Listen free for 30 days

  • Eldest

  • The Inheritance Cycle, Book 2
  • Written by: Christopher Paolini
  • Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
  • Length: 23 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (718 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Eldest cover art

Eldest

Written by: Christopher Paolini
Narrated by: Gerard Doyle
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $52.63

Buy Now for $52.63

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Nominated, Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2007

Nominated, Disney Adventures Book Award, 2005

Nominated, Iowa High School Book Award

Nominated, New York State Three Apples Award

Nominated, Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Award

Winner, Quill Award, 2006

Nominated, Wyoming Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2007

Don’t miss the eagerly anticipated epic new fantasy from Christopher Paolini—Murtagh, coming 11.7.23!

New magic and new threats take flight in Book Two of the Inheritance Cycle, perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings! This New York Times bestselling series has sold over 40 million copies and is an international fantasy sensation. 

"Christopher Paolini is a true rarity."—The Washington Post

Darkness falls… despair abounds… evil reigns… Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix. Now Eragon must travel to Ellésmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust.

Will the king’s dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . .

©2005 Christopher Paolini (P)2005 Listening Library, a division of Random House, Inc.

More from the same

What listeners say about Eldest

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    619
  • 4 Stars
    81
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    495
  • 4 Stars
    90
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    543
  • 4 Stars
    56
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Story, Amazing Story Teller

Story Review:

The shocking revelations really keep you listening with the Inheritance Cycle book series. Just when you think you've got the plot all figured out and you know what's going to happen next (because psshhh, that's the only logical thing that can happen next), BAM, the author surprises you with something you DEFINITELY didn't see coming.

Without spoiling the entire series, (I write this review having read all four books in the series), I'd say the fantasy world Christopher Paolini created with this series is remarkable:

Magic system: 10/10
Fictional creatures (dragons not included): 10/10
DRAGONS: 12/10
Geographical world: 10/10
Character depth (backstories, and continuations): 10/10

Though the story does tend to progress fairly quickly, there are times when I felt it became a little slow and stagnant, justifiably knocking one star off my review. I found myself a few times wishing he would just get on with the story, (next exciting event please!). However, stacked up against other fantasy series' I'd say this one isn't nearly as dry - and the bond he creates between dragon and rider, (not to mention the dragons themselves), are more than enough to keep on reading for.


Performance Review:

I have nothing bad to say about Gerard Doyle. Does anyone? He's one of my favorite audio book narrators thanks to this series, and I wish going forward he would narrate everything, everywhere, forever. Incredible. He delivers a consistent performance throughout all four books in this series, which is saying a lot because he uses a different voice for every. single. character. It's a fantasy novel - there are a lot of characters. The most amazing is the voice he somehow produces for the dragon Saphira and *spolier alert* how he changes it just a little to reflect the personality of each dragon. I think it's important to have consistency in the characters voices because in fantasy novels like this where different chapters are told from the POV of different characters, it really helps you keep track of who's who, and where each chapter is starting from.

#Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it

Loved it

Saphira's voice could be done nicer.
Still couldnt stop listening finished in 3 days.

Happy listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW

let me just say that in the first book I was not a big fan of Gerard Doyles imitation of the dragons but during this book it really grew in me. Not only that but his narration of all the different characters is absolutely incredible, I especially liked the way he voiced the dwarves.

The book itself is very exciting and really activates your imagination, with the help of a great piece of writing and a great narrator you find yourself feeling the emotion and getting dragged deeply into many moments of the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

love it

the book was amazing the whole way through i would recommend it to anyone interested

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A compelling listen.

Gerard Doyle brings the characters of the Inheritance Cycle to life. The story itself is compelling with action, mysteries, and fantasy at its purest form.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

awesome book ! narrator was captivating !

awesome book ! narrator was captivating ! loved the story and looking forward to next book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

unlistenable.

unfortunately the readers "dragon voice" makes the book literally unenjoyable to listen to. which is unfortunate because he is otherwise amazing in this book, and others he does. but listening to his "growl" when he speaks for the dragons makes an an amazing book actually terrible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I can't stand saphira's voice

Love the inheritance cycle, I've read the books tons of times. I wanted to start listening to the books so I could go through them while I was working, but I just can't stand the voices of characters, mainly saphira's. It sounds like he's doing a fat Albert impression when saphira speaks and I just can't get used to it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story

Honestly, this book had an great ending! It would have been greater if the test of the story was on par with it. The pacing was weird, but I’m glad i sat with it long enough to get to the good part!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect Series

Perfect. There's no way else to explain this.. it's trumps every other story, and I'm just craving more and more. Gerard Doyle is a MASTER at narrating. It's going to be hard to listen to any other narrator after him. I would spend $100's to read more from this story and I can't wait to re listen to it all again. Thank you both for such an amazing experience. 5 Stars all the way around

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!