Synopsis
Looking for a YA Fantasy with thought-provoking, fire-breathing Dragons who communicate without spoken words? ✅ What about some conflict involving 8-foot half-human monsters called Urgals? ✅ Or how about a dragon egg-stealing king who will do anything to remain in power, including eliminating all dragon riders who would oppose him? ✅ Elves, Dwarfs, Werecats? ✅✅✅
Eragon by Christopher Paolini follows the adventures of a young farm boy named Eragon who is thrust into the spotlight when he finds a mysterious blue stone in the forest. He doesn’t realize until it hatches that it’s in fact a Dragons’ egg.
Overnight Eragon’s life is changed as his family is attacked, and he is forced to leave home. With the help of a mysterious stranger, Eragon must protect his dragon at all costs. But with the evil King and his forces always a step behind, he must find the strength to fight and win at all costs.
“Before your grandfathers fathers were born, even before their fathers, the Dragon Riders were formed. To protect and guard was their mission, and for thousands of years they succeeded. Their prowess in battle was unmatched, for each had the strength of ten men. They were immortal unless blade or posion took them. While they kept peace, the land flourished. It was a golden time.”
Eragon, the first in the Inheritance Cycle trilogy by @christopher_paolini, is pure magic. The entire journey fulfilled my need for adventure, and I gladly lost all sense of time as I was pulled into one battle after another.
But Eragon is so much more than just amazing locations and interesting supporting characters. The beating heart of this story truly comes in the form of a young farm boy, who, through suffering and loss, breaks free of his life of anonymity to become something great. It’s a story of friendship, love, and family. (new and old) It’s also about the freedom to be yourself and fight for what you believe in.
I highly recommend you give this one a try. At 497 pages, this book is definitely a commitment but worth every second!
This brings me to the first location of importance: Garrows Farm
“Keep in mind that many people have died for their beliefs; It’s actually quite common. The real courage is in the living and suffering for what you believe.”
Before the dragon egg appeared, Eragon was a simple farm boy trying to make a place for himself among his people. His desire is to make Garrow proud and prove that he belongs. But with the farm destroyed and his family in danger, Eragon has to demand more of himself. He has to realize his true destiny as a dragon rider. whether he wants to or not.
Leaving behind the only home he has ever known is bittersweet for Eragon. He understands the dangers but he won’t rest until he enacts his revenge. His courage comes from the connection he shares with his dragon Saphira and also from the help of the towns storyteller Brom.
This brings me to the Second location of importance: Dras-Leona Cathedral
‘I am outside the empire. It was a strange thought. He had been born in the empire, lived his entire life under Galbatorixs rule, lost his closest friends and family to the king’s servants, and had nearly died several times within his domain. Now Eragon was free. It was a bittersweet realization for the cost had been the loss of his entire world.’
Some have compared Eragon to Star Wars and Lord of The Rings, but any epic fantasy adventure is bound to have similarities. I’m also a huge fan of Game of Thrones, and the whole series is centered around Dragons, just like Eragon’s story is dependent on his Dragon, Saphira.
The one thing that makes Eragon unique is that the main protagonist is only 16, which changes the story’s perspective. He thinks and acts like a teenager, and some of his decisions are frustrating but acceptable to the reader because of his age. I’m not sure someone with more experience would decide to take on the Ra’zac with only a hatchling dragon and an old storyteller at his side!😜
This brings me to the third location of importance: Beor Mountains
‘Nothing is more dangerous than an enemy with nothing to lose. Which I have become.’
Although Eragon was first published almost 20 years ago, I highly suggest you give this story a chance if you haven’t read it yet. I get a lot of messages asking for the newest recommendations, but sometimes it’s best to choose the older books as well! So much happens in the Beor mountains, but any discussion will provide spoilers. Youre going to need to wait until you get to this point in the book yourselves!
Recommended Links
If you’re interested in learning more about Eragon and its author Christopher Paolini or would like to purchase this Young Adult Fantasy novel, please check out the links below.
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Author Website
If you liked this post, please follow the link to my other YA Fantasy Book Reviews.
