Begin the original cycle
Start with Eragon and read all four numbered novels before the later stories.
Book Series · 4 Books
The Inheritance Cycle Books
In order from Eragon to Inheritance.
Eragon's discovery of a dragon egg draws him and Saphira into an epic war over Alagaësia, ancient magic, political power, and the responsibilities of a Dragon Rider.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the World of Eragon Books
Read Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance in numbered order. That four-book sequence completes the original Inheritance Cycle.
Afterward, read The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm for three shorter Alagaësia stories, then Murtagh for a full-length continuation. Murtagh is not book #5 of the original cycle.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
This long-form epic fantasy includes sustained warfare, sword and magical violence, torture, enslavement, frightening creatures, major deaths, grief, and difficult questions about killing and power. Sexual content is limited compared with adult romantasy, but violence and complexity intensify across the cycle.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Finished the original cycle
Continue with the Tales collection, then Murtagh.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1498
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2002
Eragon
A farm boy's discovery of a dragon egg thrusts him into a battle for an empire's fate.
497 pages· 157,220 words· Est. 14.5 hour read
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: Eragon, a humble farm boy, stumbles upon a mysterious blue stone that hatches a dragon, thrusting him into a world of magic and peril. Armed with an ancient sword and guided by a wise storyteller, he must navigate a treacherous path where his decisions could either save or doom the empire. As he uncovers a legacy as old as the empire itself, Eragon faces the ultimate challenge: confronting the dark forces threatening his world. Will he rise to become the hero Alagaësia needs, or will his choices lead to its downfall?
In reading order
The Inheritance Cycle Series
4 books · Published 2002–2011
#1
Sale price
$1498
Eragon
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2002
A farm boy's discovery of a dragon egg thrusts him into a battle for an empire's fate.
#2
Sale price
$1498
Eldest
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2005
Eragon faces chaos and betrayal as he seeks to master magic and swordsmanship in a land of elves.
#3
Sale price
$1498
Brisingr
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2008
A young Rider faces impossible choices to unite rebels and defeat tyranny.
#4
Sale price
$1498
Inheritance
Chapter Book · Ages 12–+ · 2011
A dragon rider must defeat an evil king to save a civilization.
Stories after the original cycle
Tales from Alagaësia
1 book · Published 2018
An illustrated collection of three shorter stories, best read after Inheritance.
#1
Sale price
$1899
The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2018
A wanderer, a cursed child, and dragons. Magic and legends unfold in Alagaësia.
A later World of Eragon novel
Murtagh
1 book · Published 2023
A full-length continuation after the original cycle and Tales collection—not Inheritance Cycle book #5.
Sale price
$2849
Murtagh
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2023
A Dragon Rider faces exile and a mysterious witch in a world that has turned against him.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Inheritance Cycle series?
There are 4 books in the Inheritance Cycle series. It began with Eragon in 2002, and the newest book, Inheritance, was published in 2011.
What order should you read the Inheritance Cycle books in?
Start with Eragon and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #4.
What ages are the Inheritance Cycle books best for?
The series is best for ages 12–15, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Inheritance Cycle book is the longest?
Inheritance (Book #4) is the longest book in the series at 274,261 words (860 pages).
Which Inheritance Cycle book is the shortest?
Eragon (Book #1) is the shortest at 157,220 words (497 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring The Inheritance Cycle to life.
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