Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1

Book review by Matt Berman, Common Sense Media
Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 12+

A teen wrote this engrossing fantasy story.

Christopher Paolini Fantasy 2003
Rate book

Parents say

age 11+

Based on 47 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 203 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate book

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Eragon is the first book in a four-part fantasy series called The Inheritance Cycle that first made waves due to the young age of its author, Christopher Paolini. Experiencing quick popularity, the book was soon turned into a feature film and video game. The idea that Paolini wrote the first draft of Eragon at 15 may inspire some young readers to try their own hand at writing. The story does feature gory violence, including beheadings, torture, and piles of dead bodies. Someone is called an "ass" once, and casually derogatory phrases are commonplace ("deformed beggars," "the fat one," "the bald man," etc.). And the narrative is male-centric, with female characters falling into tired clichés. On the plus side, the immature main character, Eragon, grows over the course of the book thanks in large part to positive role models around him who teach him character strengths like self-control, perseverance, and the importance of teamwork.

Community Reviews

Icestar2008
Icestar2008 Adult
August 29, 2022
age 9+

Could be great, but without any seeable character development, this book is only decent

Sooo… where to begin? I hardly ever feel the need to write a review on a bad book, but in this case, ranting about Eragon might just make me feel better about the whole crappy book in general. First off, if you want to read something about Eragon that’s interesting, read the one-star reviews on kindle. They are hilarious. Second off… I’m just sitting here and thinking, “Why did I read that book all the way through?” I even read half of the second book to see if the series gets any better, SPOILER ALERT! it doesn’t. So you might say that I am an idiot to hate the first book and still read most of the second one. And maybe I am. Why I didn’t just throw Eragon across the room at chapter 2 and say, “NOPE, NOT HAPPENING!” Is something I will forever regret. Alright. Ready to dive into the hilariously cliche plot with me? Let’s go! Characters: Eragon. Ok. First off, listen to the name. Eragon. Hmm. Sound like a certain LotRs also-ranger character? Aragorn? Well, sorry Mr. Paolini, but that name is just… pretty obvious. And guess what? Eragon falls for an elf princess named… wait for it… Arya! Arwen, no? Second thing: Eragon’s personality. Or rather, lack of personality. Draw a smiley face. Name the smiley face. Say that the smiley face is sassy and loves hot sauce. BAM. There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, a better protagonist then Eragon. Saphira: Ok, to be honest, I did love Saphira. She’s sassy, smart, and super down-to-earth. If a book could be saved by a sidekick, then Eragon almost was, by Saphira, Brom, and Angela. But sadly, it still wasn’t interesting at all. Arya: Well, our lovely love interest is pretty bratty. Actually, no, she’s just reserved, and we never get to see her softer side, so she comes off as bratty. If I have to hear about her slanted eyebrows one more time… Conclusion: Eragon had potential, lots of potential, actually, but somehow missed the mark so entirely that the book is as painful to read as it is to listen to my friends rave about it. If you like bland fantasy, then you’ll like Eragon. But if you want something extremely original, you’ve come to the wrong book.
1 person found this helpful.
MamaMeera
MamaMeera Adult
September 10, 2022
age 10+
My daughter LOVED this book and the entire series. She was a total book worm!
See all 47 parent reviews

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 young dragon, Saphira, are forced to flee the minions of evil Galbatorix's Empire. Accompanied by Brom the storyteller, Eragon discovers that he's 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 that he's a pawn in a vast power struggle that's tearing the Empire apart, and that he and his dragon may be the ones who can change the balance of power -- if only they can find out whom to trust.

Is It Any Good?

Young first-time author Christopher Paolini debuts with a wildly readable tale, but, much like the titular hero, he still has more to learn. Eragon received quite a bit of early publicity, and it's easy to see why: The story is epic in scope and very engrossing, full of gory action, a larger-than-life dragon, and a mysterious love interest for the 15-year-old hero to rescue. For a generation of young fantasy fans, having it all come from an author close to their age feels like icing on the cake.

It's not long, however, before readers may start to notice the book's many clichés, poorly written women, and derivative nature. Story elements seem plucked straight from Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. That this novel exists is undeniably a great achievement, and many will love it. But readers looking for fresher, more inclusive, and/or stronger writing can feel confident in skipping to newer fantasy fare.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the qualities of successful authors and how to become a published writer. How did Eragon get written, discovered, and made popular? Are you interested in trying your hand at writing stories too?

  • What do you find appealing about Paolini's writing? Is there anything you don't particularly like? What other stories (books, movies, etc.) does Eragon remind you of?

  • Characters in the book display teamwork, self-control, and perseverance. Can you recall specific instances of each? Why are these important strengths to have?

Book Details

Character Strengths

Find more books that help kids build character.

  • Child cross country skiing
    Perseverance
    See all
  • Teenage boy with a basketball
    Self-control
    See all
  • Hands together
    Teamwork
    See all

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon magic wand on orange background
    Magic and Fantasy
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of luggage and a map
    Adventures
    See all
  • Cartoon hands high fiving
    Friendship
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of a ghost and vampire
    Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate