Review

Inheritance: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 4

Common Sense Media says

Epic tale concludes in battle- and blood-filled saga.
Age
12
Quality
 
  • Educational value2
    The author has created a detailed fantasy world with its own languages. There are also worthwhile lessons in politics and leadership.
  • Positive messages3
    As always, Eragon and his friends and allies are 100 percent committed to defeating their country's evil king and restoring peace to the land. They're loyal to each other and their cause, and they have some sympathy for those who serve the king out of ignorance or force (though that doesn't stop them from killing scores of them in battle). Friendship, duty, and honor are all valued.
  • Positive role models3
    Through magic, personal growth, and training, Eragon is virtually without flaw at this point in the saga; he's motivated by loyalty, duty, honor, and friendship, and he never hesitates to do the right thing (he also never hesitates to kill an enemy, which some may consider an iffier quality). Arya and Nasuada are both strong, powerful women -- Arya is a better warrior than many of the male characters, and Nasuada is a smart, brave leader. Roran is one of the few main characters not able to use magic; his success despite this lack offers a good counterpoint to the others' achievements. Murtaugh is one of the book's more conflicted characters, and his ultimate decisions have all the more impact as a result.
  • Violence4
    Lots and lots of fighting and bloodshed; there are many epic battles with massive destruction and loss of life. Characters are killed in gruesome ways -- stabbings, beheadings, disembowelments, fire/immolation, crushing, and much more -- but most of the gore isn't lingered on or described in ultra-graphic detail. One character is tortured both physically and mentally; her suffering is described, though again not in tons of detail. Another submits herself to terrible pain to escape captivity. Some characters are able to dispatch huge groups of enemies in swift succession, with little regret/hesitation expressed. Dragons breathe fire; there are tons of swordfights, hammer blows, and more. Animals are killed (horses in battle, etc.), mutilations and painful injuries are described.
  • Sex1
    Eragon's ongoing feelings for Arya continue, though there's little action. Dragons court each other in showy fashion.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    In one chapter, Eragon and Arya get quite drunk on a special liqueur that makes them giddy and induces visions/hallucinations. Other casual/social drinking of alcoholic drinks (mead, etc.).
CloseExpand to see more details

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this epic fantasy is the conclusion to the story that began in Eragon and continued in Eldest and Brisingr. Its many battles and fight scenes are filled with frequent gory deaths via sword, hammer blow, magic, heavy masonry, and many other methods of dispatchment; bodies pile up at an alarming rate. Characters are also tortured, one at length. Many of the main characters, including the hero, are able to kill hordes of enemies single-handedly, a fact they seldom seem to worry about or regret. There's also a bit of romantic tension and one scene in which two characters get quite drunk.

This review of Inheritance: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 4 was written by
Age
14
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
  • 100% say violence is an issue
  • 75% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
  • 50% say language is an issue
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Teen, 13 years old
December 17, 2011
13
OK for kids & up
 
NOT AS GOOD AS THE FIRST THREE....
I agree completely with the last review. The green dragon doesn't even come out until the very end! And, he didn't really have to go to a land away from alegasia. It was kind of dissapointing. The first three were better. I'll stick to the Hunger Games. But in some parts, it WAS kind of good. I would recomend it, though. I give this four stars.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (22) | Had useful details (26) | Read my mind (29)
Teen, 13 years old
December 16, 2011
12
OK for kids & up
 
Disappointing
BOO!! Okay the the back-cover description promised a romance! They LIED!!! Arya and Eragon admit their feelings for each other, but do nothing about it. Oh and Eragon "HAD to leave Alagaesia, it was the only way." That's FALSE!!!! This ending was worse than Mockingjay!! I feel roped in, nothing happens until forever!! I had to flip to the ending just to see who dies (which is no one, besides Islanzadi, and no one really cares about her). *Sigh* Let's just say, I got mad. I waited THREE YEARS FOR THIS BOOK. THREE FREAKING YEARS. AND I GOT THAT?! THAT?!?!?! It's like the author was ending a book, not the whole darn series! Eragon and Arya DO NOT get together, which is the only reason I cared to finish it. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THESE CRUDDY CONCLUSIONS!!!!! @HugeReader123 I totally agree! I wish the green dragon came out earlier, too. I was so looking forward to another dragon in the series, I love their personalities and their points of view. I'm getting a little tired of Paolini's writing style as well. Like seriously? Even for a fantasy novel this is just way over-exaggerated. Plus I'm pretty sure he has the dictionary memorized. Look, I'm on a high reading level, but I'd prefer to not have to rack my brain for a couple minutes just to get through one sentence. Ok CP. We get it, you're single. But just because you like to get cuddly with your Thesaurus doesn't mean we do too.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (27) | Had useful details (24) | Read my mind (23)
Kid, 11 years old
January 5, 2012
8
OK for kids & up
 
