A new point of view character?!

Lucy and Darien practice some political intrigue in Eldest chapter 3, “Roran,” and chapter 4, “The Hunted Hunters.”

Talking points include a sincere wondering if anyone “gets” the name of the podcast, analyzing why these chapters are seemingly “boring” compared to others, the value of social norms in a fantasy narrative, Katrina being great, how people deserve to worry about normal, everyday kerfuffles, an imbalanced loneliness between cousins, and Roran busting out the SAT words.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy and Darien are thrilled to discuss Sara Raach’s Go Luck Yourself.

  
  

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to [email protected] (Here it is, Owen!!)

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! Enjoy recent episode about D-War at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt. 

Never underestimate Nasuada.

Lucy and Darien practice some political intrigue in Eldest chapter 2, “The Council of Elders,” and chapter 3, “Truth Among Friends.” 

Talking points include how, even though Murtagh dies at the start of Eldest, Paolini wrote a whole prequel book about him and a red dragon, Lucy’s feelings about Eragon attempting to scry Murtagh using a tear, the worst time to deal with chronic pain, the best(?) place to store a dagger, Nasuada being incredible, and Arya subtle strategies to keep Eragon at a distance. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien reflects on the value of being comfortable in your creative space.

• Lucy enjoys rereading John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series. 

  
  

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to [email protected] (Here it is, Owen!!)

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! Enjoy recent episodes about The Reluctant Dragon (1941) and Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons⁠

https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

What a way to start this book…

Darien and Lucy unpack the unexpected trauma that is Eldest chapter 1, “A Twin Disaster.” 

Talking points include Paolini's recontextualization of previous events in order to prioritize new themes, being told about and not shown some pretty important plot points, compelling evidence for Eragon having no sense of smell, a totally spoiler-free observation of the chapter title, and the ways this heavy chapter sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy combats seasonal depression with the mobile game DragonVale!

• Darien pretends to be an enigmatic magical girl in her new Girl by Moonlight campaign 🌙

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to [email protected] (Here it is, Owen!!)

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! Enjoy recent episodes about The Reluctant Dragon (1941) and Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt. 

Y'all Showed Up 💛💜

Let's celebrate finishing Eragon by emptying out the mail bag! Thank you dear listeners for so many wonderful, thoughtful comments and emails!!

Talking points include really digging into the Shade backstory and how it can mirror Eragon's experiences, relitigating the “Who Should Have Taken Off Saphira's Armor?” Case, taking care not to boil down the worth of a human being to their ability to reproduce, Eragon being absent in the host’s Top Three Favorite Characters lists, starting the Roran Hype Tour, an unexpected detour into Twilight lore and head canons, and Darien getting (rightfully) called out for not consistently including the podcast email in the show notes. 

Here's that deep Twilight lore account Darien mentioned in this episode: https://www.instagram.com/sarahelizabeth_talks?igsh=MWlhdnJoeW5sczZmcw==

Sparks of Inspiration

• Our fabulous listeners!!! 

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to [email protected] (Here it is, Owen!!)

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor 

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt. 

We did it!

Lucy and Darien wrap the first book in The Inheritance Cycle with Eragon chapter 58, “Battle Under Farthen Dur,” and chapter 59, “The Mourning Sage.” 

Talking points include the Urgals still be labeled as monsters, Hrothgar’s daring fashion statement, Angela’s incredible entrance on the battlefield, pondering why exactly Eragon when off alone while Arya took the armor off Saphira, an epic fight scene, a somewhat oddly placed tragic backstory reveal, interrogating Eragon’s reaction to his new scar, and looking to future adventures. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy and Darien share the joy of finishing Eragon and making a podcast together. 

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to [email protected]

Check out this AMAZING art discussed in the episode https://www.instagram.com/p/DC43uhnSvGj/?igsh=aGM2cm54NWs1Znk=

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor 

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt. 

Antici…

Darien and Lucy get ready for battle in Eragon chapter 57, “The Shadows Lengthen.” 

Talking points include an exciting new way for Eragon to wake up in a chapter, Saphira’s daring new fashion statement, Eragon praising Murtaugh for being “merciless” in situations he approves of, building tension for the coming battle, Arya being unable to shut down this kid who keeps hitting on her, and things getting wyrd. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien is enjoying the amazing Discworld series by Terry Pratchett

• Lucy shouts out amazing DM, (and friend of the show) Dalton! 

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠@EragonPod⁠ or send an email to [email protected]

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

…pation

Cover art by Luana Pastor 

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt. 

You don’t want to fail this test. 

Lucy and Darien need Eragon to get a job and leave her alone in Eragon chapter 56, “Arya’s Test.” 

Talking points include the Twins not shaking the suspicious allegations, pentagrams being just for show, majestic elven Naruto-running, interrogating why Eragon’s pining for Arya is so irritating to the hosts, a weirdly placed piece of foreshadowing, and Paolini’s habit of elevating certain female characters by tearing other women down. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy and Darien talk about the delightful and unexpected complex The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raach

  
  

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your Geodes with us on Instagram ⁠@EragonPod⁠ 

Listen to our bonus episode about Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor 

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

Someones are very suspicious…

Darien and Lucy choose joy in Eragon chapter 55, “Hall of the Mountain King.” 

Talking points include some excellent architecture, tidbits of dwarf lore, these twins being too damn suspicious, excitement over a new cool character, troubling implications about women implied by specific word choices, and Saphira and Solembum being Magical Creature Friend Goals.

We invite all our listeners to share their examples of joyful, radical defiance with us on Instagram @EragonPod 

Share your thoughts on Eragon as a whole book or your predictions for the future by emailing us at [email protected]

Listen to our bonus episode about Netflix’s Damsel on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor 

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt. 

Witches, rejoice!

Lucy and Darien are sure this won't come back to haunt us later in Eragon chapter 53, “Bless the Child, Argetlam” and chapter 54, “Mandrake Root and Newt's Tongue."

Talking points include Eragon having a chance to chill, Eragon passing Orik’s vibe check, Orik passing Saphira’s vibe check, Darien short but hard Will Not Eat list, the daily realities of what it means to be a Dragon Rider, using the audio book to cheat at reading the Ancient Language out loud, and Angela just being the best. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien gets into spooky season with Hellaween by Moss Lawton.
• Lucy has some spoons back as her day job lightens up.

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your Geodes with us on Instagram @EragonPod 

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor 

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt. 

Ajihad is one cool dude. 

Darien and Lucy get some answers in Eragon chapter 51, “The Glory of Tronjheim,” and chapter 52, “Ajihad.”

NOTE: In this episode, Darien draws incorrect conclusions about the inspiration of that city name Tronjheim. Listeners have since informed us that the name is a reference to a real world city in Norway! How cool!!

Talking points include Darien’s steadfast refusal correctly pronounce the name of the dwarven city, how cool Ajihad is, how very suspicious these creepy nameless twins are, mixing up the plot of the wedding episode of Monk with the plot of the wedding episode of Sherlock, avoiding [blank] as default when writing character descriptions, referencing the map, a brief AU where Arya successfully sent Saphira’s egg to Brom, filling in the details of Brom’s mysterious conversation 500 pages later, and figuring who does or doesn’t like Eragon. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy celebrates starting her own book club!
• Darien shouts out the frightening and fabulous Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass.

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your Geodes with us on Instagram @EragonPod 

Get more Eragon and Back Again on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor 

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.