Murtagh by Christopher Paolini

In Algaesia it is a year since the Empire fell, Galbatorix and his dragon Shruikan are dead and Murtagh, son of Morzan, half-brother to Eragon, falsely branded a traitor by the Varden, is travelling incognito with his dragon Thorn. Few people know his true story and the Elves and the Dwarves have no love for him after he was responsible for killing two of their own. Murtagh’s bond with his dragon goes deep, every night each speaks his one true name, together, prepared to face any challenge, their combined magic making them very powerful. However, Murtagh is troubled by the way he was manipulated during the time of the Empire and now more than ever feels the need to prove his worth and erase the stain of being Morzan’s son. Using the name of his old sword instructor Tornac, he travels to Ceunion to find out more about something evil rising in the land linked to a mysterious black rock. Thorn thinks the rock smells like 'blood hate and anger' but against his advice, Murtagh and the dragon set out to find the source of the evil and the witch Bachel who seems to be involved. Murtagh is not afraid of death, having experienced the depths of pain fear and debasement and now welcomes the chance to pursue a clear and righteous cause. It is 20 years since the publication of Eragon, the first book in the Inheritance Cycle and those who loved that book will welcome the chance to revisit that world. The story was a bit fragmented at the start with some short challenges involving kittens, fish and dragon scales that sat rather awkwardly with the later story and the trials with the witch could have been edited down to be less repetitive. Much as Murtagh seeks to prove himself I didn’t feel his character developed at all and there was a lot of killing with collateral damage made ok by the offhand comment to 'spare the children if possible'. Fans will still embrace this sequel to Eragon but Murtagh can stand alone with enough backstory to satisfy new readers and it is a good excuse to read or re-read the whole series.

Themes: Fantasy, Dragons, Magic.

Sue Speck