Brisingr Review

About fifteen minutes ago I finished reading the third book in The Inheritance Cycle, Brisingr. I had mixed emotions going into the book, especially with the long layover between books. When I heard that Paolini was going to extend it to four books instead of three, I became excited. Made me think that maybe he read tons of the reviews saying it was a copy of Star Wars/LOTR and decided to change some things. Which if that was the case, well then I am glad Eragon and Roran did not end up meeting a new race who were small, cute and fuzzy…

Overall I enjoyed the book, could not put it down at times. My favorite character remains the great Roran Stronghammer. Even though he did not feature as heavily in this one, each chapter he was in was exciting to read.

From here on out I am going to break down some of the things I liked and disliked, so beware of spoilers.

Eragon
He dropped some of his whining from the last two books, unfortunately every situation he finds himself in becomes a morality or philosophical issue. For example, he gave up eating meat in the last book, but then when he finds himself weak and in need of food, he decides that he can eat meat if it means saving his life. Then later, he has no problem eating meat if is in the company of other meat eaters. I have to wonder if this comes from a change in the author’s diet? If I am not mistaken, CP was a vegetarian, I wonder if he wrestles with the issue and if he sometimes decides that a double cheeseburger from McDonalds is okay…

Also, the constant hesitation to kill gets a little much. We get it, he does not like to kill, but he knows at times he must. We do not need to have the same inner turmoil before and after every battle. I completely understand that he does not want to become bloodthirsty killer like Galbatorix or Morzan.

He has become much more badass, and his second battle with his brother went much better than last time. Also, and I have read on message boards that people did not like how long his whole judgement of Sloan took, but that was something I really enjoyed. I believe he did the right thing in that situation (also, that was the perfect situation to explore the idea of him not wanting to enjoy killing, not the 23 other times…)

Something I wonder, even though he still mentions his feelings for Arya, anyone notice that he is resigning himself to the fact that maybe she will not come around? Most likely in the end she will and they will live happily ever after, but I wonder if he ends up alone after the next book…

The Big Reveal
At the end of the second book we learn from Murtagh that he and Eragon are brothers, Morzan is Eragon’s father. To me that ended up feeling like the end of Empire Strikes Back. Did CP decide that it would be better to make Selena (Eragon’s mom) a slut and have Brom as the father or was that his plan all along?

Anyways, I liked that Brom was the father, mostly because when I read the first book, that was my initial suspicion. Not trying to brag or anything, but there always seemed to be more that Brom was hiding. Actually during the second book I had another theory, that Queen Islanzadi and Brom were lovers, mainly because of the way she demanded to know where Eragon got the ring, and seemed okay by the fact that Brom had given it to him…

Roran
Like I said, he rocks. I like that Nasuada worries that he could become more powerful than her because of his natural ability to lead. Will he become the ruler of Carvahall when the war is over? Or maybe the king of the land? Probably not, I cannot see CP replacing Galbatorix with another monarch, just does not seem to be his style. Maybe a council consisting of King Orrin (Surda), Nasuada (central Alagaësia), Arya (Elves), Gharzvog (Kull Leader, whatever lands they receive and however you spell his name), King Orik (Dwarves), Roran (Carvahall) and last our good buddy Eragon acting as teacher to a new age of dragon riders…

Big Questions
-The big debate seems to be did Eragon encounter a god during the dwarves coronation? Before the book came out CP said that Eragon would meet a god. Most people seem to think the dwarf god would be the reference. I am not so sure though.

-Who or what is Angela, and for that matter Tenga? I wonder if Tenga is the god Eragon met, what if when the Gray Folk invented the ancient language they accidently trapped a god? What is the question that Tenga seeks the answer to…

Honestly, I have no idea what to think about Tenga, reminds me of Tom Bombadil from LOTR. Some very bizarre being who probably has some major power, or in this case, maybe the answer to the question that Eragon needs to ask…

-Does anyone understand what CP means at the end of the book when he says that “the Doctor can travel everywhere, even alternate realities.” I get that it is some Dr. Who reference, but is there something about a lonely god that I am missing?

-And the million dollar question, who will ride the green dragon??? My bet is Merry and Pippin after they get a flagon of ale…

Author: Ngewo

7 thoughts on “Brisingr Review

  1. Yes, it is a “doctor who” reference.
    in the season of “doctor who” with martha jones (i think its the third or second season of the new ones) he is refered to as “a man who has the power of a god, but more lonely than any. you, sir, are a lonely god”. he is also called a lonely god in hte early episodes (think early 70’s episodes). unfortunatley, the tapes were destroyed, but the manuscripts still exist. if you can find the page number where the quote about the lonely god is, it would be much apreciated, because i cant seem to find it.

  2. Hey, nice review. It was in fact a Doctor Who reference.

    You may be interested in my Brisingr Review we have different perspectives, but I think both sides have merit. Although I didn’t think the book was very good, it was at least entertaining. When it wasn’t boring, anyways.

  3. “adrift upon the sea of time, the lonely god wanders from shore to distant shore, upholding the laws of the stars above.” Arya pg204 chapter shadows of the past, just before arya and eragon are visited by the spirits.

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