Book 4: The Ultimate Guide to the Final Installment of the Inheritance Cycle

Confirmed Book 4 Facts | Book 4 Loose Ends | Official Theory Articles | Book 5 and Beyond

INHERITANCE: Book 4 of the Inheritance Cycle

Official Release Date: November 8th, 2011

View the official title, cover, and release date announcement!

Inheritance Quest Medallion Upgrade Code:“Lytherus”

“Inheritance” is the final installment in the Inheritance Cycle. However, Paolini has expressed his desire to return to the world of Alagaesia at some point in the future of his writing career. Potential future novels would be stand-alone books to accompany the series. Read more about the potential “Book 5″, prequels, and more on our Book 5 and Beyond page.

Visit our official Book 5 and Beyond page, exploring a potential Book 5, a prequel, and more!

Book 4′s Confirmed Facts

A complete and referenced list of confirmed facts surrounding Book 4. Deaths? Eragon being tortured? A green dragon? It’s all here!

Book 4′s Loose Ends

Our complete list of loose ends set to be tied up in Book 4. This list is a great start for those of you looking for plot refreshers or great places to start with your theories!

Book 4-Related Interviews

Our complete collection of interviews Christopher has given in which he discusses Book 4 and beyond!

Book 4 Theory Discussions

You can’t find a more comprehensive list of Book 4 theory discussions on the internet! Head on over to our message boards to discuss hundreds of theories with tens of thousands of Inheritance Cycle fans.

Eragon in Book 4: Tortured? Dying?
Following Christopher’s revelation that Eragon is tortured and dying in Book 4, Shur’tugal delves deep into the mystery to figure out just how Eragon got there and what this means for our favorite Rider.

Chapter from Book 4: “King Cat” – Review, Analysis, Theories, and More
Shur’tugal analyzes and theorizes about the first chapter from Book 4, entitled King Cat, which introduces the werecat race — including its eccentric king — to Inheritance readers. What does this mean for Book 4? And why do they hate Angela?

Who Will Be the Green Rider?
The ultimate question could finally be answered by Shur’tugal staff. Who will become the fourth and final Rider on Alagaesia? Who will the green egg hatch for?

onlypeoples

Roran is going to be the next rider.
Silver9935

Angela might just kill a shade rabbit with her sweater.
Ward against mad rabbits stiched inside, remember.
Silver9935

It’ll be Arya as the new rider, I doubt Islanzadi would die, I’d bet it’s Nasuada, Roran would replace her. Arya will probably let someone else take the queenship, she didn’t want it anyway.
Even if Islanzadi died she wouldn’t accept it.
P.S. Brom=Tenga’s son, care to discuss, Tenga would be looking for a way to bring him back.
Taurentank

The next rider will be urgal or dwarf. Suck em cookies.
Tvguy10

why is the dragons eyes gold and not green
cheese

In the story that Garzhvog told Eragon he said that the Urgals live in the Spine .. Could this be what killed half of Galbatorix’s army?
Tumnes96

I think that, seeing as the first king of alagaesia was from palancar valley that roran will become king, he’s has the right personality and mindset for it and it will link into the ‘inheritance’ theme because he is from palancar aswell.

Orik has inherited his place at the throne of the dwarves.

Eragon has inherited the title of the first rider of the new generation from the ‘orginal’ Eragon, And maybe he might inherit the keadership of the riders.

Nasuada had inherited leadership of the varden from her father.

It seems likely that arya will inherit the leadership of the elves, yet, as likely as it seems and as much as i want it to happen, i don’t think that arya will be the next rider, simply because it is TOO likely.

These are enough reasons in my opinion for book 4 to be called ‘inheritance’, it fits. Stop Hating
Aidan

i think arya will be the new rider but im also drawn to nasuada. this is because it says in brisingr that eragon felt drawn to nasuada and this would explain the epic romance
Genokiller

arya the nxt riders definetly arya
Fantom546

oh yeah, p.s. i don’t agree with the name either. i liked his pattern of Eragon (six letter word starting with E’) and Eldest (six letter word starting with E’) but it was ruined with Brisingr… it also took him long enough to release the release date. longest space of time between books. I still have to admit i practically jizzed my pants when i heard it had a release date of this year though ^_^
- Posidon2007
  
  I agree with you in that the vault of souls will be a cache of eldunari. but not as great as you may think because what is the suspense in reading a story about someone who had an easy time killing the bad guy? Instead i propose that the cache be samller or similar in number to Galbatorix’s, But contain a large percentage of the eldunari of those dragons so old that they wish to spend all of time pondering philosophy and that Orimis mentioned had great strength and wisdom. just enough to make Eragon stronger by a hairs breath.
  
