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The Return of the King
(The Lord of the Rings #3)
by
Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition - ISBN 10: 0345339738
As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desperate victory of ...more
As the Shadow of Mordor grows across the land, the Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, has joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and takes part in the desperate victory of ...more
Mass Market Paperback, 507 pages
Published
2001
by Del Rey
(first published October 20th 1955)
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Ethan
It is not necessary to read them but it provides much backstory and also what happens after the books. I would suggest that you do read them.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Apr 05, 2011
mark monday
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
rain-man-reviews,
fantasy-classic
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
a rousing climax to the most ravishing love story of the modern age. tempestuous, tormented Frodo at long last learns to accept the love of his lifemate - the loyal and submissive Samwise Gamgee, bottom-extraordinaire. this is truly a tale of love's labour hard-won, and at such a cost! but love conquers all in the end, and even bitter, militantly hetero villain Sauron cannot stand in the heart's path for too long. in this third book of the torrid trilogy, Frodo's love-hate relationship ...more
a rousing climax to the most ravishing love story of the modern age. tempestuous, tormented Frodo at long last learns to accept the love of his lifemate - the loyal and submissive Samwise Gamgee, bottom-extraordinaire. this is truly a tale of love's labour hard-won, and at such a cost! but love conquers all in the end, and even bitter, militantly hetero villain Sauron cannot stand in the heart's path for too long. in this third book of the torrid trilogy, Frodo's love-hate relationship ...more

Tolkien is the master of world building. With his writing comes generations of detailed history and lore. Middle Earth did not simply spring up overnight. Instead it is firmly established with the most thorough groundwork that is simply unmatched. And here his epic trilogy comes to an end. I’ve read it many times over the years, and reviewing it is no easy task. So, like my reviews of the first two books, I’ve picked out ten things I really love about the book. Spoilers ahead.
1.The blade that w ...more
1.The blade that w ...more

“I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things.”

I've just finished a re-read of the trilogy. There is only one lord of classic literature and his name is Tolkien.
Sixty years later Tolkien's epic tale of men, hobbits, elves, dwarves, trolls and goblins is still relevant.
In my opinion this was the best book of the trilogy. The Return of the King gave me ALL THE FEELS like nothing else, I got pretty choked up at the last chapter. The Return of the King contains a ton of appen ...more

I've just finished a re-read of the trilogy. There is only one lord of classic literature and his name is Tolkien.
Sixty years later Tolkien's epic tale of men, hobbits, elves, dwarves, trolls and goblins is still relevant.
In my opinion this was the best book of the trilogy. The Return of the King gave me ALL THE FEELS like nothing else, I got pretty choked up at the last chapter. The Return of the King contains a ton of appen ...more

The last stand for the control of Middle-Earth!
I WENT TO MIDDLE-EARTH AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS CRUMMY RING
That’s the message in a t-shirt that I got in a tourism travel (and I still have it!). I thought that it was appropiate to begin my review about the third part and final of Lord of the Rings.
All that fuzz about a ring that can turn you invisible? You may think, but that was the least of its properties. Its major use was being able to control of the rest of ring-bearers with it, and if you ...more
I WENT TO MIDDLE-EARTH AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS CRUMMY RING
That’s the message in a t-shirt that I got in a tourism travel (and I still have it!). I thought that it was appropiate to begin my review about the third part and final of Lord of the Rings.
All that fuzz about a ring that can turn you invisible? You may think, but that was the least of its properties. Its major use was being able to control of the rest of ring-bearers with it, and if you ...more

The Return of the King is the last installment of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Can the companions defeat the power of Sauron? Will there be peace in the land of Middle-earth once more, or shall the darkness overpower the world?
I want to write an amazing review for this series, because it deserves the best. I don't know if it will be amazing, but I will try. Tolkien made a wonderful world, and an epic journey across the beautiful Middle-earth. How amazing it was to walk side-by-side with the co ...more
I want to write an amazing review for this series, because it deserves the best. I don't know if it will be amazing, but I will try. Tolkien made a wonderful world, and an epic journey across the beautiful Middle-earth. How amazing it was to walk side-by-side with the co ...more

The Return of the King takes about a hundred pages to sink one's teeth into, but persevering is worth it for the glint of sunrise on a victorious maiden's hair, for the show of willpower against all odds in the eleventh hour, and for the golden bloom of a happy ending.

