Families who loved Murtagh by Christopher Paolini often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the weight of a complicated reputation or feeling like an outsider due to past mistakes. Murtagh offers a profound look at a character who is neither a pure hero nor a villain, but a young man trying to define his own moral compass in a world that has already judged him. It is an ideal pick for readers who feel misunderstood and are looking for a story about the grueling, lonely work of self-redemption. While the story is packed with the high-stakes magic and dragon-back battles fans expect from the World of Eragon, the core is a deeply personal character study. Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn, deal with the trauma of their past enslavement while hunting a mysterious new threat. Parents should be aware that the book contains more mature themes and darker imagery than the earlier novels in the series, making it most appropriate for mature middle schoolers and high school students who appreciate a gritty, philosophical take on the hero's journey.