Okay, this is the first book review on my blog. This should be a fun book review, as it features the novel
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. A really good story weaved by a master storyteller. Even I have read it three times. (It's a really thick novel, you know.)
The story begins as it concluded in the prequel, Eldest. Eragon, the protagonist, alongside his majestic dragon, Saphira, set out to fulfill an oath to help Roran, Eragon's cousin, to save his bethrothed, Katrina. Through the perilous Ra'zac nest of Helgrind, Eragon and Roran eventually rescue Katrina, but Eragon meets an unexpected person he never hoped to see again. I won't tell you who it is; read the book and the suspense will be lifted!
Meanwhile, the Varden, the rebels of the Empire of the evil king Galbatorix, is in need of help from Eragon: the only Dragon Rider which the Varden has left. Eragon, however, stayed behind in Helgrind to dispose of the surviving Ra'zac and to deal with the mystery person he met.
After Eragon returns to the Varden in the country of Surda, he had to face another major battle to save the Varden encampment from destruction by Galbatorix's soldiers and Eragon's Dragon Rider brother Murtagh. Murtagh was controlled by Galbatorix, using Murtagh's true name. Aided by a group of Elvish spellcasters, Eragon defeats Murtagh in an aerial battle whereby Saphira and Thorn, the two Riders' steeds, fought with flame, tooth and claw.
The Varden did not have anything to rejoice for; they lost many soldiers fighting against Galbatorix's warped soldiers who did not feel pain, due to magical influence. Then, in order to gain more support for the titanic and long-term battle against Galbatorix, the Varden leader Nasuada tells Eragon to go to the dwarves in Farthen Dûr, the dwarves' home, to attend the election for a new king or queen. While staying with the dwarves, Eragon's party was ambushed by an assassination squad of the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, a dwarvish clan. Surviving the attack, Eragon joins Orik, an old dwarf friend, in the election, whereby Orik and his rival Nado were likely candidates.
Through a nail-biting round of elections, Orik gradually emerges as the new king of the dwarves, unsurprising because he was the foster son of the former late king, Hrothgar. Saphira arrives for the coronation of Orik, and then Rider and Dragon left for Ellesméra, the capital of the elvish territory to complete their training.
There Eragon's mentor ,the Cripple Who Is Whole, Oromis, shocks Eragon with a revelation. This, too, is another thing you will have to find out for yourself in the novel. I seriously don't want to spoil the fun. Oromis and his crippled dragon Glaedr tell Eragon about Galbatorix's source of power: Dragon's Eldunarí, or rather the heart of hearts. Before Eragon and Saphira leave to support the Varden in a siege, Glaedr gives them his own heart of hearts, for guidance and strength. But there was one more thing Eragon needed to do in Ellesméra: obtain a new sword.
Eragon's previous sword Za'roc, was claimed by Murtagh as "inheritance". Thus following a riddle, Eragon confronts the great Menoa Tree, hoping to obtain the rare ore under it for Rhunön the famed elf blacksmith to forge a Rider's sword. In the end he did, but at a price: to give the Menoa Tree a favour. Somewhat puzzled, Eragon returns to Rhunön and forges his new sword, Brisingr. It would burst into flames whenever he calls out its name. Cool huh?
Anyway, Eragon returns to help the Varden in the siege of Feinster, an Empire city. Meanwhile, Oromis and the elves lay siege to Gi'lead. While searching for the ruler of Feinster, Eragon has a vision: Oromis gets killed by Galbatorix using Murtagh's body during one of the cripple's sudden seizures. Recovering from the terrible vision, he and Arya, an close elf friend, confronts a Shade created by the enemy magicians. Eragon had faced a Shade before; he barely escaped with his life. However, good prevailed and Arya slayed the Shade with Eragon's help.
The story concludes with readers crying out for more. But all will be continued in the upcoming conclusion to the cycle. Want to read more and enjoy the action and fantasy that virtually comes alive when you read it? Get it and be prepared to never put it down till you finish it!
