MANY Spoilers!
Chapters read:
- Orders
- Footprints of Shadow
- Over Hill and Mountain
- For My Love
These books are magical. Getting lost in this story, I feel genuinely transported. Problems forgotten for a few hours. I think books are a big reason why I started to watch less TV back in the day.
I sensed the scene with Nar Garzhvog from reading Brisingr ages ago. That scene was enjoyable then, and it was now. 'Over Hill and Mountain' was truly a well written and deeply intriguing chapter. The Urgals continue to be fascinating on many levels. They seem genuinely intelligent, yet their ferocity and love for battle makes many fear them. Nar Garzhvog actually being brutally honest with his understanding that, his people should likely change their ways for their own survival was eye-opening. The way Eragon acted around Nar Garzhvog was really interesting. Nar Garzhvog is not only a Kull, but he is a warchief. He apparently defeated a cave bear with his bare hands, which is just out of this world considering later in the chapter they run into a cave bear and apparently it was nearly as big as a house. Eragon even suggests that Saphira would struggle with fighting such a bear, Nar Garzhvog comments that Saphira has fire so she's good.
Still, considering that Nar Garzhvog defeated a cave bear with his bare hands, and then seeing the magnitude of what that feat really means was really eyebrow-raising. I mean, the guy is built different and the more I think of it, the more mind blowing this feels.
In a roundabout way, I believe it's being said that without magic, and without fire, Nar Garzhvog could possibly hold his own with a smaller sized dragon. I say Nar Garzhvog specifically and not Kull because I'm starting to think that this guy might be a legend in his own way.
Eragon says at the end of 'Footprints of Shadow' that him and Nar Garzhvog running together has never happened in all of recorded history. Nar Garzhvog himself points out that the defeat of the cave bear with his bare hands is not common even amongst the Kull, I get the impression though that accomplishing this is probably pretty much unheard of. Nar Garzhvog has displayed high intelligence and high character on multiple occasions to go along with his physically dominating presence. This guy might be the chosen one for the Urgals, I'm not even kidding.
Nar Garzhvog might be able to save the Kull and Urgals, whereas the Ra'zac on the other hand just proved to be too nasty to actually survive. Ra'zac and Urgals alike have shown to be troublesome for Alagaesia, but with Nar Garzhvog's guidance, perhaps he can lead the Urgals to a path of peace.
Further similarities between Urgals and Ra'zac and the possible implications are sort of stunning. The Ra'zac were the ideal hunter of humans, and the Urgals are very similar in that respect, especially Kull. The Ra'zac are universally disliked, and again the same goes for Urgals for the most part. I have ideas that one day, magic may be banned in Alagaesia, I forget where I got that idea from. In a world where magic did become banned, and in a world where Urgals/Kull learn to not be so aggressive, the Urgals could really slowly thrive in Alagaesia instead of being attacked and feared by everyone. The Urgals and Kull have serious potential.
Eragon noticed and pointed out that Urgals and Dwarves both have fourteen toes, which is a fascinating common trait. Hearing an Urgal story and learning of some more of their traditions from Nar Garzhvog was so fun. I can't put my finger on it but, I believe the Shrrg and cave bear encounters may have had some type of meaning as well. I think reading the series before and knowing what comes next kind of aids in many of my theories and excitement here in general.
Overall, their little journey was a fun, and surprisingly peaceful read. Eragon and Nar Garzhvog seem deeply intrigued by each other, and I sense they're becoming solid friends. I just get the vibe that this little trip may have changed the course of Alagaesia forever. Eragon even suggested he'd get revenge on any beast that may defeat Nar Garzhvog in the forest. Eragon's respect for Nar Garzhvog is simply evident. This felt like a mini journey of destiny.
This was one of the first mind-blowing moments I've had during this re-read. The journey of the Urgals in this series is way more impressive than I remembered.
Otherwise, Roran continues to prove how much of a tank he really is and I get the sense he's moving up in the Varden's ranks quite soon.
One of the better sections I've read. I'm a hair over half-way through now. I'm grateful I have this book. Doesn't require wi-fi!!