Into the Heart of Middle-earth - A Companion to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: A Spiritual Journey for the Hobbit at Heart

by Kaitlyn Facista

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Religion, Catholic, Books About Books

192 pages, Paperback

Published February 20, 2026

Reviews

[Christina O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Into the Heart of Middle-earth" is a weird book because it belongs in quite a few categories. It's literary criticism of the Tolkien Legendarium, it's a study of how Tolkien's Catholic faith influenced his writing, and also a self-help book. Despite doing all of these things, it manages to do them all well without feeling disjointed.

Each section is structed to look at certain themes in Tolkien's work, to explore Tolkien's life and faith, and to encourage readers to live a better life inspired by Tolkien's stories. Although written from a specifically Catholic perspective, the author does not assume that all of her readers come from a Catholic or Christian perspective. Her focus is how the stories of Tolkien can be used to reflect on ones own life in our own world.

I really enjoyed reading "Into the Heart of Middle-earth." The author really knows Tolkien's Legendarium and made it accessible to the readers, and her interpretations seemed spot on. The self-help portions of the book would really appeal to readers who enjoy journaling. Overall, I think this little book does a lot and does it well. It's worth having on the shelf for any fan of Tolkien.

[Caleb A. Gerber · Rating 2 out of 5]

For all those with hobbit hearts, the world may seem to be spinning out of control. This devotional dives into the life of J. R. R. Tolkien, the men and women who influenced him, and the true history that inspired the world of Middle-earth. It explores Tolkien’s legendarium not only as seen through Peter Jackson’s trilogies or even his most widely read books, but also through lesser-known works such as The Fall of Númenor and The Silmarillion.
The author does an excellent job keeping everything orderly, and she commands the facts of Middle-earth in a way that even I, as a devoted LOTR fan, do not and likely never will. The book is arranged in short, easy-to-manage chapters that offer practical and applicable everyday lessons.
As a Christian, I appreciated many of the themes she draws out; however, I must also offer a note of caution. Tolkien, and even more so the author, were Catholics and do not hesitate to advance views that I, and many Protestants like me, would consider unbiblical or at times nearly heretical. Thankfully, this is not overbearing, but it should be borne in mind by readers who seek to remain faithful to the original teachings of Christ and His disciples.
The author also introduces some subtly left-leaning ideas, such as inclusion and diversity, at times shaping Tolkien’s texts to align with her distinctly liberal perspective. That said, this is not unexpected; any author who seeks to interpret Tolkien inevitably does so through the lens of their own presuppositions and beliefs.
In the end, this devotional is thoughtful, well-researched, and genuinely edifying in many respects. Readers who love Tolkien and are willing to read discerningly will find much to appreciate here. Those approaching it should simply do so with open eyes, testing every insight against Scripture, as all good readers should.

[Mary Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an atheist (yet cultural Catholic), this was a good read. I appreciate how the author did not assume we knew the Bible stories she referenced, and explained each story in layman’s terms. She also was able to expertly lead each Bible story or character to the theme she was exploring for that chapter.

Also, it was interesting to read about Tolkien’s faith, with evidence from his books and letters.

I also appreciated how each chapter ended with actionable items to do to actually live like a hobbit at heart. This book was enjoyable and helpful, and I would say you do not need to be a Christian to be satisfied with it.

An earlier review mentioned this is a literary critique, exploration of Tolkien’s Catholicism, and a self help book. I would agree with that.

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 4 out of 5]

As many of my friends and followers probably know by now, I’ve been a massive Tolkien fan since around 2012 or 2013. He’s the reason I finally picked up my own pen to start writing, and has inspired and uplifted me in many ways over the years. I will, therefore, read just about anything about his works and life. Doubly so if it’s written by someone I’m familiar with and like. It wasn’t long after I fell in love with Lord of the Rings that I discovered the fan site and community of theonering.net, and through that fandom, I discovered Tea with Tolkien, aka, Kaitlyn Facista, who wrote this book.

While I don’t know Kaitlyn personally, I’ve admired her as a person from what I’ve seen of her online. She seems like a sweet and knowledgeable woman of faith who, as a Catholic herself, has a special perspective of Tolkien’s own faith and inspirations. As soon as she announced this book, I was more than happy to preorder.

