Brisingr- Dean Watson

Brisingr

Dean Watson
English, Period 4
November 19, 2008

Christopher Paolini has really outdone himself in his new book, Brisingr. All 748 pages are filled with suspense and action, making the third book the best of the Inheritance Cycle. I chose Brisingr because it was a new release in the series. I have enjoyed the previous books and couldn't wait to read the next one. At the time, I didn't know that I had to write a report, but since I was reading it anyway, I decided to go ahead and use Brisingr. I had been thinking of using a different book, but Brisingr was fresh in my mind.

Brisingr is a continuation of the struggle of a boy named Eragon and his fight against the tyrant Galbatorix. If you have followed along in Eragon and Eldest, Christopher Paolini's previous books, you would know about how Eragon found an egg in the Spine Mountains that hatched into a dragon, which he named Saphira. After being joined with Saphira and becoming a Dragon Rider, he was opened to a world of war, resistance, and adventure. He soon learned of Galbatorix, the king of the Empire and slayer of the Dragon Riders. Once noble protectors of Alagaesia, the Dragon Riders served the people and made peace between the Elves, Humans, Urgals, and Dwarves. Galbatorix used to be part of them, but when his dragon was killed and he was denied another, he went insane and destroyed the race of Dragons and obliterated the Riders. In the end, only three eggs were left. For years his power continued to grow, the source yet to be found. In his adventures, Eragon met Murtagh, whose history is shadowed and relationships continue to unfold. Together, they rescued the elf Arya, who fights by Eragon's side. Later on, Murtagh was captured by the empire and forced to obey Galbatorix with the dragon Thorn that is given to him. Eragon then joins a rebel group called the Varden led by Lady Nasuada against the Empire. He then goes to the elven city of Ellesmera to train under the last Dragon and Rider. Finally, in Brisingr the advance on the empire has begun. The dwarves need a new leader that may either fight with the Varden or destroy them. Most of all, Eragon needs a Rider's Sword. Normal swords continue to fail him in battle, and if he can't get his hands on one, the Varden will fail. Throughout the story, new questions arise and old ones are finally answered.


"Galbatorix isn't invulnerable. He has a weakness, and we can use that against him... we can do this.
-we can and we must-
-for the sake of our friends and family-
-and for the rest of Alagaesia-
-we must do this-"
He smiled, eager for the battles yet to come, so that he and Saphira might finally confront Galbatorix and kill the dark king. pg. 748

Although this quote is on the last page, it holds the main focus of the whole book and the books before it. Throughout the story, Eragon and Saphira have to train hard and fight their way into the gates of the Empire. They have no hope of killing the king if they don't find a weakness, and Eragon is always striving to find it. He needs to discover his source of power to find a chink in his armor, and weather they do or don't will decide the outcome. The quote also expresses his desire to go back home to the farming town of Carvahall and live out of danger with his friends and family. Only when Galbatorix is dead will they be able to go home.


I give this book the top rating of five blue flames. Whenever I thought that the book was getting slow, something unexpected happened to pull me back in. The author always brings in a new challenge such as soldiers that feel no pain, into the story that turns the tables once they are in Eragon's favor. His vast imagination would always keep me hooked. There were times when I couldn't put the book down. My rating system uses blue flames for a few reasons. Brisingr, in the Ancient Language (a language used to cast spells among other things) as you find out quickly in the book, is the word for flame. The true importance of the word, however, only becomes clear near the end of the book.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy fictional adventures. If you liked the Lord of the Rings, you will love Brisingr. There are many chapters devoted to politics, and scheming, so if you want to read a book that makes you use your brain, this is the book for you. You may not want to read this book if you:

1. are of a younger audience.
2. have a weak stomach.
3. can not handle vivid descriptions of gore.
4. are sensitive to tragedies.
5. are opposed to graphic violence

I highly suggest that you read the first two books, Eragon and Eldest, if you haven't already. You will be completely lost if you haven't.