(no subject)
Just got through reading Eldest, the sequel to Eregon, and I enjoyed it immensly! Paolini's writing skill has greatly improved, and though he still has some rough edges and could stand to tone it down on the Tolkien references, the plot was wonderfully complex and engaging, as were the characters. Especially the dragons! *wicked grin*
The pace of the book is fast, but not too fast. Time is against Eregon as he must train to be a Rider in about a quarter of the time it would normally take so that he might be ready to face the main bad dude, Gilbatorix. It doesn't have to be said that ol' Gilby has several decades of age and experience on his side in both combat and magic. Things look grim!
While training you often get the slower pace and peaceful sense of where Eregon is, and I have to credit Paolini for his skill at describing the surroundings. Not since Tolien have I read of an elven that seemed to sparkle and shimmer on the edge of my consienceness. Did I spell that right? Is that even a word? Oy!
Anyway, Paolini has grown confident enough in his writing to have more of a sense of humor, but he wasn't too bold with it, and it could stand with a tad more refining. The Tolkien references, which were pretty blatant, didn't bother me too much as they weren't that intrusive to the overall story, but he has a wonderful talent all his own and doesn't need to use them so much. Honestly though, I don't have too many criticisms.
Saphira was, of course, the real star of this story. The giant blue dragon gets some character development of her own, though maybe she could have used a bit more. Still, watching a young blue dragon develop a crush on her mentor, an ancient gold, was rather sweet. It's just too bad he wasn't interested. Heh, you know what they say about Hell Hath No Fury, right? Actually, both Saphira and Eregon had parallel experiences in their first loves. Eregon is sixteen, and falls in love with a hundred year old elf maiden who sees him as a child and doesn't return his affection, and Saphira experiences the same with her mentor. Both end up broken hearted, but luckily still have each other. :D
I know, that sounded cliche, but the way Paolini writes it is quite enjoyable. Reading about the various lessons they learn is very interesting, as Paolini presents us with time honored traditions of passing down honor and integrity in intersting ways. I also liked the interwoven complexities in the plot. I didn't believe for a moment that Murtagh was dead, and I had suspected The Twins of treachery from the first book. Being proven right, however, included revelations that hadn't even occurred to me!! I absolutely LOVE it when a writer can surprise me!
How can I describe the many, many details this book encompassed? How the evil king, Gilbatorix, who enslaved a second dragon after his first was killed (an abomination that should not be possible, according to lore), is so great a threat, and how he is successfully portrayed as the subtle threat in the background. Never seen, but always felt and feared. How the Varda, the group of rebels who were founded by the last of the riders to escape Gilbatorex's rebellion and slaughter of them (he was, of course, once one of them), still fight with hope, and yet are realistically portrayed as having gained political ambitions for themselves, despite their leader's wish otherwise. How Eregon's cousin, Roran, also gets attacked by the Empire, and how eventually he is forced to lead his little mountain village away. An epic journey, I don't mind saying!
Ooo, I'm at work and can't write much more, plus I need to reread the book to absorb more info, but it was great!
The pace of the book is fast, but not too fast. Time is against Eregon as he must train to be a Rider in about a quarter of the time it would normally take so that he might be ready to face the main bad dude, Gilbatorix. It doesn't have to be said that ol' Gilby has several decades of age and experience on his side in both combat and magic. Things look grim!
While training you often get the slower pace and peaceful sense of where Eregon is, and I have to credit Paolini for his skill at describing the surroundings. Not since Tolien have I read of an elven that seemed to sparkle and shimmer on the edge of my consienceness. Did I spell that right? Is that even a word? Oy!
Anyway, Paolini has grown confident enough in his writing to have more of a sense of humor, but he wasn't too bold with it, and it could stand with a tad more refining. The Tolkien references, which were pretty blatant, didn't bother me too much as they weren't that intrusive to the overall story, but he has a wonderful talent all his own and doesn't need to use them so much. Honestly though, I don't have too many criticisms.
Saphira was, of course, the real star of this story. The giant blue dragon gets some character development of her own, though maybe she could have used a bit more. Still, watching a young blue dragon develop a crush on her mentor, an ancient gold, was rather sweet. It's just too bad he wasn't interested. Heh, you know what they say about Hell Hath No Fury, right? Actually, both Saphira and Eregon had parallel experiences in their first loves. Eregon is sixteen, and falls in love with a hundred year old elf maiden who sees him as a child and doesn't return his affection, and Saphira experiences the same with her mentor. Both end up broken hearted, but luckily still have each other. :D
I know, that sounded cliche, but the way Paolini writes it is quite enjoyable. Reading about the various lessons they learn is very interesting, as Paolini presents us with time honored traditions of passing down honor and integrity in intersting ways. I also liked the interwoven complexities in the plot. I didn't believe for a moment that Murtagh was dead, and I had suspected The Twins of treachery from the first book. Being proven right, however, included revelations that hadn't even occurred to me!! I absolutely LOVE it when a writer can surprise me!
How can I describe the many, many details this book encompassed? How the evil king, Gilbatorix, who enslaved a second dragon after his first was killed (an abomination that should not be possible, according to lore), is so great a threat, and how he is successfully portrayed as the subtle threat in the background. Never seen, but always felt and feared. How the Varda, the group of rebels who were founded by the last of the riders to escape Gilbatorex's rebellion and slaughter of them (he was, of course, once one of them), still fight with hope, and yet are realistically portrayed as having gained political ambitions for themselves, despite their leader's wish otherwise. How Eregon's cousin, Roran, also gets attacked by the Empire, and how eventually he is forced to lead his little mountain village away. An epic journey, I don't mind saying!
Ooo, I'm at work and can't write much more, plus I need to reread the book to absorb more info, but it was great!