We’ve noticed some confusion in the community since the announcement of The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm, with many fans wondering if the new book is the promised “Book 5” that Christopher Paolini has been teasing since as early as 2010. The answer: nope!
We reached out to Christopher, who confirmed: “‘The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm’ takes place before Book V.”
But this doesn’t mean Book 5 isn’t happening! It just means we have even more story and canon content that will tide us over until Book 5 is written and released!
Although we never doubted this fact, it’s exciting to confirm that Book 5 is still coming! Not already in the know about Book 5? Head over to our Book 5 page to discover everything we know (and more?!).
A brief overview of Book 5: Christopher has revealed that Book 5, which will feature new, undisclosed main characters (who we’ve already met), will be “heavily influenced by the events of the Inheritance Cycle, but it [won’t] be a continuation of the Inheritance Cycle.” Additional information includes:
- Discovering more about the two mysterious new villains, the “Unnamed Shadow” and the “Nameless One”
- Appearances from our favorite characters, including Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Murtagh, Roran, and more!
- Revelations on the outcome of Saphira and Fírnen’s mating and the next group of dragons and Riders
Our Book 5 page goes into does a deep-dive filled with everything we know – big or small – which includes information not featured above, such as two very cryptic clues about the book’s contents, further confirmed plot details, and teased plotlines.
Before Christopher considers beginning Book 5 (he hasn’t stated that it will be the next book he writes), he’s continuing work on his sci-fi novel, “TSaiSoS.” Christopher has shared that the book is “full of aliens, spaceships, lasers, strange new planets, and explosions!”