Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3) (The Inheritance Cycle)
by Christopher Paolini
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Book Reviews of Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3) (The Inheritance Cycle)
Book Review: Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Summary: 5 Stars
Eragon and Saphira have just barely survived the latest battle between the Empire and Varden, and learned the truth about Eragon's parentage. Their encounter with Murtagh and Thorn has made them realize that they desperately need to revisit their teachers in Ellesmera, but their multitudes of promises keep them from returning. They must help Roran recover Katrina from the Ra'zac, rally forces for the Varden, and find a way to thwart Murtagh. But along the way, they'll discover some dark secrets and learn the sickening methods behind their adversaries' strengths.
BRISINGR is a well executed follow-up to ERAGON and ELDEST. It moves at a brisk and almost businesslike pace, only dragging slightly near the center of the book, as Eragon and Saphira struggle to fulfill their promises. Readers will be glad to see that the duo, Eragon especially, has not been placed upon a lofty pedestal, and still admit ignorance at times, an element that adds just the right touch of plausibility to the book.
Paolini's descriptive writing is becoming easily recognizable, and his ability to draw similes and metaphors between the most unlikely objects only adds to his appeal, and contrary to what one might expect, will draw in reluctant readers. Like with the prequels, the author cleverly manages to sneak in colorful myths and historical stories into the book that only add to the reality and vividness of Alagaesia, and make for a more engaging read.
The plot of BRISINGR is a little less developed than its predecessors, and seems to serve more as a segue between the first two books and the conclusion of the lively series, although the revelation of certain secrets and the suspense and tension Paolini weaves into the pages go a long ways in making BRISINGR a quick read.
Seasoned Paolini fans will enjoy the story, and be eager to move on to the final book.
Reviewed by: The Compulsive Reader
Book Review: Good read.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been waiting for Brisingr since I've read Eldest and I must say I'm very satisifed. Most people complain that Paolini borrows from other works, but then who doesn't? One must recall he started writing at fifteen. It's hard not to be over-influenced at that age. Things he borrowed have evolved into something else, in other words Paolini has improved them in every book, and the latest one is just better.
Paolini is still switching from Eragon to Roran, and this time he switches more smoothly. Sometimes in Eldest, Paolini just cut through important scenes to show Roran or vice versa. This does not happen in Brisingr, the important scenes continue and nobody gets too much 'page-time.' We also get into the heads of Nasuada, and also Saphira. It's obvious that Paolini did his best to make dragons perceive everything differently and they do. I'm not perfectly happy with how they perceive certain things (like humans: round-ears-two-legs.) It makes them seem simple. However Paolini has captured the inhumanity of dragons, their indifference, their power and also in the case of Glaedr (couple of small scenes) their terrible ferocity.
Critics have said that they didn't want to read the novel to hear about political and moral issues. But don't we experience these in the real world? All that makes Paolini's world seem more genuine.
His characters aren't too bad. In previous books they were much worse. Some seemed like blank-faced puppets dancing to the author's tune, but this time they were much more realistic.
Regarding the plot, it's influenced by other novels, and thus a bit predictable. I thought it was very obvious that the particular character who died in the end was going to die. But still, I am still eager to know how Eragon will triumph against the Dark King, because as far as I'm concerned, anything can happen in Book 4.
Book Review: so many words, so little meaning
Summary: 1 Stars
I really can't say more than what was already said in the reviews by Christopher Lingel or racapowski.
I have been reading fantasy and science fiction for the better part of fifty years, and I have seldom not wanted to finish a book. this is one of those times. I started this series in the hopes of finding something new and different, but it wasn't too long before it was clear that the races, places, and plots were borrowed from truly notable fantasy titles, and only given a very thin veneer of originality.
