What order should I read Christopher Paolini's books in?

Read each series in its own order: start The Inheritance Cycle with Eragon. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.

What is Christopher Paolini's most famous book?

Eragon (2003) is Christopher Paolini's most widely read book.

Are Christopher Paolini's books connected?

5 books belong to 1 series (The Inheritance Cycle); the other 7 books stand alone.

Which Christopher Paolini books have been adapted?

1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Eragon (film, 2006).

Christopher Paolini books in order

Author, novelist

Born: 1983
Country: United States
Books: 12
Series: 1

Christopher Paolini has published 9 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 children's book and 1 other book, beginning with Eragon (2003). The series is The Inheritance Cycle (5 books, starting with Eragon). The latest is Murtagh (2023).

Updated September 2026

The Inheritance Cycle books in order (5)Series page

Reading order: 1 Eragon (2003) · 2 Eldest (2005) · 3 Brisingr (2008) · 4 Inhiritance (2011) · 5 Murtagh (2023)

1.
Eragon (Aug 2003)
576 pages★ 3.8 (229 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
2.
Eldest (Aug 2005)
705 pages★ 4.1 (81 ratings)
Buy
3.
Brisingr (Sep 2008)
784 pages★ 3.8 (84 ratings)
Buy
4.
Inhiritance (Nov 2011), also published as Inheritance
849 pages★ 3.7 (58 ratings)
Buy
5.
Murtagh (Nov 2023)
696 pages★ 4.4 (5 ratings)
Buy

Where to start with Christopher Paolini

Start here
Eragon
Christopher Paolini's most-read book and the first of the 5 The Inheritance Cycle books.
Highest rated
Eldest
Rated 4.1 out of 5 by 81 readers.
Newest
Murtagh
Published November 2023.

Standalone novels in order

Eragon & Eldest (2005)
1197 pages
Buy
Inheritance Cycle (2010)
2387 pages
Buy
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (Sep 2020)
880 pages★ 3.6 (20 ratings)
Buy
Fractal Noise (2023)
332 pages
Buy

Short story collections in order

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (Dec 2018)
288 pages★ 4.7 (9 ratings)
Buy

Children's books in order

Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia (2009)
Buy

Other books in order

Brisingr Vol II (2009)
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

Eragon (2006)Film · from Eragon

About Christopher Paolini

Christopher James Paolini is an American and Italian author. He is best known for The Inheritance Cycle, which consists of the books Eragon (2002), Eldest (2005), Brisingr (2008), Inheritance (2011), the follow-up short story collection The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (2018), and Murtagh (2023), the first in a follow-up duology. His first science fiction novel, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, was published on September 15, 2020. He lives in Paradise Valley, Montana, where he wrote his first book.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Christopher Paolini FAQ

How many books has Christopher Paolini written?: Christopher Paolini has published 9 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 children's book and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Christopher Paolini's books in?: Read each series in its own order: start The Inheritance Cycle with Eragon. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
What is Christopher Paolini's latest book?: Murtagh (2023).
What is Christopher Paolini's most famous book?: Eragon (2003) is Christopher Paolini's most widely read book.
Are Christopher Paolini's books connected?: 5 books belong to 1 series (The Inheritance Cycle); the other 7 books stand alone.
Which Christopher Paolini books have been adapted?: 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Eragon (film, 2006).