  King_KRK_V is right in their sinisism on everything else but that concerning the vault and the rock.
  
  I believe that the vault is located within the Rock of Kauthin or leads to the vault, or transports you to the vault, or some other thing. For I think that the lone mountain in the heart of the Haderac desert is he Rock. Orimis stated that the wild dragons once kept their hearts there. They may have gone undiscovered or as i believe the wild dragon magically took precautions and wiped its existence from the minds and possibly documents of the world during the fall. this would explain why everyone seems to remember it and yet has no information. Furthermore, Eragon was told to speak his name before the rock. Yet again a precaustion taken by the dragons that would only allow Eragon to enter with the use of his true name, inciting that quest.
  
  I also believe that that is what the hermit is looking for. if not that then the true name of magic. and would it not be amazing if Eragons true name and the true name of magic are the same, that though i think is too much to hope for. though Eragon has an uncanny ability to discover true names.
  
  If i have not been elvishly logical please tell me
  
  P.S.- I also think there is a striking unnamed connection between gems ability to hold energy and the eldunari which are described as gem-like. I’m thinking prison for the most powerful sorcerer ever?
  - Gabe_brown
    
    i agree with your theory i also believe it was created by morzan and his dragon probably in a plot to overthrow Galbatorix, but when the dragons made the names of the forsworn dragons forgotten and all information about it as well… oromis and brom might have known about this plot along with some of the elves and dwarfs might be unlikely but still. I dont believe Tanga will discover Eragons true name cause then it would give him complete control over him and saphira in alot of ways.. I believe he will find where the location of the rock kuthian is at and how to access the vault of souls..
    
    I also believe that Arya will have to step up and become queen of the elves and not the new rider for obvious reasons. Nor do i believe a dwarf or Urgal will become the new rider unless eragon finds a way to somehow include them into the connection… I believe as well it wont be Roran Nasuada or katrina it might be another elf so then it would even the balance and an elf doesnt quite need as much training as a human would need except few secrets of the riders…
    
    As for Saphira dying i doubt it Paolini said a main character will die im thinking possibly queen islandi…. and for someone being brought back to life im saying brom… brom knew so much maybe more than oromis he spent years in hiding and did many great things and spent all of his time finding ways to bring down galbatorix and may have found a way to bring someone back from the dead thus a slight possibility one of the seven words
fantom546

Vault of souls – a hidden vault of eldunari so great, that with it galbotorix just may be vanquished.

New rider – Roran is not, he would never outlive Katrina. Arya is not, the dragon would have already hatched for her if it was meant to be. Nasuada may be, but she may be the queen of all Alagaesia and another rider king/queen would be frowned upon. Orik has a high chance, considering there has never been a dwarf rider, he is fair, honest, true, patient, and understanding. The new rider may even be Elva, but her fate remains unforseen.

King/queen of Alagaesia – Roran/Katrina or Nasuada.

Other theory of mine: it was said that no one has ever, or ever will be able to bring something back from the dead. i believe Saphira will die. This would leave Eragon “tortured and dying” i believe he will be in such a state at some point in the book, and would not care if he died, and may use all the power in his Aren Ring, all the remaining power in his belt of Beloth the Wise, all the power of himself, all the power of the land around him, and all the reserve power in any eldunari he obtains. it may leave him unconcious for weeks, but i believe he will do it successfully.

Anyone agree or disagree with my theories?
- King_KRK_V
  
  u r stupid
  and the vault of souls is the kauthin rock
  no one will die
  and arya will be the new rider because it say here magic is green
- Aneurism
  
  Uruk can’t be the rider cause dwarves are not part of the spell that bond the races together.
kai

I JUST LOOKED UP THIS TODAY AT THE LIBRARY. HELL YAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE THE FIRST BOOK CAME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM 11 AND IVE LISTEN AND READ THE THREE BOOKS ABOUT 50 TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT, IM GOING TO GET ABOUT 5 COPYS!!!!!!!!!!! HELL YAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- daniel
  
  lol , HELL YES! Im 13!I think ive read the series around 100 times
- Revats Cool
  
  same here man i’m 12
Tutubella18

wasn’t it a yellow egg?
cayya

i have no clue about whats going to happen with eragon. please please please release it faster
Lizbeth :3

I think it is just a coincidence. After all , a dragon only hatches when it feels the presence of it’s rider, right?

