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Brisingr (Inheritance Cycle) |
Average User Rating: 70% (50 Reviews) | |
| 4 / 5 | Every tale grows in the telling
Me - 25 September 2008 When reviewing this book one has to consider the intended audience. Fantasy for older audiences tends to focus on characters, relationships and events; fantasy for younger audiences focuses on magic and monsters. Admittedly this is somewhere in-between, but it is certainly closer to the Tolkien's Hobbit than Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. To review it on its own merits I would say that although it might not be innovative and relies heavily on the old staples of fantasy fiction, it is well written. If the author can pull off the next book and finish off his "cycle" convincingly then he will have done better than some of the more established contemporary names whose work never seems to progress, or does not conclude properly. On individual points: * Plot The plot is not as fast-paced as the previous books, but it benefits from this. I think the first two books were like starters and this is more of a main course, and not just because it's a bit longer. Each episode is properly filled out and the characters have to handle the consequences of some of the issues the author set them up with in the first books. Eragon has to trek back and forth across the land sorting out problems and learning his craft - without this the inevitable confrontation with the powerful Galbatorix would be unrealistic. In Brisingr the enemy is generally a looming menace lurking over the horizon and is not explored fully, but this does not undermine the plot seriously since there are enough tensions among the "allied" forces to keep everyone occupied. There are some major events in this book but it does seem to be setting the stage for the next. * Characters Paolini has spent more time with each of the main characters, giving them time to grow on their own. Eragon still gets most of the attention and the author has portrayed his development carefully, exploring the fantasy world he has created and its mechanisms without ever making it seem too contrived. That the extra size of this book gives more time for the other characters is a bonus. They are much more rounded by the end and this strengthens the story considerably. * Writing The author is certainly getting better. However, there are some very random descriptions thrown in from time to time. They conjure up the intended image very well - beautifully in fact - they're just a bit unexpected when they pop up in the middle of some dialogue. He has also managed to get some humorous bits in - the dragons-eye view of the world is often quite funny. The plot threads are particularly well handled and it is easy to see how much effort has gone into tying them together. Overall I enjoyed this. It is more mature than the previous books and if he can polish it off properly it will make a good series. The obvious concern most people will express is that the story is being protracted - a practice which has created some very disappointing dud-endings from established authors recently. However, I think I spotted a few plot threads for spin-offs and this would be the best way to make use of this fantasy world once Eragon has done the business with Brisingr. ... Read Full Review » |
| 3 / 5 | OK, but is it being dragged out?
M. Cox - 22 September 2008 For anyone out there hoping that this is the last instalment in the trilogy then I'm afraid you may be disappointed. The book is an enjoyable enough read, and the characters of Roran and Eragon are developed nicely. We also learn more about Dragons and the history/ mythology of Alagaesia. Unfortunately Eragon's adversaries aren't given enough of the stage to grow and as such they lack any real depth. The biggest disappointment however is that this isn't the final book. Personally I was left feeling that the story was being spun out for commercial reasons and that whole chapters added nothing of value or could have been condensed down to a couple of more powerful paragraphs. Is summary, it felt like a good story diluted down so that they can make twice the money. That said, knowing this before hand I would still have brought it as I will the next to see how it all plays out. I guess that's why the publishers do it as they know it will sell, but the damage they have inflicted to what could have been a great trilogy is a disappointment and seems a bit short sighted. ... Read Full Review » |
| 1 / 5 | Promises, promises!