I really enjoyed what she did with this, digging into the beating heart of Tolkien’s work, and Tolkien himself, pointing out inspirations and themes, and showing how we can apply what we learn in Middle Earth to our real lives. There were things in here that I knew, but some information about Tolkien was new to me as well, thanks to Kaitlyn having the perspective and knowledge of being Catholic like Tolkien. While I’ve already noticed and appreciated the themes and applicable things she points out, it was still good to be reminded of them. I especially appreciated how she pointed out that “living like a hobbit” doesn't mean you can only be a gardening homebody who wears bright colors. It's so much deeper than that. But I'll let her tell you about it when you read the book. 🙂

Overall, this is a sweet and thoughtful book that I enjoyed reading. My favorite chapter was the one about the themes of hope in Middle Earth, but all the chapters were good in different ways. Highly recommended to fellow lovers of Middle Earth.

I usually add content advisories to my reviews, but no advisory is necessary here. No language, violence, sexy stuff, etc., to be found. It’s plenty safe to share with the whole family.

[Samantha Mendell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful, encouraging devotional-style book! I thoroughly enjoyed this read. As a non-Catholic Christian, I was especially interested to learn of the Catholic saints and influences that impacted Tolkien’s life and work—I noted several names of saints to research further.

Highly recommend!

[Afreen Khalid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written from a Catholic perspective, yet offers interesting insights for people of all backgrounds.

[Elizabeth Greenop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaitlyn Facista does a great job summarizing the key themes of Tolkien’s universe and describing how relevant those themes are to our lives in modern society. Each chapter is comprised of an epitaph from one of Tolkien’s major works, description of the relevant theme, a reflection on a saint or particular devotion or belief in Catholicism, and a journal prompt. There are 14 chapters and an epilogue, so if you are looking to have a hit of inspiration in your prayer life or for journaling, this is a great book to use. This is a great Tolkien-inspired devotional for those who are a hobbit at heart!

The themes are a bit repetitive, allowing the reader to continue to reflect on the themes in a new light. The author does a great job explaining bits about Tolkien’s life and how that influenced different pieces of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and other works in his Legendarium. It is an easy read, and the reader can go as deep with the meaning and reflection as they would like, much like Tolkien’s own works!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaitlyn did an amazing job with this book. I loved getting to see her passion for Tolkien's Legendarium and even examples of how his works has changed her life. Each chapter dives into different hobbit values with meticulous examples from the characters and also showing Biblical references as well as the Catholic Saints that also influenced Tolkien as a Catholic. I am a Christian myself but don't know much about the Catholic faith so I found learning about the saints in connection to Tolkien to be quite fascinating. I feel this is a great self-help book in a way by showing us how we can apply these attributes to our lives and also how to be an example in our communities. I have been a part of Kaitlyn's Tea with Tolkien community for many years and it is always such a treat to read her writings and perspective on things. Highly recommend this book.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally got this book to read during Lent. However, I decided to take it a bit more slowly than that. And I’m glad I did, as it seemed to work better for me to take some time after reading each chapter and savor it.

I think this would work well for a Bible study group or a Sunday School class to read. And though the author does an admirable job of explaining various aspects of Tolkien’s stories, I also think it would work best for people who have already read The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion.

If you want a more detailed and scholarly look at Tolkien’s spirituality and how it affected his life, I’d recommend Holly Ordway’s excellent recent book Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography. But if you want a book that gives you advice on applying the lessons of Tolkien’s faith as demonstrated by the characters in his books to your own life, this is an excellent choice.

[Ben A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will preface my review by saying that I am not a practicing Catholic nor do I think you need to be I order to enjoy this book. Very early on, the author states Tolkien is for everyone and I think we should all follow her example. This was a great read, especially enlightening about some topics I wasn’t aware of, and it really made me feel like I was sitting down for a nice, chill Tolkien discussion with a friend. I’ll be looking to add this to my Tolkien literary criticism collection and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next Kaitlyn Facista book.

