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'''''Inheritance''''' is the fourth and last book in the [[Inheritance Cycle]].
  
'''''Inheritance''''' is the fourth and last book in the [[Inheritance Cycle]].
   
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Originally, there were only supposed to be three books, ''[[Eragon (book)|Eragon]]'', ''[[Eldest]]'', and according to [[Christopher Paolini]], the last one would be called ''Empire''. However, while writing the third book, he realized that there would be too many pages in ''Empire'' to fit into one book, so he expanded the Inheritance Trilogy into the Inheritance Cycle, adding a fourth book. Also, it is important to note that while writing ''[[Brisingr (book)|Brisingr]]'', Paolini wrote about 100 pages into ''Inheritance''.
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Originally, there were only supposed to be three books, ''[[Eragon (book)|Eragon]]'', ''[[Eldest]]'', and according to [[Christopher Paolini]], the last one would be called Brisingr. However, while writing the third book, he realized that there would be too many pages in Brisingr
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  +
to fit into one book, so he expanded the Inheritance Trilogy into the Inheritance Cycle, adding a fourth book. Also, it is important to note that while writing ''[[Brisingr (book)|Brisingr]]'', Paolini wrote about 100 pages into ''Inheritance''.
   
 
It should also be noted that on the title page of ''Inheritance'' it says that another name for the book is ''The Vault of Souls''
  
It should also be noted that on the title page of ''Inheritance'' it says that another name for the book is ''The Vault of Souls''

Revision as of 23:19, 28 September 2014

This article is mentioned in Inheritance.
This article contains spoilers from Inheritance.

Inheritance is the fourth and last book in the Inheritance Cycle.

Originally, there were only supposed to be three books, Eragon, Eldest, and according to Christopher Paolini, the last one would be called Brisingr. However, while writing the third book, he realized that there would be too many pages in Brisingr

to fit into one book, so he expanded the Inheritance Trilogy into the Inheritance Cycle, adding a fourth book. Also, it is important to note that while writing Brisingr, Paolini wrote about 100 pages into Inheritance.

It should also be noted that on the title page of Inheritance it says that another name for the book is The Vault of Souls

Summary

The book opens with the Varden's attack on Belatona. In the midst of the battle, Saphira is nearly killed by the Dauthdaert Niernen, a spear from Du Fyrn Skulblaka created to withstand and kill dragons. Eragon and Arya find Lord Bradburn and subdue him, taking control of the city. In the aftermath they are offered an alliance by the werecats, which they accept. That night, Elain's baby, Hope, is born with a cat lip, which Eragon sings through the night to heal. Roran is sent to take Aroughs, avoiding a two fronted war. In the process, his friend/magician Carn is killed. Roran rejoins the Varden at Dras-Leona where they make plans to attack the city. Jeod conveniently finds references to an incomplete sewer system under the city and Eragon leads a group into the city to open the gates for the Varden. After being discovered by soldiers, one of Blödhgarm's spellcasters, the-previously-unnamed Wyrden, is killed in a trap. Eragon and Arya are captured by the priests of Helgrind to be fed to their Ra'zac eggs. Angela and Solembum rescue them, during which Angela reveals she is in possession of the sharpest blade in existence, Albitr (which she calls 'Tinkledeath'), killing most of the priests in the process. Eragon defeats Murtagh and Thorn with the use of the energy stored in the ring Aren and the Varden take control of the city. Murtagh and Thorn attack the Varden camp and take Nasuada prisoner, which has surprisingly little effect. In the absence of Nasuada, Eragon is appointed the leader of the Varden as they march towards Urû'baen.

After Eragon is made leader of the Varden, he decides to find the Vault of Souls. He visits the werecat Solembum for further information on the Vault. Solembum at first refuses to disclose more information about the Vault of Souls, but Eragon convinces him to elaborate. Solembum reveals that soon after the Fall of the Riders, the entire werecat race was told that if another Dragon Rider not under Galbatorix's influence or in his service, they were to advise the Rider to look under the roots of the Menoa tree for a weapon and inform them of the Vault of Souls. Heeding Solembum's advice, Eragon, Glaedr, and Saphira set out for Vroengard, where they discover their true names so they can gain access to the Vault of Souls. Descending into the Vault, the three find a massive cache of Eldunari, along with over two hundred dragon eggs. The leader of the Eldunari, Umaroth, once a white dragon bonded with Vrael, tells Eragon and Saphira of how Oromis and Glaedr were instrumental in saving the dragon eggs and the Eldunari (they convinced the wild dragons to give up their eggs for safety, and then gave 26 of those eggs to the Riders).

