Review: Eldest (The Inheritance Trilogy, Book 2)
Parents should know that, as is typical in high fantasy, there is plenty of fighting and bloodshed, though not as much as in the first book. Fighting and war, though sometimes bemoaned, are pretty much accepted as the way to solve problems.
Some of the topics that can be discussed include the Eragon's training and its parallels in Roran's trials. Does Eragon deserve Roran's blaming him for the village's troubles? Was Oromis right to withhold forms of magic that Galbatorix possesses? What are the parallels with the Star Wars saga? It can even be fun to play Find the Matching Characters -- if Oromis is Yoda, who is Obi-Wan? Darth Vader? Princess Leia?
What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that, as is typical in high fantasy,
there is plenty of fighting and bloodshed, though not as much
as in the first book. Fighting and war, though sometimes
bemoaned, are pretty much accepted as the way to solve
problems.
Some of the topics that can be discussed include the Eragon's training and its parallels in Roran's trials. Does Eragon deserve Roran's blaming him for the village's troubles? Was Oromis right to withhold forms of magic that Galbatorix possesses? What are the parallels with the Star Wars saga? It can even be fun to play Find the Matching Characters -- if Oromis is Yoda, who is Obi-Wan? Darth Vader? Princess Leia?
Common Sense Media Review
Christopher Paolini's fantastically successful first book,
Eragon, the beginning of the Inheritance Trilogy, was
written during his middle teen years, and it often sounded like
it. Thoroughly derivative and often clunky and overwrought, it
was also exciting and complex, clearly the work of a boy with
amazing raw talent. Children were enthralled not only by the
novel, but also by the backstory of the homeschooled kid from
Montana, and they have been eagerly awaiting the sequel.
So before we get to the quibbles that, really, only adults will care about, let's answer the most important question -- will your Eragon-loving kids like it? It's considerably longer and more dense than its predecessor, but yes, it's exciting, dark, suspenseful, and imaginative. Eldest is a considerable step forward in Paolini's development as a writer. Eragon and Roran are compelling characters, and the relationship between Eragon and Saphira can be touching at times.
It may take some of the younger fans quite a bit of plowing through to finish it, but Paolini's writing is, like his main character, growing much more fluid and sure here, with almost none of the embarrassing clunkers that marred the first book. His dialogue, though still the stilted, formal speech beloved by authors of high fantasy, is less hackneyed and clichéd. This is the work of a growing young writer who is learning as he goes and gradually but surely getting a firmer grip on his considerable talent, like an inexperienced charioteer with a frisky team.
Some of the quibbles are inherited from the first book. The author has said in interviews that one of the reasons he started writing this was to explore the realms of the fantasy genre he loves, and it shows. In this second book he is mainlining "The Empire Strikes Back," with dashes of other classics of the genre, including "The Two Towers" and even "Dune." At least Oromis doesn't speak in the fractured syntax of Yoda.
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