Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Genre: Fantasy, Youth
Length: 860 pages

Reviewed by: Willow Locksley

Note: Many of my assessments are made in light of the Inheritance Cycle as a whole, but my focus in this review is on the fourth and final book, simply titled Inheritance. The length of this book alone makes it impossible for me to detail every point of interest or concern. With one mild exception, I’ve tried to remain spoiler-free! However, I make the assumption that readers are familiar with the preceding books.

“We are no longer awkward younglings, Eragon. Our enemies may be fearsome, but so are we. It is time we remind them of that.”

So announces Saphira as the final win-or-lose-all battle approaches for Eragon and his comrades-in-arms. Inheritance completes the four-part Inheritance Cycle begun by author Christopher Paolini when he was a fifteen-year-old homeschool graduate, eager to try his hand at writing an epic fantasy. The success of his first book Eragon was bombastic, propelling him and his subsequent work into the major league of Children's Fantasy.

Though his plot has been criticized for borrowing too heavily from Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, the main draw of Paolini’s writing has ever been the special relationship between his primary characters Eragon and the blue dragon hatchling Saphira. Their deep friendship and shared destiny was the stuff of every child’s dream, while their encounters with danger and their hard-learned-lessons paralleled every adolescence’s reality. As they grew, we grew. And so, it seems, did Paolini. His decision to explore the story from several characters’ perspectives in the second and third books (Eldest and the poorly titled Brisingr, respectively) was for him an exercise in technique, while for his readers it was an exercise in patience. The end result of this protracted development is a fully realized world with a complex history and readers’ invested interest in the outcome of every character’s personal journey. Could Nasuada successfully take up her father’s mantle and lead her rebel army to victory? How much would Murtagh have to sacrifice for freedom and redemption? Was a happy ending still possible for Roran and his young family? And most importantly, what of Eragon, Saphira, and the legacy of the Dragon Riders? While I found conflicted Murtagh to be the most interesting character in the series, I still preferred the chapters told from Eragon’s perspective (whereas Roran’s chapters bored me to tears). Fortunately this book drags in fewer places, refocuses on Eragon and Saphira’s story, and finally brings readers face-to-face with arch enemy Galbaltorix. After lurking in the shadowy background of the story for so long, he surprised me with his commanding presence and well-spoken but twisted words.

The mixed bag of philosophies (some of them just plain weird) that developed in Eldest and Brisingr are still present in Inheritance. The philosophical mire seems to stagnate, however, thanks to a greater emphasis on action as the series rushes toward a conclusion. Christians with a strong grounding in their faith are unlikely to be affected. As for younger readers, a certain amount of maturity is called for in a number of areas. The body count is high, with frequent and detailed descriptions of violence. There is also the recurring (and in my opinion, irritating) element of Eragon’s juvenile infatuation with the elf lady Arya. It doesn’t go much of anywhere, to the chagrin of some readers and the relief of others. Additional romances are only hinted at, while a deal less could have been said about mating dragons. On the positive side, Eragon, Saphira, and their friends repeatedly demonstrate courage, perseverance, and a willingness to lay down their lives for others. Gratitude, forgiveness, and hope define many of their relationships. Without shying away from the tough stuff, it’s clear that Paolini’s goal is to inspire. And he does.

My own enthusiasm for this series slacked off during the years it took Paolini to finish it, but having invested in it so far, I was intent on seeing it through to Inheritance. I’m glad I did. I enjoyed it and felt that my time was not entirely wasted when it came to a satisfying conclusion. Or did it? A few loose ends and Paolini’s promise to return one day to the world of Eragon suggest otherwise. Readers will decide for themselves whether this is a good or a bad thing.