The Lord of the Rings Reading Challenge

Embark on a legendary journey through Middle-earth with this Lord of the Rings-inspired reading challenge! Travel from the Shire to Mount Doom by completing prompts and quests that follow the path of the Fellowship.

Step 1: Begin Your Quest in the Shire

Start your journey with a cozy or lighthearted book that feels like home.

Step 2: Cross the Lands of Middle-earth

Complete reading prompts to represent the key stops along the Fellowship's journey:

1. Bree - A Place of Unexpected Encounters

   • Read a book with a surprising twist or an unlikely hero.

2. Rivendell - The Council of Elrond

   • Choose a book featuring a group coming together to solve a problem or complete a mission.

3. Caradhras - A Test of Strength

   • Read a book with characters facing extreme challenges or natural obstacles.

4. Moria - The Dark Abyss

   • Pick a dark, gothic, or horror novel.

5. Lothlórien - A Moment of Rest and Reflection

   • Read a beautifully written book or one with lush world-building.

6. Rohan - The Horse Lords

   • Select a book featuring royalty, warriors, or epic battles.

7. Minas Tirith - The White City

   • Read a book with politics, court intrigue, or a city as a key setting.

8. Shelob’s Lair - Facing Fears

   • Pick a book with a scary, suspenseful, or high-stakes plot.

9. Mount Doom - The Final Challenge

   • Read a book with an epic climax or a world-altering event.

Step 3: Bonus Side Quests

Level up your challenge by completing optional side quests:

• Gollum’s Riddle: Read a book with an unreliable narrator.

• The Ents of Fangorn: Choose a book set in or heavily featuring nature.

• The Riders of Rohan: Pick a book with strong animal companions.

• The One Ring: Read a book with a magical object at its center.

Step 4: Form Your Fellowship

• Sam: Read a book about friendship or loyalty.

• Merry & Pippin: Choose a humorous or adventurous book.

• Aragorn: Pick a book about a reluctant leader.

• Legolas: Read a book with an elf, fae, or otherworldly character.

• Gimli: Choose a book with a gruff, but lovable character.

• Boromir: Read a book with a character grappling with temptation or moral struggles.

Step 5: Celebrate in the Grey Havens

End your journey with a bittersweet book or a nostalgic re-read to close out your challenge.

Additional Challenges

• The Fellowship Challenge: Complete all prompts for each member of the Fellowship.

• The Ringbearer Challenge: Finish a chunky epic fantasy (500+ pages) or a trilogy.

• Middle-earth Explorer: Read a book inspired by Tolkien’s world, like a classic high fantasy or a modern retelling.

Are you ready to journey through Middle-earth? Pack your lembas bread, grab your cloak, and let the adventure begin!