A review by robertrivasplata
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

Pretty much just picks up where the Two Towers left off. Gandalf and friends are pretty much triumphant everywhere they go, so most of the suspense is in the second half which picks up Sam and Frodo's harrowing adventure through Mordor's barren landscapes. I like the scene where Frodo and Sam get press ganged into a company of orcs heading to war, but maybe that's just because that scene had the most bangin' song in the Rankin/Bass Lord of the Rings movies. While on the subject of adaptations, Peter Jackson's version did a pretty good job of capturing the true love relationship of Sam and Frodo. They truly are the OTP of the books as well as the movies. 

The stilted fantasy language is very silly, but it really laid the groundwork for the wave of fantasy novels from the 60s-70s that have journeyed from bargain bins, to vintage paperback sections in used bookstores, to be reprinted and appear in Barnes and Noble new release sections again. 

Includes the appendices to Lord of the Rings, including pronunciation guides, histories of the elves' (and others') languages, a guide to Middle Earth's Calendar, time lines, and more. The best part of the appendices is the brief epilogue of Aragorn and Arwen, telling how after Aragorn finally dies, Arwen goes back to Lorien and everybody's gone and the place is empty. The big question I think about when I think about Lord of the Rings is what is going on with the Elves? Why is everyone always talking about leaving Middle Earth? More importantly, why does Tolkien write this race of wise elders with one foot out the door, and why does it feel so powerful to me? That said, don't go into the Lord of the Rings expecting a super serious read. You can read various meanings into various elements, but it is still a silly read.