Eragon

Eragon is fifteen and poor, a farm boy who spends his days working the land at the edge of a vast empire. When he comes across a polished blue stone in the forest, he assumes it is nothing more than a lucky find that might fetch a little money. Then the stone hatches, and a dragon hatchling takes its place in his life. The discovery turns out to be far bigger than a surprise pet. Eragon learns that the creature ties him to a legacy almost as old as the Empire itself, and his ordinary life is gone almost overnight. All he has to guide him is an ancient sword, a fiercely loyal dragon, and the counsel of an old storyteller who knows more than he first lets on. From there Eragon is pulled into a dangerous world of magic, ambition and struggles for power. Every choice he makes carries weight, because what he does next could save the Empire or help bring it down. This is the first book of the Inheritance Cycle, a fantasy series that has sold more than 40 million copies. It is an old-fashioned quest of a young hero, a dragon bond and a threatened land, and it suits readers who enjoy sweeping epic fantasy in the tradition of Tolkien.