Different than I expected - but in a good way

Paolini is a fantastic writer, so I was not at all surprised by the eloquence and smooth flow of his prose. But this excerpt was also a fine beginning, piquing my interest with the characters and just this small glimpse into the story's greater premise. I think it feels darker than I expected too, but this is a good thing in my eyes! I am hoping for something with Alien vibes!