Book Review: Murtagh

 About the Author

Christopher Paolini has written epic fantasy stories such as Eragon, , Eldest, Brisinger and Inheritance; and they are all from the “Inheritance Cycle” book series. Murtagh is the latest addition to the series. Montana resident, Paolini sent shockwaves through the world when he published his debut book “Eragon” in 2003, and since then his stories have been favorites of young and old readers. He also has published an adult novel, "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” which was his debut book into that genre and Fractal Noise, a second book in the Fractalverse series. He was 19 when he published Eragon. I remember reading the book and just being captured and awed by this new world. 

If you want to know more about Christopher Paolini, you can check out his websites! 

Christopher Paolini's personal Website: http://www.paolini.net/

Fractalverse Series website: http://www.fractalverse.net/

You can also check out his Facebook, Insta, and TikTok for more exciting content. 

Book Format

Like many different books, this one also uses a unique formatting, and its honestly broken down into five different parts, each with its own number of chapters. This made for a much easier read, but the most difficult part about this book is honestly its length. At 665 pages this book is chunky. This made it a little difficult to read and hold, but it was such a good read, I honestly didn’t care. 

Each part has within itself its own chapters starting at Chapter 1 and continuing onward. Starting over at each new Part. 

The chapters are a decent length long, and the dialogue between Murtagh and Thorn can get confusing at times, especially if you’re new to the series. I hadn’t read Eragon in years, and the same for Inheritance. It’s probably been 17 years since I read Inheritance, so for me, it was like adapting all over again. Once you read through a few chapters though, you get used to the back and forth as Murtagh and Thorn converse. 

A really neat detail is at the beginning of each part, (Part 1, Part 2…) there is a map or image of the corresponding area. It really helps to set the scene for the area you will be in and it's a close-up view. You have a large map at the beginning of the book as well as an Addendum at the end of the book to help you with phrases and words you may not understand.

The seven images included are original art pieces by Paolini himself!

The Story

Alright, let's get into it, the nitty gritty! I will be covering a good chunk of the book here, but I will leave the last section for last, for Spoilers so if you don’t want to know the ending, you have no fear of reading this bit. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil how it ends. 

Part 1- Ceunon and Part 2- Gi’lead 

These are excellent introductions to Murtagh and Thorn. We start off with a lengthy recap of what is currently happening. We’re also told of what our main protagonists are planning as of that moment. 

Murtagh often has to go into small harbor towns by himself for provisions and also information. He’s in hiding, and he’s enemy number one for many civilians. In these two parts, we get a good understanding of why Murtagh feels he can’t win and for many reasons that’s true. Even when he tries to do something good, it’s often perceived as bad by another. It’s during Maddentide that he encounters his first “mystery” element. We get a good fight that showcases how Murtagh can adapt in small quarters and unpredictable elements. An informant betrays him and sends a surprise through Murtagh when he comes across something, a bird amulet, that makes magick useless. This is of course discomforting and it opens up questions as to what the bird skull amulets are for, why they exist, and who they came from. The informant leaves him with many questions about Bachel, the Dreamers, and what exactly their unknown goal was. 

In Gi’lead Murtagh finds himself caught in a quest for the answers he hopes to get about these strange Bird Skull Amulets. Carabel, a werecat in a position of power in Gi’lead needs help finding their lost younglings. Obviously, this is a job for Murtagh. At the promise of answers, he reluctantly agrees. He couldn’t have known that this quest would just delve deeper into the mystery behind the Dreamers.

His way into the stronghold though is a bit fishy. Muckmaw has been causing problems for the people of Gi’lead and of course, why not kill two birds with one stone. Whoever takes out Muckmaw, gets a place in the Guard as a reward and that just so happens to be where Murtagh needs to infiltrate. The steps to lure him out of the water, well… that has Murtagh on edge. He needs one of Glaedr's scales, the dragon he and Thorn defeated. It messes with Murtagh’s soul to be digging around for a scale, especially when the site is so guarded and populated. He’s crafty though and he uses magick and water to find and guide a scale to him.

Almost caught, he runs off into the night and darkness of the trees.

