When I found out that Christopher Paolini was coming out with a new book set in the world of Eragon and Alagaesia, I was beyond excited. I had to have it. However, it took me a really long time to find it after it was released and for a tiny little anthology I wasn't paying $22 in hardcover at my local giant chain bookstore. Low and behold, I found it at Costco, and for $12 nonetheless. I immediately grabbed two copies; one for myself and one for Rebecca. I knew this was something we had to share together.
Fast forward two months and I still hadn't cracked the cover. I took it with me to Cypress Hills when I went camping with my family and I even posted on Instagram that I was going to start reading it. Still didn't, not until the end of July, and I read the whole thing in a weekend. I mean, it's not a hard read by any means, but I flew through it.
The volume consists of three interweaving stories that each relate back to Eragon in a particular way. The first, "The Fork", has Eragon struggling with the events following the last book in The Inheritance Cycle. He has found a new location to try and rebuild the Dragon Riders and carry on their legacy of keeping peace over the land of Alagaesia. He feels like it is taking too long, has lost confidence in himself and his dragon, Saphira, feels like he has lost sight of what really matters and is too focused on the details, the money and the stress.
The Dragon Hearts decide to show Eragon a vision, one to prove to him that not all hope is lost. The vision is of a man who helps a young girl in her darkest hour to show her to not give hope of something better. The man is from Eragon's past (I will NOT reveal who) and at the end of the vision, Eragon feels more hopeful and glad having seen the man's travels.
The second tale is about the Herbalist Angela. It is a series of short stories that she has written as part of her memoir and ask Eragon to 'proofread' them. This set was an interesting look into the character of Angela. You don't learn too much about her and her past during the original book series, so this glimpses into her life were kind of interesting. Of course, in typical Angela fashion, they're sort of broken and disjointed and completely out of any order.
When Angela comes to visit Eragon at the new dragonhold, she brings Elva with her. Seeing Elva again, the girl whom he cursed with dragon magic, Eragon has mixed feelings, but glad that Angela has taken care of her. During their stay Elva works with the Dragon Hearts whom were driven crazy through torture by the big baddie of the series, Galbatorix. She manages to help a few of them through the clouds and darkness set upon their hearts and remind them of who and what they are.
The third tale is the longest of the them and is the Urgal tale of "The Worm of Kulkaras". The tale in and of itself is interesting and a moral story about revenge. Eragon recognizes the story and it's moral was chosen specifically because of what he had faced and what he has yet to overcome. When the tale ends Eragon is summoned to the Hall of Colours, something wonderful has happened.
I WILL NOT SPOIL THE ENDING! But I was very excited. *wink*
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It was nice to delve in the world of Alagaesia again, even if it was for a short time. The book was concise and left a lot of questions unanswered and I was left longing for more. However, this was Volume 1, so I'm hoping there are more released! I want to hear more about other characters from the original series because they all went there separate ways at the end of Inheritance.
Rebecca hasn't yet finished the anthology because she is currently lost in another book-world, but I can't wait to discuss the ending with her! I know she is in the middle of the Urgal tale, so I know it won't be long until she is done once she picks it up again.
I have many more titles on my TBR pile and I really need to start reading more again. #goals
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