A review by dreadwyrmtai
Eragon by Christopher Paolini

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 “What has been lost may yet live on in memories. That which you will hear is imperfect and fragmented, yet treasure it, for without you it does not exist.” 

Re-reading a childhood favorite: Eragon. 

I remember first finding out about this book through a book fair at school. A book about dragons, written by a young author who was roughly the same age I was when he first wrote it, and as an aspiring writer it immediately caught my eye. Needless to say, it has been 20 years since then and phew… I was wondering what I would think about it now if I reread it. 

A classic fantasy trope, a coming of age story, a young poor farmer boy thrust into a world much bigger than what he thinks and an age old conflict involving tyranny, magic and of course dragons. The characters are still quite likable to me, but your mileage may vary. Eragon’s impulsive and rash decisions is something I still enjoyed, because it does feel like how a teenager would react. I always appreciate how many of his rash decisions have consequences and something that I think a lot of YA protagonists don’t go through as often. Saphira’s shifts from wise responses to sassy remarks are always a joy and the sibling-like bond she has with Eragon is still one of my favorite relationships in this book. I enjoy the magic system, how it operates and the consequences of using it. There is not much character development just yet, but I do like the pace in which the combat advances, it doesn’t feel overly rushed which is something I think a lot of other YA books suffer from.

There is ONE scene that bothered me because it felt like a massive plot hole. I could handwave some things but one in particular just.. Took me out. Does it matter that much in the grand scheme of things? Eh, not really. It just bugged me and wished it had happened differently. (Page 403 for those curious since I am trying to keep this spoiler free.) 

I don't think the writing has aged poorly but it does suffer in certain parts. Some descriptions are confusing or overly embellished, some word choices felt unnecessary. There are a handful of combat scenes where it’s difficult to follow what exactly is happening because of the way that they’re described. It does not bother me too much personally, and if I recall correctly, the writing does improve throughout the series which is to be expected.

Did I still enjoy it? Absolutely. Still love the characters. There were scenes that made me chuckle alongside scenes that gripped at my heart. Is it fueled by nostalgia of how I felt when I first read through it? Perhaps. But there’s something special about the way Eragon and Saphira’s bond is written that I will always love.