Helm's Deep. I mean, come on! ( )

The first half of this book is my favorite part of the whole series. The battle for Helm's Deep and the Ents are positively awesome! ( )

This book follows two stories as the companions of the ring-bearer were split into two. The first story follows the plight of Pippin, Merry, Gimli, Aragorn, and Legolas. The second story follows the story of Frodo and Sam. The book is very immersive as some parts of the story impacts others of the story without them knowing, only to be told as a story itself later. Loyalty and friendship are lessons of the tales which are surrounded by history and war.

Following the story right after the Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn tried but could not find the whereabouts of Frodo. Boromir sounded his horn, which Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas went to. Boromir was found dead with orcs all around and no sign of Pippin and Merry. After holding Boromir’s funeral by boat, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas decided to go after Pippin and Merry as they were definitive danger as they accepted that Frodo and Sam had left of their own accord on the quest to destroy the ring. What follows are many chance meeting and renewed allies. Pippin and Merry aided the Ents, tree herders in their decision to go to war. The riders of Rohan and their king were aided by Pippin, Merry, Legolas and Gandalf against the orcs.

Contemporaneously as many battles were held at Helm’s deep and Isengard, the ring-bearer Frodo and Sam were able to sneak their way closer to their destination, Mordor. Lost as Frodo and Sam were, they found a guide in the disguise of Gollum. Gollum led through many dangerous places which Frodo and Sam would not have escaped on their own accord. Along their journey, they found and unexpected ally in Faramir, Boromir’s younger brother. Faramir aided the hobbits and warned them of the passage which Gollum wishes to take the hobbits to. The passage is rarely used or known and holds a guardian. Gollum leads the hobbits to the passage without telling the hobbits of the guardian, as he will wants the One Ring. In the events that follow, Sam is forced to make a dire choice.
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Read through part of this book in 2020 but quit at the halfway mark. Still hoping to restart the series at a later date.

This is an enjoyable read. Though the characters split here it's easy to follow the adventures of everyone. ( )