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.

100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire, & The Chestnut King (Trilogy) by N. D. Wilson

Genre: Fantasy, Youth
Length: 1,237 pages (collectively)

Reviewed by: Willow Locksley

“A quiet song was pulsing through him, a dandelion telling its story of ash made green and green made gold. A story of death and separation, of strength and reunion and death again.”

N. D. Wilson’s trilogy is traditional fantasy fare sliced, diced, and served up as a new dish. It is an otherworld story, the tale of a lost prince, a rerun of the epic struggle between good and evil canonized by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. But it is also something unique. Where other children’s fantasy books are united by their inherent Britishness, Wilson’s trilogy stands apart as something with quintessential America at its core. In case you get caught up in the genre and forget it, his heroes wear John Deere T-shirts and easily exchange baseball bats for swords.

It begins when Henry York arrives in Henry, Kansas, where tougher boys and female cousins are in abundance. His uncle and aunt’s farmhouse, Main Street, dirt roads, rusty pickup trucks, barns - and oh yeah, cornfields – create a deceptively mundane backdrop for the adventure that awaits him there. One hundred cupboard doors lurk behind the plaster of his attic bedroom, and any reader familiar with The Wood Between the Worlds can guess what that means. Henry stumbles through one and (surprise!) realizes he’s not in Kansas anymore. But that’s just the first book. In books two and three, the secrets behind the doors will change Henry’s life forever.

Told in the distinctive voice of their author, which is vibrant, engaging, bizarre and at times self-consciously clever, these books have the appeal of a rollercoaster ride. Some readers will put their hands in the air while others may find it dizzying. The plot feels sloppy in places and I felt there was some unrealized potential when only two or maybe three doors out of the titled hundred played any substantial part in the story. That said, there is method in the madness as Wilson lets his imagination run riot, and it’s a fun ride, with moments of wit, originally, and imagery that brands itself into the memory, and an end that is ultimately satisfying.

Wilson is a passionate believer in Christ, and all the themes common to Christianity are presented (without sermonizing) in his books. Identity, awe, courage, self-sacrifice and love are just the obvious ones. There are witches, wizards, faeries, green men and raggants – you’ll have to read the books to find out what that last one is – and yes, lots of magic, prudently handled. Boyish humor and a mild profanity are things I could have done without, but overall I’d say this is very wholesome stuff.

Did I like this trilogy? Yes. Would I have the patience to read it a second time? Probably not. Even so, I won’t forget it any time soon. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a good traipse through a world beyond a cupboard door.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Genre: Fantasy, Youth
Length: 280 pages

Reviewed by: Willow Locksley

“This is where you earn your reputation.”

Gen, in his own words, can steal anything. To prove it, he has snatched the king of Sounis’ seal ring out from under the nose of the king’s most trusted servant, the magus—only to be caught when he brags about it afterward. While Gen contemplates ways to steal himself out of prison, his enemy has plans to put the thief’s light-fingered skills to use. Gen finds himself in the custody of the magus and on his way to another land to steal a legendary treasure…never failing to carry out his own objectives along the way.

Gen is an amusing narrator as well as an outrageous liar, and readers are not exempt from his deceptions. The relationship of growing mutual respect between him and the magus is particularly entertaining, as is Gen’s grim sense of humor, as demonstrated when he sums up his stay in Sounis’ prison: “The days were all the same, except that as each one passed, I was dirtier than before.” Plot-wise, the pace is leisurely until chapter eight, when the story plunges headlong into flooding mazes, the threat of betrayal and the divine intervention of the half-heeded deities of Gen’s upbringing.

Gen’s world is best described as Ancient Greece-going-on-Renaissance, with guns and pocket watches being everyday items and a religion celebrating a myriad of gods and goddesses. In Gen’s universe, these deities are living, breathing personages with an active interest in the affairs of humans, and the patron god of thieves is no exception when it comes to meddling. The book contains some mild language, as the characters exalt and curse the gods by turns. Gen is a dangerous weapon in an age of political intrigue and espionage, and the consequences of stealing (which are frequent and severe) are considered a professional risk.

You’ll want to read this book a second – perhaps a third – time in order to catch the many nuances of the plot. Turner is a clever writer and a master of subtly. The Thief sets the stage for the following books in the series: The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, and A Conspiracy of Kings, wherein Turner transforms her cocky thief into a figure of legend.