Eragon departs from Vroengard with all but a few of the Eldunarí to protect the eggs remaining in the Vault. Upon leaving, all knowledge of the eggs' existence is wiped from the minds of Eragon, Saphira, and the Eldunari accompanying them so that Galbatorix cannot make use of that information.

Eragon leaves for Urû'baen, which is under siege by the Varden. He is accompanied by Blödhgarm, the ten remaining elven spellcasters, Arya, and Elva. After a deceptive scheme, they break into Galbatorix's citadel. Eragon then tries to locate Galbatorix and progresses through a series of traps, while Blödhgarm and the ten elves are captured before finally locating Galbatorix in a huge chamber. Galbatorix subdues the three of them and tells them that he has learnt the true name of the Ancient Language and thus has true power over them and can defeat the Varden when he sees fit. Eragon is then forced to fight Murtagh. They clash, and Eragon tricks Murtagh and sinks Brisingr into his belly. After being defeated, Murtagh realizes that his true name has changed. Murtagh then attacks Galbatorix, using the Name of Names to temporarily paralyze Galbatorix's magic and stripping Galbatorix of almost all of his wards. This allows Eragon to cast a spell using the energy of the Eldunarí to make Galbatorix understand his crimes. As it is a spell with no words, and only a communication rather than an attack spell, Galbatorix is unable to defend himself and is crippled by it. Although he makes an attempt to invade Eragon's mind, Murtagh overpowers him and Arya fatally stabs Shruikan in the eye with Niernen. Galbatorix is then stabbed in the stomach by Eragon. In retaliation, Galbatorix tries to kill everyone in the room by "unmaking" himself and becoming pure energy in a huge explosion. However, Eragon uses the energy from the Eldunarí to protect himself and the others. The downfall of Galbatorix is mainly due to the assistance of Murtagh and Thorn, who are able to break free of their oaths to Galbatorix due to dramatic changes in their identities. During Nasuada's captivity at Urû'baen, Murtagh assisted her to the best of his ability in resisting Galbatorix, because of the love he had fostered for her over the many months since he had met her, and it was this love that was largely responsible for his identity change. Free for the first time since being bonded together, Murtagh and Thorn fly north to let their hate and rage cool down, and to rethink many things.

After Galbatorix's demise, Nasuada becomes the Queen of the Empire. Arya becomes Queen of the Elves after the death of her mother to Galbatorix's general Lord Barst during the battle. She also resumes her role as the courier for the newly rescued green dragon egg, which soon hatches for her. Arya then becomes a Rider and names her male dragon Fírnen.

With the threat of Galbatorix removed, Eragon and Saphira are able to remember the location of the hidden eggs, and they work together to find a suitable place to house the now numerous Eldunari (from both Galbatorix's collection and the Vault of Souls) and to accommodate a new order of Riders. During this process, Eragon also solves the problem of binding all the races together, by reworking the magic of the land to include both the dwarves and the Urgals in the bond between riders and dragons, meaning that dragons can now hatch for an Urgal or a dwarf.

In the end, Eragon decides that there is no safe place to raise/train dragons and their Riders in Alagaësia. With the approval of all the leaders of the various races, he elects to transport all the Eldunarí and dragon eggs to a new location (in the east) save two, one of which is sent to the dwarves, and the other to the Urgals, if neither egg happens to choose a Rider, they would swap places. Eragon and Arya realize their true feelings (love) for each other and he offers Arya the chance to accompany him down the river and away from Alagaësia, and to help train the new Riders. She declines because of her duty as the elves' new queen. With heavy hearts, Eragon and Saphira, depart Alagaësia. The book ends with the envisioned scene mentioned in the previous books of two people getting on a boat (Eragon and Arya) and sailing away while two dragon are flying overhead and a man on the beach (Roran) yells at his loss. Arya then flies off with her dragon. At first, Eragon weeps for all that he is leaving behind, but in time, he comes to realize that he would have another chance at life in his new adventure to raise/train the next generation of Riders and their dragons. With that in mind, he looks forward to his new life, "a life with dragons and Riders".

