The Children of Hurin

(Reread 12/09/22) “The doom lies in yourself, not in your name.”

One of the more underrated Tolkien books, and one of his best. Furthermore, probably the most tragic. While not at all graphic or ‘grimdark', (it is in keeping with the mythological style found in The Silmarillion), anyone who believes Tolkien can't go as dark as modern fantasy is trending should read this novel and eat their words.

Not going dark and depressing for the sake of it, but to tell the tragedy of the family of Húrin after he defies the Dark Lord to his face. His son, Túrin, becomes an outlaw in the vein of the Icelandic sagas but is forever cursed. This novel is expanded upon from the chapter in The Silmarillion and gives enough context to understand the story outside of it. Masterful storytelling leading to an inevitable end.