In 2003, a young author's first novel hit the national stage. Since then it was spawned a movie and two follow-on volumes in the series, with a fourth book still to come. Eragon took the world by storm and Christopher Paolini has continued riding a wave of success ever since.
Eragon began the story of a simple farm boy named Eragon, whose life is turned upside down by the discovery of a polished blue stone in the wilderness near his home. The stone turns out to be a dragon egg containing the dragon Saphira. And King Galbatorix sends his many evil servants (including Ra'zac, Urgals, and the shade Durza) to capture or kill them.
Forced to flee, Eragon and Saphira start on a long series of adventures that teach them how to use magic, fight, and defend what is right. Eldest, published in 2006, continued to tell the tale of Eragon becoming a Dragon Rider and gaining not only the strength but the self confidence to aid the Varden (rebels fighting against the oppression of King Galbatorix).
Brisingr is the third book in the series, published in September 2008. Brisingr continues the saga began with Eragon (2003) and Eldest (2006). Brisingr is the word for "fire" in the ancient tongue of Alagaesia and was a great name for the book, as the story builds to its conclusion by the last hundred pages or so.
What was originally planned as a trilogy is now going to be a series of four books. The original draft of the final book was too large and Paolini and his publishers decided to break it into two volumes.
The book begins with Eragon, Roran (Eragon's cousin), and Saphira on a quest to rescue Katrina, Roran's betrothed. Roran gets quite a bit of focus in the book, as he discovers his place among the Varden and gains a reputation of his own. Eragon and Saphira continue to learn their abilities and limitations as well as some nice surprises.
I was swept away by Eragon like many others when it came out in 2003. Paolini's story was epic and wove influences of J.R.R. Tolkien, Dungeons and Dragons, and the traditional hero's quest into a narrative that made me want to know more. Eldest left me wondering where the wordsmith had gone. And unfortunately, Brisingr seems to have similar issues. Brief shining passages or whole chapters were there to remind me of the lightning in a bottle that was Eragon and what a gifted writer Paolini is, but it could have been so much better. The story continues to engage me, but I have to hope the writing will improve.
Article comments
1 - Drew
First comment to the best book of it's time? Really shows how people who love the book don't have time to write good comments about it. Anyway, it was a really exciting book, right up there with the Harry Potter and LOTR books. Cristopher Paolini is a great author at a young age. He also picked out the name for this book since it was the first word Eragon learned in the Ancient Language. Not because the word brisingr builds in the end.
2 - vampire and dragon lover
this book is very exciting!!!!! i was sad that Ormis died tho.... this book is a thriler till the end
3 - Sharon
Extremely great book a must get
4 - ben
AAAMMMAAAAZZZZZIINNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
5 - Anon
Yes, I agree that the book is worth reading... but for an entirely different reason. Check out this [Link removed as it was incorrectly structured HTML-wise. Comments Editor] Brisingr Book Review that gives the reason I kept reading Brisingr more than because of it's derivative story.
6 - Dragonslayer
I loved the book, but Eldest is still the best of the cycle so far.