4.0⭐ ( )

The writing was excellent, but this was a DNF for me solely on the basis that this wasn't the story I wanted. After peeking at the last chapter, I think I want Tales from Alagaesia #2. I need dragon babies. I didn't really care for Angela's backstory, or a random tale from a previously unknown girl.

I think this would have clicked with me more if I read it closer to when I read the Inheritance Cycle books....and also if I didn't read it (a collection of short stories) right after an epic 880 page space opera so I rounded up a bit. ( )

The single improvement this anthology has over the other books in this series is that it is far, far shorter than the rest. Otherwise it’s nearly identical to something Paolini published in 2005.

At a certain point, you hope that in 16 years a writer has learned to stop just stealing ideas from other stories and stick to his own stuff. To have confidence to write his own things. Yes, everyone is influenced by something. Probably at least a dozen people are writing some new iteration of “Snow White” or “Cinderella” or “Journey to the West”. Heck, Disney has an entire history of making films based on familiar fairy tales. And referencing things is fine. Hand-waving to stories you love, that inspired you, that’s fine. What isn’t fine is an author who spent four novels “lifting” heavily from “The Lord of the Rings”, “The Earthsea Cycle”, “Star Wars”, “Dragonriders of Pern”, “Belgeriad”, and“Babylon 5”, sticking the sentences, “Your weirding ways won’t help you now. . . . The sleeper stirs”, in his stories, thinking he’s being clever and referential and not just plagiarizing yet another far better and more famous novel. It’s not cute. It’s not funny. It’s frankly downright disturbing. While it’s been a while since I’ve read the last ~2.6 books in the series (I recently reread “Eragon” and the first 1/3 of “Eldest”), and “weirding” or “wyrding” might be something common in the series, it’s only giving credence to people listing “Dune” as yet another book this series takes stuff from.

I also have a weird suspicion about Angela and Elva’s departure from Du Vrangr Gata and its similarity to G’Kar taking Lyta away from Babylon 5. It’s eerily reminiscent of G’Kar’s conversation with her to convince her to leave with him. …And of course there’s also some combination of Shelob and the wyrm ridden by the Witch-King. …And uses a great portion of "The Hobbit", particularly concerning Smaug.

This book has the same issue with wordiness, terribly written descriptions, awkward and cringe-worthy dialogue, rather boring and stupid plot, and dumb characters. Saphira is still arrogant. Solembum is overly mysterious in a way that’s boring. And this managed to make Murtagh boring. No one has grown. No one is working on changing. Eragon is moody, Murtagh is still isolated, Elva is still angry, Angela is still mysterious. Paolini could have had them doing something together, rather than Murtagh gathering intel on something for reasons we don't know or care about and angsting for no reason, Angela writing a book that is somehow worse than "Eldest", and a knock-off version of "The Hobbit".

This is not a great addition to the series. On the one hand, it's fascinating to see all the characters he's gathered in one place and how far they've come, only for him to rip off yet more stories and demonstrating that his writing hasn't actually improved all that much in around 16 years. It's not enjoyable fantasy. It's not funny or poignant or impressive. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, unless you really love this story universe and just want more. If people want "longer" versions of this, read or watch anything he ripped off to write it. Not only is there "more" of it, but it's actually well-written that way. ( )

~ The Fork - 2.5*
First, we listen to Eragon be overwhelmed by all his office duties, and too many details about where his office is. Ugh that first part was skimmable. Saphira forces him to take a break and the Eldunari give him a mental escape and then we mostly get a proper short story. Unfortunately, it feels a bit like it's for hardcore fans that really know the history and seek out details that the casual reader would just enjoy for the moment, but not retain like some great mystery. Also, the floating ship makes an appearance and I'm disappointed to learn (or be reminded of how large it is). I thought it was a wee thing. It says it's something like the size of 2 hands.

~ The Witch - 2*
More "stuck in the office" from Eragon but Angela (& Elva) show up and she gives him random chapters from her memoir. Just as mysterious as ever and not in a satisfying way.

~ The Worm - DNF
The Urgal's tell Eragon a story. It is lore passed for generations about a daughter of a warrior defeating an undefeatable dragon "worm". I think. I couldn't read it because it's too far outside my current interests. I respect that he always includes strong women in his stories, but action and "lessons" make me go wash floors instead of read.
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Disappointing overall. Donating. I hope it finds its matching audience. ( )