4.5 out of 5
Oh man, this is going to be difficult to talk about.
Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead!
I'll go over the problems first: the pacing was rough. The plot never fully kicks in until the 250 page mark. To be fair, I don't think the lack of plot is a huge deal as this is a character-focused story more than anything, but it doesn't change the fact the pacing dragged all too many times. It makes me think the book didn't need to be over 600 pages long.
Secondly, a few plot points happened at random moments. One example being Murtagh disowning his father's legacy by renaming his sword (its going to take time to get used to Zar'roc's new name). It's a great and emotional scene, but the fact it happened during Murtagh's hunt for Bachel underground, which was essentially a race against time to save Ailn's life all the while dealing with the various monstrosities lurking in the darkness, yeah the timing was off on that one.
Also, the fact that apparently Galbatorix was influenced by Bachel and her Lovecraft cult during his path to madness? It feels contradictory, but then again its been a while since I've read the original Cycle, and there is a lot about Alagaesia that remains unknown, so this might not be a problem at all.
I'm also sorry to say that neither Eragon or Saphira make an appearance. They're only mentioned a lot (with much disdain on Murtagh's part. I understand where his resentment comes from, but geez dude, quit hating on my boy! Eragon and Murtagh seriously need to sit down and talk things out, hopefully without killing each other), but as disappointing as that is, it also makes sense. This is Murtagh and Thorn's story alone, it would've been out-of-place for Eragon and Saphira to suddenly swoop in to save the day (not to mention Eragon's fortune stated that he'll never return to Alagaesia. I still don't know how that works, or if that part of the fortune is false, but we'll see).
Those are the only problems I can think of. There might be a few more that I'm missing, but it doesn't overall matter because I think Murtagh was an amazing entry into the World of Eragon!
-
The writing: excellent (aside from a single grammar issue I noticed)! It's really amazing how Paolini can change writing styles between The Inheritance Cycle and The Fractalverse while still staying consistent with one another. The moment I started reading Murtagh, I was sucked right back in to Alagaesia as though I were a kid getting into the original series again. To say nostalgia hit hard is an understatement.
The world building: top notch! Paolini did a great job showcasing that even though Galbatorix is gone, the world isn't as peaceful and resolved as it could be. Change is slow coming, and there are some who either don't want change at all, or for it to arrive in the worst way possible. On top of that, as previously stated, much of Alagaesia remains shrouded in mystery, and seeing some of those mysteries unfold was fascinating to see (not to mention terrifying on a few accounts).
The villains: Surprisingly effective and unsettling! After Galbatorix, a Lovecraftian cult that worships something resting deep beneath the earth (I know its name is Azlagur, and it sounds more dragonish in appearance than your typical eldritch fair, but I'm still calling it the Cthulhu Dragon), and has more influence and power across the land than previously realized is honestly the best direction to go in.
The characters: Holy crud, where do I even begin? When reading the Inheritance Cycle, my thoughts on Murtagh and Thorn were much the same as Eragon's. Pity for their plights and the endless torture they endure, but also hate for their murderous deeds, with some clearly being done on purpose and not under Galbatorix's orders. The ending of Inheritance made me warm up to them a little bit, but I was still confused as to why so many loved Murtagh and thought he was a better character than Eragon himself.
Having read this book now, yeah I completely see why now. Murtagh is one, if not the, most complicated, sympathetic, and morally gray character in the entire series. We see glimpses of his upbringing and forced servitude under Galbatorix's control, and just how much pain and trauma these events continue to cause him. We see him dealing with the sheer guilt of all the terrible deeds he committed even though some were beyond his control, and the fact the world will never forgive him because of them.
On top of all of that, we also see that, despite his pain, bitterness, pride and scornful stubbornness, he really is a good person deep down, and this soft side of him comes out every once in a while, especially around kids.
There's also Murtagh's dragon: Thorn. This poor baby, oh my god, I wanted to give him a hug so bad!
Equally as tortured and tormented as his Rider, Thorn also suffers from severe claustrophobia, and how he gained this fear is heartbreaking to read about. In fact everything this dragon went though tied my heart into a painful knot. Despite this, Thorn truly cares for Murtagh and wants him to be happy. He also has a bit of a sadistic sense of humor, which was surprising to see, and has every bit of ego a dragon could have.
Murtagh and Thorn might not see eye-to-eye as much as Eragon and Saphira, but there's no doubt the bond between them is powerful, and it grows even stronger as their story went on. So many times I nearly cried because of that bond, and throughout all their suffering and pain, they still have each other. By the end, their characters are clearly changed from how they started, and although they will never be fully redeemed or forgiven for their sins, I think its safe to say they truly earned the title and rank of Dragon Rider. I don't think they'll become my favorite characters anytime soon, but I definitely appreciate them a lot more now.
-
Overall, I think Christopher Paolini struck a home-run with Murtagh. Is it the best Inheritance Cycle book yet? In many ways, yes. It's also the darkest book in the series by far, and its safe to say no one will call it a Star Wars rip-off any time soon. At the same time, however, the original 4 books hold such a near and dear place in my heart that I really don't know how Murtagh ranks with them.
I look forward to seeing more adventures in Alagaesia, especially now that everything is set-up for things to come.
(Calling it right now, King Orrin is the Draumar infiltrator that Murtagh can't remember. Also, please tell me those were a few Fractalverse easter eggs I saw).
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
This item: Murtagh: The World of Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle)
$22.48
Get it as soon as Monday, Aug 5
In Stock
+
$14.76
Get it as soon as Sunday, Aug 4
In Stock
+
$13.73
Get it as soon as Sunday, Aug 4
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the Publisher
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
2:47
Click to play video
Murtagh Book Review | Does It Live Up To The Hype?
✅✅ My Real Reviews ✅✅
Videos for this product
0:24
Click to play video
Christopher Paolini Book Trailer
Penguin Random House LLC
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
A great beginning....but I thought this was a standalone.
I rated this four stars but I would have given it 4.5 if I could. Overall, it was a great book. I loved Murtagh as a character. I cared about him and wanted him to succeed. It was painful to see how difficult everything (and most times it did seem, EVERYTHING) was for him. The bond that Thorn and Murtagh share is a bond of not only dragon and rider but of beings who have been broken and are trying to help each other heal as best they can. Their ritual of saying their true names each night was truly touching.I also enjoyed the original character Uvek. He was a standout to me and I hope to see more of him in future stories. Alin was an original character I was rooting for as well.I only have two criticism of this book and only one of them is related to narrative. First, I bought this book thinking it would be a stand alone story. While the main quest was wrapped up their were so many unanswered questions and unresolved plots. I feel this will probably be a first in a series(🙏) but I wish I would have known that going in.As too my second criticism, I just felt that Murtagh went back and forth too much about leaving Nal Gorgoth. Thorn kept saying they should probably leave and Murtagh insisted they stay. When Murtagh thought they should leave them Thorn said they should probably stay. I had a hard time understanding how long they were actually in Nal Gorgoth but it was too long. The motivation for them staying was information, but what good is knowledge if you're too dead to share it?After finishing Inheritance, I was curious about what might happen to Murtagh and Thorn but I didn't know if finding those answers could support a whole novel let alone a series. After reading this, I know they can. Hopefully, we don't have to wait too long to see what happens next.
Top reviews from other countries
luis
Una continuación digna de murtagh y la historia de eragon
Reviewed in Mexico on May 22, 2024Larissa Silveira
Um retorno memorável à Alagaësia.
Reviewed in Brazil on November 10, 2023
R Evelyn
Enjoyable book providing an insight into one of the series' most interesting characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2024