ALA Booklist (Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

In most respects, this third chapter in Paolini's Inheritance Cycle feels like the calm before the storm; the majority of the more than 700 pages are dominated by storytelling, plotting, and preparations for battle. If there is a complaint from readers, it will be that Paolini revels too much in long conversations between his characters while action takes a backseat, but fans of the genre will bask in his generosity: the arcana of dwarf election rules, the manhood customs of the Kull, and the finer points on forging a Dragon Rider's sword are all part of what makes the world of Alagaësia so encompassing. The plot picks up as Eragon assists his cousin Roran in rescuing his beloved from the Ra'zac, but ultimately the story settles on the Varden's preparations for advancing upon the evil Galbatorix, their attempts to obtain the help of the dwarves, and the continued magic training of Eragon and the dragon Saphira. Most of the combat d it's brutal, gory stuff longs to Roran as he becomes a legendary warrior; Eragon's struggles are more cerebral and involve magic, a difficult thing to dramatize but something Paolini pulls off admirably. In fact, clarity is the author's best asset: few could make such a Tolkienesque universe so manageable. Anyone who couldn't wait for this volume will be just as excited when the upcoming fourth and final chapter appears.

Horn Book

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, continue their quest to defeat tyrant magician Galbatorix. Paolini's enthusiasm and transparent love of his own story keep the proceedings (700-plus pages packed with extraneous scenes and dialogue) from bogging down completely. Readers who share his delight will enjoy the full-sense immersion in his world, though even they might cavil at the lightweight climax.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The much-anticipated third book in Paolini's Inheritance Cycle continues to rely heavily on classic fantasy tropes. The novel launches with magician and Dragon Rider Eragon, his cousin Roran and the dragon Saphira on a quest to rescue Roran's betrothed. The cousins soon split up, and Roran undergoes his own series of heroic tests, culminating in a well-choreographed and intense fight against an Urgal (a ram-human hybrid). Eragon, at the same time, encounters treacherous dwarves, undergoes even more training with the elf Oromis and gains a magical sword suitable for a Dragon Rider. The silly revelations about Eragon's background in the previous book, Eldest, are given a new spin near the end, but the change is neither unexpected nor interesting. Predictably, the book concludes with even more character deaths and another battle, but those expecting a resolution will have to wait until the next novel. The clichéd journey may appeal to younger readers of genre fiction. Older teens, even those who might have first cut their teeth on Paolini's writing years ago, are less likely to be impressed. Ages 12-up.