Catching Muckmaw is no easy task, that pesky fish almost kills him and he later realizes that the darn thing was enchanted by none other than Durza. No wonder it's so hard to kill. It’s got body armor across the whole of him. Using the scale as bait he waits for the fish to emerge. When he does, the fish is huge and crazy strong. After much struggle and being drug underwater to what he thinks is death, in the end, Muckmaw is done in by a bone. 

After presenting Muckmaw’s head to the leader of the guard, he discovers odd masks, a hidden spell crafting room, and a strangely strong spell caster, Murtagh is left with more questions than answers and another amulet. On top of that, the spell caster is a member of the Du Vrangr Gata and those spell casters are meant to be close to Nasuada. 

Fearing for Nasuada’s safety he finds common ground with Carabel and the two agree something must be done. 

These two parts had me on the edge of my seat and it was hard to put down the book. I was determined to take my time with this book though. There is so much to absorb and a lot of information expertly planted as well. 

Part 3- Nal Gorgoth 

This part is all about Bachel’s group, the village, the dreamers, and making the mystery even more mysterious. 

Murtagh and Thorn approach the village with caution, unsure of their intentions or weapons. Turns out these people revere and some would say, worship dragons. Thorn is pleased. 

The whole thing is very odd from the get-go. The villagers just move without question, serve without argument or passing phrase, and their devotion puts an odd taste in Murtagh’s mouth. In fact, the whole area smells and tastes bad, as he describes it. Bachel is described as a tall woman who has a presence that makes you want to devote yourself to her. With the air she has around herself, and the confidence she exudes; Murtagh can see why the people have lovingly devoted themselves to her. However, Bachel is an excellent dodger and she neglects to answer Murtagh’s questions, let alone telling him anything about what is really going on. 

The Dreamers treat her almost queen-like and she describes herself as the “Speaker of Dreams” and that she is not the only one, nor is their village the only one like it. Murtagh begins to suspect this goes a lot deeper than a small, unmeaning village; and perhaps the problem is bigger than he anticipated. 

On a Boar Hunt, which Murtagh explains he hasn’t had a victory with, he finds himself watching his back, his front, and everywhere because he can’t trust these odd people. The boar are massive, grown big and fat on eating the weird mushrooms that grow in the valley. Murtagh finds himself wounded in the battle, not the only time that’s happened. Bachel killing another wounded he could have healed, pretty much seals his opinions of the place being no good.

Later he’s determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, the discovery of a cave with a sacrificial stone further concretes his opinions on the people and their “mission”. 

His curiosity gets him in trouble though and he finds himself in a precarious position. 

 Characters

The main characters and side characters are detailed and their dialogue is excellent. This might sound funny, but I always imagine what characters might look like based on descriptors and Bachel would look a lot like Lady Eboshi from “Princess Mononoke” The attitude, mannerisms and such are similar. 

Murtagh is unique to the other characters in the book, and when you read his dialogue you know immediately that it's him. Likewise, it sounds like things he would say. Which is a testament to how convincing the characters actually are. 

Thorn as well, is a kindred spirit to Murtagh and so their thoughts and feelings are similar. However, where Murtagh is often quick to act, Thorn is much more wise about his actions. 

Carabel is a good side character and she is entertaining to read. 

Alin provides a good balance as a person in need, but also a young woman who grows out of her fear and finds her courage. 

There are several other side characters, Grieve who I loathe, was a really good bad guy and you definitely hate him by the end. 

Nasuada is, as always, her kind and patient self. 

Uvek is also a great side character and I was fully entertained not just by his stories, but also by his dialogue. He calls Murtagh, Murtagh-man and it is frightfully entertaining. 

Bachel is of course the antagonist and oh boy, do you hate her guts by the end of the book. 

Thoughts

Well, it’s been 17 years since I dove into Paolini’s world and I cannot say I wasn’t impressed. It was a book I couldn’t put down. I had to know what was going on. Murtagh is immediately so likable, and I genuinely care about him as a character. Thorn as well. This is coming from someone who isn’t a big reader on dragons, but this book will appeal to many a reader. The fight scenes were amazing and even if you don’t know much about fencing, there is enough general wording for you to understand what is happening. 