Well anyway, I could be wrong . . .
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3IGXUEYU3AO6WDCS3NMZ7ZHUSE Christopher

he just wants you to think the green egg fragment is a coincedence.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3IGXUEYU3AO6WDCS3NMZ7ZHUSE Christopher

he just wants you to think the green egg fragment is a coincedence.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3IGXUEYU3AO6WDCS3NMZ7ZHUSE Christopher

he just wants you to think the green egg fragment is a coincedence.
FTW

Shade that is Eragon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FTW VAULT OF SOULS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FTW Mad Ferrets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FTW

Shade that is Eragon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FTW VAULT OF SOULS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FTW Mad Ferrets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FTW

Shade that is Eragon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FTW VAULT OF SOULS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FTW Mad Ferrets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aidan

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited but theperson who said the egg has hatched is wrong cp said it was just coincedence
Waffles

doesn’t Eragon/the series remind you a bit of power rangers?

Thorn = Red
Saphira = Blue
Glaedr = yellow
Shruikan = black
New Dragon = green lol
Joe

I personally think the movie could have been good if the guy
Who made lord of the rings made the movie
- Vilya
  
  His name is Peter Jackson. And just FYI, he is making the Hobbit into a movie as well, that is due to release sometime next year.
Ray

What are some thoughts about the hearts of the dragons
Silver9935

sign this petition for the movie remake please:D
http://www.petitiononline.com/eragonew/petition.html
Silver9935

duh,yep,duh, Galbatorix’s dragon wasn’t banished, check brisingr
Silver9935

duh,yep,duh, Galbatorix’s dragon wasn’t banished, check brisingr
Edwardcullenrox6201901

I was reading 00hello’s post and finally something clicked. I think it was just having the two details together in the same place.

I don’t know if anyone has said this before, but I think that the Rock of Kuthian refers to an Eldunari belonging to a dragon named Kuthian, who was one of the Forsworn. The reason both Oromis and Arya find the name familiar but are unnable to recall where they heard it before is because of The Banishing of the Names. Kuthian might be the dragon of Morzan or even Galbatorix, but it really isn’t possible to be sure because there’s so much that we don’t know. But I’m still fairly certain that Kuthian was a dragon of the Forsworn.

Who agrees with me?
- AP
  
  wow….. that sounds right on…
  - 11811
    
    ill be shocked if this isn’t correct. fantastic observation.
- Katethegreat620
  
  Hey maybe Kuthian will feel remorseful and tell Eragon the secret for destroying Galby. Ya never know.
Silver9935

The new dragon could easily come from wild dragons in the spine instead of Galbatorix’s vault. Eragon knows the words to make it a bonded dragon. Either way, I doubt the new rider comes from the varden immediately,they may escape from him. The dragon could even be shruikan, he probably only became black because of the shade’s spells.
- billy2000
  
  how do we know that eragon knows how to make a a dragon bond with the rider?
- billy2000
  
  how do we know that eragon knows how to make a a dragon bond with the rider?
00hello

i can’t wait for book 4!!! i bet the red eyed rabbits are shades which is kind of scary. i do not think arya will become a rider because sinse the books are called the inhertance cycle that means the new genaration will be stepping up like orik becoming dwarf king so i bet arya might have something to do with the elf queen not the dragon riders. i think eragon will rule the dragon riders but not alagaesia. mabey roran will. i can’t wait to find out eragons true name. i hope its something like brisingr which will explain him being able to do so much with the one word. but it probably wont be because of sloans reactions to his true name. i think the rock of kuthian will be either in the urgals city or the spine. because both those places are not known well by many it would explain aryas and oromis lack of memory on the name. i hope there are wild dragons in the spine. that would be soo cool.
- guest
  
  i think it might be mad rabbits like angela talked about in one of the books
  - Katethegreat620
    
