Eldest
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Eldest is the second book in the Inheritance trilogy, written by Christopher Paolini. It is the sequel to Eragon. Eldest was first published in hardcover on August 23, 2005, and was released in paperback on September 2006. Eldest has also been released in audiobook and ebook formats. Like Eragon, Eldest became a New York Times bestseller.
The story follows the continued adventures of Eragon and his dragon Saphira, centering around their journey to the realm of the Elves in order to further Eragon's training as a Dragon Rider.
The book includes a translation guide to the Ancient Language, a glossary, and a synopsis of Eragon, the previous book in the series. A deluxe edition was released on September 26, 2006, which includes a sneak peek at the third book, a fold-out poster of the dragon Glaedr by artist John Jude Palencar, a revealing excerpt of the history of Alagaësia, never-before-seen art by the author, including an image of Brom’s elf ring, and a complete and comprehensive list of people, places, things, and dwarf clans.[1]
[edit] Plot summary
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
The book begins with Ajihad's death and beautiful funeral, the disappearance of Murtagh the Twins (they are captured and thrown into the Pit of Doom, assumed dead), and the election of a new leader of the Varden - Nasuada, to whom Eragon swears fealty. Meanwhile, in Carvahall, Roran is being pursued by Galbatorix, who has sent the Ra'zac and a unit of Imperial soldiers to capture him and thus lure Eragon out. After repelling many attacks, they manage to drive the army away, but Katrina, Roran's fiancée, is captured. They decide to leave Carvahall and travel to Surda. Roran earns the name "Stronghammer" because he defended Carvahall bravely with a hammer given to him by Horst. By that time, Eragon has decided to go to Du Weldenvarden to further pursue his training. After many adventures on the way, he comes to his destination and meets Islanzadí, the Elven queen.
It is revealed that Arya is Islanzadí's daughter. Eragon is introduced to another Dragon Rider, Oromis; the Mourning Sage or Osthato Chetowa: The Cripple Who Is Whole, Togira Ikonoka; who shielded Eragon in the first book. Eragon and Saphira begin their training with Oromis and his dragon Glaedr. Eragon learns how to read and fluently speak the Ancient Language, as well to use various spells and magic skills. While Eragon's feelings for Arya increase, he continues to train under Oromis's wing and suffers repeated bouts of pain from the scar on his back. Nevertheless, he and Saphira grow steadily more powerful. On a traditional Elvish celebration day of the pact with the dragons, called the Blood-oath Celebration, or Agaetí Blödhren in the ancient language, Eragon is healed of his wound and, as a gift from the dragons, gains elfish qualities that enhance his strength and agility.
In the meantime, Nasuada has made a momentous decision and moved the Varden to Surda, and the threat of war with Galbatorix seems imminent. Upon hearing of this, Eragon immediately leaves for battle in Surda, but not before receiving gifts from Oromis and Islanzadi. During Eragon's travel to Surda, Roran meets Jeod Longshanks in Teirm.
Jeod, as a member of the Varden, helps Roran lead his group of Carvahall villagers to Surda and tells Roran and the villagers about Eragon and Brom, knowing this because Brom was his best friend. Eragon arrives to find the situation poised on the edge of battle. The armies of the Varden, together with the army of Surda, camp on a plain opposite the vast armies of Galbatorix. Before the battle, four Kull offer to act as a bodyguard to Eragon during the fight. Angela the herbalist poisons the enemy's drinks and bread, killing many soldiers, and causing the officers to hallucinate. Meanwhile, Roran, Jeod, the people of Carvahall and Uthar, the head sailor, take command of the new empire ship, the Dragon Wing, leading it to Surda. They manage crossing a big vortex, and arrive in time in Surda. The battle begins, and Eragon is able to repel the opposing armies for some time with his new forces, but the tide soon turns. During the fighting, Roran arrives at Surda, and his group of villagers join themselves to the forces of the Varden. Then, with the appearance of the dwarves from the east, the situation changes again, until the appearance of an unknown Dragon Rider who kills Hrothgar, the dwarf king. Also at the same time Eragon feels two new, powerful, spellcasters arrive on the field of battle and recognizes them for the Evil Twins thought dead. The Twins systematically start killing off the Varden's group of mages and sorcerers who are under Eragon's command. But Eragon faces off with the unknown rider in both aerial and ground fights and ultimately unmasks his opponent, revealing Murtagh. Murtagh tells Eragon that the Twins had betrayed the Varden and taken him to Galbatorix. Galbatorix made Murtagh and Thorn, his red dragon, swear to try to capture Eragon; Galbatorix knows the true names of both Murtagh and his dragon, and thus is able to control them. Murtagh also reveals that Galbatorix is working to save the dragon race by capturing Saphira and having her mate with the third dragon hatchling, still lying dormant in its egg. He and Thorn prove to be more powerful than the battle-weary Eragon and Saphira, while Murtagh displays the great and terrible potency of his magical prowess, using spells that would have killed a normal human. Murtagh decides to have mercy on them, but before leaving them, he reveals that Eragon was the youngest son of Morzan and Selena, and that therefore Murtagh is Eragon's elder brother. Murtagh takes Zar'roc away from Eragon, saying it should rightfully have been his, an inheritance from Morzan. Eragon decides that even though Morzan may be his parent, Garrow was his father and Roran is more of a brother than Murtagh.
