Book Review: Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia by Christopher Paolini

Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia – Christopher Paolini

As this book isn’t a fictional story book, this review will have a different layout compared to my usual one.

Author: Christopher Paolini

Publisher: Doubleday

First published: 2009

Cover: Hardback

Blurb: Greetings, Dragon Rider.

             Welcome and congratulations – it is a great honor to be chosen as a Rider. I have compiled these papers for you as an introduction to the most important peoples, places, and things within Alagaësia. Study them most carefully, for someday your life may depend upon this information. Mine has, and more than once.

Eragon Shadeslayer

History of my copy: I have owned The Inheritance Cycle for quite a few years now and, although I am yet to start the third book, I love them and the whole world Paolini has created. When I saw this book at a garden centre in autumn of last year, I got my parents to put it back for Christmas for me.

This book is a fantastic companion to The Inheritance Cycle, containing numerous pages of beautiful illustrations and extra bits of information about Alagaësia and the people that Eragon meets. I am a huge fan of ‘interactive’ books, and, with all the pull out extra items, miniature books and different materials throughout the book, it certainly doesn’t disappoint in that area either. Of course, I’m a little too old to believe that a piece of glittery card is actually a dragon wing, but I can certainly appreciate how a child would view this book. There isn’t much to read, and at points I do wish that there was more information about Eragon’s world. However, despite that, it does give a wonderful insight.

To read or not to read: Read. For any fan of Paolini’s books, or anyone who loves exploring fictional worlds in general, I would really recommend that they give this book a go. It’s the kind of book that you can just pick up and read a page at a time, and perhaps just leave on your coffee table for anyone to flick through, as the images themselves are enough to occupy even the most unimaginative of people.