Review: ERAGON by Christopher Paolini

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Book 1 of the Inheritance trilogy

Genre: YA, epic fantasy

Book Description:

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands. . . .

Source: Info in the Book Description was taken from the book's website at http://www.alagaesia.com/eragon.htm on 16/10/10.

FTC Declaration: This book was purchased with my personal money.

Review:
I've read this book sometime ago so this is a retrospective review. I was ecstatic when I discovered this book. And it was during those times when YA fantasy was in scarcity. It was a gem of a find! The story telling quality was compelling. Paolini is a born story teller and this shows through the way he string the words together and what comes out is a fantastical tale. The story itself though not exactly original was very interesting to my fantasy reader's imagination. I love Paolini's version of farm-boy-turns-hero spin-off. The world building was woven with convincing authenticity that I could very easily suspend disbelief. Plus it has all the elements of a good read, elves, dwarves, dragons and magic! The plot was twisty enough to keep me guessing about what will happen next right to the end. Then Paolini gives us a satisfying resolution in the ending. Emperically translated, I would rate this book as:
World building = 5
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
Plot = 5

This was a very entertaining read indeed! The movie did not do it any justice at all. The succeeding books did not compare either.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

I SO WANT TO READ THIS: THE DRAGON WHISPERER

The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare
Book 1 of the Dragons Dome series

Genre: children's fantasy

Synopsis:

The Dragon Whisperer
Can you tell a Sabretooth from an Imperial Black?  Do you know how many stomachs a battledragon has, or what they need to eat in order to toast hobgoblins with dragonfire?  No?  Well then, read on...because there are some who do...

The Seven Sea Kingdoms are under attack from overwhelming hobgoblin swarms, and only the Stealth Dragon Services, (the SDS) commanded by the Earl Rufus DeWinter, keep their ancient foe at bay.

On Dragon Isle, fabled fortress of the SDS, the Earl’s daughter Quenelda tends to injured battledragons and dreams of flying them alongside her beloved father. Young ladies traditionally belong at Court, but Quenelda – in her boy’s clothes and with her special bond with dragons – is a very unusual young lady.

Root, a gnome boy orphaned by the war, wants nothing to do with dragons, especially temperamental bad-tempered battledragons that can decapitate, disembowel, or frazzle you in the blink of an eye.  But when he becomes Quenelda’s new esquire they form an unlikely friendship under the watchful eye of Tangnost Bearhugger, the Earl’s Dragonmaster.

Together with their dragons Two Gulps & You’re Gone and gentle Chasing the Stars they must face the treachery that stirs at the heart of the ruling Sorcerers Guild. For the hobgoblin tribes have united, and the dark magic of Maelstrom is rising. Does this spell defeat for the legendary SDS?

A story of friendships set against epic battles, whispered legends and a girl who can talk to dragons combine in this breathtaking debut fantasy.

Source: Info in the Synopsis was taken from the book's website at http://www.dragonsdome.co.uk/synopsis.html on 11/10/10.

Review: HATCHING MAGIC

Hatching Magic by Ann Downer

Genre: middlegrade, urban fantasy,

About Hatching Magic:

Poor Theodora Oglethorpe! Her biologist father has gone off to explore the jungles of Laos without her, her two best friends are away on vacation, and a long hot lonely Boston summer is all she has to look forward to.

Poor Gideon! Wycca, his pet wyvern, has disappeared through a magic hole in time in search of a place to lay her egg. Kobold, Gideon's rival wizard, wants nothing more than to capture Wycca and turn her against her master. In a desperate attempt to rescue Wycca from Kobold's evil clutches, Gideon follows her through the magic hole... and finds himself transported from his castle in thirteenth-century England to the terrifyingly modern world of Boston, Massachusetts, in the year 2002.

Little does Gideon know that what he needs most in order to find his wyvern is stuck to the bottom of Theodora's shoe. And little does Theodora know that Gideon is the reason why her summer vacation has begun to seem a whole lot more interesting...

Source: Info in the About Hatching Magic was taken from the book's cover sleeve.

FTC Declaration: This book was purchased with my personal money.

Verdict: A quick and fun read.

Review:
This is a fun and quick read. It is not masterpiece but is enjoyable none the less. However this book uses known mythological elements such as the occult, tarot cards, quija board, etc. I came across a review who was strongly against these issues because of her faith, as I understand it. Therefore, if your belief system are against such things then I guess this is not a good book for you as the use of such things/ideas in the book might cause you distress. However, if you are like me, who thinks that the occult, tarot cards, quija board and the like are so much like Harry Potter's magic wand, and therefore for fun use only and should not be taken seriously, then this book is for you.

I bought this book because it got "magic" and "dragon" in it. I was kinda disappointed with the dragon as it was not as big a character as I would have liked. It was so much like a cat or a dog. So much like a loveable pet. Although I like that too, but for a main character, I want more than a loveable pet. The world building is fantastic! The author made me experience the musty world of a medieval castle and then the sticky sweet smell of chocolate confectionery like when you go into a candy store... I liked that! The "suspension of disbelief" therefore ranks high up there with a score of 4.5 out of 5. I would rate this book further as:

World building = 4.5
Story telling quality = 3.5
Character development = 3.5
Story itself = 3
Ending = 4

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

I SO WANT TO READ THIS: FIRELIGHT

WISHLIST:

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Book 1 of the Draki series

Genre: urban fantasy, YA

About Firelight:

A HIDDEN TRUTH

MORTAL ENEMIES

DOOMED LOVE

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense.

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irrestibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away - if it dies she will be left a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide ...

Source: Info in the About Firelight was taken from the author's website at http://www.sophiejordan.net/ya/books.html on 02/10/2010.

SINTEL

A heartbreaking tale between a girl and her dragon... it made me cry, that now I wished I hadn't watched it... it broke my heart, but beautifully done:

Source: Above video clip was taken from http://io9.com/5652662/ on 01/10/10.