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & The Beast by Robin McKinley

Genre: Fantasy, Youth
Length: 247 pages

Reviewed by: Willow Locksley

“It’s said there’s a castle in a wild garden at the centre of these woods; and if you ever walk into the trees till you are out of sight of the edge of the forest and you can see nothing but big dark trees all around you, you will be drawn to that castle; and in the castle there lives a monster.”

Robin McKinley takes a closer look at themes of beauty and honor within the pages of Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & The Beast. Beauty is the youngest of three sisters, and also the plainest. Having more interest in books than society, she is the least affected when her father’s merchant business crashes. Beauty and her family remove to the country where they are warmly met by the quaint community. The family is at ease until, by seemingly great misfortune, Beauty’s father finds himself lost within the ominous wood outside of their dwelling. This triggers of series of events that will lead Beauty to a mysterious castle and its startling occupant, who ends each evening with the words, “Beauty, will you marry me?”

Few girls of a high-hearted nature would refuse, if given the opportunity, to free a handsome prince from his curse by simply agreeing to marry him, and McKinley speaks to the hearts of us all in her retelling of this classic fable. Her lush style is captivating and never tedious, often giving you cause to reflect – if of course you’re willing to pause in your reading long enough to do so. Her talent is such that, far from having to shock readers by reconstructing the storyline, she succeeds in giving new life and depth to a familiar story.

This book probes human emotions without raising serious moral questions. Beauty’s family is loving, and together they work diligently to keep each other close and their home prosperous. The Beast confesses that it was his own pride and error that lead to his becoming a monster, and Beauty struggles between concern for him and fear of him. The castle itself is described as magical (i.e. invisible servants, doors that open themselves, etc.) and at one point the Beast, by indeterminate means, shows Beauty images of her family living safe and sound in her absence. Outright sorcery is never illustrated, and so I believe the magic found here is pretty harmless. The only reference to religion of any kind comes in the form of a young minister who wishes to marry one of Beauty’s sisters.

I certainly think of this book as giving new meaning to the word charming, with its velveteen rosebuds and groggy candlesticks. Also pleasing is McKinley’s variation in Beauty’s appearance – it is an inner loveliness and integrity of spirit that brings forth her true beauty (versus the one-inch waist and disproportionate facial features you’ll find elsewhere). All in all, it is a very worthwhile way to spend an evening or two, and certainly one of McKinley’s best.

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Fantasy, Youth
Length: 239 pages

Reviewed by: Kelly McKinnan

“Step follows step. Hope follows courage. Set your face towards danger, set your heart on victory.”

Gail Carson Levine is famous for writing young adult fantasy books, such as Ella Enchanted, Fairest, and the Princess Tales series. In The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Adelina, or Addie as she prefers to be called, is a princess of Bamarre, with her sister Meryl. The two of them are complete opposites. Addie is shy and fearful for her own safety and dares not travel far from the castle, while Meryl is bold and adventurous and wishes to destroy monsters and save the land of Bamarre. But Meryl soon comes down with the Gray Death, a horrible disease that is covering the land. Addie is then forced to make a terrible decision. She hates the idea of leaving the castle, but she knows that to save her sister’s life, she has to find the cure.

Gail Carson Levine is one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is fun and unique, and she never ceases to surprise you. It’s not a usual princess story, with a dashing prince charming to come in and save the day; it’s refreshingly different. Levine’s writing flows and keeps you interested throughout the book. Every page is a new adventure. Levine’s characters are far from dull; she gives depth and life to them, so that you can truly understand and get to know them better.

The morality in this book is not overly strong, but for a fantasy book it’s adequate. Addie and Meryl’s sisterly love for each other is clearly shown and very deep throughout the book. Levine puts in the normal fantasy characters (fairies, dragons, sorcerers, etc…), but no dark or black magic is ever mentioned or used. Addie, instead of thinking of herself, puts her sister first and goes to find the cure, despite her fears of leaving home. The people of Bamarre often refer to the book Drualt, which speaks about the life of Bamarre’s hero. They use this book to lift their spirits, and in a way inspire them in making their choices.

I think that many young readers will love this story. With all of its twists and turns, it’s often hard to put down. I’ve read this book many times, and I never seem to get bored of it. This is a wonderful book for anyone who enjoys reading fantasy and adventure. Levine truly knows how to capture young readers’ attention, and over all I think that this one is definitely one of her best.

