The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings, Book 1

Bilbo Baggins, a complacent inhabitant of a cozy subterranean residence, experiences a disruption to his tranquil existence when the elderly wizard Gandalf arrives, convincing him to join an expedition with a band of thirteen combative dwarves. This group is on a crucial mission to reclaim their wealth from the fierce dragon Smaug, with Bilbo as their designated 'burglar.' Despite initial fears and skepticism from both parties, Gandalf reassures them of Bilbo's hidden potential. 

Soon after venturing out, the group, minus Gandalf, falls into the clutches of three famished trolls, which Gandalf cleverly petrifies by exposing them to sunlight. Following this, they discover an arsenal of weapons at the troll camp and arm themselves. After receiving counsel from the wise Elven leader Elrond at Rivendell, they march towards the Misty Mountains. Caught in a blizzard, they seek shelter in a cave where they are held captive by goblins. They manage to escape, but unintentionally leave Bilbo behind. Alone in the caves, Bilbo discovers a peculiar golden ring and encounters the creature Gollum, whom he outsmarts in a riddle contest using the mysterious ring, which grants him invisibility. 

The group then traverses the perilous Mirkwood forest, where Bilbo rescues the dwarves from giant spiders and hostile wood elves with his newly named sword, Sting, and his magic ring. Upon reaching Lake Town, they face Smaug, who, in his fury, destroys the town before being killed by the brave Bard. With the dragon vanquished, the human and elfin communities demand a share of the treasure as recompense, leading to a standoff with the dwarves. Bilbo attempts to negotiate peace, angering the dwarves' leader Thorin, but is saved by Gandalf's timely arrival. The situation escalates when an army of goblins and Wargs attack, leading to an unlikely alliance between the dwarves, elves, and humans. The heroic arrival of Beorn and the eagles ensures victory for the allies. Bilbo and Gandalf then return to their peaceful lives, with Bilbo now shunned by respectable society, but contented and forever changed by his incredible adventures.

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings, Book 2

This epic tale unfolds within an imaginary universe known as Middle-earth, where a malevolent being, Sauron, who lost the One Ring that is the source of much of his power, is determined to recover it and use it to enslave the entire world. The saga begins when Bilbo Baggins, a humanoid creature known as a hobbit, discovers the Ring in a cave and innocently brings it home, unaware of its significance. For many years, Bilbo uses the Ring for its ability to make him invisible, oblivious to its true nature and the fact that Sauron is relentlessly searching for it.

During Bilbo's 111th birthday celebration, he reluctantly passes the Ring to his cousin, Frodo Baggins, under the watchful eye of Gandalf the Grey, a powerful wizard. Recognizing it as the One Ring, Gandalf advises Frodo to leave their homeland, the Shire, as Sauron begins to regain his power. Frodo embarks on this perilous journey with three other hobbit companions, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Their journey is fraught with danger as they face Sauron's sinister servants, the nine Ringwraiths, while also encountering both malevolent and benevolent entities. They eventually arrive at the town of Bree, where they meet Aragorn, a Ranger and heir to the Kings of ancient Men of Westernesse, who assists them in avoiding their pursuers.

The group, guided by Gandalf's letter, heads to Rivendell, a realm of Elves, where Frodo's wound inflicted by a Ringwraith is healed. Elrond, the master of Rivendell, holds a council where it's decided that the Ring must be destroyed where it was forged, in the fiery mountain Orodruin, located in the heart of Mordor, Sauron's realm. A fellowship is formed to assist Frodo, including his hobbit friends, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf, and Boromir, a Man from the south. Their journey takes them through countless dangers, including the Mines of Moria, where Gandalf falls while fighting a demon. They continue their voyage, with Galadriel, the wise Elf-lady of Lórien, providing aid. As they approach Mordor, the power of the Ring begins to corrupt Boromir, but Frodo and Sam decide to continue the quest on their own.

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings, Book 3

The story begins with the dissolution of a fellowship following a battle. Merry and Pippin, two hobbits, are taken prisoner by Orcs who believe that they carry a powerful ring due to an old prophecy. Consequently, their allies Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn decide to trail the captured hobbits, carefully avoiding the Orcs. They cross paths with the Riders of Rohan, led by Éomer. Simultaneously, Merry and Pippin are taken by a different Orc tribe, the Uruk-hai, who also seek the rumoured Ring. Escaping their captors, they encounter and befriend Fangorn, an Ent - a colossal tree-like creature. The Ents, upon hearing about the cruelty inflicted upon them by the Orcs under the control of the corrupted wizard Saruman, decide to wage war against them.

Elsewhere, Saruman haunts Aragorn and his group, but Gandalf, reborn as the White Rider after his previous demise, guides them to the Golden Hall of King Théoden. Gandalf exposes Théoden’s counselor Wormtongue as a spy for the wicked Saruman and helps reconcile Théoden and Éomer. The team confronts Saruman and surprisingly find Merry and Pippin at the gates of Saruman’s stronghold. The latter two inform Gandalf that the Ents are ready to lend their support in the battle against Saruman. During this confrontation, Wormtongue tries to murder Gandalf using a palantír, a stone transmitting images. Pippin looks into the palantír, alerting the Dark Lord Sauron to his location and setting in motion a hunt for him.

Simultaneously, Frodo and Sam, separated from the rest of the fellowship, are journeying to Mordor to destroy the Ring. They tame and recruit Gollum, the Ring's former owner, as a guide despite their suspicions. Their journey is fraught with challenges, from haunted marshlands to dark, menacing shapes in the sky known as Nazgûl. They encounter Faramir and his men who initially suspect the hobbits of causing Boromir’s death. Faramir supports the hobbits after learning the truth about his brother's betrayal. The journey takes a dangerous turn when they are led into tunnels inhabited by Shelob, a giant lethal spider. Frodo is paralyzed by Shelob and captured by Orc guards, who plan to search him for the Ring. Sam, believing Frodo dead, takes it upon himself to bear the Ring. Using it, he discovers he can comprehend the Orc language and follows the guards carrying Frodo, eventually realizing that his friend is still alive. The story ends with Sam, filled with agony, separated from Frodo as the gates of Mordor close on him.

The Lord of the Rings Books in Order (4 Book Series)

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings, Book 1

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings, Book 2

The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings, Book 3

The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings, Book 4

What To Read Next

The Lord of the Rings Books in Order (4 Book Series)

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings, Book 1

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings, Book 2

The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings, Book 3

The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings, Book 4

What To Read Next

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