Book Review
4 of 5 stars to The Return of the King, the third book in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, written in 1955, by J.R.R. Tolkien. After reading the first two books in this series, how can you not finish it with this one? I knocked them back between 9th and 10th grades, loving every minute of the imagination and struggle between good and evil. When I got this this final one, I already knew I'd be sad to say goodbye to all the characters I'd fallen hardcore for over the 1500 pages betw ...more
4 of 5 stars to The Return of the King, the third book in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, written in 1955, by J.R.R. Tolkien. After reading the first two books in this series, how can you not finish it with this one? I knocked them back between 9th and 10th grades, loving every minute of the imagination and struggle between good and evil. When I got this this final one, I already knew I'd be sad to say goodbye to all the characters I'd fallen hardcore for over the 1500 pages betw ...more

Well, I've come to the end of the road once more... This was my tenth reading of Tolkien's saga of Middle Earth (the first time I visited was in 1986) and it's pointless trying to write a balanced review of my favourite books. Suffice it to say that these books are a part of me; written into my DNA, if you like, and I love them dearly.
I'll be back in a year or two, Bagginses, to do it all over again...
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray.
-------------------------------------------------
And I did co ...more
I'll be back in a year or two, Bagginses, to do it all over again...
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray.
-------------------------------------------------
And I did co ...more

«درست مثل داستان های معروف، آقای فرودو. داستان هایی که واقعاً مهم بودند، داستان هایی که پر از خطر و تاریکی بودن. و گاهی آدم دلش نمی خواست پایان قصه رو بدونه، چون چطور می تونست پایان خوبی داشته باشه؟ چطور دنیا می تونه پر از خوبی بشه وقتی که این قدر اتفاقات بد میفته؟ ولی در نهایت این سایه می گذره. حتی تاریک ترین شب هم می گذره و جای خودش رو به روز میده.
این ها داستان هایی بودند که توی ذهنت باقی می موندن و برات اهمیت داشتن، حتی اگر کوچیک تر از اون بودی که دلیلش رو بفهمی. ولی حالا می فهمم، آقای فرودو، ...more
این ها داستان هایی بودند که توی ذهنت باقی می موندن و برات اهمیت داشتن، حتی اگر کوچیک تر از اون بودی که دلیلش رو بفهمی. ولی حالا می فهمم، آقای فرودو، ...more

***NEW LAWSUIT UPDATE BELOW (6-30-11)...Lone reviewer continues fight with corporate ASSCLOWNS powers in epic 1st Amendment battle royale.***
4.0 stars. FULL REVIEW (hopefully) to follow after resolution of the lawsuit* filed against this reviewer in the District Court of Narnia by, among others: 20th CenturyFucks Fox, Lucasfilms, the Tolkien Estate and Robert Van Winkle (aka Vanilla AsshatIce) in order to prevent the release of an allegedly offensive but in reality just knee-slappingly funny PA
...more
4.0 stars. FULL REVIEW (hopefully) to follow after resolution of the lawsuit* filed against this reviewer in the District Court of Narnia by, among others: 20th Century

Ah, The Return of the King. The end of a sweeping epic, one which held me firmly in its grasp as a child and still holds a place in my heart as an adult.
Everything is in motion and actually coming to an end almost from the first page of this last book in the trilogy. Frodo is ever so close to completing his quest. Aragon, Gandalf and the others are nearly at the end of their rope. Indeed, the end is nigh!
But this is not a quick finish. Tolkien dragged things out. There is a mini-battle after th ...more
Everything is in motion and actually coming to an end almost from the first page of this last book in the trilogy. Frodo is ever so close to completing his quest. Aragon, Gandalf and the others are nearly at the end of their rope. Indeed, the end is nigh!
But this is not a quick finish. Tolkien dragged things out. There is a mini-battle after th ...more

Writers who inspire a genre are usually misunderstood. Tolkien's reasons for writing were completely unlike those of the authors he inspired. He didn't have an audience, a genre, and scores of contemporaries. There was a tradition of high adventure fairy tales, as represented by Eddison, Dunsany, Morris, MacDonald, Haggard, and Kipling, but this was only part of what inspired Tolkien.
His writing was chiefly influenced by his familiarity with the mythological traditions of the Norse and Welsh cul ...more
His writing was chiefly influenced by his familiarity with the mythological traditions of the Norse and Welsh cul ...more

