Eragon

Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. Book 1 of the Inheritance Cycle series. 2003. 509p. ISBN 0-375-82668-8. Available at FIC PAO on the library shelves.

On the large continent of Alagaësia, fifteen-year-old Eragon occupies a very small place in the village of Carvahall, as removed from everything else as one can get. An orphan, Eragon lives with his farming uncle Garrow and his cousin Roran about 10 miles out of the village, in the shadows of the Spine mountains. A foreboding place and rumored to be full of magic, the Spine mountains are left alone by the local residents, but Eragon long ago learned how to hunt and avoid its pitfalls.

Eragon is looking for food for the coming winter during one of these hunts when he comes across the strangest stone he has ever seen. Polished and with different shades of blue, it must be worth a small fortune. He brings it back to the village and attempts to sell it, only to discover no one wants to purchase it because it comes from the Spine. Then one night the stone hatches, and a dragon emerges. Soon, Eragon and Saphira are inseparable friends, but as the dragon grows it becomes harder to hide her.

Agents of the evil king Galbatorix are on the move, searching everywhere for the dragon egg that was stolen from the king. The elf that carried the egg was captured, but not before she transported the egg away. Two of those agents, a mix of bird and men, the Ra’zac arrive at Carvahall looking for Brom, a former dragon rider, but they stumble upon Eragon and begin the chase. Eragon escapes in the Spine, and the Ra’zac kill his uncle Garrow.

Vowing vengeance, Eragon decides to pursue his attackers as they retreat. Brom accompanies Eragon and trains him on the history of dragon riders and of Alagaësia, as well as on the proper ways of magic and combat skills. Soon the pursuers become the pursued as Galbatorix’ soldiers are intent on capturing Eragon and forcing him to join forces with the evil king. Saved from imprisonment several times by a new friend named Murtagh, Eragon rescues Arya, the elf who carried the egg, but she is dying and in a magically induced sleep. Now Eragon and Saphira’s only hope is to find the Varden, an opposition group fighting Galbatorix, in their secret base before it is too late. But with an army of Urgals, fierce and ruthless creatures, on their tails, will they reach their destination in time to save Arya, and, if so, at what cost?

Peopled with amazing creatures and vivid descriptions, Eragon is fantasy at its best, with magic, dragons, and sweeping vistas. Fans of Lord of the Rings will find themselves at home in the universe of the dragon riders.