Title: BrisingrPages: 748 pages
Published: September 20th 2008 by Alfred A. Knopf
Source: Books Owned
Links: goodreads, Inheritance Cycle website,
Oaths sworn... loyalties tested... forces collide. It's been only months since Eragon first uttered "brisingr", an ancient language term for fire. Since then, he's not only learned to create magic with words — he's been challenged to his very core. Following the colossal battle against the Empires warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still, there is more adventure at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep. First is Eragon's oath to his cousin, Roran: to help rescue Roran's beloved from King Galbatorix's clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength — as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices — choices that will take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice. Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?I am so happy to be moving along in this series still!! Yeah!! The books are so long so it does take me some time to get through them. This one was almost 800 pages! Wowsers! I am really enjoying reading the journey of all the characters in the book so I keep reading on. I will mention as I did in the reviews for the first two books in the series that this book is wordy. Paolini goes on and on about details. The color of the grass... the color of the sky. There have been a few details that I have rolled my eyes at that they were even mentioned. Did I have to read that Saphira the dragon stopped so Eragon could "relieve himself". Um no... I figured he would have to go pee every now and then and not have to read about it.
This book like the others is all about traveling .. a collection of subplots really. We follow Eragon as he travels from one place to another back and forth. This book he goes to the where the dwarf live while they select a leader. He has to go there in person to sway the vote apparently. Then we head back to where the elves live and finally go to the battle. Brisingr was supposed to be the final book in the series. I remember when I found out there was going to be a fourth book I was like "NOOOOOOOOO"!! These books are so long... I didn't want another one. But it does work... I mean it reads just like the other two so if you like that sort of thing this is an OK third book.
The most important event to happen in the book is the making of Eragon's sword. Which of course is the name of this book. Brisingr. I love that name and the events of making the sword were fun to read about. In this book we get more chapters about Roran, Eragon's cousin. These were the most interesting chapters in the book for me. Roran's story is all about action and plot rather then Eragon's where we are always reading about what he is thinking. Roran is a great character because we see him grow from just a farmer to a person who has a lot of responsibility. He is kind of like Batman. He really has no special powers expect his own strength and whit.
The book is slow though... until the very end. All of a sudden the plot thickens! I finally get to see some of my favorite characters.. Angela, Oromis and Glaedr. Who all get too little parts in the book. I want everyone to finally meet with Galbatorix who is the illusive villain that the readers have been waiting to see and meet. Obviously we will get to meet him in book four... I do think though maybe he should've made and appearance a little sooner then that. I am hoping that book four, Inheritance, is a little bit faster paced. More action. Though it is just as long as the first three books so I am sure there will be a lot of details in it.
Again this series is long winded. Details Details Details. Even sometimes my mind wanders as a I read along and I have to go back and re-read a paragraph here and there. If that is not something you enjoy the skip this series. Whenever I read the reviews on goodreads that is the biggest complaint. On to the next and final book!!
Fog is coming..... in the middle of the road on this book!
Other reviews of the books in the series:
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
It's like reading Tolkien...details, details, and more details. It just happens that I like the details - it allows me to paint a better picture in my mind. I loved Roran's story line and the character himself, much for the same reasons you listed - you get to see him grow into this reluctant (but necessary) hero. His pure motivation is making a better world for his family and friends. I do wish this movie would be re-booted with a crew that's more dedicated to the story and characters rather than making a quick buck because of the hype. Unfortunately after the bomb of the first movie and the time passed of its popularity, I'll just have to be satisfied with the movie in my head, which let's face it, they're usually much better that way anyway...
ReplyDeleteYes, these books are long and filled with detail. I love them though. This was only supposed to be a trilogy, but the author couldn't fit everything he wanted into the third book, so it became four. I felt the same way as you when I found out there was another book. I can't wait to read your review for Inheritance.
ReplyDeleteI tried reading The Fellowship of the Ring and I was SO annoyed by all the details, so I don't think this would be the best series for me either. I'm glad it got better as you read along though!! A friend of mine really loved these. She's a big fan of dragons. :)
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
I do want to re-watch the movie even though it did suck. I think maybe we only watched it once. I want to give it another shot once I am finished with the series. I can barely remember it, well I remember disliking it of course. Maybe it will be better this time around??? Who knows. Roran has become my favorite character in the books. He is just that reluctant hero that is an inspiration to those reading about him.
ReplyDeleteI like these types of books too. I like fantasy worlds to have a lot of details. Which is one of the reasons I am for sure finishing the series. There are a lot of people out there though who can't stand that so these books are for sure not for them.
ReplyDeleteI love LOTR and all the details in those books. So yeah... I think this type of a read is for people who don't mind details about everything. Sometimes I would roll my eyes at a detail here or there but for the most part I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteSomeday perhaps I'll give these another try. I remember getting very frustrated with the first book because it was so derivative (Tolkien meets McCaffrey's Pern meets Star Wars, anyone?) But so many people have loved the series that maybe I didn't give it a fair chance. Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying them!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the last book. I know a lot of people were very disappointed in it. I liked them all fine but, yeah, enough with all the details! It can be an epic fantasy without the epic writing. Eeesh!
ReplyDeleteOh yes... this book is sort of fan fiction of a sort. You are right about that. I mean... in this book we are introduced to an object that is very similar to the Horocrux from Harry Potter. I didn't even notice it until I was reading someones review and then it dawned on me. So we'll see how the next book goes comparing to all the other fantasy books out there.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard that people were disappointed in it. Though I don't think I was blogging when it came out, so we'll see. I haven't read any reviews on goodreads yet about it either. I usually wait until after I read the book then go read a bunch of reviews about it.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the audiobooks for the first three books in this series years ago. I saw that you were going to be reading this one and decided to finally finish it up too. I remember very few details so I need to find a refresher somewhere before I get started!
ReplyDeleteUghhh... a refresher on these books!! They are so long and detailed. I bet wikipedia might have a good summary of the plot. I am glad to be reading this series at once together because there are so many details I am able to remember the books!
ReplyDelete