Eragon

Paolini began writing Eragon at fifteen, and his family first published it themselves before a major publisher picked it up and it became a worldwide bestseller. The story takes place in Alagaësia, a land once protected by the Dragon Riders, who were destroyed by one of their own, Galbatorix, now a tyrant king. When Eragon's dragon hatches, he becomes the first new Rider in generations, and the king's sinister servants, the Ra'zac, come looking for him and bring tragedy to his family.

Brom, the village storyteller, turns out to know far more than he admits. As they travel, he teaches Eragon swordsmanship, the ancient language of magic and the history of the Riders, while Saphira grows quickly, learns to fly with him and speaks to him in his mind. Along the way they meet Murtagh, a skilled young fighter with a secret, rescue a captive elf named Arya, and seek out the Varden, rebels hidden in a hollow mountain among the dwarves. The book ends with a great battle against an army of monsters led by a dark sorcerer called a Shade.

Long, fast-moving and easy to read. About 544 pages in the Knopf paperback, with maps and a glossary.