 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1
- By Christopher Paolini
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
A teen wrote this engrossing fantasy story.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the idea that a teen wrote this will be fascinating to many children, and it may inspire some to try their own hand at writing. The story does include some rather gory violence, however, including beheadings, torture, and piles of dead bodies.
What's the story?
Soon after the strange stone he found in the forest hatches a dragon, Eragon finds that his life has changed forever; his home is destroyed, the uncle who raised him is killed, and he and the dragon, Saphira, are forced to flee the minions of Galbatorix's evil Empire. Accompanied by Brom the storyteller, Eragon discovers that he is the last of the Riders, who once kept the peace and were wiped out by Galbatorix.
While pursuing revenge against those who killed his uncle, Eragon learns to communicate telepathically with Saphira, and Brom begins teaching him the skills of fighting and magic. But soon Eragon realizes he is a pawn in a vast power struggle that is tearing the Empire apart, and that he and his dragon may be the ones to change the balance of power -- if only they can find out whom to trust.
Includes map, pronunciation guide, and language glossary.
Is it any good?
Young first-time author Christopher Paolini (he was 15 when he wrote this book) has gotten quite a bit of publicity for ERAGON, the first of a planned trilogy called Inheritance, and it's easy to see why. The story is large in size (around 500 pages), epic in scope, and very engrossing. For a generation of young fantasy fans who love long, monumental, high fantasy, a teen author is icing on the cake.
It's not long, however, before they begin to notice the long-winded descriptions, the clichés and hackneyed dialogue, and the derivative nature of the plot -- straight out of Star Wars by way of The Lord of the Rings, with bits of other great fantasies thrown in here and there. That this is a great achievement for one so young is undeniable, and many children will love it. It certainly ranks right up there with other overblown fantasies written by adults, such as Terry Brooks's Sword of Shannara series. That Paolini is a major talent in the making seems certain -- but he's not there yet.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the qualities of successful authors and how to become a published writer. Do you think this book's young author did a good job writing his first novel? What about his writing do you find appealing? Is there anything about it that you don't particularly like? Do you think you could have done as good of a job -- or ever better? Families can also talk about the major motion picture that was spawned by the book. When your favorite books turn into movies are you excited, or are you worried Hollywood might "get it wrong"?
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Teen, 15 years old
March 11, 2010
AGE
Scary spoiler that parents NEED to hear before they buy this book for their kids
I'll write what I think of this book in another review, but first, I have something I need to get across. I think this might be good for 12-year-old kids, be careful of the violence, but I have a warning for the parents. Something I disapprove of. It's in the "Violent Things to Watch Out For" above, but I think you may need one more detail. It's a spoiler, true, but it's one from early in the book. It's the scariest thing in Eragon (it's not in the movie, thankfully.) There's a scene where Eragon and Brom are walking through a town and they see that it's empty. They then see a bunch of dead bodies in a pile in the town center. (hang on, it gets worse) At the top of the pile is an "infant," being the term the book uses 3 or 4 times. Right after this is a small battle where Eragon learns that the evil king sent a squad of urgals (creatures that would pass for human if not for their sharp teeth, pale gray skin, and their nature: kill) to murder everyone in the town because the he suspected they were aiding the Varden. (rebels against the king) I've only read the first three books and as far as I can remember, this is never ever mentioned after Eragon leaves the town, but all parents of ten year olds, be wary. The next books aren't no field trip either. Maybe the scariest part is that the author was 15 when he actuallly started writing this. Paolini, you're a great writer, but I advise and beg you never to do this again. Not only will the books be better, you'll sell more. Trust me.
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Adult
February 3, 2011
AGE
It has language!!!
I started reading this book and loved it. But I read farther into it (where Eragon is talking to the butcher) and, to my dissapointment, there was some language. I do not believe in reading, hearing, or saying any language, and I stopped reading the book right there. I would not recomend this book.
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Parent of 6 and 9 year old
August 8, 2010
AGE
This is a book for people looking for a light,easy, and mildly entertaining read. It's not meant to be some fabulous work of literature - it was written by a teenager! That means there is plenty of action, a young man trying to figure out his purpose (and choosing to do what is right and use his gifts for the good of many rather than himself), a little romance, and a dragon. My 9 year old girl read this book on the advice of our local librarian and she loved it. I read it too and thought it was a nice way to spend an evening. Great writing? Not totally. Easy to read for an adult? Yep. A challenge to read for a younger child? Yep. The violence is what you would expect from a teen, and yet there is an entire section devoted to Eragon's uneasiness with a companion's violent actions - so much so that Eragon suggests a means for the companion to make up for it. As a character, Eragon questions himself and tries to do what is right. He is accepting of others that the society of the book deem unworthy. He does not blindly trust, but relies on more than just what someone says to form his opinions. And with any form of media, most of these kinds of lessons are lost if you don't discuss them with your children after they read it. While the descriptions of violence are graphic to an adult, is that the same image a child will conjure (unless they have beene exposed to those images in video games or movies)? I am looking forward to book 2.
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Teen, 13 years old
February 16, 2011
AGE
Great, but beware of enormous vocabulary!
I love this book! I love all the magic in it and yes even the violence. It's a great book, especially for older kids; I rated it 13+ because there are seriously HUGE words in this book, and lots of them. I'm a really good English student, and neither me nor my mom knew some of the words! So have a dictionary in hand! Only bad thing about this book is that sometimes they over describe things, that's probably why the book is so long!
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Teen, 13 years old
December 13, 2010
AGE
awesomeness
really good read and im waiting for the 4th book, but -well i dont have anything negative to say about this book, oh yea, kids that are 10 or younger may not get the entire concept of the book so if you are rather young then i would wait until later to read this, i absouluty loved it! very good plot line and it kept me guessing, i still stay up at night trying to find out what the next book will mainly be about, like who in the world is going to be on the green dragon??? (and dont worry that wasnt a spoiler because no one even knows and it wasnt even in a book, it was leaked)
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Teen, 15 years old
April 13, 2011
AGE
Great for 12+
This is a GREAT fantasy series with an interesting storyline. The series grows and keeps its bar high as it progresses.
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Teen, 14 years old
January 15, 2011
AGE
AWESOME!
Excellent, I loved all three of the books and I can't wait for the 4th!
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Teen, 13 years old
December 31, 2010
AGE
Great book
This book has great!! It has one scene where Brom and Eragon drink a little to much and having hang-overs in the morning. there is a death of one of a main characters. One of main characters use some lauguage (its saids Murtagh swore or crused depending on the situation) and that like five or six times. There is magic and fighting between good and evil althrough out the Inheritance Cycle (four books). Over all this is not one to miss!!!
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Parent of 8 and 9 year old
November 11, 2010
AGE
A great read for teens and even adults, but too violent for younger kids.
I read this book when it first came out and loved it. I have since read all the others and anticipate the fourth (and final) installment when it comes out. However, when my 9 year old daughter brought it home from the library, I was concerned it may be too violent for her. She is a sensitive child and I am afraid the imagery may be too much for her right now. (An instance of a pile of dead bodies including an infant with a spear through it especially concerns me.) After reading the reviews on this site, I have decided to ask her to wait to read it until next year at the earliest.
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| Author: | Christopher Paolini |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Publication date: | October 19, 2003 |
| Number of pages: | 509 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
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