Eldest
2005
- fantasy
- youths' writings
- dragons
- magic
- fiction
- nyt:series_books=2011-06-11
- young adult fiction
- juvenile fiction
- dragons -- fiction
- fantasy fiction
The story
Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider. Ages 12+. Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns… Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn't know whom he can trust. Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger. Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . .
What it’s like
Long, unhurried travel passages move through wide green forests, mountain passes, and elven woodland, with descriptions of landscape and cloud that linger over a page at a time. The prose is earnest and expansive, with a warm, slightly formal voice that favours lush detail: the ornate halls of the elves, the rhythm of camp life, the gleam of swords and the shimmer of magic. Saphira's presence gives the world a grounding sense of scale and companionship. Sound is mostly implied through the storytelling, but the pacing has the sprawling calm of a long road trip punctuated by sudden moments of danger. Violence comes in bursts, including sword fights, battles, and some deaths, described plainly rather than graphically; there is fear and tension, but little gore. Its emotional register is hopeful and earnest, with a young protagonist slowly learning whom to trust. It suits a long weekend read, a rainy afternoon, or a comfort-reading stretch on a long journey. It is for readers who enjoy immersive, expansive quest fantasy with dragons, elves, and a strong sense of world-building, and who are comfortable with a leisurely, detail-heavy pace.
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