Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
Author: Christopher Paolini
Published: 2023
Genre: YA Fantasy
Book Five – The Inheritance Cycle
Book One Review | Book Two Review | Book Three Review | Book Four Review
Synopsis From Goodreads:
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.
My Take:
Contrary to what the synopsis from Goodreads said just above; I do not recommend you read Murtagh if you have not yet read the rest of the Inheritance Cycle books. Murtagh is a complex character and this book would be rather flat without the development created in the previous books. Plus, there are enough of Murtagh’s memories woven throughout the story to spoil many of the other plots. It does connect nicely, though, to the vignette of Murtagh shown in A Fork, a Witch, and a Worm.
That being said, this book is a darker struggle than the other books because of Murtagh and Thorn’s history. Through his memories, you visit pivotal moments of his life, which is one of pain, torture, servitude, and choosing the lesser of two evils. But beyond that, the mysterious danger Murtagh investigates is of a nightmarish quality that attacks his very sense of self and threatens the fabric of reality. Several scenes are nightmares given form. But there are brief glimmers of hope woven throughout, and I do not believe we have seen the end of Murtagh. Paolini has set us up for another epic adventure in Alagaësia fighting a faceless, darker evil that has pervaded the continent unawares until now.
Language:
Basically none; swearing in a different language or “Shade’s blood!”
Sexual Content:
None.
Drug/Alcohol Use:
There are brief mentions of beer in a tavern, having a mug of ale, etc. There are hallucinations and altered states because of the magic and potions used throughout the book, especially in the second half of the book, with characters being drugged to control them.
Violence:
There are bloody fights, but not extremely graphic, as well as confinement and torture both mental and physical of both animal and human characters.
Plot/Storytelling:
This book is written in a single POV. The first half is a bit slow; Murtagh thinks a LOT – about the past and his present circumstances – and has to figure things out more than I expected. He is less educated in the workings of magic than I had imagined previously and the plot drags on a bit. But the second half picks up and is an adrenaline-filled rush to the end.
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