Review of Brisingr (The Seven Promises Of Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Bjartskular) by Christopher Paolini

I, Like many of you, have waited some time to read this book.  I would like to warn anyone who has not yet read the book that I may give away a few minor plot lines, so reading beyond this first paragraph is at your own peril. I enjoyed reading the book, but I have to say that Paolini has a long way to go in my opinion to catch up to the likes of the late Robert Jordan, Ann Mccaffrey, or Terry Goodkind just to name of few.  That is definately not to say that the book is bad or that Paolini is a bad writer, far from it.  I am very interested to see where the future takes this young and talented author.  His writing as of yet just does not have the depth of some of the forementioned authors.  I believe this is a great cycle (series) to get the younger adults interested in fantasy, and maybe lead them along the path to other writers of epic fantasy.  My hope is also that Paolini will turn his writing in a deeper direction as his fan base matures.

*Minor Spoiler Alert Beyond This Point*

I find myself interested more in the dynamic between Eragon and Arya than I do in any other plot line.  I feel like what happens to Orimis near the end of the book hard to believe considering he is supposed to be the wisest of all the riders.

I also really like the character Angela the Herbalist and would enjoy more of a back story on her.

We learn what the secret of Galbatrox's strength is.  That secret I suspect will be his downfall.

Eragon gets a true Dragon Riders sword.

A New Dwarven King is coronated.

The rest... you will have to read on your own.  The book is worth reading, and I would give it an 8/10.  How well Paolini ties up all the loose plot lines of the story will determine for me if he is just a good writer or something more... epic.