i was told this book was written by a twelve year old. i bought it thinking this. i later learned it was not true, although paolini was quite young, impressively young even, starting it at fifteen and completing it at nineteen. since it was already on the shelf i decided to give it a look. it jumps at you right quick. no playing around, no setting the scene. just right to business. while the pace continued fine, it was ultimately and unsurprisingly not able to maintain the initial punch in the face (much like the film star trek VI : the undiscovered country).

i don't read a lot of fantasy. sci-fi, sure. especially recently but not much of the molly-hatchet-cover sorts of stuff. i'd place this into that realm and feel a little unqualified to speak to its effectiveness. additionally, i don't know how much of it was actually unique or innovative for the genre. the closest thing i could liken it to is tolkien's works which seems wholly unfair. but as i think on it, i finished it which, especially as of late, says something in its favor.