You will see clear references in this book to the “Hero’s Journey” and it's why this book flows so well. It’s made me want to go back and read them all again. I can’t wait for his next book. You'd be crazy not to read this one, it was absolutely amazing. 5 stars, 10 out of 10, Gold Medal and First Place. Absoutely loved it and this is coming from someone who reads mostly fantasy, YA, Romance! Def pick this up and give it a read. You won't regret it.

Spoilers

Okay, here we go. If you don’t want to know what happens at the end of the book just run away, leave, and go read something else. You sure? 

After getting into that "precarious" position, Murtagh find himself beholden to Bachel. He is imprisoned and a fellow prisoner, an Urgal named Uvek explains to Murtagh that its the "breath" that makes Murtagh a slave to Bachel's will. However, Murtagh is also robbed of his magick, since Bachel is drenching his food and water with Vorgethan. A drug that suppresses a casters ability to do magic.

Bachel demands his fealty, demands that she swear to him. Murtagh has been down this road before with Galbatorix and he's not about to do it again. But her incessant torture is starting to ebb away at his will. After what seems like forever, he finally succumbs to her and falls into what he imagines her acolytes also fall into. Control over his entire self, by Bachel.

He immeditaly feels defeated, even more so because the torture he went through all for naught to be still caught in her grasp. Not just him, but Thorn as well. No rescue was coming, no one knows they are there. Bachel doesn't long to making examples of just how devoted Murtagh is to her. She sends him out to kill innocents and Murtagh finds himself tortured inside. He descends into an almost depression, with no way out and his connection to Thorn lost. Bachel treats them like her thralls, slaves to her will and even finds herself so haughty as to ride on the back of Thorn with Murtagh.

Its only because of Alin, that Murtagh is even able to begin to resist Bachel. She forgoes putting the vorgethan in his food and drink and slowly his magic begins to come back. Its right at the last minute before Uvek finds himself as a sacrifice to Azlagur, the strange presence these people have been killing for. A gold diamond he picked up in Gi'lead was full of magic and now he had access to it. He uses a stone Uvek had given him that can use magic to heal, and it did. Suddenly the fog was gone, and now there's business to attend do. Save Alin and kill Bachel.

Firstly, holy crap… I thought I'd read some crazy fight scenes already up to this point but this last journey to Bachel deep beneath the earth, and their fight was just pure crazy. She was not easy to beat and Murtagh took himself almost to death's door just to beat her. His cleverness and how he outsmarted her was so impressive. 

Bachel is like crazy strong, but that didn’t really make sense because she doesn’t use the ancient language, but Murtagh highlights that it gives her a certain freedom because all she needs to do is think what she wants, whereas Murtagh must quickly search for words and craft a spell before he can speak it. Not only that but she’s fast, like really fast and her strength puts Murtagh at a disadvantage. Not only that but he has to defeat twelve of her lackeys before he even gets to her. Their mental prowess is strong and were it not for Alin, Murtagh surely would have been ensnared yet again. Alin somehow breaks free from her captors, steals a Bird Skull Amulet, and manages to put it around Murtagh’s neck just before she takes a spear to the chest. Murtagh now unaffected by their mental assaults, finds himself free to cut them down which he does. Bachel has that pesky Niernan or Dragon Killer. That weapon is dangerous as it can cut through wards and even dragons fear it. 

A wound that should have been fatal causes Murtagh to fight until he cannot. He uses magick to break a large crystal, there are many around the area, and it pins Bachel to the floor. What the heck?? I was honestly astonished. Someone so haughty, beaten by a crystal. The sheer force causes her wards to break leaving Murtagh a moment to clash his now-renamed blade, Ithring, into her skull. Finally, she is defeated. 

The two chapters it takes to go through the journey to Bachel and this battle are well worth the read. It was a roller coaster ride full of twists and turns. Absolutely amazing. 

I cannot truly explain the detailf of such a battle in only a few words, it would not do it justice. You must read it for yourself, and when you do, you will love it just as much I'm sure!

Murtagh awakes in Illrea and he's unsure if he's to be chopped liver or accepted. Nasuada asks him to stay, both unsure whether Azlagur was destroyed or is still coming. In the end, with Thorn's blessing, Murtagh decides to stay.

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Happy reading, and may you walk the road less traveled!