E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - 25 September 2008 Somebody needs to tell Christopher Paolini that no matter many elves and dwarves you include, moral debates and politics do not an epic fantasy make. Unfortunately that's only one of the problems with Paolini's third long-winded, short-plotted fantasy novel about the adventures of the More-Special-Than-Thou Eragon. "Brisingr" reads less like a coherent novel than like a string of unevenly-written side plots -- and the last one improves somewhat, it cannot save the third Inheritance Cycle book from being as lifeless as the dead trees it's printed on. After a gratuitously gory cult scene, Roran and Eragon make the journey to a mountain citadel to rescue Katrina, and find themselves facing the very last Ra'zacs. But after sending his cousin and future in-law on their way, Eragon finds himself facing a moral dilemma -- he's found Katrina's treacherous father, and isn't sure how to punish him. Be assured that whatever choice he makes is the right one, because he's a Dragon Rider and therefore Utterly Awesome. Meanwhile, the Varden are threatened when a chief of Nasuada's native people challenge her to a bloody duel, and she has no choice but to accept. Oh yeah, and Murtagh and his newborn dragon arrive with a bunch of nerveless warriors for a surgical strike on the Varden citadel. But even after that, there are many other problems -- a forthcoming wedding, Roran's assignments on dangerous missions, and the upcoming nomination of a new dwarf king. And when Eragon finally returns to Ellesmera, he learns the truth of his own past, and is given a possible key to his future... Though originally the finale of the series, "Brisingr" is a classic example of "middle book syndrome," with the added problem that it fails to advance anything except the myriad subplots that the Inheritance series is littered with. Every time one sidestory ends, Paolini slaps in another one, and another one, and another. The battle, the whole Sloan-sentencing, the Trial of the Long Knives, creepy psycho-kid Elva, the dwarf politicking -- all of these are strung on one after the other, with little to connect them. Beyond that, "Brisingr" is boring. The entire book sags painfully under pretentious moral pondering and endless political bickering, to the point where characters will even stop during a battle to yap for what seems like hours, such as Eragon's endless debates with Islanzadi and Murtagh. Even Paolini seems to be aware that this is bloody dull, because he occasionally throws in a random battle or threat. But the biggest source of tension is everybody worrying that Eragon might get hurt, because they Just Can't Win The War without his awesomeness. The plot does take a slight upturn near the end when Eragon returns to Ellesmera, only to face a talking tree, a grumpy blacksmith and a couple plot twists straight out of "Star Wars." But it's not nearly enough. Neither are Paolini's leaden attempts at humor -- while there are a few cute moments such as Saphira sneezing fire, most of the humor is jaw-droppingly unfunny. Examples: Nasuada's nonexistant wit, and Angela's Monty Python bunnies. I wish I were making that up. And in his efforts to out-Tolkien Tolkien, Paolini's prose has become almost a parody of itself -- he's so intent on details that Eragon stops during a battle to note the color of a Lethrblaka's blood. And his choppy, awkward dialogue doesn't sound like anything a person would actually say or think ("Even we, who were boys but a short while ago, cannot escape the inexorable progress of time. So the generations pass..."). And Paolini does his superstrong, supertalented, all-around awesome self-insert no favours. There are some feeble attempts at character development by making Eragon whine and angst about killing people, but it doesn't stop him from coldly killing someone who begs for mercy. And Paolini's open worship of his self-insert reaches nauseating heights as children frolic before him, leaders don't dare to punish him, and injured soldiers announce "We fought for you, Shadeslayer!" The other characters are little more than reflections to infodump Eragon every few pages, on everything from sharpening swords to dragons' internal organs. The only halfway interesting characters are the angry Murtagh and his dragon, and Oromis for what few scenes he has. Everyone else is either a 2-D bad guy who hates Eragon, or a 2-D good guy who adores him. "Brisingr" may be the "ancient language's" word for fire, but Christopher Paolini's third novel doesn't really have any. Awkward, plodding and lacking a real plot, this fire was out before it started.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | If you were worried by Eldest....
Mr. Humphrey Mildred "Ben" (Edinburgh, UK) - 21 September 2008 FEAR NOT! Let joy fill your hearts. In Brisingr then gone is the boring tedium of Eldest. Gone is some of the predictability. True is a long book but I was glad of that fact. It meant the pleasure i got from reading it lasted much longer. The pacing is just right I'd say. Although still very wordy in places just when your starting to think I need a death you get a terrific action sequence. Buy this book. Please. ... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Amazing read!
bookfairy "Debz" (Cheltenham, UK) - 27 September 2008 Well having had to wait for two years for this book after reading eragon and eldest i was certainly not dissapointed. The story paolini weaves is as addictive as normal and he slings you right into the story making it hard to put the book down at all. Many a day i went into work bleary eye'd after reading into the early hours of the morning. Alot is revealed in this book which will have readers gasp and stare in wonder! it certainly had me doing that! It was great to have another insight into the world of eragon and Alagaesia. The only thing i can complain about is that I was a little peeved that now i have to wait for yet another book but i cant complain as it means even more on the whole story. I think this book is a bit of a 'filler' really, the series could have been brought to a finish with this third book but instead he's decided to give us a more indepth look at some of the other main characters. On a whole i loved the book, my only gripe being that now i have to wait longer to see what the outcome is! lol. grrr. Paolini certainly knows how to leave a reader sitting on the edge of their seats! ... Read Full Review » |
Publisher
Doubleday
Publication Date
20 September 2008
Format
Hardback (784 pages)
ISBN
9780385607919
Price Range
£8.49 - £8.49
List Price
£16.99
