I've read most of the reveiws for both this and eragon, an while I did notice a couple of similarities between this book an the LOTR books, they didn't really bother me, i dont know about eragon, but there was certainly enough detail in Eldest, specifically that battle between Roran, the Villagers, and the Ra'zac. Yes there are also many similarities to Star Wars, eg Eragon is Morzans son. Yeh.....that was predictable from book one.......but still, I enjoyed the book alot, and, for the record I HAVE read LOTR, and many of R.A. Salvatores books, and also Phillip Pullmans His Dark Materials trilogy, and I enjoyed all of those, but that doesnt stop me from enjoying the simple adventure, magic, action, and story of Eragon and Eldest.