Inheritance Cycle - Complete!

So I have finally finished reading the Inheritance Cycle books!  They were so good and the author definitely saved the best for last.  The final book in the Cycle is called "Inheritance" (hence the series title) and was the longest of the four at 849 pages!!  I was really excited to read this book and find out how or if Eragon and Saphira were going to defeat the evil king Galbatorix.  Let me tell you, Christopher Paolini did not disappoint; this book had everything a fantasy reader could want.

Inheritance started out with Eragon and Saphira leading a battle to capture another of the cities in Alagaesia.  Things are looking bleak, but then the Werecats arrive and help the Varden conquer yet another city of the Empire along the way to Uru'baen and the king.

After this battle, Eragon continues to train his body and mind in hopes of defeating Galbatorix and Murtagh.  While this is going on, Roran is sent to Aroughs to help the Varden stationed there capture the city.  When he arrives, he finds a nearly impossible situation and must devise an extremely clever plan to get into the city, but it costs him a dear friend in the process.  Roran is victorious and is able to return to his wife unharmed where he is given the title, captain.

The Vardens next move to try to capture the city of Dras-Leona, but find it well fortified and difficult to breach, mainly due to Thorn laying on the top of the city's walls.  After a week long stand-off one of Eragon's friends discovers a secret way into the city.  Eragon, Arya, Angela, and one of the Elves best spell-casters set off to break into the city.  Their way is paved with difficulties and some losses.  Eragon and Arya are captured by the priests of Helgrind and held captive to be the food of some newly hatched Ra'zac.  Thankfully, Angela and her werecat friend Solembum are able to help them escape and eventually the Varden are able to capture Dras-Leona, but with many lives lost.

A lot happens in this book, but I don't want to give away all of the exciting details!  I will say that an important person to the Varden is captured by Murtagh and Thorn and brought to Galbatorix; Eragon and Saphira travel to Vroengard (the island that was once home to all dragon and their riders) and discover something there that can possibly help them defeat the king; the Varden finally reach Uru'bean and Eragon and Saphira must battle Galbatorix, Shruikan, Murtagh, and Thorn.  I don't want to say any more about how it all ends, but I will say that I cried a couple of times and was left feeling a bit sad about the ending of the book.

Glad that I read this series and would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy series.  This one was well written with a ton of thought and detail in the plot.  Christopher Paolini definitely left the end of this book open for a continuation series and if he does eventually write it, I will be waiting to find out how life in Alagaesia goes on.