Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I read _Eragon_ because I found it on a "Border's Recommends" list while I browsed the store. It was okay - clear that the author was young, but had worked hard to create this world (even if it's a mix of Middle Earth, Pern, and Star Wars). So when _Eldest_ was nominated for the 2006 Quills Book Award, I decided to give it a try. I'm sadly disappointed. There was so much potential for this story, but it dwindled into predictability with flat characters. I wanted to know more about the injuries Durza inflicted on Eragon, but those were magically taken away. I wanted to see Eragon fight and really earn his way to become the warrior he needed to be, or at least discover the short cut for himself. But even that was magically given to him. I wanted to know more about Solembum, the werecat, but he was the same as he was in the first book. I wanted to know more about the little girl Eragon blessed, but even her story wasn't resolved - and it could have been. The one thing I knew (even as I was reading the scene), and wished I didn't know, was who had killed the Varden leader, that he wasn't dead, and how he was related to Eragon. Sadly predictable. But the most difficult aspect was the writing. Verbose and drawn out, it felt as if the author was trying to either make this book as long as possible, or sound like Tolkien. I've been a fan of Tolkien and fantasy since I was twelve, and it's clear Paolini is as well. But there's already been a Tolkien. Paolini needs to find his own voice. I think much of this book could have been cut, and the rest combined with the last book. There simply isn't enough story here for it to stand on its own. Part of me wonders if the success of _Eragon_ has taken away some of the author's drive to improve his writing. I hope not, but it seems that way.