Book: Inheritance Cycle

The Inheritance Cycle is a series of fantasy novels by Christopher Paolini. It was previously titled the Inheritance Trilogy until Paolini's announcement on October 30, 2007 that there would be a fourth book. Set in the fictional world of Alagaësia ( /æləˈɡeɪziə/), the novels focus on a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon Saphira. The first book in the series, Eragon, was self-published by Paolini's family in 2002 and re-published in 2003 by Knopf; it was followed by Eldest in 2005. Both were New York Times bestsellers and together have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. The third book in the series, Brisingr, was published on September 20, 2008, and the fourth book, Inheritance, was released on November 8, 2011. The series was intended to be a trilogy, but this changed as Paolini decided, while working on the third book, that the story was too complex to conclude in one book.

In June 2011, Paolini wrote the last few words in the series, after more than ten years of work.

In 2006, a feature film was released that was based on the first book in the cycle, Eragon, starring Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Djimon Hounsou.

In the fictional land of Alagaesia, there was an order who oversaw the countries and brought peace to the world. This group was known as the Dragon Riders, for they rode Dragons, which they were bonded with at the birth of their dragon, in accordance with a pact made between elves and dragon millennia earlier. One Dragon Rider named Galbatorix had his dragon slain by a group of Urgals (somewhat similar to Orcs from other fantasy) which drove him mad. Denied another Dragon by the Council of Elder Riders, Galbatorix blamed the Council for the death of his dragon and sought to destroy the order. He made an alliance with a young rider, named Morzan, and with his help slew an elder rider. Then, with the help of Morzan, the first of the thirteen Forsworn, he stole a black dragon, named Shruikan. He forced Shruikan to bind with him, and later destroyed the Riders and their dragons, except the thirteen Forsworn. Since then, he ruled parts of Alagaesia as a tyrannical King. He never ruled both the elves nor dwarves.

While an accurate time-line of various events is as yet unavailable, Paolini has hinted on an interview that based on character Elain's pregnancy, we may infer the events of the first three books to have happened within a span of months.

The book opens with the Vardens' attack on Belatona. In the midst of the battle, Saphira is nearly killed by a Dauthdaert, a spear from the Dragon Wars, created to withstand dragon magic. Eragon and Arya find Lord Bradburn and subdue him, taking control of the city. In the aftermath they are offered an alliance by the werecats which they accept. That night Elain's baby, Hope, is born with a cleft lip, which Eragon sings through the night to heal her. The Varden march on to Dras-Leona where Eragon defeats Murtagh and Thorn and takes control of the city. Later on Murtagh and Thorn attack the Varden camp and take Nasuada prisoner. In the absence on Nasuada, Eragon is elected as the leader of the Varden as they march towards Uru'baen. Heeding Solembum's advice, Eragon, Saphira and Glaedr travel to the Rock of Kuthian, a library of old, where Riders stored information. It is located in Vroengard, which they reach after many obstacles. When Eragon and Saphira speak their true names in front of the rock, a pathway to The Vault of Souls opens, which contains Eldunaris and dragon eggs. Glaedr, remembering events of the past, recounts how, along with Vrael's dragon, Umaroth, a secret vault had been created, which contained many hidden Eldunari and dragon eggs. Moreover, Glaedr and Oromis were then made to forget events of the past, in case Galbatorix were to have captured them and obtained information on this secret Vault. Eragon departs from Vroengard with all but a few of the Eldunari, but the eggs are left in their place for the time being. Upon leaving the Vault, all knowledge of the eggs existence is wiped from the minds of Eragon, Saphira's and all of the Eldunari accompanying them, so that Galbatorix cannot make use of that information. After elaborate scheming, and much bloodshed, Galbatorix is slain by Eragon, and Shruikan is ultimately killed by Arya. The downfall of Galbatorix is mainly due to the assistance of Murtagh and Thorn, who are able to break free of their oaths to Galbatorix on account of their identities changing drastically. During Nasuada's captivity at Uru'baen, Murtagh assisted her to the best of his ability in resisting Galbatorix, because of the love he had fostered for her over the many months since he had met her, and it was this love that largely was responsible for his identity switch. Free for the first time since being bonded together, Murtagh and Thorn decide to fly north on their own to let their hate and rage cool down, and to rethink a great many things. After Galbatorix's demise, Nasuada becomes the Queen of Alagaesia, whereas Arya, after the death of her mother, becomes the Queen of the Elves. It is also revealed that the green dragon egg (now rescued, and in the possession of the Varden) hatches for Arya, just shortly after she determines to resume her role as the ferry for the dragon egg. She names him Firnen. Eragon and Saphira are both now able to remember the hidden eggs (with the threat of Galbatorix now removed) and they work together to find a suitable place to house the, now, numerous Eldunari (both from Galbatorix's collection, and the Vault of Souls), and which would accommodate the needs of a new order of Riders. During this process Eragon also solves the problem of binding all the races together, by reworking the magic of the land to include both the dwarves and the Urgals in the bond between riders and dragons, meaning that dragons can now hatch for an Urgal or a dwarf. In the end, Eragon reaches the decision that the safest place (for all races) to train the new order, is in a location outside of Alagaesia. Eragon, with the approval of all the leaders of the various races, elects to transport all the Eldunari to this new location, and he takes all the dragon eggs, save two (one is sent to the dwarves, and one to the Urgals), with him. Arya declines Eragons offer to accompany him across the sea, and to help him in the task of training the new riders out of her duty to her people as their new queen. With heavy hearts, pushing their feelings for both Arya and Firnen aside, Eragon and Saphira, together, depart Alagaesia.

source: http://www.wikipedia.com