Decided to jump right into the second book of this series, and see how it improves or changes. I ended the first book thinking it was just fine, but nothing special at all. And that feeling continues into the second book of the series. Once again I am left feeling like I read a pretty average book, but nothing about it stands out in any real way. And unfortunately in many aspects I would say this book is worse than the first.

The biggest issue I would say is the progression of Eragon’s character throughout the book, and this training arc he has basically had. And in some ways the original book had the same issues. He is just too good at learning and growing, it is just an abnormally fast pace that is utterly unbelievable. Even when placed in a world filled with magic and mysteries, it is far too fast. Over the course of a single year, Eragon ends up becoming incredibly accomplished in sword fighting, magic, language, diplomacy, and completely changes his opinion on pretty much everything to match the elves. These are events that should have taken place over multiples of years, years of study dedicated to just a single subject. And yet our main character essentially masters them all far too quickly.

And yet at the same time, one of the dumbest and worst parts of the book involving Eragon and Arya continues. Again and again it continues, till you reach you point you never want to see the two of these character in the same place ever. If only to keep from having to read the awkward dialogue and interactions between these two characters. Two characters who we are supposed to believe are incredibly powerful and wise and will change the history of the world, and yet they can’t get over their feelings and disagreements and have a reasonable conversation. Honestly by the end of the book I don’t know what Paolini’s plan was at all for these two characters, I don’t know what he wanted the readers to feel about their relationship. All I know is I hate it and want it to just stop already.

Onto the next thing I realized, the large scale battles are always terrible. They are just poorly written and explained. I can’t read his battle scene and image these two massive armies facing each other, I don’t see the battle lines and formations, I don’t see the fortifications and supply lines and logistics. He writes the battle as if these two armies have just appeared across from each other and set up camp, and than one day they run at each other and start fighting. There is no strategy to the fights at all.

Other minor things involve Roran and the rest of the village, who somehow manage to cross a terrifying forest that managed to defeat entire well trained armies in the past. And yet the village survives this trip somehow, defying all the odds. And than proceed to travel hundreds more miles with minimal casualties or desertion. Or how Paolini seems to have this really strong love for elves, and this mythical image of elves being some immortal beings who are one with nature. And than decides he needs to make the main character to also become and elf, for some odd reason that is completely unnecessary, and probably harms Eragon’s growth in the long-term as a character. Final minor thing, he used the most obvious trope ever in the final fight, the one that a character isn’t dead if you don’t see the body. Along with some very obvious character develop between these characters.

In the end I guess I am left with the same feeling as the first book. Go ahead and read it if you wish to spend 6 hours reading a half-decent fantasy novel. But it is no better than average, and is properly less than average. It just seems without being able to copy so many things directly from previous media like the first book, it just doesn’t hold up as well.