Eldest, Chapters 21-24

Chapters read:

• Wounds of the Past
• Wounds of the Present
• His Enemy's Face
• Arrow to the Heart

These chapters are super stressful. Roran's life fails to get any easier, only more difficult actually. The actual levels of animosity between Roran and Katrina's father Sloan is just simply mind-blowing. Every decision Roran makes seems to only enrage Sloan more. Makes me never want to get into a relationship in real life LOL.

Roran is absolutely going through it. His life has just flipped upside down in so many ways. Again, what is relatable about Roran is he is not really handling these problems well all the time, but he's generally doing an ok job as a whole. His father died, his cousin is gone, his property is devastated, his father in-law hates his guts and his fiancé just lost her own inheritance as well. Oh yeah the town is under attack due to some weird alien bird things and other soldiers due to his cousin's mysterious actions and he is planning on essentially evacuating an entire town.

I thought some of these chapters moved a bit fast and were maybe a little overly dramatic but considering all these problems I think Roran and the villagers are acting pretty predictable.

Katrina getting captured due to the couple being attacked in the middle of the night by the Ra'zac and soldiers was a whole scene I forgot about and the Ra'zac riding beasts was something I also mostly forgot as well. Very gnarly and action packed. The Ra'zac are just awful. Roran's toughness is on full display and the book does a great job of making me feel like this is all seriously strenuous and not at all easy for Roran. Roran is not only emotionally, mentally and physically drained but the attack left Roran with some pretty serious injuries on top of a few others from the days prior. I can't explain how but, I just sense Roran's sheer exhaustion and frustration in these chapters. The guy is running off pure adrenaline lately. Literally the last thing Roran did in 'His Enemy's Face' was pass out from trying to charge soldiers with his hammer. The guy doesn't know the word quit. I am excited to see how Katrina is retrieved from these nasty Ra'zac. I can't remember how they get her back and I love that. Will be fun to re-experience how it all goes down.

Reading this as an older person I maybe get the sense that Roran's challengers symbolize just how chaotic life can be as a young adult. New challenges and tests just coming from all angles all at once.

Sloan.

Src

Later with Eragon we learn more Alagaesia lore from the elves as they travel through Du Weldenvarden. I love that so much. They elude to possible other countries below the Beor Mountains. I NEED to read the other two installments ASAP. The Humans may have actually come from down SOUTH which is interesting. I saw Paolini release some globe on social media maybe a year or so ago which I believe may depict more of Eragon's world....

I need to hurry up and READ. Having too much fun.