The Return of the King

hink is what moved me. Gandalf was unchanged. Or was he? Grown from a greying old man into a conqueror, the enemy and defeater of Sauron. Still able to surprise Frodo with the farewell gift of Merry and Pippin.

So many incredible scenes it is impossible to name them all. When Faramir endows the kingdom of Gondor to Aragorn. The struggle of Eowyn to let go her cheerlessness and give in to love. The end of the argument between Gimli and Eomer about who is the fairest maiden in the land. When Peregrin and Meriadoc lead hundreds of hobbit militia against the ruffians. The way Sam and Rosie Cotton rendezvous, bashful and obvious.

If I was let down by anything it was the death of Smeagol. He falls, and that is it. I wanted more. I wanted to feel the sting of that death, and yet it was never addressed. Maybe also I will claim Legolas was an awfully undeveloped character. He was the most underutilised of the fellowship. Barely raising a finger off the page.. who was this guy? An elf.. he shot maybe three arrows in the whole book.

But enough complaining. As individual books, some are better than others. But, since this is one story, on book, it should get one overall rating. And that is a big fat 6 stars.