(Yes, there is already a thread on this but it's months old and thaboss would rather start anew.)
For those of you who don't know, the Inheritance Cycle is a great series of four books about dragons, magic, fighting, castles, kings, and all that good stuff.
There will be spoilers! Be warned. This is gonna be mostly about Inheritance, the last book.
To put it in short, it was awesome. The Vault of Souls chapter was amazing, and how Eragon killed Galbatorix was pure genius. Made you understand! I really liked how, unlike some other books, after the climax, there actually was a long and satisfying (yet tearful) "falling action." It was great that Arya became the next Rider, and sad that Eragon had to leave Alagaesia. That ending part/page was particularly sad.
The only regrets I had were that Angela didn't play as big a part in Galbatorix's death than I had hoped and nothing more with Tenga happened. I think his question was the name of the Ancient Language. (Which Eragon now knows.) I think it would have been cool if Eragon had stopped by and told him.
Some questions unanswered.
What did the Menoa Tree take? What were the seven words Brom told Eragon? ( some possibly might be Draumr kopa and/or Waise neiat.) Who/what is Angela? Who/what is Tenga? Gray folk descendant? (And can anyone tell me more about these Gray/grey folk?) Did Angela steal the Belt of Beloth the Wise? (Strong indication.)
End of spoilers
So, what did you think of the series? Anything at all you want to say about it, or any information about upcoming books which may or may not be about Alagaesia.
âInheritanceâ wasnât always my first choice for Book Four. My first choice was . . . well, Iâll tell you once the book actually publishes. Otherwise, I might give away too much of the plot. That said, I think that âInheritanceâ is the proper title for this part of the story, and I think that it will help bring the name of the series to greater prominence. Most people tend to think of the series as the âEragon seriesâ rather than the âInheritance cycleâ, so itâs nice to be able to bring the concept of inheritance back to the forefront. Besides, Iâve always been rather fond of serial stories that have the title of the series as the title of the last book. Such as in Stephen Kingâs Dark Tower series.
Well, I'm already halfway through after pulling an all-nighter, and I just finished the Vault of Souls chapter. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!!!! I am really excited to get on with the reading. Please no more spoilers
**** it's hard for me to don't read all you guys have written. I'm french but I think I'll buy the english version on internet because I can't wait the french edition (I have to wait at least 6 months if I want to read it in french -_-).
I'm currently re-reading them before I buy Inheritance.
All I really have to say is I absolutely love these books and it's great to see others who love them. Back in the day me and a good friend actually learned enough of the ancient language to have conversations in it.
While I have not read this latest bit of "work" from Paolini I will, if only to finish the series. You see while he is a successful writer, he is not a particularly good writer, and there is a key difference.
Now, allow me to say my piece because what I have to say does have some merit, and I am not simply bashing the books out of pure malice. Now as I've stated I haven't read the final book, but because of the way Paolini has set up his plot, I don't particularly have to. You see, he tells everyone how it will end in the very first novel. As a writing convention it removes all suspense from the plot. The reader KNOWS that Eragon will triumph. Sure how he does it is unknown, but that adds little since we know that no matter what happens Eragon will come out ahead.
Now, I'll admit the first novel is decently written aside from telling us the entire plot of the series from the get go. However, as we move through the novels, mainly in Eldest there is a distinct lack of development of characters. Everyone is very two dimension and serves nothing more than exposition. Furthermore the way they "develop" is ridiculous. For over half the novel you'll see people either berate or simply refuse Eragon (and for ridiculous reasons). You would think that as their only hope they would arm him with everything at their disposal, but no, they treat him like a child. Now, this point wouldn't be so bad if Eragon actually developed into an actual character, but he remains whiney and petulant for the entire novel...you would think he would become a little harder? Prime example his "romance" with Arya.
Now, let's talk about Brisngr. There isn't much to say, it isn't very good. Paolini once more failed to deliver anything worthwhile in plot or character. Yes Eldest added some interesting twists and moved the plot on, but Brisngr just...stopped. Stopped the plot almost completely. The book is almost entirely useless to the series. Aside from the conquering of one city, Eragon getting a new sword and some pretty half baked knowledge on the king's power source what was accomplished?
Onto the king's power source for this is a pretty major problem for me in terms of plot device. It's ridiculous. Paolini seems to be making this up as he goes along. Would something like that not have come up before in a conversation? And why with hold the information? What purpose does keeping Eragon ignorant serve? The lame excuse of "not wanting him to be corrupt" is essentially useless because they have seen that Eragon is almost perfection incarnate. Also he has ties and reason to NEVER become corrupt.
Overall I find Paolini to be a lacking writer. True I haven't read, and therefore cannot review the last novel, but I am skeptical of any true development. He hasn't grown as a writer in three novels, his third is the same style as his first, and it is a shame. The series could have been great, and while it may be successful it is not good, at least in my opinion as a writer and reader of fantasy. I may not have read the last novel, but do I really need to? I know what will happen because the first book stole the tension of the series. The fate of Eragon was known then and there. Sure, I lack specifics, but are they truly that important?