Special Thanks to Ave Maria Press and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

[Rhonda Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book for someone like myself who was somewhat familiar with Tolkien's world, but wanted a deeper look at the main themes. This is a Catholic perspective of The Lord of the Rings, looking at main themes, topics, practical applications, and Biblical stories related to said themes. You might be familiar with Kaitlyn Facista as Tea for Tolkien on social media. And like any respectable Tolkien scholar, she has added a wonderful Appendices to the back of her book with lots of Tolkien info.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Heart of Middle-earth - A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings by Kaitlyn Facista inspired me. Having long been a fan of the Lord of the Rings and of J. R. R. Tolkien, I was fascinated to find someone had taken the story of the Lord of the RIngs as a platform for spiritual development. It was clear that the author has long been a student of The Lord of the Rings and has well-pondered what relevance the tale has on her own spiritual development - as well as what relevance it might have for the broader community. I appreciate how Kaitlyn taught about different practices and different spiritual fruits, how she provided space for questions for the reader for further interpretation, reflection, or application. As titled, this serves as a helpful companion for those who are wanting to shepherd their flock - or be shepherded themselves - to a deeper walk with the Good Shepherd by way of the story of J. R. R. Tolkien. Thank you Kaitlyn for your extensive work on this companion. And thank you Netreads for an advanced reader copy.

[Heinrich DuBose-Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaitlyn does a remarkable job exploring the virtues of Middle-earth. Each chapter covers several virtues, using Tolkien's characters as examples. Kaitlyn adds reflections on her faith, with Christ and saints serving as contrasts to Tolkien's characters.

[Sienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book, and I think it will change the way I approach J.R.R. Tolkien’s books in the future.

I just didn’t really enjoy reading the book… I probably am not a big enough Lord of the Rings fan for it. It did give me perspective though—I am not too keen though on the idea of connecting every little thing in literature back to spirituality.

Here are some notes of things I did like:
-Eucatastrophe: Happy ending that doesn’t deny the existence of all the grief and pain that comes before but instead redeems it (termed by Tolkien)
-God is a supreme storyteller who redeemed humanity through the compelling and moving story of the Gospel
-hobbits are marvelous! How can I become more like a hobbit?

[Hadley Sloan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have not been much for words recently so this review will be brief. I had no huge issues with it. I would have appreciated more about Catholicism and also connections with the Silmarillion.

[Michaela Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful read! I felt like I was sitting with the author chatting Tolkien ans LOTR over a cup of coffee or tea. I have an even deeper appreciation for Tolkien himself and his work after reading this. I had no idea all the places and people he drew his inspiration from. Facista writes with a quiet passion. Her love for Tolkien and his writings comes through the entire book. She does an amazing job of describing what it means to live a hobbit like life and the important details in Tolkien's stories that can be applied to our own lives. I know very little about Catholicism, but the threads that are throughout the book are heartfelt and beautiful and it was so neat seeing its influence on Tolkien.

This isn't a self help book, but there are some self help items in it. It's an inspirational read, it's a calling to realizing there's something bigger than yourself.

I've never actually read the LOTR books, just seen the movies and heard some of the lore surrounding it. I soo look forward to reading them with the understanding of this book.

Huge thank you to Ave Maria Press, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this!

[Alexander Pyles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to go in without any expectations, since I do love Tolkien and I've enjoyed Facista's writing in places, but I found what promised to be a deep book, no more than a puddle. While the insights and weaving of quotes from across the breadth of Tolkien's work were good, seeing his work reduced to easy-to-swallow quips and similar pithy reflections didn't do Facista or Tolkien any favors. It would have been great to see a book that went beyond the prescriptive catechesis present here. I hope Facista writes more in the future, because there's a lot of promise in what you can see between the lines.

[Claudia Alzraa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did me and the people who gave this five-stars read the same book, or are they just pandering to their online friend? This review might get me roasted and cancelled, but I'd rather be honest: this book fell short.
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I've been following Tea With Tolkien for five-or-so years and was so freaking excited to get an ARC of this book from Netgalley for review. My excitement stopped pretty quickly, though, despite /wanting/ to love this book so very much.
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At its essence, this book aims to find and bring out the true heart of Tolkien's world, and that's admirable. Under normal circumstances, at around 50%, I would have left this unfinished, but for the sake of this review, I kept going, hoping to bring more to the surface to love. I just think Facista missed the mark

I found the book very, VERY repetitive: the word root/rooted/rooting was used one thousand times (on one page, I highlighted it three times within one paragraph) , the same book references were made again and again, and "The hobbits were the central focus," and, "If it wasn't for help, the quest would have never succeeded," was said even more.

