The Inheritance Cycle

Quote from one of R.C.'s interviews : "I have of course been influenced by authors such as Tolkien, Naomi Novik, Anne McCaffrey, Christopher Paolini, and Brandon Sanderson. The sheer immersion of Tolkien, Jordan, and Sanderson is simply second to none. And I think it’s pretty clear where Anne McCaffrey, Paolini, and Novik come into the mix – dragons" The Inheritance Cycle influenced The Bound and the Broken through the central human dragon bond, the young rural protagonist who becomes a dragon rider and is drawn into a larger conflict, and its blend of coming of age, dragon riding and epic fantasy, which gives the series an “adult Eragon” feel.

Paolini has openly credited McCaffrey as a primary inspiration for the bond between Eragon and Saphira. The mechanics of their silent, telepathic communication, sharing each other's emotions, and the agonizing grief a rider experiences if their dragon dies are adapted straight out of Dragonflight.

LOTR influence is evident in:

• A medieval secondary world populated by elves, dwarves, dragons, and ancient languages.
• A young, reluctant hero (Eragon) embarking on a world-changing quest.
• A wise mentor (Brom) who echoes aspects of Gandalf.
• An ancient Dark Lord (Galbatorix) whose shadow looms over the story.
• The use of invented languages and detailed world-building.
• Etc