Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers review

The second book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy amps up the action while still keeping the characters (somewhat) human.

The book is actually split into two - the first concerns the actions of Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas, while the latter follows Sam and Frodo on their journey to Mordor.

The story begins with Aragorn, a man descended from great kings, Gimli, a noble dwarf, and Legolas, the graceful elf. They journey into the meadows of Rohan to save their two kidnapped hobbit friends Merry and Pippin. Without revealing too much of the details (for those who've not already read the book or watched the film), the party make allies, defend a fortress from a great army, reunite with lost friends, and discover even greater danger thanks they first expected.

The second part brings Frodo and Sam in contact with the wretch Gollum, who they tie to their quest - for they bear the burden of the One Ring which they must destroy in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor. They cross terrible lands and discover terrors on their journey to the lands of The Enemy - Sauron.

The writing is sublime; the description of the peoples, the events that transpire about them, and the lands they take place in are done with a very real magic. You care about the characters, the good and the bad, as well as what happens to them. You get a real feel of the calamity that threatens the world of Middle-Earth. Indeed, the world feels real, with the histories and politics of each land seamlessly blended into the storyline.

Simply, there's a reason why the Lord of the Rings trilogy is considered the original fantasy epic. Indeed, in my time of reading I have never come across a series that has drawn me in so intensely. I originally read the trilogy when I was 16, and in 10 years I am still impressed. In fact, now I'm older and more patient, the books hold more for me. However, this is still the best of the three, with the most exciting parts and some of the greatest characters in the trilogy.
/ [CuteCommander]

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