Murtagh: Deluxe Edition: The World of Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle)

4.5 out of 5Oh 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).

The specially made cover and binding are nice to look at. But what I really enjoyed was the story which was well written and brings the reader into it. I originally read the first four inheritance books as a teenager. Now as an adult, I read Murtagh and although I no longer fall into the age demographic that the book is written for, I truly enjoyed it.

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.

A great start to a new story after one ended. Exciting, thrilling, new. Can't wait to read where the story goes

Christopher Paolini has done an incredible job of writing in the same storyline, while using an entirely different voice. His ability to capture things from another perspective is both impressive and captivating. I loved this book and can't wait to share it with others! Best book I've read in years.

Christopher Pasolini has outdone himself with Murtagh. The character development is phenomenal and the story is such a fresh wave of story building while holding on to the remnants of the previous lifetimes still being woven into the timeline. It is truly the best of the Inheritance Cycle books and a true masterpiece.

The description is misleading stating that this is the 5th book in the Eragon series. It's actually the first book in a new series set in Aglaesia. It is well written and a good read.

Overall, the book left me somewhat underwhelmed.Paolini dedicates an inordinate amount of space to elaborate descriptions of natural landscapes and subterranean realms, which, while detailed, often feel extraneous and serve more to pad the volume than to propel the narrative.When the plot gains momentum, it resonates with the familiar strengths we have come to expect from his work; however, these moments are frequently interrupted by prolonged interludes that stall the story’s progression, exacerbating the reader’s frustration.A disappointing effort from an author of his caliber.

I am a fan of the original books, I have been waiting a long time for a sequel but i hoped it was well written and not just a money-grab, i think CP delivered a good sequel, didn't feel forced and didn't rely on nostalgia, it felt rather fresh, and i believe CP has actually grown as a writer.

✨️💚✨️Audio Book Review✨️💚✨️Book: MurtaghAuthor: Christopher PoliniRating: 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟This was exactly what I needed.This was the perfect continuation of the Inheritance Cycle and was just what I wanted when it came to Murtagh's character.I loved how older the writing felt and the emotional side to Murtagh's and his dragons feelings.The fights were sneaky and awesome and you never knew who to trust!I hope it continues more, I am so happy to be back in this world.You get:• Epic Fantasy• Dragons• Badass MMC• Side Quests• Battles• NA Writing Style• Old & New CharactersIf you enjoyed the Inheritance Cycle you should pick this one up! He has a special edition coming out soon! 😍

Murtagh é meu personagem preferido e poder conhecer mais sobre ele através dessa história foi incrível. Que venham outros livros!

Ich habe in meiner Schulzeit die Eragon-Reihe verschlungen und wirklich lange gehofft, dass irgendwann doch nochmal ein weiterer Teil entsteht. Ich habe zwar als ich von Murtagh erfahren hatte, gehofft, dass die ursprüngliche Geschichte aus seiner Perspektive erzählt würde. Von der tatsächlichen Lösung ein ganz neues Abenteuer zu erzählen wurde ich aber sehr positiv überrascht. Klasse Buch.

J ai apprecie de lire la suite d eragon. Je le relirai très certainement. Merci pour m avoir fait passer mes longues heures de transport.