Orbiting Jupiter

Oh my goodness, Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt wrecked me—in the best possible way. I can’t even tell you how much I loved this book. Honestly, it’s already on my list of favorite reads this year. Maybe ever.

As someone who has been a foster mom for over a decade and is also a transracial adoptive parent, this story just cut me to my core. Every single character felt real, raw, and so beautifully human. I kept finding myself pausing to just sit in the moments because they hit so deeply.

The book follows Joseph, a boy who’s been through way too much for someone his age, and Jack, the foster brother who tells the story. Watching their relationship unfold—watching Jack’s quiet loyalty, Joseph’s guarded hope—oh, my heart. Layers of love, redemption, and sacrifice.

This is not an easy story. It’s heartbreaking in a way that leaves a mark. But it’s also full of these breathtakingly tender moments that remind you what grace looks like in real life.

If you haven’t read Orbiting Jupiter yet, please—read it right now. It’s short, but it packs more emotion and truth into its pages than most books twice its size. Poignant. Beautiful. Heart-shattering and hope-filled all at once.

Seriously, just go get it. You’ll thank me later.

(Sequel to follow.)

Murtagh

So… we all knew the story wouldn’t just end with Inheritance. Evil doesn’t just vanish because the Big Bad Guy (Galbatorix) bit the dust. But I’ll admit, when I started Murtagh it’s sad to see they people just can’t get a break. That can feel like when you finish Return of the Jedi and think, “Victory!… oh wait, no, here comes the rest of the mess” because there are more movies now. It kind of cheapens the happy ending that we know there’s still yuck in their universe.

BUT. Here’s the good news: Paolini doesn’t make it feel like a re-tread. The new threat is in a totally different place, and honestly, I appreciated that the people Eragon fought so hard to save actually get to breathe for a while. We’re not re-breaking everything we just fixed, and that helps.

Now, the real reason this book works? Murtagh and Nasuada. Their arc is layered and complicated and full of tension—both personal and political. And what I love most? Paolini gives them equal footing. They both fail spectacularly.

And then there’s the mind games. So many twisty, brain-bending sequences that keep you second-guessing everyone’s motives. It makes the book feel darker, sharper, and more psychologically deep than the original series.

Inheritance

Here we are—the final book in the Inheritance Cycle. First off, the werecats are back, and they’re better than ever. MVP side characters.

This book also gives us something we haven’t seen before: Saphira in real danger. She’s always been a majestic, unstoppable force—but here? She’s actually injured. Vulnerable. And it makes you realize just how much you’ve come to love her. Those scenes hit hard.

And then there’s Murtaugh. I’ve been waiting for this. He gets so much more page time, and honestly, he’s one of the most compelling characters in the whole series. Complex, conflicted, and totally magnetic—he adds a layer of depth this story really needed.

Then there’s Nasuada. Finally, we get a female character who isn’t just arm candy: a pawn or a prize. She steps into her own power here in a huge way—politically, strategically, and personally.

The ending wraps up the big threads, but not without heartbreak and some bittersweet moments. It’s not all happily-ever-after, but I liked that. Feels more authentic to the world Paolini built.

Overall, Inheritance gives us danger, strategy, and some seriously satisfying character arcs. It’s a strong finish to a series that started as a familiar fantasy tale but grew into something uniquely its own.

(Spin off book Murtagh to follow.)

Brisingr

Brisingr kicks off with a bang—literally, because the opening rescue sequence is so good. Bye-bye, Ra’zac. High stakes, great tension, and it sets the tone perfectly.

Roran finally gets to marry Katrina, yay for true love! Though… I have to say, Katrina never really gets to be more than a prize in this series. She has a few moments of conversation, but mostly she’s just there to motivate Roran and look lovely. Wish she got the opportunity to be more than a pawn or a prize.

Meanwhile, Eragon is out here still pining. (At this point, the teenage angst is starting to feel like background noise.) He makes up for it by teaming up to craft a legendary sword Brisingr, following the quirky, cryptic advice of the werecats (who are hilarious favorite side characters throughout in the whole saga—such perfect weird energy).

Favorite sequence in this book is Roran wrestling the Urgal. Legendary. This is the essence of why I love his character—no magic, no dragon, no special powers—just pure strength, stubbornness, and a whole lot of heart (okay, and maybe some cousin-luck when it comes to avoiding enchantments).

And hey, Arya finally gets her own moment of glory—shadeslayer status achieved! It’s about time. Murtagh keeps us interested, and we get a peek into Brom’s history. All good moments.

Brisingr continues to deliver epic battles, satisfying twists, and some of the most memorable character moments in the series.

eldest

Okay, so Eldest—book two in the Inheritance Cycle—is where this world starts to really emerge. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Eragon, but it was basically farm-boy-meets-destiny straight out of the fantasy starter pack and follows Wheel of Time. But here? We actually start to see Eragon develop into a character with some depth. He’s learning, he’s struggling, and becoming a half-elf (that is new). He’s still a little too shiny for my taste, but progress is progress.

Once again, Roran steals the spotlight for me. While Eragon’s off having magic adventures, Roran is back home turning into the gritty, determined leader every good story needs. He’s pure human grit—no magic (of his own), no dragon—just sheer willpower. Honestly, he’s the MVP of this book.

Then there’s Elva. At first, she’s nightmare fuel. Creepy kid with cursed powers? Yikes. But the more you see her, the more she becomes this fascinating symbol of Eragon’s hubris—because, yeah, that blessing-turned-curse was all him (oops). And now? She might be one of the most powerful wild cards in the entire world.

Oh, and Murtagh. Spoiler-free promise here: but he becomes one of my favorites in the long-run.

Eldest keeps the momentum going and, for me, this is where the series really breaks away from that “Wheel of Time Lite” vibe and starts carving its own path. The ending? Total chaos in the best way. Loose ends everywhere, so go get Brisingr.

eragon

Let me start by saying: I loved this book books. I still devoured them as a adult, even with all the cringe-worthy teenage boy pining (seriously, buddy, STOP). That said, if I’m being honest… this particular book 1 feels like a simplified Wheel of Time with dragons thrown in. The beginning sequences feel almost identical, but it does diverge later and become a story unto itself — and a story worth reading.

Saphira is such a legend. She’s got just the right balance of strength and immaturity plus brute strength. She’s a delight. Hands down, a legend. And Brom—complex, gruff, unforgettable. For me, Eragon himself is the weakest point — but protags are hard. I’ve never been the type to swoon for the Superman. Give me the everyday hero who has to work for every victory, not the untouchable guy. Which is why I’m 100% Team Rowan Stronghammer. That’s the Hawkeye/Iron Man/Batman energy right there—no superpowers, just grit.

Now, let’s talk about the movie. Just kidding! Let’s not. It was embarrassing. They did the book dirty. Which is why I’m ridiculously excited for the TV adaptation that’s supposedly in the works. If it actually happens, and if they do it right, it could be the thing my son and I spend our summer doing.

The whole Inheritance Cycle is a wild ride, and even though the first edition borrowed heavily from the greats, it still carved out its place in my heart. Bring on the TV series. Give me the depth, the grit, and please—for the love of dragons—do Saphira (and even the Ra'zac) justice this time.