Fifteen-year-old Eragon is a simple farmboy, raised alongside his cousin Roran by his uncle. When he finds a strange stone in the forest that reveals itself to be a dragon egg, Eragon's life is forever changed. He is marked as one of the legendary Dragon Riders--perhaps the last. When dark creatures searching for the hatched egg enter the town of Carvahall and destroy Eragon's home, killing his uncle, the boy plots vengeance. Eragon sets out after the Ra'zac with his young dragon, Saphira, and a mysterious storyteller named Brom. Along the way, Eragon learns how to control his newfound magic--a gift that comes in handy as the emperor Galbatorix continues to send evil creatures after himself and Saphira. Their only hope is to find refuge with those rebelling against Galbatorix's tyrannical reign over the land of Alagaësia: the Varden.

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Eldest is the second book in the Inheritance Cycle. Since assisting the Verden against Galbatorix and the Shade Durza, Eragon and Saphira are expected to journey to Ellesmera, the realm of the elves. It is here that they are to train as Rider and Dragon under the guidance of an expert. Meanwhile, the people of Carvahall are threatened by Galbatorix's forces. Under the leadership of Roran, the townspeople fight back but are eventually forced to flee their home. They begin the long, dangerous journey to join the rebellion.

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In Brisingr, Eragon has more than one oath to keep. Not only has he sworn to his cousin that he will help rescue Roran's fiance, Katrina--he has manifold other promises he made in the past coming back to pressure him into action. The Varden require his services, influence and magic, but so do the dwarves, who suffered much during the battle in which Eragon became known as Shadeslayer. The elves too require something of Eragon: his return to Ellesmera, where he can complete his training in preparation for a final encounter with Galbatorix. It is on his return to Ellesmera that Eragon finally uncovers the answers to some of his most pressing questions, regarding his family, the Riders, and the future of the dragon race.

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Inheritance, the 849-page conclusion to the Inheritance Cycle, details the events leading up to and the final battle between Eragon and Galbatorix. Murtagh is essentially a prisoner, Nasuada is held captive and tortured, Oromis has been killed and Eragon is supposed to face the powerful Galbatorix. Even after all of his and Saphira's training, Eragon knows he cannot do this on his own. As battle rages in Alagaësia between the united races and the emperor, Eragon and Saphira journey to a distant island where they uncover the secret of the Dragon Riders' demise and find unfathomable power within.