cover Title: Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)
Author: Christopher Paolini

type of book: YA Fiction and Fantasy
call number: YA/Fic/FAn

Summary:
Arya, an elf fighter and magic user, gets captured by some evil Urgals and a Shade - but she manages to protect a blue stone she is carrying by sending it near Carvahall using magic. 15-year-old Eragon finds the stone when he is out hunting for his family in the Spine. He soon discovers the blue stone is actually a rare dragon egg. It hatches when he touches it. Saphira (the blue dragon) leaves a silver mark on his palm (a sign of the Dragon Riders), and he raises it in secret. The bond between Eragon and Saphira grows fast and he soon discovers that they can hear each other's thoughts.

When Eragon's uncle is killed by the Ra'zac, evil servants of the twisted king Galbatorix, Brom the village storyteller with a mysterious past leaves with Eragon to guide him and teach him about dragons and the use of magic.

I would recommend this book!

Why?
Overall, Eragon's journey leads him through many dangers and he meets many interesting people and creatures. The Dragon Riders were humans and mostly elves who were chosen by a dragon egg and then trained in fighting and magic use to protect the land. They were destroyed by the current king Galbatorix of Alagaesia, who was once a Rider himself. This story has many "borrowings" from the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but it is still a fun, engaging read. It ends as a cliffhanger, and I eagerly await the next installment to learn more about Eragon's journey, his training, and the fight of the Varden, a small group of humans in alliance with the elves, who fight against the Empire.

Other suggested reading:
  • the Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien
  • the Shannara series by Terry Brooks
  • Tales of the Nine Charms series by Erica Farber
  • Look for these and other titles in our !

    Employee Initials: KS Review Date: December 2003

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