Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here:
These are recommendations made by tropers for Fan Fics, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be zapped. Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.
Do warn when a fanfic may head into sexually explicit or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.
Authors, and Websites
Opifex and her The Storm Dragons series
- Recommended by Verity, Seconded by Raxis, Thirded by Killer Clowns, who has only second hand knowledge of the Inheritance Cycle, but recommends it on its own merits as a general-purpose Deconstruction.
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Follows the story of a family of powerful black dragons... and the story of a boy called Arren Cardockson who would one day become Galbatorix. Alternate Character Interpretation done right, it turns the original story on its head.
- Comments: The whole thing is several times longer than the whole Inheritance Cycle, but don't let that put you off, because it is very enjoyable nevertheless. The author manages to take everything that was canon up through book 2, turn it on its head, and make the Big Bad out to be The Hero and vice-versa while telling an engaging story. There's a lot of original characters, who are all well-realized and interesting. The series does tend to slant dark, and Anyone Can Die, so be warned, but it can also be funny and genuinely touching just as often, and is definitely worth a read. The series can be found here.
A Short Story by Christopher Paolini
- Parody/Humor
- Recommended by The Cheshire Cheese
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A short story about two very original characters who start the day off with a game of Kick the Can, but finish in tragedy...
- Comments: Disregarding the characters and storyline of "Eragon," this parody focuses on Paolini's writing style. It lampoons everything from his Purple Prose, to his "original" storytelling, and everything in between. A hilarious read for anyone who found Paolini's writing style irritating.
- Fantasy/Adventure
- Recommended by Spiritstrike
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: A retelling of the Inheritance Cycle with a large cast with Eragon and additional Dragon Riders but still follows the original plot of all four books.
- Sequels: Bloodlines, Bloodforge, and finally Bloodwar
- Prequel, Ashes to Ashes, is now a work in progress!
- Comments: Definitely recommend this story, despite some bits of grammar issues. Despite the number of original characters, they are not the actual focus of the story, it also expands on the Ancient Language as well in a number of ways. An enjoyable read for those who cannot let go of the original books.
Brothers by Dragons by darkfire1220
- Adventure/Fantasy
- Recommended by Wannabe Wizard
- Status: In-progress
- Synopsis: Eragon and Murtagh have grown up together with their uncle Garrow and cousin Roran since childhood. One night, they discover two stones; one blue, one red. When out from the stones hatch a pair of dragons, the brothers are pulled into the dangerous life of rogue Dragon Riders as they are hunted by the evil King Galbatorix and his terrifying servants. Taken in by storyteller Brom, they travel for the Varden, the resistance force fighting the empire.
- Comments: An excellent retelling of the Inheritance Cycle where Eragon and Murtagh grow up together, Morzan and his dragon are alive, and we get a well-placed time-skip that allows all the protagonists to grow stronger and wiser than they are in canon. There is some non-canon worldbuilding, but it enriches the narrative and feels very true to the setting. Galbatorix also flexes his evil muscles a bit more here than in canon. Eragon's transformation occurs much earlier and gives him 'the soul of a dragon,' which causes just as many problems as it solves. Firnen hatches early for Arya, and an unexpected but highly welcome fourth dragon-rider pair join the protagonists. It's one of this troper's all-time favorite fanfics. Updates periodically.
- Recommended by Flying Toaster
- Status: Complete
- Pairing: Eragon/Murtagh (one-sided). Yes, slash.
- Synopsis: A look at what Murtagh's life is like in the empire with Galbatorix. Not canon, for how it ends.
- Comments: Slightly (or a bit more than slightly) disturbing. Sad. Again, slash and doesn't follow canon at the end. Still, very well written.
The Midnight Masque by Bluefinger
- Recommended by Felinesquids
- Status: Dormant
- Pairings: Arya/Murtagh
- Synopsis: A somewhat unorthodox Continuation Fic taking place after Brisingr. In a world of black and white, lightning in the night sky; of good and evil, fairy tales for children - where do the real people fit in? The bland, blasé catch line is the same: A beautiful princess is kidnapped, locked in a tower, and is rescued by her valiant prince. The wheels of war are stopped for pitiful fancy, time and time again. ~Is it really so? What of the real villains? The misfits. The forgotten ones. The hated. Behind the wrong colored tunic, the wrong colored mask, they embrace the dance, frenzied, mad, losing themselves in something beautiful and something terrible, something disgusting. Their hours are numbered. The spell is nearly broken. But the masquerade will go on - until midnight falls. They will not wait until the clock strikes Thirteen.
- Comments: This story is beautifully written, and while it's rather slow moving, the characterization more than makes up for it. Murtagh is spot on. Galbatorix is amazingly... something, and is probably the best character in the story. Arya has been deconstructed to hell and back, and is made even better for it. Roran is actually made quite enjoyable. Eragon is a bit darker than in canon, but I believe that the author may change that when she gets around to re-editing. And that's to say nothing of the Original Characters. Really, for someone who seems to specialize in mental instability, the background cast is incredibly sane, real, and solid. Like I mentioned, though, the beginning is a bit slow moving. It's definitely worth the read, though.
Pomnuria Hjarta er Medh Ono by Kaytoko.
- Recommended by Saphruikan
- Status: Dead (last updated January 2017)
- Pairing: Murtagh/Nasuada
- Recommended by Overlord 347, Ronnie R15
- Status: Dead, hasn't been updated since 2013
- Crossover with: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Synopsis: The Dragonborn gets called (read: summoned against his will by a hermit) to the world of Inheritance Cycle.
- Recommended by Lord Siravant, Apocrypha, Ronnie R15
- Status: Complete
- Crossover: The Hobbit
- Pairing: Smaug/Saphira
- Synopsis: During the final battle against Galbatorix, the bond between Eragon and Saphira is severed. Panicked and grief-stricken, Saphira flees across the ocean to a new land, hoping to find some way to heal the bond. What she discovers, is a dragon unlike anything she has ever encountered before, a wild dragon with a love of all things precious and valuable, a King Under a Mountain: Smaug.
- Comments: Amazing story. Everyone is in character, especially Smaug, who doesn't let the Power of Love make him any less threatening or dangerous to others, and while he definitely loves Saphira, she has extreme difficulty curtailing his vicious tendencies. Definitely worth a read.
- Fair note of warning the Quest of Erebor ends up being a "Shaggy Dog" Story.
