I’ve never been big on fantasy novels but since the time I picked up Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, I was hooked. I was fortunate enough to have discovered Harry Potter when there were three books out already. So that was a series of uninterrupted reading pleasure and after that, we (my husband and I) waited for only a year to get the 4th installment of the Harry Potter chronicles. That was the first time I actually went out of my way and pre-ordered a book. I continued to until 5 years after, the last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows came out.

It felt like saying goodbye to a friend. Someone that I’d wait years for and suddenly, he was gone. He wasn’t going to come back after two years or so. And it was then that I was looking for another “friend”.

I was fortunate enough to pick up the first of the Inheritance Cycle Trilogy, Eragon by Christopher Paolini, on a whim. I didn’t know how popular it was. I don’t usually browse through the bestsellers list (usually because my eyes have been molested by so-called bestsellers). I was merely looking for a book that could keep me company while I was away from Cebu on a business trip and for some reason, the cover caught my eye. I read the excerpt and it seemed like a good book to bring.

I was right. It was the perfect book to bring with me. I couldn’t put it down! I’d end up sleeping late and waking up early. I finished it before I headed back home.

I couldn’t get Eragon off my mind so I decided to do a little research to find out when the next one was coming out. And oh so lucky me, the second of the trilogy, Eldest, was already out! I scoured most of Cebu and finally found it. It wasn’t as riveting as the first, but it’s still a “friend”…

I’ve waited for this book for two whole years! And I finally got to buy my copy last month. I saw a sign at the bookstore window last July saying that they were accepting pre-orders for Brisingr. I was so ecstatic and pulled my husband inside with me to reserve my copy… totally forgetting that I was hungry. THAT was how long I’ve waited for this book (food is my comfort and joy).

So here it is. I’m so hesitant to go through this last book so fast. I don’t want to consume it’s pages so eagerly. I don’t feel like I want to say goodbye to another friend so soon. So I’m taking my time, loving every word of it and watching the life of a Dragon Rider. But I’m also so excited to find out how he will turn out that it’s such a strain to keep myself from reading it all in one night.

I guess I’ll just have to console myself in the knowledge that there, sits a friend… just waiting to tell me the rest of his story. Hello, Eragon the Dragon Rider. We meet again.