I have much the same comments about Eldest as about Eragon - both are extremely well-crafted novels, and both display the same depth of character. I loved Paolini's expression of Murtagh's character, and his presence as the next Rider was completely unexpected. The only complaint I have about this book is that Murtagh revealed an important plot point - the King wants to keep Eragon and his dragon alive, as his dragon is the only female dragon left. If she dies, that will mean the end of the species. This revelation gives Eragon and Saphira a sort of invincibility I don't care for. If the King won't kill them, why do they need to be concerned about their safety? Does that make everything else they've done up until this point meaningless? As for the undeniable strokes of good fortune Roran and the villagers encounter, it seems a little unlikely an entire village's worth of the King's Most Wanted fugitives would escape detection for quite so long. The other plot point that worries me is the terrible coincidence of everything. Everyone is so interconnected, it seems highly unlikely there aren't more just ordinary people.
Overall: 7 out of 10. I was slightly disappointed with this book, but it was still worth reading.
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