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milfhunter37 's review for:
The Return of the King
by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Return of the King - 3.6 / 5
Series - 4.1 / 5
The first half of The Return of the King (Book 5) was perfect. The tension, the grand scale of the events, and their masterful culmination were incredible, wonderfully continuing the themes of Book 3. And then we get back to the Hobbits. Unfortunately, this section was weighed down by overly descriptive geography and confusing attempts to illustrate architecture. It's a shame because the Hobbits are my favorite characters in the series, but Tolkien’s insistence on painting every detail of the scene left little room for imagination. It often feels like he doesn’t want readers to visualize the world in their own way but instead forces them to see it exactly as he does.
The story's culmination also felt abrupt. When Frodo and Sam finally descend from the mountain after their impossible victory against Shelob and improbable escape from the Orcs, they stand on the Plateau of Gorgoroth. Though they’ve technically been in Mordor for some time, this moment feels like they’ve truly entered its heart. At this point, we're only on Chapter 2, which sets the expectation that their journey will become even more perilous. However, they cross the plains of Mordor with surprisingly little opposition and quickly arrive at the foot of Mount Doom. While I understand the logic—Sauron’s forces are distracted by the armies of Middle-earth—it still feels anticlimactic.
That said, the final scene is fantastic. Sam accepts his death just as Frodo had earlier, and their moment of solidarity as they huddle together amid the ash and magma, fully prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, is deeply moving.
After this climax, however, the story lingers unnecessarily. Chapters about Éowyn, for example, didn’t hold much interest for me. Aragorn’s love story felt oddly executed. From The Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn makes it clear that his heart is in Rivendell—his love is Arwen. Yet there are hints of a potential relationship with Éowyn, as she shows interest and Aragorn speaks warmly to her on occasion. Then, suddenly, Éowyn falls in love with Faramir, Aragorn marries Arwen (a character barely mentioned before this), and it all feels like an awkward attempt to subvert expectations without setting them up in the first place. Given this all happens after the story’s climax, it feels irrelevant and detracts from the focus on the characters we’ve journeyed with for so long.
Éowyn’s arc, which was already complete when she slew the Witch-king, feels unnecessarily extended. Her strength and steadfastness amidst Rohan’s collapse were compelling, but this additional storyline felt tacked on. Aragorn, too, undergoes a disappointing transformation after becoming king. He adopts an aloof, kingly demeanor, losing the camaraderie and intimacy he shared with his friends. His treatment of Pippin, reminding him that he is still his liege and may call him back to service, is emblematic of this change. It’s hard to reconcile this with the Aragorn we knew on the journey.
The story also drags on as we follow the Hobbits back to the Shire. While the "Scouring of the Shire" has thematic importance, it feels misplaced here. This could have been a side note in Unfinished Tales rather than an extended epilogue. By the time Frodo departs for the Grey Havens, it feels like the story ended seven chapters ago.
Despite all this, the final chapter is poignant. The Hobbits part ways, and Frodo, still scarred by his journey, takes Arwen’s place in the Grey Havens. It’s a bittersweet conclusion that reflects the cost of their victory.
For me, Book 5 was a perfect 5/5, but Book 6, with its pacing issues and drawn-out epilogue, was a 3/5. Overall, the series is a solid 4.1/5. While Tolkien’s world-building is unparalleled, his excessive exposition and the mishandling of the ending hindered my overall enjoyment.
Series - 4.1 / 5
The first half of The Return of the King (Book 5) was perfect. The tension, the grand scale of the events, and their masterful culmination were incredible, wonderfully continuing the themes of Book 3. And then we get back to the Hobbits. Unfortunately, this section was weighed down by overly descriptive geography and confusing attempts to illustrate architecture. It's a shame because the Hobbits are my favorite characters in the series, but Tolkien’s insistence on painting every detail of the scene left little room for imagination. It often feels like he doesn’t want readers to visualize the world in their own way but instead forces them to see it exactly as he does.
The story's culmination also felt abrupt. When Frodo and Sam finally descend from the mountain after their impossible victory against Shelob and improbable escape from the Orcs, they stand on the Plateau of Gorgoroth. Though they’ve technically been in Mordor for some time, this moment feels like they’ve truly entered its heart. At this point, we're only on Chapter 2, which sets the expectation that their journey will become even more perilous. However, they cross the plains of Mordor with surprisingly little opposition and quickly arrive at the foot of Mount Doom. While I understand the logic—Sauron’s forces are distracted by the armies of Middle-earth—it still feels anticlimactic.
That said, the final scene is fantastic. Sam accepts his death just as Frodo had earlier, and their moment of solidarity as they huddle together amid the ash and magma, fully prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, is deeply moving.
After this climax, however, the story lingers unnecessarily. Chapters about Éowyn, for example, didn’t hold much interest for me. Aragorn’s love story felt oddly executed. From The Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn makes it clear that his heart is in Rivendell—his love is Arwen. Yet there are hints of a potential relationship with Éowyn, as she shows interest and Aragorn speaks warmly to her on occasion. Then, suddenly, Éowyn falls in love with Faramir, Aragorn marries Arwen (a character barely mentioned before this), and it all feels like an awkward attempt to subvert expectations without setting them up in the first place. Given this all happens after the story’s climax, it feels irrelevant and detracts from the focus on the characters we’ve journeyed with for so long.
Éowyn’s arc, which was already complete when she slew the Witch-king, feels unnecessarily extended. Her strength and steadfastness amidst Rohan’s collapse were compelling, but this additional storyline felt tacked on. Aragorn, too, undergoes a disappointing transformation after becoming king. He adopts an aloof, kingly demeanor, losing the camaraderie and intimacy he shared with his friends. His treatment of Pippin, reminding him that he is still his liege and may call him back to service, is emblematic of this change. It’s hard to reconcile this with the Aragorn we knew on the journey.
The story also drags on as we follow the Hobbits back to the Shire. While the "Scouring of the Shire" has thematic importance, it feels misplaced here. This could have been a side note in Unfinished Tales rather than an extended epilogue. By the time Frodo departs for the Grey Havens, it feels like the story ended seven chapters ago.
Despite all this, the final chapter is poignant. The Hobbits part ways, and Frodo, still scarred by his journey, takes Arwen’s place in the Grey Havens. It’s a bittersweet conclusion that reflects the cost of their victory.
For me, Book 5 was a perfect 5/5, but Book 6, with its pacing issues and drawn-out epilogue, was a 3/5. Overall, the series is a solid 4.1/5. While Tolkien’s world-building is unparalleled, his excessive exposition and the mishandling of the ending hindered my overall enjoyment.