Status: 15.01.2024, 11:37 a.m.
By: Sven Trautwein
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Christopher Paolini kept his fans waiting for a long time. After a twelve-year break, the long-awaited new fantasy novel "Murtagh" is being published.
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In 2004, Christopher Paolinis released the first part of "Eragon". "The Legacy of the Dragon Riders" became a bestseller in the fantasy field. Some 20 years after the first release of "Eragon", Paolini embarks on a new journey to Alagaësia, this time alongside Murtagh. Was it worth the wait and can the new novel build on the previous volumes?
Christopher Paolini "Murtagh": That's what the book is about
After a 12-year hiatus, Christopher Paolini's "Murtagh" is released. Can the volume follow up on the "Eragon" series? © Future Image/Imago/cbj (montage)
The world is no longer safe for the dragon rider Murtagh and his dragon Thorn. Because of their service to the cruel king, they are hated and despised by all peoples. When Murtagh senses that something evil is lurking around him, his journey into the unknown begins. Together, Murtagh and his dragon must use all available means to track down and outwit a mysterious witch. But this witch is much more than it seems at first glance.
The world is no longer safe for the dragon rider Murtagh and his dragon Thorn. Since Galbatorix's fall, Murtagh and his dragon have been hated and despised by all races, though they did not serve the cruel king of their own free will. As a whisper and murmur of brittle earth and the breath of sulphur sweeps through the land, Murtagh senses that something evil lurks in the shadows of Alagaësia.
blurb/cbj
"Murtagh" is not a fifth part of the "Eragon" series, even if you should have read the previous volumes to avoid any comprehension problems. Murtagh and his dragon Thorn are the main characters of this fantasy novel. In the earlier volumes, they appeared only as antagonists. Who Murtagh is and what distinguishes him was not mentioned in the earlier volumes.
In "Murtagh – The Phantom Menace" the plot builds slowly, this time without epic battles, dwarves and elves. Paolini's narrative style is pleasing, even if some scenes don't feel quite "round". In "The Legacy of the Dragon Riders", Paolini had managed to create several perspectives. He doesn't succeed in this throughout "Murtagh". On the one hand, he manages to work out the differences between Murtagh and Dorn, on the other hand, it doesn't work properly in the "quieter" phases of the novel.
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The "Eragon" series in the right order
- Eragon – Legacy of the Dragon Riders
- Eragon – The Elder's Quest
- Eragon – The Wisdom of Fire
- Eragon – The Legacy of Power
For fantasy fans, this is a well-done novel that fits into the "Eragon" series and yet must be seen as independent. Although the story has one or two loose endings, it creates an adventurous, fictional world that will appeal to young readers aged 14 and up. The thick tome in the scope of Ken Follett's "The Weapons of Light" is pleasantly easy to read and ensures comfortable reading hours in your favorite place. Exciting and best entertainment for the holidays.
Christopher Paolini "Murtagh – A Phantom Menace"
Translated from the American by Wolfgang Thon
2023 cbj, ISBN-13 978-3-570-16710-6
Price: Hardcover 26 €, 784 pages
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Christopher Paolini
Christopher Paolini, who never attended public school and was homeschooled, discovered the world of books in his youth. He was fascinated by the Norse heroic sagas and the books of J. R. R. Tolkien. At the age of 15, he created a fantasy world of his own. "Eragon" is first self-published, but then becomes a secret bestseller through word of mouth. The writer Carl Hiaasen became aware of the book. When the book was published by Random House, it became a bestseller. Christopher Paolini lives in Montana with his family.