Viki’s Reviews > Brisingr > Status Update

ARE YOU EFFICING SERIOUS Nasuada?? You're the first who benefited from Eragon promising things left and right and now you're upset he doesn't actually belong to you. I dislike this whole ordeal, I don't care if he is separated from Saphira but now she will have her POV and Eragon will have politics... So boring.

This, this is what I am talking about. Nasuada needs to have a conversation with her Nightwalkers, there is a plot point to be made. How does it come about? Nasuada, a very reasonable woman who walks in dresses and observes etiquette jumps on a horse and goes tearing through the camp "to meet the elves". It gets down but in a very convoluted manner.

The thing is, Paolini had plans within plans, every decision was crucial to get the right ending, every decision has important consequences and this one is no different. Problem is actually in how he justified them. We will be glad he has done all this, but only after it's done.

Ah, yes, this I remember. You know you're in the right place when your fictional culture allows people to win an argument by slashing their wrists, non-lethally but repeatedly. That will show them how right you are!

Ok, but isn't this even worse? Eragon spared Sloanne and tried to tailor his punishment to his crime, cool. But to accomplish this, he revealed to him his own true name and forced him to make (subjectively) terrible oaths. Like Galbatorix made Murtagh do. How does this solution make Eragon better/merciful?

Fudging fudge. Eragon somehow found himself in the perfect position - everyone expects and wants him to defeat the most powerful guy in the country but treats him like a child that needs constant instruction and orders. He is young and untrained enough for lecturing to be expected but since he is their only hope, he is also a power unto himself. An unenviable position to be sure.

Determination is not human. Wau. You sure have an interesting idea of humans since you "stopped" being "one of them".

I know this book is long and the style as a whole is prone to long descriptions and unnecessary history lessons, but I didn't expect the queen of elves to provide the first truly blatant exposition that would be much better served at a later time from a 3rd party. Her explaining herself to Eragon in this manner... could have been handled better.

Confessing your former "bully" might make you feel angry and emotional but this whole dramatic proclamation? *sigh*

Stronger, magically and physically, more educated, Eragon still manages to find the hard and foolish solution to his problems. Great.