I have to say I’m really happy with how this series wrapped up. I was admittedly frustrated in my initial foray into Middle Earth’s goings-on, primarily due to the unconventional plot structure. The quest aspect of this series was a new reading experience for me. However, having finished "Return of the King," I feel like everything has come full circle.

What I enjoyed most about the end of the series was that we get more of the “what happens after” than is typically provided. Frodo and Sam destroy the Ring and save the realm, but all is not immediately well overnight. Tolkien addresses this—it's not all smooth sailing right away. There is a lot of work to be done to usher in a new age and restore peace to the world. I really enjoyed being able to see what happens after the big climax, something most authors don’t include, or at least not in as much detail. Tolkien took care to tie up any loose ends, avoiding one of my biggest pet peeves in a reading experience. I wanted to hear a little more about Bilbo when all was said and done, but I am happy nonetheless.

My biggest gripe is that Sam should’ve—everyone say it with me—ended up marrying Frodo instead of Rosie and lived happily ever after for the rest of their days. But alas, this was written in the 30s, and so we have to settle for Rosie, I guess.

Overall, I am glad I read this series. I’ve gained some important insight into what many consider the foundation of fantasy writing and it feels like I have participated in a crucial piece of pop culture. The characters were lovable, interesting, and diverse. I have never come across an author who understands the minutiae of the world they’ve created quite like Tolkien. I do plan to continue my journey by reading "The Hobbit" in the future!