The Return of the King

Okay, what am I going to say about this book that hasn't been said before besides the fact that everything you've heard about it is true? I always had trouble reading through Fellowship, but I think it just wasn't the right time for me to touch Lord of the Rings in general. Plus, as everyone seems to indicate, Fellowship is the building blocks for the journey ahead and is also maybe the weakest link in the series.
Anyhow, that all seems really silly now because the collective whole of Lord of the Rings is absolutely incredible and this ending solidifies that. Tolkien meets every lofty expectation as a master of his craft, creating believable and alive characters that by the end truly feel like friends facing ridiculous odds who you feel stupidly attached to. I especially love the themes of hope and perseverance; they really resonated. It's worth noting that I listened to the Andy Serkis audiobook, too, and boy does that man make everything come all the more alive.