Saturday 14 April 2012

Review: Inheritance


Genre: Fantasy/Title: Inheritance
Author: Christopher Paolini
Rating: 2.5/3
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Plotline (from Goodreads): 


It began with Eragon....It ends with Inheritance. Not so very long ago, Eragon--Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider--was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. 
Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance.
The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to imagine. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaesia? And if so, at what cost?
This is the spellbinding conclusion to Christopher Paolini's worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.



My take:

How long did it take Christopher Paolini to write this last book? Five years? I'd like to jump on the bandwagon and say "unacceptable" but then I'd be a hypocrite.

I, like so many other Inheritance fans, was practically foaming at the mouth, rabid as we waited impatiently for this book. WE WAITED FOR FIVE YEARS.

Oops, forgot again. Musn't complain. Must not be a hypocrite.

When did Inheritance come out? Way too long ago for me to believably lie that I had gone and read it as soon as it was released.

Whoops. There we go. I'm a hypocrite, and probably a very fail fan as well. Truth be told, it was mostly because each other Eragon books are super-long, albeit super-good as well. And with all my schoolwork, I just didn't feel like going through it all.

Yes, I realize how ridiculous that last line must have sounded for anyone's who's ever read anything ever. How could I have chosen schoolwork over reading?

Well, I guess it does kind of have to do with the five-year hole Christopher Paolini left as he worked on Inheritance. You would think that the fire-year-old wait would've only made the book's much-anticipated release all the more exciting. In fact, the opposite was true. A year of suspense would have maybe worked in his favour, but FIVE FREAKING YEARS was a bit of an overkill. By this time, I had practically forgotten everything from the series besides the fact that it had blown my mind once upon a time, somewhere, somehow. The dust had settled on the story in my head, and I just didn't have the urge to even crack open the cover anymore.

Now, I know what you're going to say. "Oh come on, don't be so overdramatic! They gave you a neat little summary right in the fron tof the book! There's absolutely nothing to complain about." You know, that's what I thought too, (after I managed to force myself to open the book). I even tweeted it:




But now that I think about it, I realize it wasn't remembering the plot after so many years that was the problem. Sure, it was hard getting the rusted gears turning in my head again, but after the efficient summary and first few chapters, I was ready for the complicated battles and hordes of characters once again. No, the real problem I as well as many other readers and fans faced after Inheritance's release was simply getting started. The book's freakishly long length makes it look about as appealing as reading a dictionary. With most of the glitter and glamour of the lovely story long forgotten, there's not incentive to start again.

I haven't provided any pros and cons of this book because I think it sort of speaks for itself. Inheritance is definitely not a stand-alone novel. You've really got to diligently read through the first three books before you even consider this one. By that time, you'll have probably decided whether you'll like or hate the series. personally I found it quite fascinating, but there are many who deem it to drag on for too long.


SpoilerAlert!

The ending left a hole in my heart. I don't understand how it's possible for Christopher Paolini to be so cruel and just leave an ending like that!

The Eragon and Arya pairing has been waiting to happen since the very first book. Murtagh and Nasuada had one of the best-written scenes in this book. Everyone was at the height of their happiness. So how could Paolini just allow the ending to be simply Eragon leaving?! But no, it's not even that! It's worse. He's never coming back!

I liked the book well enough, but there is no way I can ever accept the ending. Going to drown my sorrows in alternate-ending fanfiction now... over and out.

4 comments:

  1. LOL. Want to pass a cup of the alternate-ending fantiction? :P

    I also have a review bemoaning the ending. Though unlike you, I haven't had the guts to post it yet.

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    1. I just can't get over how open-ended the ending is... ack. Although I seem to remember having read that Christopher Paolini said he might be writing a pinch of something more to help tie things together? I certainly hope so >.<

      Omigosh, love your blog! Send me the link when you do end up posting the review? :D

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  2. paolini is an amazing writer. i am a big fan of his and have read the entire series of the inheritance. my love for dragons and paolini's amazing work make this series my favorite one.

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    1. Same here! I was decidedly impressed not only by the age he was when he wrote it, but by how incredibly amazing the series was! Inheritance is definitely up there with Harry Potter and all the like.

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