First of all wolf, yes, you do need to read the final novel. It is amazing, however, I do feel as if the ending (SPOILER ALERT) mimics the end of "Lord of the Rings." But I must say, I was moved by the ending chapter(s) just because of the elegance in which they were written. It is a huge shame that the cycle is at an end, and I hope very much that Paolini will do the same as Rick Riordan with his Percy Jackson series, and write continuing novels. I would very much like to hear about the dwarf and Urgal Riders, and how Eragon fares across the sea.
The reader KNOWS that Eragon will triumph. Sure how he does it is unknown, but that adds little since we know that no matter what happens Eragon will come out ahead.
You know that with every single book you read. No author, or at least no author with a popular character will just kill off his person and allow the antagonist (is that the right word?) to win. People would HATE the book! They would hate the author! Your whole reason for the books not being good is because you already know whats going to happen but you really don't.
You know that with every single book you read. No author, or at least no author with a popular character will just kill off his person and allow the antagonist (is that the right word?) to win.
This is only partially correct. You see the problem is that for most authors they add suspense by throwing in the question of whether the character will succeed. Paolini abadons this by telling you flat out Eragon will overcome everything, and in some ways how. It's a terrible things to do in a fantasy series.
People would HATE the book! They would hate the author! Your whole reason for the books not being good is because you already know whats going to happen but you really don't.
Agian, wrong. Go read anything by R Scott Bakker or Steven Erikson and then come talk to me. My whole reason for "hating" the series is because I find Paolini to be a lackluster writier. He hasn't developed any characters throughout the series, I feel no connection with the characters, there is in short,not suspension of disbelief. And that us perhaps the greatest failing any fantasy writer can have. Again I recommend Steven Erikson who, while not as successful, is a superior and intelligent writer. Keep in mind I do not hate these books, I simply have a critical view point on them seeing as they are part of the genre I frequently read.
You know that with every single book you read. No author, or at least no author with a popular character will just kill off his person and allow the antagonist (is that the right word?) to win. People would HATE the book! They would hate the author! Your whole reason for the books not being good is because you already know whats going to happen but you really don't.
Oh really? Then I suppose everyone just hates Orwell or Huxley or, let's stick to the realm of fantasy, Tolkien's Children of Hurin. Not to mention George Martin's The Song of Ice and Fire, in which pretty much every hundred pages a popular character dies. Those are really bad books, wouldn't you say?
The trick in writing a good book is keeping up the suspense. And wolf is right, there's never been any kind of suspense in the Inheritance Cycle. Not to mention that Paolini is a very young author, who shouldn't have self published in the first place, but instead sought to improve himself. His writing style draws from several authors much more distinguished and frankly, better than him - he doesn't pull it off very well. His characters are bland and lifeless, his story has been heard a million times over. There's nothing new and original about his books, although they are good to pass the time.
Paolini's is not great literature, make no mistake. You can like the books, certainly, no one will mind - I for example love the Harry Potter books, regardless of how outright stupid they can get. Just don't expect everyone to like or even respect them. The Inheritance Cycle is a fantasy of a young boy - that's all it should have been.
Quick note on character development and how it figures into two distinct genres: that of stories for children and stories meant for young adults, especially concerning fantasy. (It's taken from a review I wrote for a story.)
So far there has not been a single character introduced to your story who did not firmly belong either on the so-called 'light' or 'dark' side. People don't operate like that. There is good and evil equally in all of us, and most people don't necessarily belong on either side of it. To attempt to write a story in which the lines between good and evil are so clearly defined and which refuses to show the 'shades of gray' in which life generally operates is the modus operandi of writers of childern's books.
[...]
It is fantasy, yes, but even in fantasy, one must follow certain basic tenants of life. One of those is that life is never as simple as to provide us with such clear guidelines as to who is on the side of good and who isn't. A great story sometimes doesn't even have sides. Fantasy emulates real life, attempts to describe and even explain it through use of various tropes, so to speak. Your story lacks that aspect of realism which I find so necessary in an adult story line.
Paolini writes children's books. That's all they are.
Alright, that's all true. You make good points. And you're probably right. Thaboss isn't a literature expert, so he wouldn't know anything. But, as you said, thaboss still likes the books, even if they're "not good literature."
I for example love the Harry Potter books, regardless of how outright stupid they can get.
Alright, that's all true. You make good points. And you're probably right. Thaboss isn't a literature expert, so he wouldn't know anything. But, as you said, thaboss still likes the books, even if they're "not good literature."
Hey, I read them. And I do admit that they were somewhat enjoyable and decent time wasters. Doesn't mean I can't criticize them when they deserve it. Being a lit major is sometimes really tiresome; I have this impulse to analyze everything.
And Harry does "die" in a way.
Although sadly, not in the way I wanted him to. He's only mostly dead, after all, and I wanted to rifle through his pockets for loose change. :P
Hey, I read them. And I do admit that they were somewhat enjoyable and decent time wasters. Doesn't mean I can't criticize them when they deserve it. Being a lit major is sometimes really tiresome; I have this impulse to analyze everything.
Hey, at least you can pop that out when people like thaboss try to argue! :P
Yeah, he wasn't completely satisfied with them, but mostly because there were too many loose ends.
He's only mostly dead, after all, and I wanted to rifle through his pockets for loose change. :P