The Bookstore Mouse by Peggy Christian

Genre: Fantasy, Youth
Length: 134 pages

Reviewed by: Jackie Hugh

“ ‘A giant!’ Sigfried cried.

‘Jargon the giant, you nimenog. You certainly are given to perspicuous deductions.’

I stopped reading. Even a master of the dictionary like me can find some words just too dense to get past. I was hopelessly bogged down in ‘perspicuous deductions’. I could feel myself slipping out of the story; I couldn’t see the giant or forest or even Sigfried, just those two BIG WORDS.”

Peggy Christian’s book, The Bookstore Mouse, was one of the most charming books I have ever read. Peggy Christian’s writing style is original and very amusing. The story starts out with the tale of a mouse named Cervantes who lives in a bookstore. His greatest joys are throwing barbed words at the cat and eating scrumptious words from his cookbook. One day Cervantes wanders a bit too far out of his hole and is pushed into the greatest adventure of his life. A book. After opening a mysterious book, Cervantes finds himself in a world of knights, dragons, lost stories and very long words.

Christian’s writing style is unlike any I have ever seen. When writing words like ‘anger’ and ‘fear’, she uses a sharp-ridged font. When using large words, she changes her font accordingly. This very original approach is partly why I enjoyed the book so much. Her characters are endearing and funny, with dialogue that is unique and fun to read.

Aside from various name-calling such as ‘nimenog’ and ‘Aglefruter’, this book has nothing objectionable in it. Peggy Christian’s characters regularly have to make a choice about whether or not they will stand and keep reading (however harrowing the tale might be) or close the book and walk away. Themes of loyalty, trust and bravery are woven in and around the lives of Cervantes and his friend Sigfried.

All in all this book was engrossing, cute and really made you think about the meaning behind the words you say. Though geared for younger readers, I believe that all ages will enjoy this book of boys in armor, lost stories and words that really mean something.

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

Genre: Fantasy
Length: 342 pages

Reviewed by: Laurelyn Aubrey

Laurence could not help feeling the liveliest curiosity, and after a moment’s struggle he yielded to it.

“Mr. Gibbs, I think we shall have a look inside,” he said, stepping out of the way. The top of the crate was thoroughly nailed down, but eventually yielded to the many willing hands; they pried it off and lifted out the top layer of the packing, and many heads craned forward at the same time to see.

No one spoke, and in silence Laurence started at the shining curve of eggshell rising out of the heaped straw; it was scarcely possible to believe.

Dragon stories are as old as time, but Naomi Novik brings a pleasantly fresh perspective to her subject as she blends the stuff of legends with historic British warfare in this first book of the Temeraire series. When Capt. Will Laurence of the HMS Reliant captures a French ship at sea, he thinks he has done nothing more than his duty to protect his country. But when his men find a dragon egg aboard the captured ship, Laurence unwillingly recognizes that his duty, career, and life are about to change in a way he never dreamed. As the bond between the former sea captain and the dragon Temeraire grows, the two of them must take to the skies and learn the complex tactics of aerial warfare before joining a desperate battle to save England from the invading forces of Napoleon.

This book is impressively well-written, especially since it is Novik’s first novel. The author develops her characters into friends, and brings the reader right in the middle of the scene with them, without being overly wordy. The details of dragon anatomy, the flavor of Napoleon-era British culture, and the descriptions of aerial maneuvers are believable and fascinating.

Though containing dragons, this book is refreshingly free of the magic and wizardry so often found in fantasy stories. Despite the misleading cover illustration, Novik’s dragons are not dark and mystical, but regular animals with regular men to handle them. Religion is never brought up, but duty, self-sacrifice, self-control, patriotism, and bravery are frequently shown as praiseworthy. Negative aspects of the book include the presence of a few women in the fighting force (present because some dragons will only take female captains), a few brief discussions of more mature topics, and frequent mild language.

The enjoyableness of this book can be demonstrated by mentioning that I read it in three nights, and was willing to sacrifice extra sleep in order to read just a little more. A few unfortunate aspects would make me cautious in recommending it to a young audience, but for older and more discerning readers it is a splendid escapade into a world of flying beasts, loveable characters, and battles for king and country. I’m greatly looking forward to reading the rest of the series.