“So we come to it in the end, the great battle of our time, in which many things shall pass away. But at least there is no longer need for hiding. The board is set, and the pieces are moving. And now all realms shall be put to the test, to stand, or fall – under the Shadow.”People: *looking at the 3 star rating causes wincing and face spasms* What fuckery is this? You rated Tolkien 3 damn stars?
Anish: Guys, take it easy! This book was...
People: You rated the last one 4 stars bcz of that ...more

A Review of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, by Sauron
[Oprah Winfrey voice-over]: We all remember him. Sauron, the displaced Lord of the Rings. Once feared by millions, Sauron has been living in relative squalor in what he prefers to remain an undisclosed location.
[Video shows unidentified heap of garbage behind a Wal-mart. In front stands a mailbox with the word "Nameless Enemy" printed on the front. The flag is down.]
[applause]
Oprah: Today, we'll be joined by someone that many of you kn ...more
[Oprah Winfrey voice-over]: We all remember him. Sauron, the displaced Lord of the Rings. Once feared by millions, Sauron has been living in relative squalor in what he prefers to remain an undisclosed location.
[Video shows unidentified heap of garbage behind a Wal-mart. In front stands a mailbox with the word "Nameless Enemy" printed on the front. The flag is down.]
[applause]
Oprah: Today, we'll be joined by someone that many of you kn ...more

Aug 23, 2009
K.D. Absolutely
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to K.D. by:
501 Must Read Books; 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2006-2010); TFG100 Most Favorite Books; Time 100; Metalist 100 by Newsweek; Guardian's 100
What else can I say? I enjoyed all these three books included in
(5 STARS),
(5 STARS) and now
(5 STARS).
It has the most tight interesting plot, memorable characters and universal unending theme: the triumph of good over evil. In fact, in the closing scene of the book, Frodo gives the book he wrote to Sam, the world's greatest gardener. The title of the book is The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King. The "lord" refers to the evil king Sauron ...more
The Lord of the Rings



It has the most tight interesting plot, memorable characters and universal unending theme: the triumph of good over evil. In fact, in the closing scene of the book, Frodo gives the book he wrote to Sam, the world's greatest gardener. The title of the book is The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King. The "lord" refers to the evil king Sauron ...more

Is it even possible to review a legend? To write a review about a completely different and unique world?
It is not. It is just not possible.
Just imagine writing a review about our world, about all the countries and cities and cultures and all the wars. It would simply be too long and too difficult.
What I can say about this book is that the epic journey finally came to an end.
The Fellowship had to fight bloody, hopeless fights, it had to survive epic battles and it found friends where friends ...more
It is not. It is just not possible.
Just imagine writing a review about our world, about all the countries and cities and cultures and all the wars. It would simply be too long and too difficult.
What I can say about this book is that the epic journey finally came to an end.
The Fellowship had to fight bloody, hopeless fights, it had to survive epic battles and it found friends where friends ...more

Este libro es un ejemplo claro de por qué no veo películas: ¡Aquí se usa la imaginación! La verdad es que sí vi la película. Es buena, pero se hace eterna. El libro es más largo que la película, pero no se hace eterno ¿La diferencia? Está claro; tú creas tu propia historia en tu cabeza, y eso lo hace mucho más emocionante y a la vez personal. Leer libros (en vez de ver películas) también hace que tú te crees tu propio Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, etc... y eso lleva a que te enamores de cada uno de ellos
...more

‘The Lord of the Rings’: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s three volume masterpiece comprising ‘The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King’ – is quite simply a literary, artistic and intellectual creation and achievement of epic and monumental proportions.
The stories that J. R. R. Tolkien has crafted to produce ‘The Lord of the Rings’ feel as though they have been carved out of stone. Tolkien’s creation of another world – Middle Earth, its history, its legends and the storie ...more
The stories that J. R. R. Tolkien has crafted to produce ‘The Lord of the Rings’ feel as though they have been carved out of stone. Tolkien’s creation of another world – Middle Earth, its history, its legends and the storie ...more

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heck yeah! I’ve read The Lord of the Rings! ...more
Heck yeah! I’ve read The Lord of the Rings! ...more

here's the video where I did a review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOsui...

