I would like to start out by saying that this book was well worth the wait! Brisingr by Christopher Paolini does not fail to impress as it continues to chronicle the adventures of Eragon and the dragon Saphira.

This next book in the Inheritance Cycle picks up where Eldest leaves off and finds Eragon, Roran, and Saphira hunting their foes the Ra’zac. The action starts here and doesn’t stop, even at the end of the novel.

The story continues with all the elements of an epic adventure: action, adventure, suspense, and even a little romance thrown into the mix. Paolini ties all of these elements into a cohesive, wonderful to read story that leaves readers waiting desperately for the next, and final, installment of the Inheritance Cycle.

Personally, I don’t enjoy the trend series seem to take that includes the killing off of at least one major character each story. It almost feels as though after killing off a major character, authors feel that they must kill off another in the next book to keep their readers interested. I completely understand that many of these deaths make up an integral part of the story line in any series, but it seems a little suspect that the deaths fall exactly once per novel and close to the end.
Since the continuation of this theme is the only real “issue” I have with this story, I can’t really complain.

I feel that the release of spoilers was handled masterfully if frustrating from the perspective of the person waiting for the book release. No spoiler gave away any information from which readers could infer large sections of the plot. In retrospect, some of the spoilers were fairly lackluster compared to the rest of the novel, but that’s the whole point so job well done!
I suggest that any person interested in dragons, elves, dwarves, humans, and many others intertwining into a fantastic fantasy series read Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. If you are so behind as to have not read the first two novels read them…ASAP!