Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

6 reviews

seanml's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Silmarillion is a majestic, winding journey through imagination. Tolkien's visions come to life in a fully realized world filled with grace, beauty, and an encroaching sadness. It is the time of the elves, and though immortal, their time rises and wanes with elegance. 9/10.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Slavery, Genocide, Xenophobia, Violence, and War

godraed's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

It's a work that defies description, a collection of various stories presented as the mythic history of Middle-Earth. It's grand in scope, magisterial in prose, an a marvel to behold. It is Tolkien's darkest work but also contains wonderful pieces of hope that set the stage for his later works. A must-read for any fan of The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.

This review is for the hardcover edition, which has two maps and contains illustrations from the author. It is an absolutely beautiful edition and looks wonderful on the bookshelf.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Grief, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, and Blood

Minor: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Cursing, Deportation, Suicide, Cannibalism, Confinement, Self harm, Slavery, and Torture

pejms's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism, War, and Genocide

Moderate: Xenophobia, Violence, Colonisation, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Blood, Child death, and Grief

Minor: Incest, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Torture, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship

This recounts the history of an entire fantasy world, and all the hardships that its people go through. There is a lot that happens, a whole lot.

erynlasbelin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Dementia, and Pregnancy

maria_s's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Xenophobia

Minor: Rape

aconfundityofcrows's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative slow-paced

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

5.0

I don’t really know how to rate this other than as an indication that it is a masterpiece in world building that many fantasy authors have since been inspired by and attempted to emulate. As well there is still so much that has been clearly left out or at least gives that impression, especially in the Akallabeth. For those who have read Lord of the Rings the story of the series is summed up in just under two pages (and it definitely doesn’t replace actually reading the trilogy).

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Murder