Book Review: The Fork, The Witch and The Worm by Christopher Paolini

Author: Christopher Paolini

Title: The Fork, the Witch and the Worm

Publisher: Penguin Books

Date: 2019

Synopsis: 

A wanderer and a cursed child. Spells and magic. And dragons, of course.

Welcome back to the world of Alagaësia. It’s been a year since Eragon departed Alagaësia in search of the perfect home to train a new generation of Dragon Riders. Now he is struggling with an endless sea of tasks: constructing a vast dragonhold, wrangling with suppliers, guarding dragon eggs, and dealing with belligerent Urgals and haughty elves. Then a vision from the Eldunarí, unexpected visitors, and an exciting Urgal legend offer a much-needed distraction and a new perspective. This volume features three original stories set in Alagaësia, interspersed with scenes from Eragon’s own unfolding adventure.

My Favourite Series: 5 Reasons Why

One of my recent book tag answers was I preferred series over stand-alone books. I feel you can get drawn deeper into a world when there are subsequent books to carry on the story. I think this is because I love fantasy novels, so having a series means there is time for the world to be properly built, for the laws and rules of that world established. The pacing can be a little slower if there are following books and the author can take the time to explore their creation. That is not to say I haven’t read stand-alone books that have been amazing, or series that have been bad.

Inheritance Review

Inheritance is the last book in the Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini. Originally due to be a trilogy, one only needs to look at the size of Inheritance to know the amount still left to happen was never going to fit into three books.

And nor did it need to, for this one is just as action packed, intense and gripping as the first three. With Oromis gone and Glaedr retreated into himself to grieve, Eragon and Saphira have a harder job than ever taking up the mantle of being a Rider. Battles must be fought and victories won if they have any chance of getting even close to Galbatorix in order to end his reign.

But it doesn’t seem to matter how many victories they win. With Murtagh and Thorn harassing every step they take, it seems as if victory is futile. When events twist and force Eragon into a position of leadership he never anticipated, it seems that all hope is lost. What chance do they have when the king has had centuries to hone his power and knows precisely how to destroy his enemies?

While Nasuada learns first hand just how powerful Galbatorix is, Roran finds himself more involved with the fighting than he ever thought he would be. But Eragon must leave on a quest of his own. One of self-disocvery, Rider and Dragon must travel to lands forgotten and uncover secrets long buried in order to have any chance. When it comes to the final fight, however, Eragon knows that he is not alone as battles are fought that will change the fate of Alagesia forever.

This book is hard to review due to the amount of surprises that are in store and making sure nothing is hinted towards what might happen. I certainly didn’t anticipate a lot of the events that happened and it has been a long time since I was engrossed so much in a book the way Inheritance gripped me. The journeys the characters have gone on since the beginning are more obvious in this book than the others, for they must face their worst nightmares and fight with everything they can in order to have even a hope of a surviving.

The lands, rules and creatures that Paolini has created during the series of books is phenomenal. Each book takes things to the next level and the same is true here. Eragon realises himself that he is hardly the same person that set out for revenge in book one. It’s refreshing to have a story that identifies and acknowledges a person’s journey and makes that a crucial part in order for their destiny to continue.

Full of love, hope, loss and despair, Inheritance is a rollercoaster from beginning to end. Nothing is

predictable and no one can be quite sure who they can trust. Bringing a close to Eragon and Saphira’s journey, the book had a satisfying end to the series. It truly feels as if one era has ended and the next is about to begin.

Brisingr Review

Brisingr is the third book in the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini. Named after the word for fire in the Ancient Language, the book is certainly an inferno of emotions, excitement and just the consuming desire to read on, much the same way a fire would rage.

Eragon is left in a turmoil after losing to Murtagh, not only knowing his friend-turned-reluctant-enemy seems to be stronger than naturally possible, but that they share the same parentage; they are brothers. Weighed down by the knowledge the task ahead to defeat the evil spreading through the land, Eragon must learn to grow as an individual as well as a Rider. Twice in the book – once through Eragon’s own sacrifice and once because he is acting under orders – he is parted from Saphira and must learn to protect himself without having a fearsome dragon at his back.

However, just because things seem to be impossible doesn’t mean there isn’t hope. Roran’s arrival at the Varden has occurred just in time, with Nasuada finding herself with a capable warrior now at her disposal with the drive to rid the land of evil single handed if that is what it takes to keep his newly freed beloved safe.

The dwarves must crown a new king – an event Eragon has more of a hand in than he wants to acknowledge – and Oromis and Glaedr impart knowledge onto Eragon that not only gives him some weapons he needs in order to fight this war, but helps him to find peace of mind as well.

Due to the complex development of the plot, the narration broadens out even further. The previous book had things from Roran’s point of view as the two cousins began a journey to be reunited. Now, however, Saphira and Nasuada also become part of the narration as the tale gets bigger. It keeps the book refreshing to hear more than one voice, and especially helps things not to be restricted by Eragon’s still somewhat limited view and understanding of the events taking place.