    Yup yup “Beware of mad rabbits!!!”
- REVO VXL
  
  i cant really agree with shade rabbits that would just be toooo dumb and paolini also said that he will not reveal any actual words for true names so it might be brisingr but you wont actually know, and the rock will most likely be in the spine which i think will be housing the grey folk someplace within. the rock or vault will be the thing that will hopefully put eragon on an equal playing field as galby and murtagh, as far as the new rider theres hints for both arya and roran, green everything for arya she is almost on equal ground with eragon as far as ability but eragon can do more in magic cuz he has more access to energy with saphira so add a dragon to arya and they pretty equal, roran is related to eragon and that is th inheritance part, the sword tamerein is green and is more like a sword for beating much like his hammer, however he will be lacking in magic ability and have to learn faster than eragon did which i doubt hes capable of. my own opinions agree disagree?
- Morrisbratt
  
  it cant be brisingr becouse a true name is the three words on the ancient language that describes you best
  
  so if his name would be brisingr then his personality would be fire, fire and fire?
Krystaldove

earlier on this website, someone stated that it would be possible for Galbatorix to ride a Lethrblaka into battle: all Lethrblaka have been killed. Saphira killed the last two in Brisingr and Eragon killed the Ra’Zac… and the Lethrblaka are not impervious to magic, for Eragon blinded one to protect Saphira… but i want to read the 4th book very badly. i have been awaiting the next book since Brisingr came out
INhEriTeNce FrEaK

THE NEW BOOK IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WAIT FOR NOVEMBER 8th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVO VXL

I must say im unhappy with the reaction to most of you other fans, seriously making a big deal about the title and cover when the only thing that matters is the content i mean you are literally making the new book sound like it will be bad by actually judging it by its cover. who cares be happy that its even coming out, people just make such a big deal about this now because all those theories and ideas could have been avoided if people just didn’t over think it, the title was obviously going to be inheritance.
- Yankingsfan
  
  Why would it obviously be Inheritance?
- http://profiles.google.com/ryanv.hockey Ryan Vickramasinghe
  
  WELL SAID!
- http://profiles.google.com/ryanv.hockey Ryan Vickramasinghe
  
  WELL SAID!
- http://profiles.google.com/ryanv.hockey Ryan Vickramasinghe
  
  WELL SAID!
Quantumleap42

I can’t even. Oh my goodness. I’m so excited. a’lgkhlkjdsalk;h’
I can’t make an intelligent analysis of what I think will happen in the fourth book. I need to wait for my fangirl seizure to subside.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. SQUEE.
Piper

Is Arya the new rider? Tell me. Why does Eragon die?! He’s my favorite charactor!
- Trololol
  
  I don’t believe that it saya anywhere that Eragon is going to die. That would ruin the whole cycle!
- Trololol
  
  I don’t believe that it saya anywhere that Eragon is going to die. That would ruin the whole cycle!
- Albovoci
  
  it kind of said that he would be tortured and he is dying, but not that he actually dies
vanessa

I’m pretty sure that the part where Eragon is tortured and dying is probably somewhere in that other continent where the fabled “Grey Folk” live. Just saying as a theory. It doesn’t mean I’m right and it dosen’t mean I’m wrong. Because who else in Alagaesia would capture him except Galbatorix. Eragon is allies with just about everyone.
Dark Cheddar

I can’t breathe. Hahaha. Excited much.
Karnlight

The wild dragons had to store them somewhere.
Karnlight

Eldunarí: obviously these will play a major roll.
The Rock of Kuthian: Possible stockpile of Eldunarí???
- Krystaldove
  
  i agree with you. ‘Vault of Souls’ sounds very promising
Maria

I am so excited!!! When I saw this I like flipped a brick!
- Abelgoedegebuure
  
  Me too!! Awesome! Finally! YEAH!
Bschafer

The green dragon egg has already hatched read in the second or third book i can’t remember but the chapter is called “scattered nest and broken eggs” it gives a clue that the green dragon has already hatched !!
- Guest
  
  If you read something man, CP has said multiple times that the Green Egg found earlier was a coincidence and that the Green Dragon has not already hatched. Think before you write.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1665712959 Ryan ‘Newbie’ Stevenson
  
  he is right that wouldn’t make sense there also there was no where in the text that the third egg had been stolen or that Galbatorix had found it’s rider
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1665712959 Ryan ‘Newbie’ Stevenson
  
  he is right that wouldn’t make sense there also there was no where in the text that the third egg had been stolen or that Galbatorix had found it’s rider
  - Aerdha
    
    please for the love of god, read all your eragon facts, Christopher Paolini himself said that the green dragon egg shells the he found in eldest while training with orimis, had nothing to do with the third and last dragon egg.
Ngc

