Murtagh
By Christopher Paolini
- Release Date: 2023-11-07
- Genre: Fantasy for Young Adults
Description
INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Master storyteller and internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the World of Eragon in this stunning epic fantasy set a year after the events of the Inheritance Cycle. Join Dragon Rider—and fan favorite—Murtagh and his dragon as they confront a perilous new enemy!
“Christopher Paolini is a true rarity.” —The Washington Post
The world is no longer safe for the Dragon Rider Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn. An evil king has been toppled, and they are left to face the consequences of the reluctant role they played in his reign of terror. Now they are hated and alone, exiled to the outskirts of society.
Throughout the land, hushed voices whisper of brittle ground and a faint scent of brimstone in the air—and Murtagh senses that something wicked lurks in the shadows of Alagaësia. So begins an epic journey into lands both familiar and untraveled, where Murtagh and Thorn must use every weapon in their arsenal, from brains to brawn, to find and outwit a mysterious witch. A witch who is much more than she seems.
In this gripping novel starring one of the most popular characters from Christopher Paolini’s blockbuster Inheritance Cycle, a Dragon Rider must discover what he stands for in a world that has abandoned him. Murtagh is the perfect book to enter the World of Eragon for the first time . . . or to joyfully return.
Praise for Christopher Paolini:
“A spellbinding fantasy writer.” —The Boston Globe
“A breathtaking and unheard-of success.” —USA Today
“Make[s] literary magic.” —People
Reviews
An author I can always count on.
5By L'ananaBuying any book from Christopher Paolini is a no brainer for me. From the beautiful way he enraptures the audience in the world and characters, to the powerful and intelligent themes strewn throughout his books; I am never disappointed after reading his work. Thank you for portraying everyone as an individual. All deserving of their own unique identity and perspective regardless of their race, gender or age.New favorite character
5By Godistheking@1Returning to this universe feels like reconnecting with an old friend, and Paolini does an excellent job of bringing depth and complexity to one of the series’ most intriguing characters. Murtagh’s journey is gripping, offering a fresh perspective on his and Thorns internal struggles and their fight to forge a new path for themselves. The story expands the lore of Alagaësia while delivering exciting new adventures and meaningful character growth. After reading this book, Murtagh has officially become my favorite character in the Inheritance Cycle and I couldn’t put the book down. It’s a must-read for any fan of the series and a perfect reentry into Paolini’s beautifully crafted world.Good Read
5By Lei’ShoThis took me a while to finish mainly because I kept forgetting I needed to finish reading it, 😅😂. Regardless, I enjoyed coming back to the Eragon series!Great Start, Terrible End
2By FolkenDonoI really hoped to see Murtagh develop as a character, but this book really highlights his flaws. Who joins the enemy for dinner? Murtagh! Who is warned about the enemies abilities and does nothing? Murtagh! Watching the character fall for such apparent and childish traps is extremely difficult to experience. It’s like Murtagh suddenly has the naivety of a child and has forgotten all the difficulties he has faced in his life. The book starts off really well, but quickly turns into a train wreck after the character reaches the final enemy base. The writer fails to flush out characters and really makes the enemy’s intentions too ambiguous. The book feels like a preamble to another book or series than a standalone novel. Readers pay for an “entire” novel, not ambiguous plot points that are never flushed out. I expected better, especially since it’s a book about a guy who was the catalyst to the previous series. Readers deserve better!Consistent with author’s style, impressive yet not a page-turner
4By ProfCartlidgeThe book, like the Inheritance series, catapults the reader to a fantasy world in which the reader is consumed by endless details of the surroundings. For this reader, too many of the words in the book failed to move the narrative forward. So many things meticulously detailed and described were irrelevant to the plot. The skill to write such a book is impressive, and I am glad that the book is over. I almost couldn’t finish it.Feels Good to be Back
4By Screw this Game's MarketingOnce again, Paolini creates a story in which my only complaint is that there was not more. It admittedly seems like there’s a bit of a missing second act here, as we jump from from an inciting incident in Ceunon to a first act in Gil’ead all the way to the final level in Nal Gorgoth. It’s a bit of a long final act, admittedly, but a bit more clue hunting across Alagaesia might have been warranted here as opposed to Murtagh and Thorn awkwardly standing around waiting for Bachel to betray them. If for no other reason, it would have given more time to space out Murtagh’s emotional arc, which I feel is a little too compressed into the back half of the book. Nonetheless, it was a joy to be back in Alagaesia, and Murtagh and Thorn prove excellently flawed and conflicted protagonists. Also, Paolini continues his trend of ending his books with character interactions that everyone desperately wanted while reading.Good Story
5By SirquagGreat story for after the Eragon books. Gives you a look into how life is for him after the war and a different view on the relationship between dragon and rider.Chris does it AGAIN
5By Mik's Iphone 4I wasn’t too impressed with fractal noise but it was still enjoyable. Chris showed up for the game in this book. It may even be my favorite in the series and that’s saying a lot.Good start!
