12+: Inheritance Cycle Bk 4: Inheritance - Christopher Paolini

Release Date: 08/11/11

BOOK BLURB:

Not so very long ago, Eragon - Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider - was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaesia? And if so, at what cost? Featuring spectacular artwork by cult artist John Jude Palencar, this stunning book brings the bestselling "Inheritance" cycle to a breathtaking conclusion.


REVIEW:

If there’s one thing you have to say about Christopher it’s that he know how to write book that will enthral his audience, and whilst courting some controversy it is evident that a lot of people have fallen in love with this series. Yes the premise was a simple one but the delivery really took the reader on a rollercoaster of an adventure. So prior to starting this book I had a refresh and read the other stories so that I had the full effect.

What comes out with this book is that the scope is something that Christopher has learned to accommodate, choosing to extend the series by one more title to enable the reader to get the full effect of his plans. Whilst this was a clever and wise move, what did also occur was the author extended scenes further than they needed to be almost overloading with detail in sequences that would have been better had they been edited down. That said, I was surprised a few times by some of the choices and outcomes alongside being surprised at some of the solutions that the characters come up with to achieve objectives.

Overall an ending that will please fans and a title that rounds it all off pretty nicely. Although that said, with the complexities within, I definitely recommend a reread and starting with the first before going anywhere near this. If you haven’t read the other stories then don’t start here.