I feel it was quite vapid and uninspiring: "In the spring, we plant our gardens, and in the summer and autumn we harvest them. Spring and summer bring long days in the sunshine, and autumn and winter bring nights spent indoors." and "I recommend taking out a calendar and mapping out the major events of your life so you can develop your rhythms around them." and "Inviting friends over for a meal or drinks, being open to relatives dropping by for a visit, or making space for loved ones to stay over are wonderful ways to be hospitable." - Uhm, yes. No kidding.
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A lot of the book was told without showing, without offering much substance: I felt the entire section about Galadriel's gifts was just a surface-level overview of Tolkien's work. "In reading Tolkien, we can learn to become as trusting as Bilbo, as steadfast as Frodo, as anchored as Samwise, as undaunted as Éowyn, as patient as Aragorn, and more." - This is just a list. And so much of the book was retelling what has already been told in earlier chapters without a more intimate look at how it weaves into the new idea being presented.

And I felt it was quite confused and lacked a proper flow: How did an entire chapter on Elven hospitality turn into an advice column on how to be a hostess? Why did we start with a focus on becoming Hobbit at Heart, which was described as the central focus of embodying Tolkien's Christianity, woven in the story, only to fly all over the place in the rest of the book?
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There were also weird formatting choices throughout: Why does a bulletpoint list have periods? "Like Sam carrying Frodo, there will be times in life where you will need to carry friends through difficult seasons— and in other times, you will need them to carry you." And why was the "you" in this sentence italicised?

The book still has a few shining parts and passages. I do like the layout that was planned for this book, even if it wasn't executed perfectly. I like a few of the ideas shared ("It is good to be informed, but do not let the never-resting news cycle paralyze you with fear or anxiety." - Amen!). And I appreciate what Facista /tried/ to do; connect to the religious spirit that embodies all of Tolkien's work.
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This book didn't feel Tolkien-esque to me, it felt very lost (many would say my review is not Tolkien-esque either, but I'm a harsh reviewer). I don't think every influencer needs to write a book to make an impact in their community (I certainly cannot draw, or host a discord), because a lot of this one felt like Facista just didn't know where to take this one, 25% of the way in, and was just grasping at straws with the random saints thrown around throughout (many didn't feel like they connected to the ROOT of this book, at all).
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​I would consider this book at an eight grade reading level with how it was written, and would have liked it for when I was teaching at a Catholic school, for helping my former students understand the Christian undertones in the movie. But it will not, unfortunately, be joining my meter-long shelf space of Tolkien and Tolkien-centered literature.
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An aside related to the prologue and not the book, "If Christianity is a tree made of many branching denominations, I wanted to cling to its roots." and "If I believed Jesus was God— and I did— I wanted to belong to the church that most closely resembled the one Jesus founded." - Then Facista should have gone with Orthodoxy, the original Christianity, not Catholicism (but I understand a Tolkien super-fan going the Catholic way).

[Kyleigh Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into the Heart of Middle-earth is a lovely book for Tolkien fans. Kaitlyn Fascista (known as “Tea” to many of us members of her Tea with Tolkien Discord server) walks through the story of Lord of the Rings noting various values and themes, pulling together various threads of that idea throughout Tolkien’s legendarium, and connecting it to aspects of Catholicism.

It doesn’t go all that deep into either Tolkien analysis or theology/spirituality, but Tea does pull together lots of streams/threads in a lovely way. Some of her connections are more tenuous than others, but some are very strong, and others very thought-provoking.

I tend more towards the academic side of Tolkien than the fan side of things, and to be honest haven’t thought a whole lot about personal application of various values in Tolkien (except in a couple areas where that’s happened naturally because I’m always immersed in Tolkien), but I still enjoyed this book. For me, it’s a solid 3-stars “I liked it,” but I think if you’re a Tolkien fan who likes more devotional material it would be a 4-star book.