In the end, Galbatorix's army is routed, mainly because of the sudden entry of the dwarf troops and Roran's killing of the Twins. Eragon is then reunited with Roran, and he agrees to help Roran save Katrina from the clutches of the Ra'zac, which they believe to be in Helgrind.
[edit] Characters in "Eldest"
Main article: List of characters in the Inheritance Trilogy
[edit] Appearing Characters
Ajihad
Father of Nasuada and leader of the Varden.
Hrothgar
The king of the Dwarves and a member of Dugrimst Ingeitum. He was killed with magic by Murtagh at the Battle of the Burning Plains.
Angela
Angela is a witch who stayed with the Varden after coming to fight in Eragon.
Arya
The ambassador of the Elves to the Varden, and once Saphira's egg's courier.
Blagden
A white raven who lives in Ellesméra who saved the life of the Evendar and was blessed. He can now sense what will come to pass but can only speak his visions in rhyme or song
Elva
Elva is an orphan child of the Varden. Eragon accidentally cursed her in Eragon.
Eragon
The main character of the Inheritance Trilogy, Eragon is seventeen years old in this book. He is sent to Ellesméra, the capital of the Elves, to continue his training as the new Dragon Rider.
Glaedr
Glaedr is the gold dragon who is bonded with Oromis.
Islanzadí
The queen of Ellesméra and mother of Arya.
Maud
A werecat that Eragon meets in Ellesmera. She knows Solembum.
Murtagh
Murtagh is Morzan's firstborn son. He ran away from Galbatorix and rescued Eragon from the Ra'zac. After the battle of Farthen Dûr, Murtagh accompanied Ajihad underground, and was later captured by Urgals.
Nasuada
The daughter of Ajihad, Nasuada is elected by the Council of Elders of the Varden to become the new head of the Varden after her father was ambushed and killed by Urgals. A brave and highly intelligent leader, she makes risky yet shrewd decisions and quickly establishes her leadership over the Varden.
King Orrin
The king of Surda. He allowed the Varden to take refuge in his country and then fought with them in the Battle of the Burning Plains.
Oromis
Aside from Galbatorix, Oromis is the only remaining Rider from before Eragon's time. He lives in a secluded area by Ellesméra and becomes Eragon's teacher in the arts of the Riders, preparing him to fight Galbatorix. He is terminally ill and no longer has the strength to perform large amounts of magic.
Ra'zac
The Ra'zac are powerful beings who are the natural predators of humans. They killed Roran's father, Garrow. They are weak in sunlight, and have a fear for deep water.
Roran
Roran is Eragon's cousin. When his fiancée, Katrina, is captured by the Ra'zac and Carvahall is attacked, he leads the villagers away to Surda.
Saphira
Saphira is Eragon's intelligent dragon that had been inside of the blue "stone" which he found in the Spine. She shares a special bond with Eragon that allows them to share power and communicate telepathically.
Solembum
Solembum is Angela's werecat. He transforms into a small boy with shaggy hair and pointed teeth.
Thorn
Thorn is the red dragon ridden by Murtagh. He is the second dragon to hatch of the three eggs that Galbatorix had captured, the first of whom was Saphira.
The Twins
The Twins are two powerful, bald magicians who worked with the Varden but later betrayed them.
Vanir
An elf that spars with Eragon in Ellesméra. Vanir dislikes Eragon and considers him weak and a disgrace to the Riders.
Jormundur
The second in command to Ajihad and then to Nasuada.
Trianna
The head of the the Varden's magicians.
Nar Garzvog
The chieftain of a clan of Kull.
Undin
Dwarf clan cheif that resides in Tarnag.
[edit] Unseen Characters
Galbatorix
King Galbatorix is the cruel and corrupt king of Alagaësia. He does not make an appearance. Galbatorix is old and is trained in "dark magic" previously known only by Shades.
Morzan
The first and the last of the thirteen Forsworn faithful to Galbatorix now. Also the father of Murtagh and Eragon. He was killed by Brom in the race for Saphira's egg.
Shruikan
The black dragon of Galbatorix. Galbatorix stole Shruikan from a dragon rider he murdered when Shruikan was still a hatchling.
Vrael
The last dragon rider before the fall. He was the leader of the riders and came the closest to killing Galbatorix, but he himself was then slaughtered by the tyrant.
Selena
Murtagh and Eragon's mother. She was Morzan's lover.
Spoilers end here.
[edit] Criticism
The Philadelphia Inquirer praised the wonder of Paolini's invented world, saying "The real beauty of his novel is just that—the beauty...Paolini demonstrates an awesome, and sometimes awe-struck, knowledge of all the wonderful things the world has to offer, from farming to metalworking, to linguistics, philosophy and art." | 
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