Customer Reviews
Slow and Annoying Spinoffs 
2008-06-28
Honestly, it was a disappointment. The first book was pretty alright. But this one was more of a rushed work with stolen plotlines from lord of the rings, star wars, etc. It was slow moving with many pointless chapters that did little to progress the story. Character developments were little. Arya became more annoying and has no tolerance for different beliefs. Eragon became more pathetic and emotionally weak. The elves and dwarves were spinoffs of Tolkien's works. The best part was the end when Murtagh, the only decent character was brought back. A book that you may read once and will never want to look at it again.
Trying to get through it all 2008-06-25
I've picked up my Audio CDs several times for a long trip, and each time, I find myself putting something else in. With Eragon, I didn't seem to have this problem. However, with Eldest, I get bored at parts, and just drift off into other thoughts. It really doesn't keep you wrapped into it.
I wish I could say more about it, but at this point, I'm hoping this is just one of those books in a series that has to be done to tie other books down the road together.
Not as good as Eragon 
2008-06-20
The follow up to Eragon is not quite as good as the original. I liked Eragon more because of the development of Saphira. Now that she's grown up and the relationship between her and her rider has plateaued, the other elements aren't as interesting. Plus, the ending is downright unbelievable and unrealistic given the situation leading up to it.
Awesome! Even better than first! 
2008-06-17
I read this book after loving Eragon. I got to tell you, this book was even a little better than Eragon! It may have hit some boring parts but it was an overall great book! I really enjoyed reading it. The story continues with Eragon getting help from another dragon rider to improve his skills as a rider. I definately recommend this book for any Inheritance fan!!! (Can't wait for third book Brisingr!!!)
Not quite as good as Eragon but a great read 
2008-06-14
I really like how this story split between Roran and Eragon which I felt was interesting because it created a sense of urgency and impending action. There were many plot twists (of which I won't mention in order to save the surprises) and a few extra characters were introduced which added to the plot line along with trips to many new places. I could have done without the love story drama between Eragon and Arya as it just seemed awkward and forced. Anyhoo...I definitely recommend it and I can't wait for the third book!
This book... 
2008-07-09
This book, Eldest is good no doubt, but some parts, most of the book actually are really slow. It also has a great problem, it seems it is some kind of rip-off book from Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and more.
Let me explain, when Luke goes to avenge his uncle with Obi-Wan, an old but clever teacher...Wait, that's Eragon goes to avenge his uncle with Brom. Well anyway, they fight a lot of enemies, they kill Durza and then Eldest starts. The story follows Eragon with Gimli and Arwen going...Oops, I mean Orik and Ayra. They arrive to the Elven city and there Eragon learns the arts of the Dragon Riders from an old man who is a rider himslef. Some of the things he learns are interesting but when you read 500 pages about a boy learning you're bound to get bored when an entire chapter is about ants, or when dear Oromis goes into the river with Eragon without clothes on, or...well, you'll get bored. Then the battle comes, some interesting things happen again and boom! Darth Vader appears and claims to Eragon "No, I am your father"**dramatic music playing in the back**...Damn, did it again! It's actually Murtagh who says to Eragon that he's his brother and that Morzan, a bad guy who is dead, is their father...Oh, he also loses his sword which doesn't remind me of Luke losing his Lightsabre when Darth Vader told him the truth...
All in all, you can read the book, you'll get bored in some parts, you'll find many paralells with other novels and you can either like it or hate it. Good luck.
PS: Eragon faints every other page and you'll get tired of it. At the end of the book, he's lost concioussness so many times, you wonder how he doesn't get any brain damage
Excellent book 2008-07-08
I enjoyed Eldest immensly. Not many books can pull me from video games, but this book and its prequel did just that. I enjoyed the progression through the book, but I wanted it to continue when I finished. I will be purchasing Brisingr when it is released.
great bok 2008-07-08
This is a great book, the story line continues from the first book and the characters are developed nicely. I cant wait for the next installment to be delivered in august. I pre-ordered the next book for myself and for a friend.
OH! Dear God! WHY?! 2008-07-01
Oh why? This was a massacre of popular stories OTHER PEOPLE WROTE! I fully expected Morzan to come back from the dead Kenobi-style and announce to the world, "Eragon, I am your father." and Eragon to anguish over it for the rest of the book. OH WAIT! That last part actually HAPPENED! Garion was also overdue for an appearance, coming in to say, "Why did you steal the cool mark on my hand that I have to keep hidden?" And for added fun, why not throw in a cute little scene where Arya's scent WAFTS toward Eragon, and she smells suspiciously like pine needles and another spicy scent. Oh wait, I think he did that too! Somebody read too many of his mom's romance novels when he was younger! This was a horrible book. If you value your sanity, IQ level, or anything else, DON'T read this. I regret actually borrowing this book from the library, and genuinely feel sorry that they spent money on this piece of cliched, predictable drivel.
Been done before, and better 2008-06-28
I was one of the many who picked up on the fact that the first book was basically the plot of Star Wars transplanted into Middle Earth. I naively thought that this could not possibly continue into the second book. How very wrong I was.
First though, while being predictable is its main problem, its first and most obvious problem is that it's just too long. Now, I don't have a problem with long books. I've read plenty of six or seven hundred page books in a few days. But this one has the added problem of not being terribly interesting. I literally checked this book out and started to read it four different times before I finally made it all the way through. The characters were never drawn out enough for me to care about them.
The plot is basic enough. Simple farmboy suddenly has amazing destiny. In this installment, Eragon goes to see Yoda, sorry I mean... oh wait, I can't remember his real name, to recieve training and guidance. Meanwhile his cousing Roran fights the Ra'zac when they try to capture Carvahall and then kidnap his fiancee Katrina. There's a big battle at the end, but we don't see much of it because we're too busy watching Eragon have an Epiphany about his father.
Sound familiar? That's because it's all been done before. The entire time I was reading this book I felt as if I'd already read it. And that made it predictable. And the shocker twist ending? Well, anyone who's seen Star Wars could have seen that one coming. In the end this book is okay, it just doesn't compare to the stories it tries to mimic. It isn't as masterful and epic as Lord of the Rings, or as engaging as Harry Potter, or as original and fun as Star Wars. If you've already read/seen all those, then, yeah, this might be a good read for you. But if you haven't... well, I suggest you go do that before investing your time in this series.
