon hadn’t even thought existed.
I really enjoyed this book because it is very action-packed and suspenseful. It has many surprising twists, turns, and secrets that made me want to keep reading. The author did a very good job of developing the characters, especially Eragon. I like how Christopher Paolini illustrated the main character’s thoughts and emotions. It helped me to understand Eragon better as a character. This book was captivating because of its many suspenseful moments.
One thing that I did not like about the book, “Eldest,” is that Eragon’s training is described in a little too much detail. That part of the novel was extensive, and got to be a little boring.
I would recommend this novel to teenagers who like action, suspense, fantasy, and adventure. If you are a fan of, “The Lord of the Rings,” or “Harry Potter,’ you will definitely enjoy this book.
Book Covers of the Inheritance series
Pictures from the Eragon movie
Comments (1)
AKabodian said
at 4:04 pm on Jan 16, 2009
Fine job of explaining the book's plot, comparing it to other books, and honestly sharing what you liked and disliked about it. And photos always help!
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