Review of Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

Inheritance is the fourth installment of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle.  The series follows a 16 year-old boy (Eragon) as he transforms from simple farmer to mighty Dragon Rider and joins  allegiance with the Varden to overthrow the Empire ruled by the tyrant, Galbatorix.

Inheritance opens as the Varden’s forces, comprised of Humans, Elves, Urgals (orge-like creatures), and Werecats (feline-like beings that can assume human form) march toward a final confrontation with the seemingly invincible Galbatorix, his powerful dragon, Shruikan, and his vast army.  The Varden’s leader, Nasuada, is captured by a Galbatorix raiding party.  Eragon reluctantly assumes the mantle of leadership.  Events progress, Galbatorix is defeated and Eragon sails off into the sunset; literally, he boards a ship and sails away.

I have a couple issues with book four.  In two places, Paolini took the easy way out with problem resolution for major plot points that were disseminated over course of the four books.

First issue: 

Paolini has created an ancient language for his magical world.  The books are rife with instances of ancient language usage.  In Paolini’s world, everybody and everything has a true name in the ancient language; that name, if known, allows a practitioner of magic to exert control over that person or thing.

Galbatorix has divined the true name of the ancient language.  With this knowledge, he can control all spell casters.  When the time arrives to reveal the true name, all Paolini could come up with was “The Word.”  Come on!  In six years and four books, he couldn’t come up with something more creative?  Why bother creating an entire language if the reveal is in English?

Second issue: 

In the first book, Solembum, a Werecat, relays to Eragon a cryptic message containing two pieces of advice.  The first states where Eragon can find a vital weapon (which he finds in book three, Brisingr).  The second tells Eragon to find the Rock of Kuthian and speak his name to open the Vault of Souls only when times are bleakest.

After Nasuada’s capture, Eragon summons Solembum.  He cajoles and badgers but Solembum cannot expand on his second piece of advice.  All Solembum can say is the answer must be in the book Domia abr Wyrda.  When all seems lost, Solembum enters a trancelike state and tells Eragon what chapter, page and passage of the book to peruse.  Just like that, Eragon discovers the clue that leads him to the means of defeating Galbatorix.

Come on!  Paolini needed to get this information into Eragon’s mitts and this is how he chose to do it.  Eragon presses Solembum, he spaces out and presto, problem solved!  It seems way too easy a solution for a linchpin event.  Again, six years, four books, yet this is what he came up with.  Nothing should ever come easy to the hero.  Overcoming adversity is what differentiates heroes from the ordinary.

Don’t get me wrong, the Inheritance cycle  was an enjoyable read.  For the most part, I think Paolini has weaved an interesting tale (similarities to Star Wars notwithstanding) and built a fascinating world, which is why I felt let down with his easy outs.  I would look forward to reading further exploits of Eragon if Paolini decided to rebuild the Dragon Riders or write a prequel to the Inheritance cycle.

Maybe I’m being too critical, but these two things really stuck in my craw.  What do you think, overly critical or justified?