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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Foundational and informative for fans of lore and specifically Tolkien's Arda/Middle Earth. Not until the end does it highlight the LoTR trilogy as the capstone to this epic saga, managing to imbue that story with greater significance and weight. However, the tale of the Silmarils was disappointingly distinct and separate from the story of the Rings of Power. The Quenta Silmarillion itself did not land the value and import of the the Silmarils in a strongly convincing way. and the lack of narrative and character detail hindered my investment in each and the whole. Taken as lore book and not a novel, it is a smashing success. But I understand those who hesitate to recommend it to the general reading audience. The writing is superb as expected (I could use a few more clarifying commas), so it is a joy in the act of reading if at times a slog in the process of comprehension.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
I couldn't finish it. I completely lost track of who was who and where was where. This is a book that wants more focused dedication than I'm willing to give it right now.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a very dense book. I think I may have enjoyed it more if I had read it instead of listened, as many of the names started to blend together. Similarly, it was hard to understand how much time would pass during the stories. But otherwise, it's fantastic. It's a great read if you're a fan of Lord of the Rings and want to get a deeper understand of Middle Earth and its history.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Every new author who likes world building should read this as it demonstrates your story cannot just be lore.
I hate rating this so low, but this was painfully boring and utterly unlike the four main stories of Middle Earth.
I hate rating this so low, but this was painfully boring and utterly unlike the four main stories of Middle Earth.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Wow, like many have said this reads like a story mixed in with a mythological document and account of the history of the Elder Days of Middle Earth. I think approaching it that way makes it easier to digest because JRR Tolkien was the father of world building. There is so much lore when it comes to Middle Earth.
I will probably read this again physically I think for it to stick even more since there was a lot of stuff happening in this book but very cool to get more of a historical account of what happened before LOTR.
I will probably read this again physically I think for it to stick even more since there was a lot of stuff happening in this book but very cool to get more of a historical account of what happened before LOTR.