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Home > Mere Mortals Book Reviews > Helm’s Deep to Shelob | Book Review The Two Towers
Podcast: Mere Mortals Book Reviews
Episode:

Helm’s Deep to Shelob | Book Review The Two Towers
Category: Arts
Duration: 00:14:15
Publish Date: 2025-11-11 15:36:00
Description:

A raw, no-fluff review of The Two Towers — the darker, tighter middle act of LOTR. I cover the split structure, why Book III feels punchier (Helm’s Deep, Ents), why Book IV slows to a crawl before the Shelob crescendo, and how pain trains the will through Frodo’s burden and Sam’s rise. I read this over a couple of months and felt the weight, the world-building, and the payoff.

Spoilers ahead: Gandalf’s return, the march to war, Frodo/Sam/Gollum through the marshes, and that spider. If you value integrity, patience and quiet courage, this one hits deep.

If you’ve read it, tell me your favourite moment (Helm’s Deep or Shelob?). If you haven’t: persevere — the last hundred pages cook.

Chapters
00:00 – Intro & why this book now
00:26 – Edition & context (movies vs book)
00:56 – Darker tone; two storylines
01:23 – Reading over 2–3 months; dense lore
02:34 – Detail overload: when it works/doesn’t
04:35 – Book split: company/Helm’s Deep vs Frodo/Sam
05:56 – Helm’s Deep: thrill + I wanted more
06:29 – Frodo/Sam/Gollum: the slow march
07:35 – The drag before the payoff
08:16 – “Shelob’s Lair”: can’t-put-down stretch
09:40 – Sam takes the Ring; cliffhanger
10:00 – “Pain is a teacher” & Frodo’s burden
11:44 – Sam’s unsung heroism
12:40 – Who should read; how to read it
13:37 – Verdict: “savage, beautiful middle movement”

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