Eragon And Back Again

Meet your new best friend. 

Lucy and Darien try to keep it cool in chapter 36, "Murtagh."

Talking points include Eragon probably making things worse with magic and how that's not really his fault cause Brom is just a terrible teacher, sealing a wound not being the same as healing it, how to write a strong first impression, being very happy to see Eragon making a new friend, and Murtagh being a very good boy. 

Sparks of Inspiration

Lucy speaks about the benefit of establishing a creative schedule. 

Darien celebrates her friends from Return to Camp Halfblood, who all pursue creative careers, with an extra shout-out to Brayden, who literally just founded a theater company (https://www.instagram.com/nextlifetheatreco/)

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

Support the show and listen to our bonus episode about Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

THANK YOU TO CURTIS MOORE, OUR VERY FIRST PATRON!!

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.

Things take a turn for the worst.

Darien and Lucy witness everything fall apart in chapter 34, "Worshipers of Helgrind," and chapter 35, "The Ra'zac's Revenge."

Talking points include Dras Leona being just an awful place, Eragon's odd visit to appreciate the local architecture, Saphira still playing messenger between Eragon and Brom, a daring city escape that shatters the pattern readers have come to expect, and Darien completely misreading a crucial paragraph.

Spoilers for Sarah J Mass, House of Earth and Blood, Book One of the Crescent City at 1:38 — 6:35

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien acknowledges Maslow's Hiearchy of Needs.
• Lucy celebrates Sarah J Mass' skill at withholding information without making readers feel like they're following a dangling carrot.

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

Get support the show and get bonus episodes about other amazing dragon stories 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. 

In the shadow of a spooky, scary mountain.

Lucy and Darien are creeped out in chapter 32, "The Mire of Dras-Leona," and chapter 33, "Trail of Oil."

Talking points include striving for casual queerness in stories, the implications of connecting poverty, enslavement, and religion, Saphira being weirdly judgy about Eragon enjoying an adult libation, and the hunt for the Ra'zac entering the endgame.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy is inspired by very clear water and very cool mountains.
• Darien enjoys a swashbuckling, steampunk sky adventure in The Apollo by Grace Ward. (Psst! Go get a copy and read it for yourself: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Apollo/Grace-Ward/9798868926143?id=9077779963236)

Content warning: This episode contains mention of alcohol consumption.

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

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. 

Eragon, what are you doing?!

Darien and Lucy find Eragon to be maximalist annoying in chapter 30, "Vision of Perfection," and chapter 31, "Master of the Blade."

Talking points include host poses that are underappreciated in an audio-only medium, interrogating why Brom and Saphira insist Eragon was wrong for not wanting to kill Urgals, the struggle of remaining spoiler-free when one of the hosts truly loath an ongoing plot point, and Eragon being a peak 15-year-old.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien is forced to confess her latest hyper fixation, Hazbin Hotel. She really, really likes it. (Darien apologizes for singing.)
• Lucy echoes a previous spark in shouting out how Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+ completely drew her in. And, a bonus Spark, the demo for the video game Tavern Talks!

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

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. 

Mistakes were made!

Lucy and Darien bemoan character (and author) decisions to needlessly withhold information until chapter 29, "A Costly Mistake."

Talking points include Eragon's many mistakes, Brom's complete lack of preparation before taking on a teaching position, suffering through unpleasant character interactions that could have been avoided, some peak, unintentional emotional manipulation, and wanting all the moments of Eragon and Saphira caring about each other. Spoilers for The Adventure Zone podcast and graphic novel series at 8:28-15:08.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy discusses letting yourself be inspired by the real people in your life who achieve goals you have for yourself.
• Darien hyper-analyzes a single panel from The Adventure Zone: Petals to the Metal.

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

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. 

Another weirdly short chapter!

Darien and Lucy support literacy in YA fantasy protagonists in chapter 27, "Of Reading and Plots," and chapter 28, "Thieves in the Castle."

Talking points include employing the powerful writing tool called "the time skip," the sound of mental voices, not spending every waking moment with your characters, and Eragon's odd habit of not reflecting on his weirdly prophetic dreams.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien really enjoyed Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+ and how the nearly 20-year-old story was adapted for a new medium and audience.
• Lucy is (was) excited for the new year and New Year's resolutions.

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

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. 

The journey continues!

Lucy and Darien speculate about mysterious prophecies while pretending they haven't read the rest of the series in chapter 26, "The Witch and the Werecat."

Talking points include Angela still being the best, bizarre choices regarding the "sound" of telepathic communication, character voices, prophetic dreams, and Darien doing her very best not to go negative about an impending love story she really dislikes.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy draws comparisons to the video game Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning.
• Darien owns up to being the reason the podcast went on unexpected hiatus--AKA talks about the book she's working on! Follow her Instagram for updates: https://www.instagram.com/dariensmartt/

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

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. 

Angela is here! 

Darien and Lucy get way too excited about a side character in Eragon chapter 25, “An Old Friend.” 

Talking points include Angela being the best, if toads are all actually frogs, the heartwarming fact that Christopher Paolini dedicated this book to his sister Angela, Angela being our spark of inspiration for the week, and some stuff lore stuff in which Brom doubles down on being cryptic and mysterious, we guess. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Angela!

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

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. 

Sing the song of your people! (Or write it down. That’s fine.)

Lucy and Darien sing different tunes in Eragon chapter 23, “A Song for the Road,” and chapter 24, “A Taste of Terim.”

Talking points include why songs in non-audio mediums are the worst, awesome descriptions of the sea, the song in this chapter being pretty good actually, a practical use of magic that tragically replaces archery, identifying criticism of elements that detract from the text versus criticism based on personal preference, the audiobook version coming in clutch for name pronunciation, Eragon getting the hang of improv, friendly, lore-dropping NPCs, and the tragedy of Boromir not being included in fanart of the Fellowship. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy, inspired by the streamer Deebeegeek (https://www.youtube.com/c/deebeegeek), strives to relive The Legend of Zelda series with fresh eyes.
• Darien reflects on the inspiration one gains from having a fruitful conversation about a piece of media that just didn’t work for you. 

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

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. 

Let’s take to the skies!

Darien and Lucy enjoy the magical experience of flying on a dragon in Eragon chapter 22, “Through the Eyes of a Dragon.”

Talking points include Saphira’s time spent alone in the skies, how the way dragons perceive color may contribute to their vain nature, Eragon’s strong Stanger Danger Skills, the gaps in Brom’s magical teaching curriculum, Eragon’s terrible Lab Safety Skills, Bottled Acid Splash, and a convenient event that leads to Eragon’s cunning plan to continue moving the plot forward.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien celebrates her geode of writing the two-page summary for her novel.
• Lucy gushes over the incredible final battle in Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

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

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.