Eldest

Eldest is the second novel in The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini and the sequel to Eragon. It was first published in hardcover on 23 August 2005 and released in paperback in September 2006, and it became a New York Times bestseller like its predecessor.

The story continues the adventures of Eragon and Saphira and centres on their journey to the realm of the elves so that Eragon can continue his training as a Dragon Rider. Other plot lines focus on Roran, Eragon's cousin, who leads the inhabitants of their home village after the events of the first book, which lets the novel widen its view beyond the protagonist. The training he is sent to finish is in Ellesmera, the elven realm, and it covers magic and swordsmanship as well as the care of a dragon.

The series was written when the author was still very young. Eldest has been released as an audiobook and an e-book and translated into other languages, and it is the middle volume of the cycle, positioned between Eragon and Brisingr. A deluxe edition followed in September 2006 with additional information and new art, and the paperback had appeared a month earlier.