The best piece of literature in my life to this day.
Good lord people have to understand a book is not bad because it's the spirit of the author the skill and work they put into it. this book had an author that poured his thought feelings and emotions into a series that has become a book that takes Twilight and spits on it. Mr. Paolini did not just writee a series he wrote a classic that will be remembered for the next hundred years. It will not die like twilight. I believe that Mr. Paolini decided to catalog his friends family and dreams we just can't see it. Think about the good these people do this happens very early in the book (Spoiler Warning) a baby is born with a catlip. so Eragon heals her and makes it so that she will survive and be able to fit in(End Spoiler). These people in this book do whatever they can do grant the people of this other region freedom from a terrible dictator. Battles rage just like the characters interactions and emotions changing the way you think about these characters people lose family and you feel the loss to it's like nothing I've ever felt before in a book. This book is utterly amazing in every way.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (20) | Had useful details (16) | Read my mind (28)
Kid, 12 years old
January 8, 2012
13
OK for kids & up
 
Good read! ;
This book was great,but for more mature kids,seeing as there was drinking,violence,and a few uses of bad names.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (16) | Had useful details (15) | Read my mind (27)
Kid, 12 years old
January 8, 2012
12
OK for kids & up
 
I recomend this book.
This is a good book, and I recommend it. It is a very "Tolkienesque" world, and it has developed into a wonderful story. I did like the ending and I think it shows an aspect of a promising new teens fiction writer (I don’t mean vampire romance novels I mean a GOOD fiction writer) anybody who has a good sense of literature would like this book (and respect the outcome of Eragon and Arya.) Paolini does, though, have many things to improve in his writing; but this is a very good book. Again, I recommend it.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (21) | Had useful details (16) | Read my mind (18)
Teen, 13 years old
January 8, 2012
13
OK for kids & up
 
read
@Heqo73198 Last time I was annoyed with your review but let's put that behind us cuz I COMPLETELY agree with this one. ugg
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (14) | Had useful details (15) | Read my mind (19)
Parent
February 1, 2012
18
Not for Kids
 
dissappointing
Coarse language is used a bit throughout the book. Eragon and Arya get drink some intoxicating beverage and get drunk together. Lots of violence and gore.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (17) | Had useful details (16) | Read my mind (12)
Teen, 17 years old
January 29, 2012
12
OK for kids & up
 
Amazing and Magical Story
When Eragon first came out, I couldn't stop reading. It was so wonderful, intense, and intriguing. And now, several years later, the fourth book is just as good. Paolini has grown as an author, so the book is less Star-Warsy. Parents, be warned that it is quite violent and has some grisly images, but it's manageable. It's all led up to the final showdown between the Eragon and Saphira team versus Galbatorix. The first three books were a little overlong, but this final installment is a wonderful wrap-up to a beloved story.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (14) | Had useful details (13) | Read my mind (17)
Adult
February 1, 2012
11
OK for kids & up
 
Disappointing, but well written.
While literally and structurely better written than the previous three, it seems Paolini hasn't gotten the hold of an satisfying ending just yet. He also seems to be a bit still too fond of his Thesaurus for my comfort. Still, this was a relatively entertaining yarn, even if it did not live up to expectations.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (13) | Had useful details (11) | Read my mind (16)
Kid, 10 years old
April 16, 2012
11
OK for kids & up
 
Really good ending-leaves the door open...
The ending to this epic series is good, but some of the ways characters are killed may not be appropriate for some smaller children. For instance, some characters die in great detail, although some of the worst deaths happen in a corner alley when they are crushed by a boulder. At this point in the story, Eragon is perfect, too perfect-He always makes the right decisions, and it is hard to believe that he will not prevail over the king. -SPOILER ALERT- After he wins the battle, a new story sort of begins, making you feel like the ending to this saga is very much not an ending, so maybe we have not seen the last of Eragon and Saphiria... I think that, after this "the story is not over" prompt in book 4, we will see book 5. (not for a few years, because it takes a while to write 800 pages)
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
Helped me decide (13) | Had useful details (10) | Read my mind (12)
See all user reviews

Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1

(by Christopher Paolini)

A teen wrote this engrossing fantasy story.
AGE
10
 

Eldest: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 2

(by Christopher Paolini)

The epic saga continues -- and improves.
AGE
10
 

Brisingr: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 3

(by Christopher Paolini)

Overlong but exciting; gorier than the first two.
AGE
12
 

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

(PG-13, 2001)

Fabulous, but also violent and scary.
AGE
12