J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga stands as a monumental work in the fantasy genre, inspiring one of the most acclaimed film trilogies of all time. At its core, Tolkien's narrative explores the eternal battle between good and evil, enriched with themes of friendship and heroism. With the excitement building around the second season of Rings of Power and the announcement of a new Lord of the Rings movie set for 2026, there's no better time to delve into the expansive world of Middle-earth.

For those yet to embark on this literary journey, including the companion books, we've crafted a comprehensive guide on how to read them. You can choose to follow the chronological order or the sequence of their release. So, prepare your cozy reading nook, dim the lights, and let's set off on one of the greatest adventures in literature.

How Many The Lord of the Rings Books Are There in the Series?

**There are four books in Tolkien's main Middle-earth saga**: The Hobbit, and the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings, which are The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.

Since Tolkien's passing in 1973, several additional collections and companion books have been published. We've highlighted seven of the most relevant additions in the list below.

Lord of the Rings Book Sets

Whether you're embarking on your first journey into the world of LoTR or looking to expand your collection, there are several excellent book sets to consider. Our top pick is the leather-bound illustrated editions, but a variety of styles are available to suit every reader's taste.

The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Edition

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The Hobbit And The Lord Of The Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set

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The Silmarillion Deluxe Illustrated Edition

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The Hobbit Deluxe Illustrated Edition

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The Lord of the Rings Books Reading Order

We've categorized Tolkien's Middle-earth works into two sections: The Lord of the Rings saga and additional reading. The Hobbit and the LotR books follow the tales of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, listed in narrative chronology. The additional reading section features works released posthumously, ordered by publication date.

For those new to the series, the plot synopses below offer minimal spoilers, focusing on broad plot points and character introductions.

1. The Hobbit

The Hobbit marks Tolkien's first foray into Middle-earth, both chronologically and by release date. Originally published in 1937, it narrates the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, 17 years before the first volume of The Lord of the Rings.

The story follows Thorin and Company—comprising Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield—as they embark on a quest to reclaim their ancestral home under the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug. Along their journey, readers are introduced to Gollum and learn how Bilbo acquires the One Ring. The adventure culminates in the Battle of Five Armies, famously depicted in the concluding Hobbit film.

2. The Fellowship of the Ring

Almost two decades after The Hobbit, Tolkien released the first volume of The Lord of the Rings. Originally intended as a single narrative, the saga spanned 9,250 pages between 1938 and 1955, eventually being edited and divided into three volumes, each containing two books.

The Fellowship of the Ring begins at Bilbo's 111th birthday celebration, where he passes the One Ring to his cousin Frodo. Unlike the film, there's a 17-year gap in the book between Bilbo's departure and Frodo's quest, prompted by Gandalf's warning to leave the Shire.

Frodo assembles a group of companions, forming The Fellowship of the Ring. This group, consisting of Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Merry Brandybuck, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, and Gandalf, sets out to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor.

By the end of Fellowship, Frodo faces betrayal and decides to continue to Mordor alone, accompanied only by the steadfast Samwise.

3. The Two Towers

The Two Towers, the second volume, follows the split journey of the Fellowship. Frodo and Sam continue their quest towards Mordor, encountering Gollum, while the remaining members face orcs and confront the corrupted wizard Saruman.

4. The Return of the King

The final volume, The Return of the King, brings the Fellowship's quest to a close as they battle Sauron's dark forces. Sam and Frodo reach the climax of their mission, and the hobbits confront one last challenge back in the Shire—a sequence omitted from the film adaptation.

The fates of the characters are revealed, and we bid farewell to Frodo as his journey concludes.

**Additional LotR Reading**

5. The Silmarillion

The Silmarillion

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The Silmarillion, published posthumously in 1977, is the first Middle-earth work released after Tolkien's death. Edited by his son Christopher, it's a five-part collection of stories known as the legendarium of Arda, the world encompassing Middle-earth. It covers the history of Arda from its creation through to the Third Age, the setting for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

6. Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

Unfinished Tales Of Númenor And Middle-Earth

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Unfinished Tales is a collection of over a dozen stories and histories of Middle-earth, also edited by Christopher Tolkien. Divided into four parts, it includes tales about the origins of the five wizards, the alliance between Gondor and Rohan, Gandalf's orchestration of The Hobbit's events, and Sauron's search for the One Ring before The Lord of the Rings.

7. The History of Middle-earth

The Complete History of Middle-Earth

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The History of Middle-earth is a twelve-volume series published between 1983 and 1996. Edited by Christopher Tolkien, this 5,400-page collection compiles and analyzes The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and other Middle-earth writings. Note that analyses of The Hobbit are excluded here and can be found in The History of The Hobbit, edited by Tolkien scholar John D. Rateliff and published in 2007.

8. The Children of Húrin

The Children of Hurin

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The Children of Húrin is the complete narrative of Of Túrin Turambar from The Silmarillion. Set during the First Age, it recounts the tragic tale of Húrin Thalion and his children, Túrin and Nienor, exploring the consequences of Húrin's defiance against Morgoth, the main antagonist before Sauron's rise.

9. Beren and Lúthien

Beren And Lúthien

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Beren and Lúthien, initially featured in The Silmarillion, is a love story set in the First Age. Christopher Tolkien compiled various versions into a cohesive narrative about the mortal man Beren and the immortal Elf Lúthien. Their story is believed to be inspired by Tolkien's romance with his wife Edith, with their names inscribed on the couple's gravestone.

10. The Fall of Gondolin

The Fall Of Gondolin

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The Fall of Gondolin is the full tale of Tuor's divine quest to Gondolin, a story found in both The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. It leads to the downfall of Morgoth, and connects to The Lord of the Rings through Tuor's son Eärendil, the father of Elrond, who assembles the Fellowship in The Fellowship of the Ring. This is the last Middle-earth novel edited by Christopher Tolkien.

11. The Fall of Númenor

The Fall of Númenor

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The Fall of Númenor, published in November 2022, is a compilation of Tolkien's works concerning the Second Age of Middle-earth. Assembled by Brian Sibley, it includes stories from The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and The History of Middle-earth. The volume covers the rise and fall of Númenor, the forging of the Rings of Power, Sauron's ascent, the construction of Barad-dûr, and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.

How to Read The Lord of the Rings By Release Date

The Hobbit* (1937)
The Fellowship of the Ring* (1954)
The Two Towers* (1954)
The Return of the King* (1955)
The Silmarillion (1977)
Unfinished Tales (1980)
The History of Middle-earth (1983–1996)
The Children of Húrin (2007)
Beren and Lúthien (2017)
The Fall of Gondolin (2018)
The Fall of Númenor (2022)
*\*Part of the main four-book Lord of the Rings saga*

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How to Watch The Lord of the Rings Movies in Order
Every Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Set