I was really done with this series before the end of the second book and never intended to buy the thirdr. as luck would have it, a well meaning friend gave me this third book as a present, and I felt slightly obligated to at least open it. i should not have bothered. its either insane violence where religious fanatics are cutting off pieces of themselves, a long litany of roran's hammer blows to various body parts, or page after page after page or Eragon's navel gazing.
when this book isn't disturbingly violent, its depressingly dull as we spend close to a century learning how the dwarves choose a new leader. the author must have watched the newer star wars movies too often; eragon is the masterful rider one moment and a whining teenager who hasn't learned even the simplest lesson the next.
random characters are inserted in equally random places, unnecessary subplots clutter the landscape, and the dialogue is about as clear and interesting as urgal grunts. when i realized after the 300 pages covering the trip to the dwarves that this was NOT going to be the last book in the series as we were led to believe, i closed it for the last time about 150 pages from the end. it now resides in a box for donations to the local library.
its obvious that paolini's true talent is in sales and marketing- it took a true genius at both to get this published.
Book Review: What happened Paolini?
Summary: 3 Stars
Well I have to say I really enjoyed the first two books. Both books had some pit falls but over I really liked them. This book however is not what I had hoped for. After what happened on the Burning Plains (end of book 2) you would think Eragon is one strong warrior but instead he is made out to be a wimp. He constantly is slipping on something, tripping, losing his balance, or worse yet doesn't feel someone coming to hit him from behind. What is the point of giving him this mental magic ability if he can't use it. Plus he is half elf doesn't that give him a little better balance.
Roan's story in this book is better then Eragon's. In fact I almost skipped two chapters towards the end of the book to get back to Roan's story.
Another sore spot is the love story Paolini is trying to create. He could have used the long winded political section of the book to bring the love interest with Eragon. He could have moved that story along and kept readers interested; instead he wastes our time.
Paolini constantly makes his bad guys stronger and stronger you have to wonder if he is going to be able to make a believable ending to the story. The only thing that saved this book from being the last of the series I would read was the ending. He did a decent job of it and it brought back some of the excitement of the story as well as removing some of the wimp factor of Eragon he introduced throughout the story. You actually believe he can win a fight on his own towards the end which is improvement considering how clumsy he became through the beginning.
On a side note the book could have easily been a 100+ pages lighter I found complete chapters that played no baring to the story.
Is it worth it? If you have read the first two you are going to have to sit through this one if you have not started the series hmm your call.
James
Book Review: Overwritten and Boring
Summary: 2 Stars
I have enjoyed the Inheritance series so far, with some reservations. Mr. Paolini is still very young, and my opinion has been that he is a promising young writer. Although there were some problems with the first two books, they were fairly enjoyable to read. A few years ago, I read an interview in which Mr. Paolini compared himself to J.R.R. Tolkien. This could possibly be a forgivable conceit of youth if Mr. Paolini could show some maturity and growth in his latest book, Brisingr.
However, it was not to be. No one, it seems, loves Mr. Paolini's writing more than Mr. Paolini himself. The pace of the book is torturously slow. I kept wading through pages and pages of boring blather among the characters. The action scenes are too few. In between are agonizingly long dialogues and descriptions that do almost nothing to advance the story. An entire chapter is devoted to a (seemingly) all-night conversation between Arya and Eragon. This occurs in the midst of their flight from Helgrind, followed by soldiers of the Empire. This is a subject that could, in a more experienced writer's hands, be a page-turning adventure.
Mr. Paolini needs to tame his tendency to overwrite. During the aforementioned conversation between Eragon and Arya, the elf woman's fingers are described as "aquiline," which made me laugh out loud. I am reasonably sure Mr. Paolini did not mean that Arya's fingers were "curved like an eagle's beak"... but what image he did mean to convey remains somewhat elusive. There are many of these awkward word choices in his writing style that bring the reader up short.
The character I like the most and that comes through the most naturally is Saphira. She is nearly without self-conceit. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for her creator. Mr. Paolini has talent, but sadly this is becoming obscured by his seeming fascination with his own writing.