This was an enjoyable read, and a good start to the series. I definitely understand/saw the Lord of the Rings/Star Wars parallels that many have expressed concerns about, but I think the author added enough of his own spin to keep the story interesting.

Eragon is very much the optimistic and wide-eyed young protagonist he's meant to be, juxtaposed by the more world-weary and closed-off Murtagh. I really liked both of these characters, and I am looking forward to seeing their development as the series progresses. I also enjoyed Brom as the mentor character. And Eragon and Saphira's relationship may have been one of my favorite parts of the story.

I will say that there was quite a bit of expositional dumping, especially in the first half. It didn't completely detract from the story, but it was quite a bit of background information to throw at the reader all at once and in such an unengaging way.

Overall, this was a fun fantasy read, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.