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Murtagh: The World of Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 5
By Carrie R. Wheadon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Excitement, but also long scenes of torture in 5th Eragon.
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What's the Story?
In MURTAGH, Murtagh and his dragon Thorn roam the countryside on their own, feeling ostracized from the court and his half-brother Eragon after the war and the rumors of his misdeeds that followed. He and Thorn are still determined to be in the service of the queen, however, and get their chance when strange crow skull amulets and sulfurous rocks are the centerpiece of a brawl with an informant and his goons who try to kill him. Murtagh takes his new evil talismans with him to the town of Gil'ead seeking answers. Unfortunately, only a merecat named Carabel has those answers and it nearly costs him an arm to get them. Still, what he learns points him in the right direction -- if you could call a remote and dangerous cult with untold power over dreams the right direction.
Is It Any Good?
Rabid fans of Eragon and friends will be ecstatic about this fifth installment that features Eragon's reclusive half-brother, while casual fans may find this cult-centered saga too long. It's just the cult-centered part in the second half that really drags out. In Gil'ead the story was really humming. The enchanted giant fish expedition and late-night hunt through catacombs were really exciting and delved into many mysteries for Murtagh to solve.
If only Murtagh kept that momentum when Murtagh and Thorn arrived in Nal Gorgoth, a sulfurous valley lorded over by a half-elf, half-human witch named Bachel with enormous power. Murtagh continually gets frustrated with Bachel's evasiveness and readers will be, too. And then things get ugly -- really torture-ugly. While this adds to the book's intensity and reminds readers of Murtagh's struggles throughout his life and what he has left to overcome, it's still a lot of torture. The climactic action is even longer with so much blood to shed before the final showdown -- along with some rat creatures with a taste for human flesh thrown in for gruesome measure. Many fans won't mind the long, blood-soaked walk to the finish, but those seeking more of the mystery and intrigue of the first half will walk away 700-plus pages later a little disappointed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about names in Murtagh. Why is it important for Murtagh to recite his true name before he goes to sleep? Why is it sometimes hard for him to do so? Why does he rename his sword? What does the new name represent about his inner journey in the story?
Let's talk about the 20 pages of torture. How hard was it to read? Do other books you read ever deal with torture in that much vivid detail? Did it make it easier to understand why Murtagh made the decisions he did afterward? Would the impact be the same with, say, five pages of torture instead of 20?
Fans of the series: how does this one compare? Are you happy to read more about Murtagh? Is there another character in the Inheritance Cycle that deserves their own story?
Talk about Murtagh's courage and perseverance. What helped him keep going when things were so bleak? When have you had to be courageous or persevere?
Book Details
- Author: Christopher Paolini
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , Adventures , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: November 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 15
- Number of pages: 704
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 19, 2023
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