If Eldest was the forging of the sword, then Brisingr is the wielding of the blade. 

Book 3 in the Inheritance Cycle continues at a continuous pace. Both Eragon and Roran, as our main POVs, start stepping up and filling out their respective leadership and positions as they are thrown in new environments and situations. Not without a little push back though. We get some insight into the culture of the dwarves this time around too. 

This book marches at a steady beat, but felt like I was waiting for this war to build. I understand wars can take years, decades even, but this one is very one sided. While we spend time with the dwarves, and the elves the previous book, it doesn’t feel like we accumulating to something. Like I’m enjoying putting together a jigsaw puzzle, but I’m not aware of what the completed picture is. I believe part is because we’ve seen very little of the other side, specifically Galbatorix. We seen his hired/enslaved help: razac, shade, magician, and previously the urgals. All of which seem like their cruel or hardened personality and culture have been around since before Galbatorix’s rise. We get one glimpse at the end of this book, but not enough. 

Aside, Paolini’s writing remains consistent- a breath of levelheadedness, and I’m immediately starting book 4.