5By Er-ockWelcome back to the world of fantasy Paolini! We missed you. Now hurry up with book two!!! LolMurtagh
5By HBBJA1I’ve read many of Paolini’s books and I couldn’t put this new novel down. The development of Murtagh and Thorn is fantastic. I look forward to the continuation of this new series.Very good, but not quite a page turner.
4By LionelJChristopher Paoloni has certainly grown in his story telling the descriptions and subplots are rich in detail. The world that he created in the first of the inheritance series remains unique and worthy, although he does tip his cap to Tolkien in several places. I went back and reread the first three books, which helped in understanding Murtaugh’s current plight. A reread the first three books, which was fun. A very good book, but not quite a page-turner.On the edge of my seat the whole time!
5By Tempest LoveGreat read and very hard to put it down!Excellent
5By HmoodsI love this story about Murtagh. Though, I will say I don't think it is a true stand alone novel. A lot of the plot is left unresolved. Also be prepared for a slow pace. This isn't something you should try to finish in a few days.I’m Not Sure…
4By not plain jayne1I’m not exactly sure why I did not find this book as riveting as the others. There seemed to be an excess of unnecessary verbiage (to me). Thorn’s backstory was heartbreaking - and maybe all their extra side hustles (adventures) will make sense in the next book & come together. Loved where they ended up though, back where they belonged :)Beautiful Experience
5By Chrisj654321I was bathed in nostalgia within minutes of picking up this book. Murtagh has such incredible depth, both the book and character. Learning more of his story was a delight and my heart ached for him and Thorn. The ending of Eragons story left him basically a God walking on earth. Murtagh the exact opposite, uneducated in magic, broken, and uncertain of his place in the world. How will he fare? It was a welcome experience diving into this story as it tied in well and tied up his arc with a satisfying ending.A welcome return
5By ryro2724It was wonderful diving back into the world of Alegasia! Seeing Murtagh and Thorn traverse the world and getting their viewpoint has been thrilling! I couldn’t stop reading, even while eating. I hope there is more to tell!The best in the Series
5By AbraxxionI’ve read the Inheritance Cycle multiple times, starting as a teenager when they first came out to an adult now years later. Murtagh is by far and away the best book in the series. You can see clearly how Paolini has grown as an author, and it reflects in this book. I would say it’s darker than the Inheritance Cycle, but it is fantastic nonetheless. I absolutely pray Paolini continues the story past Murtagh.Fantastic
5By SludacrisssExcellent return to the lands of Alagaesia, was hard to put this book down. Cant wait for more to come!Returning to the World of Eragon!
5By KB3POAReturning to the World of Eragon! I can’t tell you how happy my 19 year old inner child is right now. My favorite young adult fantasy series is all grown up, but it was such a joy to return to Alagaësia after so many years. The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm was the appetizer for this gut punch of a book. Maybe it's just the fact that the author was a decade older and more mature writing this book, but Murtagh is a much more complex, interesting, and nuanced character than Eragon, and thus more fun to read about and root for. Any book where a dragon has PTSD is gonna get wild. Trigger Warnings • Child death • Death of a parent (past) • Kidnapping • Torture Paolini's characters will always have a special place in my heart, and I'll always be hungry for whatever may come next! Atra esrerní ono thelduin