Where the book shines:
- Tea’s summaries of themes and stories are excellent. I don’t usually enjoy reading other people’s summaries of Tolkien’s stories but hers were lovely.
- I appreciated her discussion of how we should interpret Tolkien, starting with the author’s intent but also allowing for the story’s applicability in our own lives. All readers can happily enjoy, understand, and glean from Tolkien without the lens of his faith, but that it takes on a new depth of meaning when we see how his Catholicism shaped his work. I confess I’m really tired of those who try to interpret Tolkien in a way contradictory to his faith, but at the same time have found that some trying to interpret his work only through the lens of his faith can become too dogmatic about some things (usually leaning towards allegory) and not leave room for some of the other influences in Tolkien’s life that make some things in his legendarium not “work” in a purely biblical framework… but that’s part of a larger discussion not for this review. While I might have come down a little stronger towards authorial intent, I found Tea’s wording to be refreshing and also to reflect the ethos of the Tea with Tolkien discord.
- The chapters on hope, pity, and grief were my favorite, and I felt that they were stronger and deeper than the others, which was probably partially intended by Tea and partially because those are themes I’ve appreciated more in Tolkien.

(I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this book via NetGalley)

[Nick Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are countless Christian spiritual takes on Tolkien and his legendarium and picking a good one is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Into the Heart of Middle-earth is a book that you'll be glad poked your finger in your search.

Kaitlyn Facista, founder of Tea with Tolkien, brings a deeply personal, nerdy, and spiritually applicable resource for Tolkien fans whether religious or not. While the book is written with a specifically Christian devotional aim, in no way does Facista become preachy or overbearing in her explication of the spiritual aspects of the legendarium that are distilled from Tolkien's own Roman Catholic faith. She does this by connecting her interpretations to her own religious experience and shares how she has applied the principles in her life as examples of how readers might replicate or apply them to their own experience.

Her applications are practical and rooted in the best parts of the Christian tradition - namely its virtues. These virtues are not made exclusive to the Christian tradition in the book, however. Facista does an amazing job of communicating the virtues of the characters in Tolkien's legendarium, how they have impacted her, and leaving it up to the reader to decide how they might impact their own spiritual or moral lives.

If you are looking for an approachable book to Tolkien and his works and one that gives you tools to help make sense of why the legendarium matters, this one is for you. Perfect for new and veteran Tolkienists alike, Into the Heart of Middle-earth gives you all heart without cutting any of the intellectual depth that Tolkien's works provides.

[Jessica Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deeply Personal And Profoundly Thoughtful Exploration Of Tolkienian Themes

A deeply personal and profoundly thoughtful exploration of Tolkienian themes, Kaitlyn invites us to explore Middle-earth with her through the lens of her own experience with Catholicism.

While written from her own perspective as someone who shares Tolkien's Catholic faith, Kaitlyn's writing is never exclusive towards those of other faiths or beliefs. Instead, she invites all with open arms to journey alongside her and presents the universal truths at the heart of Tolkien's story.

"We are molded in the Shire, but we are truly forged on the road to Mount Doom. The virtues of the Shire should not remain hidden away or be forgotten on our journey, as though we have left it completely behind. Rather, we carry the Shire with us wherever the road may lead." (pg. 15)

The way Kaitlyn speaks about Tolkien and engages with his stories reveals the profound impact he has had upon her life, and she is able to impart that meaning to readers. This book left me with moving stories of Saints I'd never read before along with practical applications of how to be a Hobbit at heart that I can't wait to apply to my own life.

This is a fantastic and necessary book for anyone looking to learn more about the impact of Catholicism on Tolkien's life and legendarium, regardless of your beliefs or background. And beyond this, in an increasingly dark and hopeless world, Kaitlyn challenges us to choose the hope exemplified in Hobbits.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with all the others who rated this book 2 stars so I figured I’d go with that rating.

Someone said this was a puddle of a book and I unfortunately agree. There was little depth which I believe to be unfortunate as there were good moments here. Facista would come close to a really interesting point but then just stop? There was a moment early on about the hobbits not being Nationalists. Can we talk about that? Oh no let’s go talk about how having friends over is hospitable. Wow, I never thought about that. I should write down important dates? Woah!

