Eragon And Back Again

The kingdom is in disarray. 

Lucy and Darien are relieved to find everyone is alive in Eragon chapter 21, “Daret.” 

Talking points include how to spot a villain in a fantasy novel (Hint: His name has an X in it, and he rides a black dragon), tracking the various factions we know little about, magical vibe checks, and Darien’s specific choices for character voices. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy speaks on the importance of celebrating every amount of effort put into creating your art. 
• Darien finds inspiration in engaging with works created by different voices from different experiences. 

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. 

All magic comes with a price. 

Darien and Lucy tackle more magic in Eragon chapter 20, “Magic is the Simplest Thing.” 

Talking points include the rules of magic, hard versus soft magic systems, spoilers versus genre tropes, elf lore, Dragon Rider lore, and the danger of discovering one’s true name. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien romanticizes growing up and finding magic in the mundane with Fionna and Cake
• Lucy breaks the rules and shouts out Eragon and Back Again (It’s important to inspire yourself) 

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. 

Things are getting magical!

Lucy and Darien dissect the basics of magic while discussing Eragon chapter 19, “Admonishments.” 

Talking points include Brom being difficult, Eragon conveniently shouting the one useful word, and Saphira’s over-confidence in their growing abilities. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy and Darien both shout out their friend Dalton’s amazing TTRPG skills and how these skills inspire them in their writings. 

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. 

A horrifying turn of events. 

Darien and Lucy somberly discuss Eragon chapter 18, “Revelation at Yuazac.” 

Talking points include writing about horrific events without traumatizing your readers, raging against a broken world, Eragon refusing to bow down to inevitability, and how legitimately cool it is when characters get big hero moments. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien bemoans living in a world without magic while enjoying Fionna and Cake. 
• Lucy exalts her favorite franchise, The Legend of Zelda. 

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

Please note: This episode contains mention of mass death but does not go into detail, nor do we read aloud the passage from the chapter.

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 hope you brought an umbrella. 

Lucy and Darien weather the storm in Eragon chapter 17, “Thunder Roar and Lightning Crackle.” 

Talking points include the unsettling sensation created by the acute absence of mountains, the agony of chapped lips, Saphira and Eragon taking care of one another at every opportunity, and excellent examples of severe precipitation.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy delights in the lovely, silly work of Weishui Liu on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/liuweishuipainting/)
• Darien celebrates the unity of creators and the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. 

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. 

Time to describe the process of making a textile in excruciating detail. 

Darien and Lucy have differing opinions about Eragon chapter 15, "Saddlemaking," and chapter 16, “Therinsford.” 

Talking points include how not to train in a new skill, Brom being shady AF, juicy dragon lore, and when to let the landscape tell the story.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien reflects on stories of joy and identity after attending her first Pride fest. 
• Lucy examines the lessons she learned reading the Hunter series by Mercedes Lackey

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. 

Rest in peace, Garrow. 

Lucy and Darien explore finding purpose through grief in Eragon chapter 13, "The Madness of Life," and chapter 14, “A Rider’s Blade.” 

Talking points include the subtle way Paolini establishes lore, how Eragon really should have trained with a bow instead of a sword, dragon magic being vague and inconsistent, and how annoying it would be to deal with a cryptic, mysterious mentor. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy shares the Hunter series by Mercedes Lackey
• Darien loses her mind over Girl, Goddes, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

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. 

Everything goes wrong. 

Darien and Lucy tread through the air of foreboding that is Eragon chapter 12, "Deathwatch."

Talking points include the most amazing non-magical house in fiction, Eragon's numbness in shock, the cruelty of well-meaning comments during times of crisis, and Elain being the hero of the chapter.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy discussed the first arc of The Adventure Zone podcast, “Balance.”
• Darien gushed over a Reel on Instagram by @Lizard_b.rain

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. 

Everything goes wrong. 

Lucy and Darien discuss Eragon, chapter 11, "The Doom of Innocence."

Talking points include the first place Saphira felt safe, Eragon and Saphira’s relationship persevering through crisis, hints of Eragon’s new abilities, and the fine art of describing chocolate. 

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy reflected on the valuable of viewing one's work as a geode, as presented in Whisper of the Heart.
• Darien shared her experiences spending the summer at youth writing camps. 

Share your Sparks of Inspiration 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.

STUFF IS HAPPENING

Darien and Lucy discuss Eragon chapter 10, "Flight of Destiny."

Talking points include panic as the plot picks up, great concern for Garrow's well-being, how undermining expected tropes can benefit a narrative, and the deep friendship between Eragon and Saphira.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien mused about the meta-narrative found in the difference between the Nimona graphic novel and the recent animated movie adaptation and how the changes reflect a lifelong journey to queer joy and acceptance.
• Lucy presented the wonder of clouds and a fascinating childhood theory regarding the shapes found within.

Follow the show 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.