Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1) in Pick-a-Shelf

Aug 02, 2007 Mita rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2007, fantasy

Despite the so called critical acclaim, I found this book to be thoroughly juvenile and immature. Granted that the author was still young when he wrote it, but I have read fanfiction better written than this book, and throughout reading it I kept wondering what sane publisher would publish it (Of course, I found out later that it's published by his parents, which answers everything). I like the idea of a Dragon Rider, but the plot is too predictable, the diction too erratic, and the characters t ...more

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Apr 05, 2011 D.G. rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, young-adult, fantasy

**3.5 stars**

Eragon was entertaining and I liked the main character - I know he could be a pain in the ass sometimes but he was a young kid suddenly thrown in a totally different world and having all this power. I have to say though I didn't see that much new in the world. Maybe because I had already read His Majesty's Dragon, which has some similarities with the dragon chosing the rider, etc. Anyway, I don't know yet if I'll read the next in the series. ...more

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Jul 15, 2009 Harold Ogle rated it it was ok

A mediocre fantasy novel that is noteworthy for two reasons:

1) It was written and self-published by a fifteen-year-old, and
2) It was nowhere near as bad as the film.

_Eragon_ follows the formula of heroic fantasy initiated by Tolkein:
a. Young nobody discovers that he has a marvelous destiny
b. Young nobody is forced to flee his home
c. Young nobody discovers hidden reservoirs of strength/ability/magic/powers that distinguish him as superior to everyone else
d. Young nobody becomes Puissant Valiant H ...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Sunflower rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction-read-2012

This book had been on my TBR shelf for 3 years. I made several honest attempts to read it, but each time I kept getting beaten by the uncanny feeling that it had been written by a 16 year old. Someone who maybe was really keen on fantasy? Oh wait: turns out to be true.
Success at last, a concerted effort has been made, and I'm happy to report that it does get better, and the last 100 pages were interesting enough to make me actually want to find out what happened. Nice cover picture. Not much el ...more

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Nov 14, 2007 Joanna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, fantasy-sci-fi, young-adult, 2007-read

The reader for this audiobook does a fantastic job. He does voices for the large cast of characters and sails through the hard-to-pronounce place and character names. I never would have had the patience to read this book, but enjoyed listening to it while commuting. The book adds little to the fantasy genre, sticking pretty close to the tried-and-true humans, elves, and dwarves in an uneasy alliance to ward off more evil types (e.g., The Empire). The writing is somewhat stilted as well, but the ...more

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May 03, 2008 Jenn rated it liked it

I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I had heard good things about it but I found it to lack somewhat. It reminded me of a much lesser LOTR or Hobbit. I have the second book but I'm not sure whether I will read it or not. ...more

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Mar 17, 2007 emily rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2007-and-earlier, young-adult

this is mediocre in every sense; i wouldn't have to look hard to find better fantasy, or better YA lit. but it's not too poorly written, so if you're bored, give it a shot. ...more

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