Brisingr (Inheritance Cycle #3) by Christopher Paolini

From the Publisher

OATHS SWORN . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide.

Following the colossal battle against the Empire’s warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

First is Eragon’s oath to his cousin Roran: to help rescue Roran’s beloved, Katrina, from King Galbatorix’s clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength—as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices— choices that take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.

Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once-simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?

The Washington Post - David Anthony Durham

As an adult, I read Brisingr with a mixture of admiration for Paolini's accomplishments and an awareness of the book's flaws, which prevented me from being fully won over. But that's hardly a slight. Had I read this novel when I was 13, it would have kept me up straight through the night. For that matter, I might have even stolen a few bits from it for D&D. And that's a compliment.

Publishers Weekly

The much-anticipated third book in Paolini's Inheritance Cycle continues to rely heavily on classic fantasy tropes. The novel launches with magician and Dragon Rider Eragon, his cousin Roran and the dragon Saphira on a quest to rescue Roran's betrothed. The cousins soon split up, and Roran undergoes his own series of heroic tests, culminating in a well-choreographed and intense fight against an Urgal (a ram-human hybrid). Eragon, at the same time, encounters treacherous dwarves, undergoes even more training with the elf Oromis and gains a magical sword suitable for a Dragon Rider. The silly revelations about Eragon's background in the previous book, Eldest, are given a new spin near the end, but the change is neither unexpected nor interesting. Predictably, the book concludes with even more character deaths and another battle, but those expecting a resolution will have to wait until the next novel. The cliched journey may appeal to younger readers of genre fiction. Older teens, even those who might have first cut their teeth on Paolini's writing years ago, are less likely to be impressed. Ages 12-up.
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VOYA

Eragon Shadeslayer and his dragon Saphira continue their fight against evil king Galbatorix in this third volume in the Inheritance Cycle. Eragon and his cousin Roran rescue Roran's beloved Katrina from the Raizac and then rejoin the rebel Varden. Soon Roran is embroiled in a series of bloody skirmishes with Galbatorix's soldiers, while Eragon flies off to watch the dwarves elect a new king and to resume briefly his training with his mentor, the elf Oromis. Eragon and Saphira forge a Dragon Rider's sword, antagonize the sentient Menoa tree at the heart of the elves' kingdom, discover the truth about Eragon's parentage, and learn the secret of Galbatorix's great power. Then they are off to join the Varden at the siege of the imperial city of Feinster, setting the stage for a projected volume four. There is a lot of action in this hefty book but paradoxically not much forward motion. The characters do not grow much, the battle against the empire grinds on, and hints are dropped but few real revelations occur. There is a lot of blood and a lot of talk. Come on, Eragon, just get on with it! Paolini plainly enjoys wandering around in his fantasy world, and patient fans of Tolkien and similar writers will not begrudge him his leisurely progress. Others might wish for a clearer story arc. Fortunately a synopsis of previous volumes is provided. The reader hopes Paolini will reward his perseverant followers with a strong and decisive finish to the series in volume four. Reviewer: Kathleen Beck

Children's Literature

Eragon grew up a commoner in a farming village, content in thinking that his future would be much the same as his past. Destiny intervened when a mysterious egg hatched in front of him and the dragon Saphira emerged. Now, Eragon is the last of the free Dragon Riders, fighting to win back the freedom of his homeland and defeat the evil Galbatorix. In the third book of the "Inheritance" cycle, Eragon finds himself pulled more than ever among his many oaths and obligations to the races of Alagaesia as well as his personal quest to find the ultimate weapon that will slay Galbatorix and end his decades of tyranny. Along the way, Eragon learns several surprising secrets that change the way he thinks about himself, the dragons, and the war against the Empire. As the young Eragon continues to learn about his role in the war and his life as a Rider, so too does his cousin Roran. Roran, having led men in battle, must now learn to follow and obey the orders of others. Full of action-packed battle scenes that combine the use of magic with traditional fighting methods, this book enables readers to see both the glorious and ugly sides of warfare. This fantasy is sure to appeal to both boys and girls. At over seven hundred pages, it is a long read, but it proves to be worth it for those who reach the end. Reviewer: Jamie Hain

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up

Christopher Paolini's saga of good vs. evil in the world of humans, elves, dragons, and other magical creatures continues in this installment (Knopf, 2008) which spends a great deal of time giving background information about earlier connections and obligations on the part of Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they battle Galvatorix and his minions. Eragon's efforts to martial allies and find himself a suitable weapon are paralleled with the story of his cousin, Roran, who is also dedicated to the cause, but whose life is equally complicated because of a love interest and his desire to go back to living a "normal" life. Both heroes grow in their understanding of themselves and others as they assume additional leadership roles. The story includes horrific battles, a wedding, a king's coronation, and many major losses. Saphira's point of view adds additional dimension to the tale. Gerard Doyle ably voices the emotions of the characters and expertly moves between young and old, male and female, human and animal. The pronunciation of strange place and character names just rolls off his tongue. There is a lot of talking in this book, which slows down the pace. An interview with the author and his editor concludes the audiobook.-Edith Ching, Washington Latin Public Charter School, DC

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