A fond farewell to a fan favorite.

Darien and Lucy reflect on Eldest and celebrate being halfway through The Inheritance Cycle.

Talking points include the future of the podcast, the requirements for discussing Eragon (2006) on the pod, external factors that contribute to publishing success, Top 10 Anime Betrayals, Greek v. Tolkenian heroes, Eragon's protagonist powers, old fandom lore, and the trouble with “growing with the characters.”

If you really need to hear us discuss the cursed Eragon movie, check out Fandom and Folklore: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Dd2FOs3gsZGymUmWFA5Hx

Skip to 46:43 to avoid minor end of the series spoilers.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Oh my goodness, we forgot to do Sparks…

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eldest with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Reversal of the Heart by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for generative AI or large language models training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

Will we ever meet this red dragon?

Diego returns to join Lucy and Darien for reunions and big reveals in Eldest chapter 68, “Convergence,” chapter 69, “Eldest,” chapter 70, “Inheritance,” and chapter 71, “Reunion.”

Talking points include Roran being able to pull off all the one-liners, the most spectacular freefall, Murtagh’s dramatic return, Eragon not thinking about his supposedly dead friend for literally half the book, Roran’s big dramatic scene being in another POV, and embarrassing childhood confession, and what it means to be family.

Content Warning: This episode contains mention of suicide, sexual violence, blood, violence, and death in relation to war.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Diego is inspired by Kayla of https://twitch.tv/kaleisblue to write his own book!

• Darien was inspired (and made depressed) by Jennifer Saint's mythology retellings.

• Lucy made an excellent breakthrough on her Geode!

Explore The Last Dragon Chronicles with Diego at https://open.spotify.com/show/1s4lvy8Qdoz9ZK70YWYKX1?si=4oLlR7OkTJSK2cZJNC8mTw

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Raya and the Last Dragon and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for generative AI or large language models training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

Who do you call a monster?

Darien and Lucy dive into the endgame in Eldest chapter 65, “Nar Garzhvog,” chapter 66, “Witches Brew,” and chapter 67, “The Storm Breaks.”

Talking points include Paolini challenging the idea of monstrousness in fantasy, Nasuada being an incredible leader, the tools we can equip to never see people as things, Angela living up to her reputation as a witch, what it looks like when a Rider goes to war, and a mysterious threat coming up the river.

Content Warning: This episode contains mention of blood, violence, and death in relation to war.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy commissioned some very good art of her D&D character.

• Darien is devastated by the quality of The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow.

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Raya and the Last Dragon and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for generative AI or large language models training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Lucy and Darien get the band back together in Eldest chapter 62, “To Aberon,” chapter 63, “The Burning Plains,” and chapter 64, “The Clouds of War.”

Talking points include fandom attempts to solve an unanswered riddle, the recent trend of mentioning Eragon's unknown father, a very cool setting for a final battle, Eragon showing off his new powers, a hug that didn't happen, clocking Eragon's continued nonsense regarding Arya, ANGELA OUR LOVE, and the hosts cementing themselves as Trianna Defenders.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien reflects on all the places that inspired her during her European vacation.
• Lucy was inspired by her favorite streamer to start playing Pokémon Leaf Green!

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Raya and the Last Dragon and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

Eat your heart out, Odysseus.

Lucy and Darien find their sea legs in Eldest chapter 60, “The Maw of the Ocean,” and chapter 61, “Running the Boar's Eye.”

Talking points include appreciating the map at the front of the book, Roran busting out a folk hero speech, celebrating the shared strength of the people of Carvahall, and navigating a big, f*ck off whirlpool.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy jump-scares Darien by committing to read the graphic novel adaptation of Maximum Ride by James Patterson.

• Darien is very proud of her Geode that is doing an Warhammer: 40K episode for her Warhammer: AOS podcast (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tEI5YpI2fuoKy1hZbhcTc?si=tSF86YIVQyqu-OFCy1pFgQ)

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Raya and the Last Dragon and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

Learning about atheism.

Darien and Lucy have more thoughts about elves in Eldest chapter 57, “Red Blade, White Blade,” chapter 58, “Visions Near and Far,” and chapter 59, “Gifts.”

Talking points include bidding a (not-so) fond farewell to “Eragon woke” chapter openers, Arya going back to work, not tolerating Eragon trying to shirk responsibility for his actions, the culmination of the Elves Are The Best plot, new magic theory, Eragon catching up on the other POV plots, questioning the rule logic of scrying, and some sweet presents.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien celebrates a Geode of recording a bunch of podcast stuff before leaving the country.

• Lucy shouts out Darien for inspiring her to finish a puzzle!

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Raya and the Last Dragon and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

An assassination attempt!

Lucy and Darien enjoy the last Nasuada POVs in Eldest chapter 55, “Child’s Play,” and chapter 56, "Premonitions of War.”

Talking points include Trianna’s stock increasing, dozens of deaths Nasuada should have need aware of, Darien protesting the use of three O names, Elva being oh so creepy, and the value of lace.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Lucy was inspired to avoid doom scrolling by working out inside.

• Darien appreciates Focus Friend for helping her avoid doom scrolling.

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Flamecraft and Raya and the Last Dragon by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.

A familiar face!

Darien and Lucy are excited to reconnect with an old acquaintance in Eldest chapter 50, “Landfall,” chapter 51, “Teirm,” chapter 52, “Jeod Longshanks,” chapter 53, “An Unexpected Ally,” and chapter 54, “Escape.”

Talking points include not repeating descriptions from previous books, it's okay for some things to be convenient for plot, a delightful exclamation, Justice for Helen, Roran getting caught up on the plot of the book series he's in, and Darien having a mini spiral about her youngest brother being Eragon's age.

Sparks of Inspiration

• Darien watched a Helluva Boss AMV that inspired her to write a chapter of her book. She also has a geode that she hates, but at least she wrote something.

• Lucy is inspired by the reading recommendations of her coworkers.

Share your Sparks of Inspiration or your thoughts about Eragon with us on Instagram ⁠⁠@EragonPod⁠⁠ or send an email to eragonpod@gmail.com (Here it is, Owen!!)

Snag your own ⁠EABA merch!⁠

Help Lucy meet Toothless at Universal Epic Universe AND listen to our bonus episode about Flamecraft and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by supporting the show on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/EABA

Cover art by Luana Pastor

No portion of this episode may be used for AI training purposes or to create derivative works without express written permission from the creators and co-hosts Lucy Hart and Darien Smartt.