Eragon - Christopher Paolini

Advantages: Excellent characters, emotional rollercoaster & full of surprises.
Disadvantages: Too long at times, not so original anymore.

...harsh long winter. When Eragon stumble across a flawless and polished blue stone, he thought he could sell the gem for some family meat. Unfortunately Eragon couldn't sell the stone, as it was useless to the villagers. One night, unexpectedly, a baby blue Dragon hatched from the blue stone, which turns out to be a dragon's egg. Disaster soon strikes his peaceful village and war broke out by the Empire. Eragon soon realises that him and his Dragon ...
...searching the enemy, Razoc. Eragon is willing to dwell a ruthless journey to fulfil this mission. To aid Eragon's journey to become a legendary Dragon Rider, was the support of his village's storyteller, Brom. He was a person that was greatly ignored in the village but soon Eragon realise that Brom is to become his valuable and knowledgeable mentor. From Brom, Eragon can learn swordplay, magic, how to ride his Dragon- Saphira and the legacy and ... Read review

Advantages: excellent characterisation, coherent storylines, epic, gripping read
Disadvantages: the style may initially unnerve you

Having heard nothing but praise for this book from my own teenaged sons and my young adult step daughter, and reading the rave reviews critics gave this children's book, I became curious. This turned to an intense desire to read this book when I discovered that it was written by a fifteeen year old boy who was home educated all his life, and soon to be a motion picture. Before I sat down to read it, the film came out and was panned by many, so I ...
...mind. That is, until it came back up quite recently in conversation, and the book and its film adaption was placed firmly in my hands. Being stricken shortly after by illness, I had cause to linger in bed, unfit to do much except read and gaze at the idiot box, so it seemed as good a time as any to open the large tome and have a read. The first thing that struck me was how lovely the endpapers were detailed. This may seem trivial to many, but upon ... Read review

Advantages: Puts a new spin on an old vision
Disadvantages: Sometimes seems too similar to what has gone before

...I noticed a book called Eragon which was in a section all of its own. I picked the book up, was interested by it, but by then I had already decided to go home empty handed. I left the store without buying it. Fast forward two months. I am in Coventry with my brother and we have three hours to burn until the designated time when we are supposed to meet friends. Being in a place that neither of us knew we immediately began to look for landmarks and ...
...(Vader). A young farmboy Eragon (Luke) become the last hope (or new hope) for the galaxy (whoops, I mean world) and is taken on a journey by a former Jedi dragon rider Brom (Obi Wan Kenobi). Despite all this I was able to enjoy the film. I could see past it. I decided that I would buy the book. THE BOOK I went to the bookshop in Coventry and bought the book straight away. I began to read it the next day. Reading the book I was immediately struck ... Read review

Advantages: One of the best "page-turners" ever!
Disadvantages: The film of this story did it no justice!

Eragon is the story of teenage boy of the same name. Skilled at hunting, he is tracking some deer one day in a mountain range called "The Spine" near his home in carvahall, but instead of finding the dear, he stumbles on a large sapphire stone. Curious to what it could be and where it came from, he approaches it for a closer look and takes it home with him. The stone appears to be just that; a stone, that is until it's occupant begins to hatch. Eragon ...
...greatest adventure stories ever! Eragon is an excellent book. The story follows Eragon as he takes up his role as the first dragon rider in decades. Many years ago, the evil king Galbatorix, a Rider himself, killed every other Rider in order to be the only one and so that no one else could oppose him. Eragon, guided by an old story teller from his village, must travel the land of Alegesia in order to find the Varden, a rebel group who oppose Galbatorix, ... Read review

Advantages: really good book
Disadvantages: you have to push yourself to finish it as it's slow

...in the book was called Eragon but it came as a surprise to me that Eragon was the boy. In my opinion the dragon was more suited for the name, but then I found out the origin of Eragon's name and found out that he was named after a dragon, so I presume its ok. Eragon stumbles upon a glistening blue stone and he tries to sell it, but then later he finds out that this is no ordinary stone, it is not a stone at all, it hatches which happens to make ...
...you have EVER seen. Eragon is then thrown into such a fantasy tale which he had thought was a story in history but it is now real-life and he goes out to kill the murderers who had killed his dad. But Brom the story teller follows and becomes his accomplice and trains him up to be a true Dragon Rider. But Eragon doesn't exactly know how much danger he's in, he comes across allies and friends, as well as enemies and foes, but there is a war going ... Read review

Advantages: An excellent book for character development
Disadvantages: Lacks action.

...Eldest. The sequel to Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I have mixed opinions on the book but on the whole, i enjoyed it a lot. Eragon starts off the story in this, the inheritance trilogy. It follows the events that occur to a farm boy of 17 when he finds a dragon egg and becomes the first of the legendary dragon riders in centuries. With his new found abilities in magic and strength, he chooses to find the varden, a rebel society opposed to the evil king Galbatorix, in order to help them fight against the empire that killed his uncle. It was an outstanding book (though the film did it NO justice whatsoever) and this, Eldest, is the story that follows immediately on from Eragon. In this story, Eragon must travel to the land of the elves who, highly skilled at magic, will train Eragon in the attributes he needs in order to fulfil his duty... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great read, with action romance and death.
Disadvantages: The next book isn't out yet!!

...This is the sequel to the smash hit book 'Eragon' by Christopher Paolini. The book's cover is simple yet interesting, with a red border and a red dragon pictured on it. At the top in small letters is written 'The Sunday Times bestseller' which is, I am told, a good thing to be. All in all, I really liked the appearance of the book, but there again, you're probably more interested in what was written in the 600 + pages as opposed to the colour and picture on the cover. I love the way this book is presented inside. On the first double page spread there is a map of Alagaesia (where the story is set) and the detail allows you to imagine what it would be like to be there. I found myself referring back to this map when any journey was made throughout the story, just to see what areas of land the characters would have to cross to reach... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: great storyline full of magical and mythical creatures
Disadvantages: 3rd book isn't out yet

...and dragons, you won't be dissapointed. Eldest Eldest contintues the story of Eragon he starts by going to the magical, hidden empire of the elves to recieve training. He grows stronger than any man but weaker than any elf, but as his trainng progresses he turns into a force to be reckoned with along with his fire breathing fragon saphira. Eragon and the Varden are forced into war with the evil kings empire and another dragon and rider appears to fight eragon. This is an amzing follow up to Eragon and both books are filled with a magical world you feel like you are in when reading. This definatley is not a book to miss and i can't wait for the third book to be realeased. Well done Chris Paolini... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful