Book review: Eldest

[tigertoy]

My second book review for tonight is Eldest by Christopher Paolini.

This is the second in the trilogy that began with Eragon.  Most of the buzz about Eragon was negative, for it being so cliché, but I did enjoy it enough that I bought Eldest.  Don't try to read Eldest without having read Eragon.

The world is the same; it's cliché, it's predictable, but it has dragons and it's a good romp.  If that's what you're looking for, it's fine; if you're looking for something original or deep, it won't do.  8 out of 10.

I just refreshed my flist in another window and got bad news. I don't feel like writing a plot summary right now.

Comments

[ntrlstgrl.livejournal.com]

I like these books; they're entertaining. They were definitely & obviously (in my opinion) written by a youngster; particularly in Eragon you can tell that the author was still relatively immature. (Ok, he was 15-ish and homeschooled etc. but that doesn't mean he really has the world experience to add depth to the books.) Paolini wants to be Tolkein when he grows up; maybe as he matures his writing will as well. I'm very irritated that he let himself get carried away and now instead of the "Inheritance Trilogy" we have the "Inheritance Series." It is possible to build good story lines and quality characters - in less than 1000 pages, damnit! There is a feeling of youthful arrogance to the stories; the author started young, precocious, etc.; it's a bit precious (OH look I can create my own language!) And...let there be...DRAGONS! I'll forgive (almost) anything for dragons... (Almost anything; I'm never reading another Robert Jordan book in my life so if he ever adds dragons I don't know and don't care.) For example, George R.R. Martin's series "A Song of Ice and Fire." DRAGONS! :D)

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that Paolini is limited by being young so much as by not having written much before. I think I've seen similar weakness in first novels by much older fantasy writers.

And...let there be...DRAGONS! I'll forgive (almost) anything for dragons...

Preach it, sistah!