Not only does it broaden the narration, but it changes the writing style in places. Speaking from Saphira’s voice is a completely different style compared to that of a human. While it is effective, it does seem limited as to what words are changed in order to have it from a dragon’s perspective. Nonetheless, it is an effective way of keeping the reading engaged.

New allies are formed and risks are taken for the good of freedom. Not everyone, however, can survive such a battle and it is with heavy hearts the Varden continue to strike back against the Empire in order to ensure the freedom of the whole land.

The third book is just as engaging and emotional as the previous two. It was refreshing re-reading it this time around to know that I have the next book waiting for me rather than being left on a cliffhanger as to what is going to happen next. Paolini knows how to truly transport his audience.

Eldest Review

Eldest is the second book in the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini, following a young man as he embraces his destiny as a dragon rider. Not only must he shoulder the responsibilities that come with that position, but he has to do so in the knowledge that it will ultimately be him who must dispose the land of its tyrant king, simply because no one else is strong enough to do so.

The book picks up exactly where Eragon left off. Eragon and Saphira have helped the Varden defeat the Urgal attack, but danger waits for no one. With time running short, Eragon must leave and travel to Ellesmera, the land of the Elves, in order to continue his training if he is to stand any chance of helping fight against the Empire. However, despite how much he learns, the task seems somewhat futile as Eragon is plagued by agonising seizures from the wound Durza dealt him at the end of their battle. Unable to fight, barely able to get through a day, Eragon’s physical pain is matched only by his unrequited love for Arya.

However, as a dragon rider, Eragon knows his responsibilities and will not let pain be enough to stop him fighting for his course. After a gift is bestowed on him, hope is once again renewed for the rider.

It is not just Eragon who must struggle to come to terms with where his path in life is leading him. Left only with hints and vague clues about why his father was killed, Roran faces his own battle when the Empire return to take him into custody. When his bride-to-be is kidnapped, Roran knows he has to choose between his village and his love. Unless, of course, there is another option open to him… Defying impossible odds, Roran and the entire population of Carvahall flee to the safety of Surda, pursued by all manners of enemies.

Surda is no safe place, however, as the armies of the Varden and the Empire clash in open conflict. Despite Eragon arriving in time to help, an unexpected new foe rears its head in the middle of the battle and their struggle for freedom just gets harder.

This second book truly displays Paolini’s imagination. The vast majority of the book is set in the land of the Elves. Not only is their way of life brought across to the reader, but their customs, personalities and character traits are all subtly revealed to both Eragon and the reader as he continues his study. All the small details seem to be covered.

This book is on a larger scale than the first, with multiple plotlines being followed as fate navigates our heroes into one place for the final battle. Despite being reunited with his cousin, Eragon must face a truth that he was not ready for while the Varden rest all of their hopes for freedom on his young shoulders.

The determination of the characters shown at the end of the book truly inspires the reader to simply pick up the next book and keep going.

Eragon Review

It is true what they say about picking up things each time you read a book. I have no idea how many times I have read Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, yet it was only this time around did I realise something. It may be significant, it may not, but it did make me wonder what on earth I had been reading for all of these years when I never even noticed that a city was actually inside a mountain.

This book is hard to review simply because it has been a firm favourite for so many years and reading it this time around, I knew precisely what was coming. However, the combination of magic, plot, characters and just the overall world means I will never get bored of reading it and thoroughly enjoyed it this time around just as much as I had all the others.

A young farm boy, Eragon, finds his life turned upside down after a mysterious stone appears before him. It doesn’t take long for the stone to be revealed as an egg; and a dragon egg at that. Eragon finds himself in the centre of a legend and a battle as he strives to become the next Dragon Rider, despite the king wanting to control – or kill – him to stop him from joining with the king’s enemies. However, Eragon has personal reasons for wanting to turn against the king, the least of which is the murder of his uncle, and subsequently, his mentor during his pursuit of the killers.

Prophecies have foretold of him, great leaders gather to try and control him. But the most important lesson Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, can learn is how to be true to themselves and make sure they cannot be used as a weapon, by anyone. After fleeing across the entire realm, Eragon finds himself far from home. But perhaps most importantly, he finds himself far from the farm boy that he once was as people look to him for guidance and leadership.

Paolini truly knows how to create a world. The small details present, the places named and their locations hinted at reveals precisely how deep his knowledge runs of his own world. Rules of magic, laws of a language, the language itself – these are all elements present within this novel and for those who like to lose themselves to a different world, it becomes almost impossible to escape it again due to the way it draws you in.

This re-read was in order to go through the series so I can finally read the fourth book. Having wanted to refresh my mind of precisely what happens earlier on in the series, I thought I would start from the beginning again and I’m so glad I did. It was as if I had forgotten precisely how much I adore these books and have just been reminded of all the reasons why. Magic, dragons, sword fights and the journey as a young boy tries to find his place in the world? What’s not to like?