Sneak peek

The paperback edition of Brisingr, released April 13, 2010 to the USA and Canada, includes the fourth chapter, King Cat, from Inheritance.

Cover flap summary

"It started with Eragon... It ends with Inheritance" "Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders."

"Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances."

"The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?"

"This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance Cycle."

Chapters

  1. Into the Breach
  2. Hammerfall
  3. Shadows on the Horizon
  4. King Cat
  5. Aftermath
  6. Memories of the Dead
  7. What Is a Man?
  8. The Price of Power
  9. Rudely into the Light …
  10. A Cradle Song
  11. No Rest for the Weary
  12. Dancing with Swords
  13. No Honor, No Glory, Only Blisters in Unfortunate Places
  14. Mooneater
  15. Rumors and Writing
  16. Aroughs
  17. Dras-Leona
  18. A Toss of the Bones
  19. My Friend, My Enemy
  20. A Flour Made of Flame
  21. Dust and Ashes
  22. Interregnum
  23. Thardsvergûndnzmal
  24. The Way of Knowing
  25. A Heart-to-Heart
  26. Discovery
  27. Decisions
  28. Under Hill and Stone
  29. To Feed a God
  30. Infidels on the Loose
  31. The Tolling of the Bell
  32. Black-Shrike-Thorn-Cave
  33. Hammer and Helm
  34. And the Walls Fell …
  35. By the Banks of Lake Leona
  36. The Word of a Rider
  37. Conclave of Kings
  38. A Maze Without End
  39. Fragments, Half-Seen and Indistinct
  40. Questions Unanswered
  41. Departure
  42. The Torment of Uncertainty
  43. The Hall of the Soothsayer
  44. On the Wings of a Dragon
  45. The Sound of His Voice, the Touch of His Hand
  46. Small Rebellions
  47. A Crown of Ice and Snow
  48. Burrow Grubs
  49. Amid the Ruins
  50. Snalglí for Two
  51. The Rock of Kuthian
  52. And All the World a Dream
  53. A Question of Character
  54. The Vault of Souls
  55. Lacuna, Part the First
  56. Lacuna, Part the Second
  57. Return
  58. The City of Sorrows
  59. War Council
  60. A Matter of Duty
  61. Fire in the Night
  62. Over the Wall and into the Maw
  63. The Storm Breaks
  64. That Which Does Not Kill …
  65. The Heart of the Fray
  66. The Name of All Names
  67. Muscle Against Metal
  68. The Gift of Knowledge
  69. Death Throes
  70. A Sea of Nettles
  71. Heir to the Empire
  72. A Fitting Epitaph
  73. Pieces on a Board
  74. Fírnen
  75. A Man of Conscience
  76. Blood Price
  77. Promises, New and Old
  78. Leave-Taking

Extra:

  • Pronunciation Guide
  • Glossary
  • Acknowledgements

Gallery

Map of Alagaësia

Du WeldenvardenNorth SeaNorth SeaTüdosten LakeDu WeldenvardenDu WeldenvardenDu WeldenvardenAlagaësiaArdwen LakeAroughsÂz RagniBeartooth RiverBeirland IslandBelatonaBeor MountainsBullridgeCarvahallPalancar ValleyCerisCeunonCithríDalgonDaretDauthDoru AraebaDras-LeonaEdda RiverEldor LakeEllesméraEoamFeinsterFläm LakeFurnostGaena RiverGalfniGil'eadHadarac DesertHedarthHelgrindÍlia FëonIllium IslandIsenstar LakeOrthíadJiet RiverKirtanKuastaLeona LakeLithgowMelianNädindelNardaNía IslandNinor RiverOsilonParlim IslandPetrøvyaRamr RiverReavstoneRöna LakeSharktooth IslandSílthrimSurdaTarnagTeirmThe EmpireThe EmpireThe SeaThe SpineThe SpineTherinsfordToark RiverUden IslandUrû'baenUtgard MountainVroengardWoadark LakeYazuacSouthern IslesTronjheimKóstha-mérnaFarthen DûrAlagaësia

Note: The map is accurate for times up to and during the early Rider War.

Deluxe Edition

The deluxe edition of Inheritance, set to be released on October 23 2012 in the United States, will include an extra scene, a letter from Jeod detailing life after the conclusion of the Rider War, a letter from Paolini on the series and artwork from Paolini and John Jude Palencar.[1]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Shurtugal.com press release, June 18 2012.
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