Last week was Prime Day here in the UK, and I'll admit…
I got sucked into this one.
They always have a knack for presenting me with deals they know I will be tempted to buy. It's almost as if they track every item I browse, every click I make, and listen in on every conversation I have (I'm looking at you, Alexa!)…
(Yes, that last sentence is laced with sarcasm.)
Anyway, one of my prized purchases was none other than The Lord of the Rings book set:
It might shock some of you to the bone to learn that I've never actually read these books.
"Wait… What do you mean you haven't read LOTR?! You're a fantasy author! That's blasphem—"
Steady on, Legolas.
I am acutely aware that modern fantasy authors (myself included) stand on the shoulders of giants like Tolkien, but I think you've forgotten my origin story.
So let me remind you:
I don’t do long or cumbersome reads.
By no means am I hurling dirt at Tolkien's work or legacy.
Not at all.
What he has created is truly special, and I love the films as much as the next guy.
But let's call a spade a spade:
Books written in 1930s English are no Pepsi Challenge.
And this begs the question: why in Mordor have I bought the box set?
Two reasons:
- They look bloody nice in their sleeve.
- I genuinely want to crack this nut.
One of the goals I had for this year was to read more fiction despite working my tail off to publish more of my own.
And while there is no shortage of modern books to choose from, I've long subscribed to the mantra that:
OLD IS GOLD.
What Tolkien has created is a world unto itself that rivals what Walt did with Disney World. And as an author always yearning to improve my craft, I would be a naive fool to pass up the chance to study from the greats.
If that means wading through archaic language and a few slow chapters here and there, then so be it.
Lucky for you, The Divided Region doesn't come with any of that.
The books are fast-paced and don't have a dozen POVs or races that are at loggerheads with each other. And they certainly aren't weighed down by lore or a made-up language I have no business innovating.
Some fantasy readers would gasp at that.
But if you didn't?
Then there's a good chance you'll like it.
You can grab the bundle here in ebook, audiobook, or stunning paperbacks:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
DJJW