My First Journey Through Middle-earth Cometh To An End (a.k.a., Hey Folks, I Made It There And Back Again!)

Wow. I did it! I journeyed over some 1200 pages, met strange creatures, witnessed real magic, wept, gasped, laughed, moaned, yawned (occasionally), and by the end of it all felt as exhausted and grateful as Sam and Frodo dragging their precious, burdensome cargo to Mount Doom.
Herewith, as in my reviews of the two previous volumes, are some observations from a Tolkien novice. Please excuse ...more

Wow. I did it! I journeyed over some 1200 pages, met strange creatures, witnessed real magic, wept, gasped, laughed, moaned, yawned (occasionally), and by the end of it all felt as exhausted and grateful as Sam and Frodo dragging their precious, burdensome cargo to Mount Doom.
Herewith, as in my reviews of the two previous volumes, are some observations from a Tolkien novice. Please excuse ...more

"I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."
You know the drill - Sam and Frodo are on their way to Mordor to try and destroy the ring, but not without a companion lurking in the shadows... The armies of the Dark Lord are massing in an epic battle for Middle Earth... it's all come down to this!
And so my journey through Middle Earth has ended *cue hysterical crying*. Revisiting both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings this year was a great decision - I'll be revisiting Hogwarts in a ...more
You know the drill - Sam and Frodo are on their way to Mordor to try and destroy the ring, but not without a companion lurking in the shadows... The armies of the Dark Lord are massing in an epic battle for Middle Earth... it's all come down to this!
And so my journey through Middle Earth has ended *cue hysterical crying*. Revisiting both The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings this year was a great decision - I'll be revisiting Hogwarts in a ...more

Jan 21, 2019
Ian D
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
british-lit,
fantasy
Πολύ παρεξηγημένο είδος το High Fantasy. Πρέπει να έχω δει δεκάδες λίστες με τα "-insert random number-βιβλία που πρέπει να έχεις διαβάσει πριν τα 30/πριν πεθάνεις/πριν αλέκτωρ λαλήσει τρις/θα συμβεί κάτι αλλο" και πολύ λίγες φορές συμπεριλαμβάνουν τον Tolkien στους μεγάλους κλασικούς. Άδικο.
Ολοκληρώνοντας την τριλογία, λοιπόν, νοιώθω συναισθήματα ανάμεικτα, αναγνωστική αγαλλίαση με μια γλυκόπικρη αίσθηση αποχωρισμού, ολοκλήρωση κι ένα ταυτόχρονο κενό, μαγικό φως και μυστηριακό σκοτάδι. Πώς να τ ...more
Ολοκληρώνοντας την τριλογία, λοιπόν, νοιώθω συναισθήματα ανάμεικτα, αναγνωστική αγαλλίαση με μια γλυκόπικρη αίσθηση αποχωρισμού, ολοκλήρωση κι ένα ταυτόχρονο κενό, μαγικό φως και μυστηριακό σκοτάδι. Πώς να τ ...more

So I loved this book but it really just dragged on. I mean of the Lord of the Rings series, this was probably my least favorite. The climax felt incredibly short, as did the battle and the ring was destroyed less than three-quarters of the way through. There was an incredibly long journey after the destruction of the ring following the hobbits' recoveries and their return home.
below are spoilers
I also felt like the fight when they returned to the Shire was rushed, and I'm not entirely sure abou ...more
below are spoilers
I also felt like the fight when they returned to the Shire was rushed, and I'm not entirely sure abou ...more

I’m sure glad Stevie didn’t bother to read this one:
Sam and Frodo wake up in some swamp/heath/mountain pass
Frodo: We’re lost, oh its awful, I’m hungry, we only have 3 pieces of elfin bread left
Sam: Don’t worry Frodo I’m here for you, you have the bread
Sam and Frodo walk around a bit looking dirty and lost and miserable
Frodo: oh the ring, it’s so heavy, how will I cope?
Golem: Myyy presssciousss [and all that nonsense]
Sam: Don’t worry you have a nice sleep, things’ll look better in the morning you ...more
Sam and Frodo wake up in some swamp/heath/mountain pass
Frodo: We’re lost, oh its awful, I’m hungry, we only have 3 pieces of elfin bread left
Sam: Don’t worry Frodo I’m here for you, you have the bread
Sam and Frodo walk around a bit looking dirty and lost and miserable
Frodo: oh the ring, it’s so heavy, how will I cope?
Golem: Myyy presssciousss [and all that nonsense]
Sam: Don’t worry you have a nice sleep, things’ll look better in the morning you ...more

