The Inheritance Cycle
When I first started reading Eragon, I thought that it was the first in a trilogy. Turned out that there are 4 books in the cycle. I now understand that the author intended to write a trilogy but found that there was too much he wanted to put in the third book and so he decided to have a fourth.
While in Canberra, I managed to read both the third and fourth book:
At the end of the cycle, I felt that there are a few obvious loose ends:
(spoiler ahead.)
(1) Who Angela really is.
(2) What happen to Tenga, the mad teacher of Angela?
(3) Who is that lady who helped Roran by dispatching a few soldiers holding on to him?
(4) What happen to the belt of Beloth the Wise?
(5) Where are the hidden Lethrblaka eggs?
(6) What's Nasuada finalised plan with regard to regulation of magicians?
There's also the huge question mark about Eragon learning how to transport object across far distance. Due to time constraint at that time, Oromis, Eragon's teacher, could teach Eragon only one spell and Eragon chose that spell. Despite learning that, he never used it later. Why on earth did the author introduce the scene, tempting readers to consider its significance and yet there is not a whiff of it later?
In relation to this, all spells require more energy the further away the spell is cast or sustained except for the spell above. It was simply stated so without explanation. Furthermore, Eragon had been consistently portrayed as a curious person and eager to ask and learn more and yet at that point when Oromis stated this exception to the rule, Eragon didn't give a hint of wanting to know the reason. Terribly unsatisfying.
Another unsatisfying outcome is the solution Eragon proposed to the Urgals to prevent future conflict between Urgals and other races. I thought that his suggestion of Olympic style of combat was an excellent way for Urgals to test their mettle and thereby gaining honour. However, when the Urgals pointed that that may not be sufficient as their "blood runs too hot for games alone to cool", Eragon then revealed the second part of his plan: to let Urgals be potential candidates as Riders. Put a hot-blooded Urgal on a dragon and that's supposed to cool his blood? Are you kidding?
It is pretty obvious that the author was laying ground to another cycle. The above questions are certainly issues to be explored. Other issues are:
(1) How does Nasuada regulate the magicians? Her fuzzy idea of have a group of magicians watch other magicians is blatantly flawed: who watch the watchers. It is so obvious that it's disappointing that no one asked that question in the Inheritance cycle.
(2) King Orrin was definitely an unhappy and unwilling ally. This raises a red flag over the loyalty of Surda in future. Will Surda be on the antoganist's side in future?
(3) The future of Murtagh and Thorn. Where does their loyalty lie? What are their beliefs?
Will I recommend this series? Hmmm not to adults. The issues are just too glaring. Definitely not for people who are very good at poking holes in stories *cough Ban's brother cough*.
While in Canberra, I managed to read both the third and fourth book:
At the end of the cycle, I felt that there are a few obvious loose ends:
(spoiler ahead.)
(1) Who Angela really is.
(2) What happen to Tenga, the mad teacher of Angela?
(3) Who is that lady who helped Roran by dispatching a few soldiers holding on to him?
(4) What happen to the belt of Beloth the Wise?
(5) Where are the hidden Lethrblaka eggs?
(6) What's Nasuada finalised plan with regard to regulation of magicians?
There's also the huge question mark about Eragon learning how to transport object across far distance. Due to time constraint at that time, Oromis, Eragon's teacher, could teach Eragon only one spell and Eragon chose that spell. Despite learning that, he never used it later. Why on earth did the author introduce the scene, tempting readers to consider its significance and yet there is not a whiff of it later?
In relation to this, all spells require more energy the further away the spell is cast or sustained except for the spell above. It was simply stated so without explanation. Furthermore, Eragon had been consistently portrayed as a curious person and eager to ask and learn more and yet at that point when Oromis stated this exception to the rule, Eragon didn't give a hint of wanting to know the reason. Terribly unsatisfying.
Another unsatisfying outcome is the solution Eragon proposed to the Urgals to prevent future conflict between Urgals and other races. I thought that his suggestion of Olympic style of combat was an excellent way for Urgals to test their mettle and thereby gaining honour. However, when the Urgals pointed that that may not be sufficient as their "blood runs too hot for games alone to cool", Eragon then revealed the second part of his plan: to let Urgals be potential candidates as Riders. Put a hot-blooded Urgal on a dragon and that's supposed to cool his blood? Are you kidding?
It is pretty obvious that the author was laying ground to another cycle. The above questions are certainly issues to be explored. Other issues are:
(1) How does Nasuada regulate the magicians? Her fuzzy idea of have a group of magicians watch other magicians is blatantly flawed: who watch the watchers. It is so obvious that it's disappointing that no one asked that question in the Inheritance cycle.
(2) King Orrin was definitely an unhappy and unwilling ally. This raises a red flag over the loyalty of Surda in future. Will Surda be on the antoganist's side in future?
(3) The future of Murtagh and Thorn. Where does their loyalty lie? What are their beliefs?
Will I recommend this series? Hmmm not to adults. The issues are just too glaring. Definitely not for people who are very good at poking holes in stories *cough Ban's brother cough*.
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