I started my Inheritance journey back in 2006, when I was randomly roaming around my middle school library and a book with a dragon on the cover caught my eye. (I've always adored fantasy, so this was right up my ally). I pulled both Eragon and Eldest off the shelf, and began reading almost immediately. It only took me about two weeks to read both books, even at my young age, and it was no surprise that by the end of the duration I was absolutely in love with Eragon, Brom, Saphira and Arya.
At the time, I knew that I had awhile to go until Brisingr came out so kept the story alive in me by being excited for the 2007 film adaptation and by naming my new-pet mouse Arya. Unfortunately, the film was made and released during the writer strike so it was no where near what it could have been. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed seeing my favorite characters come to life.
Brisigr came out in Fall 2009, and I was EXTREMELY excited for it. But when I finally got my hands on it, I could not get into it at all. I tried like three times over the course of a few weeks to get past the first like 30 pages and it simply wasn't possible. I'm not sure if this was because of the slow pace, the huge gap between me reading the first few books and book 3. I lost interest in the series after that, discouraged by what I couldn't seem to get into. It wasn't until Fall 2012 when Inheritance was released that I got back into the series.
When Inheritance came out, I still wasn't feeling the series. But I have this HORRIBLE tendency to spoil things for myself, so I made the terrible mistake to read the last page of the book in Target. And my god was that once of the worst things I have ever done. I literally almost started crying in the middle of the store. (For reasons that I will explain and elaborate my feelings on later.)
I decided that the best way for me to get back into Eragon's world would be to re-read all the books before I read Inheritance. Given that I had not read Brisingr, I figured that would probably be a good idea. So I gathered my copies of the books and gave them a retry. I finished Eragon with great speed, it's in my opinion the best written one especially regarding the pace. From there I re-read Eldest, then started my third attempt at reading Brisingr. And it was a struggle. It took me a lot longer to get through that book than I initially planned on it taking. There is just something SO deterring about that book. But alas, I struggled through it and finished.
Once I picked up the fourth book, I was extremely curious as to how it was going to play out, especially since I knew how it ended... I actually really liked Inheritance for the majority of the book. I loved all the conflict in it, especially when Nasuada was captured and tortured. I was enthralled with how she brought out the good in Murtagh and how he came to love her. (I shipped it SO hard). Now the problems started coming towards the end of the book. As a reader, I was perfectly content with what was going on. It was perfect in my opinion, everything was turnout out to be good and okay... until the very end. My sanity downfall started with Murtagh leaving Nasuada cause he believed that he could never be with her and thought her being away from him would be better. AFTER ALL THEY HAD BEEN THROUGH!!! So that made me angry. But then Paolini had to go and make Saphire be buddies with Arya's dragon, so I started shipping that friendship. And of course Eragon and Arya were going swimmingly. But. He. Couldn't. Even. Give. Me. That.
Let me just stop for a second to explain something before I get to my biggest complaint about this damn novel. Ever since I was in 6th grade, I have loved Eragon and Arya together and wished it to happen EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR SIX YEARS!! That is a LONG time to ship a pair of people you knew it your gut should be together. And this may seem extremely petty that I got so upset about this, but seriously having everything beutiful and expected TORN AWAY from you after six years is freaking heart wrenching. I digress, back to the story. So everything was going peachy, Arya told Eragon that maybe after this was all over they could be together, which made me literally tear with happiness. Then Eragon, that little idiot says NO. AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF PINING AFTER HER HE SAYS NO?!?! He wants to go and raise dragons away from everyone else.... that made me extremely angry. And then it just ends with him sailing down a river away from everything he has known and loved. Like what??? (Funnily this was foreshadowed in the first book.) So I was freaking pissed and cried myself to sleep.
* I finished this book November of 2011 and am now writing this review cause it made me so angry even till this day *
Fortunately, I also texted my one of my best book buddies my reaction so I'll type out what that said. And that was recorded like RIGHT after I finished, so enjoy!
"So I finished. And I honestly can say that I haven't cried at the ending of a series since Hunger Games... till now. I was depressed from 735 onward, I cried at 800 for like 5 minutes then was even more depressed till the end of the book, of which I sobbed (like ugly crying) at the last page. My fav pages were 490-496. They revolve around Nasuada and Murtagh of coarse <3. But u know Paolini couldn't even give me that! Oh no romance would just be TOO much for him! No Murtagh just kinda dissaperars and Nasuada just keeps reigning. So another big heartache. But it's NOTHING compared to the Arya/Ergaon thing. That, to be, is absolutly HEARTBREAKING. How dare Paolini do this to me?!? 6 YEARS OF WAITING, 6 YEARS!! And they don't get together?? No. Eragon has to go off and train the new dragons. Does he decide to do this in Agalasia? No he goes off into no mans land where he is never to return. Nbd, just leave behind everyone that you love. Whatever. Even after Saphira and Mr. Green Dragon start hanging out... They don't get to be together either. So no relationships work besides Ronan. And don't even get me started on the whole Hero thing. Does every hero that has a great burden thrust upon him have to be "damaged" and go off on their own?? In LOTR, Frodo goes into the West, in HG Katniss goes off to D12 to live and raise her family. In Eragon, he goes out of the realm. And that may be all symbolic and shit but WHAT THE FUCK. Do NOT make me go through 6 years of Eragon and expect me to be okay with him just leaving EVERYONE behind. I am NOT okay with that, at all. It is not bittersweet, it is bullshit. If Paolini knew he was going to end it that way, (and I know he did) then he should have never ever hinted and hinted at their relationship and gotten readers hopes up. That is NOT fair, at all. Actually it is cruel. and then to go make Murtagh fall in love, then wisk that away too? What is he trying to do?? I'm only one person! I don't like to go to bed depressed, tear streaked, and heartbroken. It's not a good thing for me! Why can't he just have a good freaking happily ever after?? It really wouldn't have downgraded the series at all."
Moreover, this book destroyed me. But I would rate it 4/5 stars anyway.
