Reviews

So glad I finally got round to reading The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, why didn't I read them much sooner?! Anyway, I thought it was just amazing. And I'm so sad to have finished it, so sad.
A wonderful wonderful story and I can't forget the characters or Middle-Earth.

1jessicabearx's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It feels so strange to say goodbye to the series that was home for months! The final chapter had me crying, what a way to finish the trilogy.

Good pace although the ending felt a little rushed. Great plot and characters. Characters were well thought out although there are so many with similar names it's tricky to keep on track of who's who! Aragorn obviously was an angel the whole time and gave the whole series an edge.

The comedy always surprises me - Sam, Merry and Pippin are pure comedy gold and really lift the suspenseful or heavy moments!

Frodo doesn't deserve Sam. Sam deserves everything.

achillesheeled's review against another edition

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5.0

And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.

took me a while to get into but im so glad i finished the series :) yay frodo

hobbitfreddie's review against another edition

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5.0

For the last 2-3 years I’ve been consuming more media than ever. So far this book and the trilogy as a whole is my favorite work. I don’t think it will be beat. I’m not nearly as wise with literature as Mr Tolkien but I’ll try to review this book as best I can.

Overall:
Writing: Many complain Tolkien’s writing style contains slow pacing. In this book especially I realized that’s not really true. A lot happens but no single scene drags on too long. The book honestly isn’t that long. I feel like every sentence is important in some way, story, character, or aesthetic wise. Don’t think the nature descriptions match Two Tower’s in quantity or the poems in Fellowship. Everything feels natural and flows well. There’s no drawn out angst. Which I really admire for a story full of pain. Tolkien does a great job at showing not telling. I can understand not just Frodo’s pain but appreciate him as a person er hobbit. I can understand Eowyn or Merry’s wishes to fight and protect Middle earth despite their circumstances. Or Sam’s undying loyalty in the toughest situations. Or Pippin’s desire to not be a burden. As a storyteller I really admire how you can read these arcs and pains without having them drawn out, dramatized, or flat out told. As much as it’s so easy to have your depressed character vent about their frustrations. Tolkien paints characters in a very realistic way.

I also really love the little moments Mr Tolkien adds in. Like the part where Sam notices the spot where they hid from the ringwraiths but now it’s more of a dream, there’s no fear anymore. Or Pippin threatening a guard to protect Frodo. The fellowship leaving each other. And the final line of the series (kinda). “Well, I’m back.”

Character: I absolutely love the characters of lotr. And they all pretty much get time to shine here; even though the cast is quite big. Frodo and Pippin are probably my favorite fictional characters.

First the Hobbits. I love seeing their arcs resolved. Seeing Merry take charge of the events in Scouring. Pippin fighting alongside it. It’s really rewarding to see these characters who started off as weak or unimportant become strong. Sam, well Sam is Sam. He’s a real sweetheart in this, I really felt for him when he cried at what happened to the Shire. Sam and the other hobbits are how I tru to model myself, just a really good friend. I think we need more Sams in this world. And lastly Frodo, after we get to see Frodo well again you can still notice his pain. Like the soldier that can’t come home. He’s a pacifist but wants to save the world, and now that he has, now what?

Rest of the Fellowship. Legolas and Gimli! I don’t recall them doing too much in this. But their friendship is the main part of their character. And it’s very sweet. Them visiting the caves and woods together was simple but just showed their bond and the end of their story so beautifully. Plus Gimli’s conversation with the hobbits after reuniting was a great.
Aragorn and Gandalf- mostly static but they’re still good characters. They’re meant to be the strong leaders. They’ve gone through stuff.
Faramir and Eowyn- love these two. A shame Faramir was missing in action for most of the book. I can’t really say much besides I love them.
All in all there are some great arcs, and I feel like I’ll find more when I do a second reread.

Story
Book 5- Lots of battles in this book. But I’m here for the hobbits. Pippins adventure was great and so was the siege chapter. I loved his friendship with Beregond. And the worldbuilding of Minas Tirith was great, the atmosphere too. Merry’s adventure was also great, him desperately trying to fight. When I first read the book I marveled and the last paragraphs of Book 5. Pippin reflecting on life thinking it’s the end. Everything wraps up neatly in book 6, all the arcs, story, character. Again it’s hard to review something so good.

Book 6- Finally Frodo and Sam, it’s quite quick actually though. Their part consists of a lot of angst and pain. Mr Tolkien sure knows how to write that stuff so you really feel it. It is very heartwrenching to read Frodo’s struggle, but it makes his ending feel earned and happier. The way the world is described after the war is very beautiful almost poetic and just makes me feel good. Everything just feels wrapped up so neatly. The last two chapters are amazing, probably because I love hobbits. After the war, the hobbits return home to the scouring, where we see how the 4 grown. I love seeing the hobbits joke amongst themselves too, which made me really sad to see them go in a few pages. And the grey havens chapter, the only flaw being how short and quick it was. The chapter as a whole is beautiful. The description of a blossoming shire, the main hobbits settling into their new lives, everything. But Frodo’s arc isn’t over, he must leave. Prompting probably my favorite ending I’ve seen so far. Bittersweet but perfect for the story. Again it is way too short. Here’s where Mr Tolkien’s show don’t tell becomes a bit of an issue. I would like if the hobbits had a bit more time with Frodo at the boats. But then again it feels more realistic, and you can read the emotion from just the words. It’s almost as if you are Sam, watching Frodo leave you want to see him one last time but you can’t.

It is a shame we never got a follow up to LOTR besides the epilouge. I’d just like to read about the hobbits again. Or maybe if Sam and Frodo reunited at the undying lands. But the thing is we don’t need to. The few sentences in the epilouge is enough. Their stories are over.

All in all I really can’t think of anything but praise for this book.

eckermama's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

rcarey18's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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