It took a while to get into it. 100 pages in, I was able to get into more of a groove of just going with the journey the characters were on and the psychological aspects of their conversations became more interesting the more pressure was put on them. I had a difficult time in the first half because the overwhelming Man Pain that the main character is relying in to try and get you attached quickly felt over used and tiring. A dead wife is not going to make me automatically care about a dude and it was a bit if a letdown after the vast array of personalities in the crew i. TSIASOS.

However, Layla’s death was used much more powerfully in the end, even if it wasn’t a mindblowing twist when Alex finally sees her last moments alive. What was fascinating was how he was able to realize that he had attached his own angry, fearful, and bitter views onto Layla, the same way he had let it get in the way of his relationship when she was alive. Having him finally let go of his own fears in order to save someone else gave a decently rounded arc for Alex that made me glad I stuck with the book instead of shelving it unfinished like I was originally tempted.

Overall it’s a good read, quick if you can push through the parts that drag early on, and much more thought provoking then anticipated. Paolini’s afterward is also worth reading to gain a sense of why he wrote the story and what he had wanted people to gain from it. Might even suggest reading it first, as I read it halfway through and got the push I needed to stick with the story.