If you think about, the book 4 IS our Inheritance.
Mommyhen42

I am 50 and this is my all time favorite series! I have all 3 current books on audible and listen to them nearly every night! I cant wait for book 4! does anybody know how many volumes book 4 will actually be???
Night Angel Kage

I find it funny that his clue was that it is something that Eragon inherits, yet the title was literally inheritance.
Cp9_kaku

Ok i am SOOO excited about the release date FInally!!!
O.o LOOK it’ actually this year! i didnt expect it to come out before next year.
but seriously now…… INHERITANCE? Is he ( C.P. ) making fun of us? All this posts and guesses
for the TOP SECRET book 4 title and yet he gives us INHERITANCE???? He left all the funs and fun sites call the upcoming book : book 4….book 4….book 4 only to name it INHERITANCE??
i have enjoyed the books so much and i am happy that the new book is coming out at last but seriously i have to say….thats kinda lame.
Cp9_kaku

Ok i am SOOO excited about the release date FInally!!!
O.o LOOK it’ actually this year! i didnt expect it to come out before next year.
but seriously now…… INHERITANCE? Is he ( C.P. ) making fun of us? All this posts and guesses
for the TOP SECRET book 4 title and yet he gives us INHERITANCE???? He left all the funs and fun sites call the upcoming book : book 4….book 4….book 4 only to name it INHERITANCE??
i have enjoyed the books so much and i am happy that the new book is coming out at last but seriously i have to say….thats kinda lame.
- Sahiti65
  
  i totally agree wid u , i mean it was kinda dissapointing. *something eragon INHERITS* and it turns out to be inheritance. n i also think the cover looks strikingly similar to the cover of eragon………..
  - Boomer6
    
    that is cuz it IS like the cover for Eragon, the dragon is just flipper the other way
    - Krystaldove
      
      there are subtle differences, the nose and eyes for examples. and the neck is thinner.
  - Boomer6
    
    that is cuz it IS like the cover for Eragon, the dragon is just flipper the other way
  - Boomer6
    
    that is cuz it IS like the cover for Eragon, the dragon is just flipper the other way
- Horsegal4ever
  
  In my opinion, it’s a good name. He’s finally coming into his full Inheritance, and so is everyone else. He’s goign to combine the series name with the actions in the book. I’ve always kinda wondered why it was the Inheritance cycle … now we’ll find out!
  - Yankingsfan
    
    You mean to tell me you didn’t realize why it was called the Inheritance Cycle after reading the first 3 books?? ok….
- Clh196
  
  most books series have at least one book with the title being the name of it. and it is alot better then some guesses i have seen.
  - Yankingsfan
    
    Most? I don’t know about that. And if the title of the series is also one of the book titles, it is usually the first book… and the don’t build up the suspense and try to make it dramatic before hand. Worst possible name.
- Yankingsfan
  
  Ya, I am still not convinced that CP isn’t playing a joke on everyone. That is a horrible name for the book. I think that possibly people were guessing the correct name of book 4 and it made CP look stupid for holding back that info, so he came out with the most unlikely horrible name so people would be surprised. I feel alittle bad for CP. I hope after all this time the book isn’t as crappy as the title.
- Piper
  
  Exactly. But I wondering why Eragon is tortured and dying? Who captured him? Galbatorix? Eragon’s allies with the dragons,elves,dwarves,the Varden,and some Humans in the Empire.
  - Joe
    
    CP already said he wan’t captured by Galbatorix
- Krystaldove
  
  perhaps eragon will recieve his Inheiratance from the old dragon riders in the for of the Dragon’s Eldunari??? the other book’s titles keyed into the story somehow, Eragon as the name of the new rider, Eldest refering to the elder brother, Murtagh(half-brother) and Brisingr being the true name of his sword. i think CP has a reason for everything he does with his books.
  - Aron1202
    
    does the eldest not mean like an elder like ormis ?

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INHERITANCE: Book 4 of the Inheritance Cycle

Book 4′s Confirmed Facts

Book 4′s Loose Ends

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