494. The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Return of the King: Sauron sends a great army against Gondor. Gandalf arrives at Minas Tirith to warn Denethor of the attack, while Théoden musters the Rohirrim to ride to Gondor's aid. Minas Tirith is besieged. Denethor is deceived by Sauron and falls into despair. He burns himself alive on a pyre, nearly taking his son Faramir with him. Aragorn, accompanied by Legolas, Gimli and the Rangers of the North, takes the Paths of t ...more
The Return of the King: Sauron sends a great army against Gondor. Gandalf arrives at Minas Tirith to warn Denethor of the attack, while Théoden musters the Rohirrim to ride to Gondor's aid. Minas Tirith is besieged. Denethor is deceived by Sauron and falls into despair. He burns himself alive on a pyre, nearly taking his son Faramir with him. Aragorn, accompanied by Legolas, Gimli and the Rangers of the North, takes the Paths of t ...more

Ultimo capitolo di questa trilogia. Confesso che è con una nota di dispiacere che ho visto all’opera personaggi che abbiamo conosciuto così bene ormai maturi, era stato tanto bello vederli crescere lungo il percorso, ma ne sono stati introdotti anche di altri in questa fase conclusiva che non hanno nulla da invidiargli. E poi, oltre al gran finale, c’è pure un epilogo di tutto rispetto che non si limita a saluti ed abbracci (tanto per gradire ci sono pure le appendici). Un lavoro che a tutti gli
...more

“Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”
Four Stars:✰✰✰✰
(I should say that this is less of a review and more of my own musings about the ending and the overall quality of the story. I didn't feel like I needed to reiterate all of my critiques, because all of the things I have to say in my first and second reviews still apply for the most part. Check ...more

To me, the whole point of reading the first two books of LOTR is to get to this one, because this is the truly masterful part of the story.
One thing I will say is that I really admire how the main heroes of the story, Frodo and Sam, are quite inconsequential in the classic tradition of heroes. They can't fight, they can't cast spells, they can't really do anything except persevere through extreme trial, all so that they can do what they promised to do, to do the right thing. Sam, in particular, ...more
One thing I will say is that I really admire how the main heroes of the story, Frodo and Sam, are quite inconsequential in the classic tradition of heroes. They can't fight, they can't cast spells, they can't really do anything except persevere through extreme trial, all so that they can do what they promised to do, to do the right thing. Sam, in particular, ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Play Book Tag: The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien - 5 stars | 7 | 17 | Feb 07, 2019 02:42PM | |
Fantasy Book Club...: #3 LOTR- Return of the King--Finished-Spoilers allowed | 3 | 14 | Dec 23, 2018 09:26PM | |
Fantasy Book Club...: Lord of the Rings #3-The Return of the King--Roll Call, First Impressions | 2 | 12 | Dec 03, 2018 07:29PM | |
Fantasy Buddy Reads: The Return of the King [Oct 5, 2018] | 9 | 22 | Oct 20, 2018 02:37AM | |
Fanatieke Nederla...: Maandboek oktober: LOTR deel 3 - De terugkeer van de koning | 3 | 23 | Oct 16, 2018 04:29AM | |
Why didn't Gandalf take the ring to Mount Doom on the back of an eagle. | 287 | 2455 | Aug 03, 2018 11:03PM | |
Is anyone else really upset at the ending?? | 62 | 551 | Aug 03, 2018 11:01PM |
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, WWI veteran (a First Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army), philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the high fantasy classic works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings .
Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford from 1925 to 1945, and Merton Professor of English lang ...more
Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford from 1925 to 1945, and Merton Professor of English lang ...more
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The Lord of the Rings
(3 books)
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“I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”
—
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“I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.”
—
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