The Return Of The Shadow

by J.R.R. Tolkien

First published 1988

A Black Rider stalks the Shire, his sinister purpose unknown. As Bilbo's "magic ring" grows in power, a fellowship of hobbits, men, and mysterious figures must unravel its dark secrets before the Dark Lord claims it. In this first volume of The History of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's earliest visions of Middle-earth take shape, leading to an unforgettable confrontation at the tomb of Balin.

Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, epic

Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: chosen-one, epic-quest, found-family

Setting: Middle-earth

512 pages · Paperback · William Morrow Paperbacks

More by J.R.R. Tolkien

• The Hobbit
• The Silmarillion
• Farmer Giles of Ham
• Tales From The Perilous Realm
• Smith of Wootten Major
• Roverandom
• Bilbo's Last Song
• The Adventures of Tom Bombadil

Readers who liked The Return Of The Shadow also liked

• The Hobbit
• The Shadow Rising
• The History Of Middle-Earth, Part One
• The J. R. R. Tolkien Companion and Guide
• The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
• The History of Middle-Earth Index