Eldest is the second installment in Christopher Paolini’s young-adult fantasy series, The Inheritance Cycle. The series includes Eragon (2002), Eldest (2005), Brisingr (2008), and Inheritance (2011), as well as a collection of short stories set in the same universe called The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (2018) and a spin-off novel, Murtagh (2023), which is based on a secondary character. Heavily inspired by the work of J. R. R. Tolkien and other classic epic fantasy authors, The Inheritance Cycle takes place in the fictional empire of Alagaësia, which is inhabited by humans, Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, and other magical creatures typical of the genre. The series follows Eragon, a young farm boy who becomes a Rider when he bonds with a dragon named Saphira, and grows to become a warrior and a hero. As he attempts to defeat the tyrannical King Galbatorix and bring peace to Alagaësia, Eragon’s story follows the conventional structure of the Hero’s Journey. Eldest depicts Eragon’s evolution after the events of the first book as he learns to embrace his new responsibilities and gains confidence in his talents.