I really like Tea with Tolkiens work online and she’s clearly very knowledgeable. I wanted to get this book in the hopes of getting a distinctly Catholic view on Tolkien’s work- since as a non-Catholic but a Christian- I might’ve missed something. But this didn’t offer up anything new for me even as a Protestant. The beginning had her briefly touch on her faith journey which , as a Christian denomination nerd I got excited for. But she didn’t really say anything insightful- and I’ll leave it at that as I could pontificate but should not.

In short, I really wanted more biblical stuff here and there was little. I get it- it’s approachable but all she’d do for all the stories in the Bible is summarize them. Same for most of the lotr content too which was disappointing.

[Jimgosailing]

“In fact, in the very beginning of his Legendarium, Tolkien's world itself was created through song. The Ainulindale, the Music of the Ainur, tells of the creation of the world through music under the direction of the supreme God Eru Ilúvatar. It is said in The Silmarillion that the echoes of this music can be heard in water. The elves therefore considered water the dearest of all elements, a testament to their love of music….

“While Tom Bombadil's nature was intentionally left unexplained, some have theorized he was the embodiment of the music of the Ainur. (I'm quite fond of this idea, myself!)
Days…

. . . . .

I’ve enjoyed Tea With Tolkien. I didn’t find this the same way. Maybe this was written for others who haven’t read Tolkien as much as I have; there was way too much summary recountings of what had happened in the stories. And too much trying to establish Catholic connections by juxtaposition to Tolkien’s work. And while i understand Tolkien was deeply religious, stoutly Catholic, even in his own words he avoided making his story a Christian allegory-the very reason why he avoided emulating Arthurian mythology.

Was he areligious? Maybe not. Maybe what he did was take the essence of fundamental Christian ideals (commandments 3 thru 10), strip them of their religiosity, and embed them in the stories.

[Marlene Ocampo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we think of the Hobbit lifestyle, many of us picture cozy Instagram aesthetics, and we instantly think of tweed coats and cottages. While these things are all good and true, J.R.R. Tolkien meant to point us to something deeper in his writing: the Cross. The trials of his Hobbits and their quest to bring about a better world is something that few people capture nowadays, but Kaitlyn Facista brings that understanding of Tolkien's literature into startling clarity. She guides readers through a practical yet spiritual journey that helps them embrace the beating heart of Middle-earth. Accompanied by the examples of saints, as well as a rich and layered analysis of Tolkien's many works, Facista brings Tolkien's faith into the forefront. She makes this accessible to all readers, whether Catholic or non-Catholic. Whatever your knowledge of Tolkien (if you are a seasoned Tolkien wizard or a beginning reader), her book makes sure that everyone has something to gain.

This book is well worth your time, and I pray that you have as fruitful and meaningful exploration of it as I did.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing how much Tolkien's faith meant to him and how interwoven it was in the stories he wrote, I appreciate seeing Kaitlyn approach his work from that lens. She does an excellent job of purveying that faith in her examination of the story and themes of The Lord of the Rings, providing the reader with the opportunity to apply it through spiritual, social, and communal aspects of their lives. As we march with the Hobbits through their trek across Middle-earth in the journey to defeat Sauron and destroy the One Ring, we're given ample opportunities by Kaitlyn to stop, ponder, and meditate on the story's various values, ranging from Honor, Hospitality, Loyalty, and beyond. We're given several influences in Tolkien's faith, ranging from his mother, his priest, and other Saints in the Catholic faith, all of which exhibit these values that find their way into his own life and writing.

Into the Heart of Middle-earth is an easy and approachable exploration of what it truly means to be a "Hobbit at heart," and I was privileged to be taken along the journey.

[Quincy Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Protestant pastor in an evangelical background, I would like to wholeheartedly recommend Kaitlyn Facista's excellent guide into Middle-Earth which focuses on Tolkien's journey of faith, insights from Christian history and Scripture, and personal anecdote's from Facista's own spiritual journey. As a lifelong Tolkien student and lover of his works, I thrilled over insights - both new and familiar - to his life, faith and creative world. As a follower of Jesus, I deeply appreciated the call to a deeper faith and a sustainable joy that both Tolkien and Facista present so brilliantly.

While Facista is a Catholic and I am a Protestant, I would encourage people of all faiths, denominations and creeds to grab a copy of his book to better understand Tolkien, life, faith and both divine and human goodness. It is a refreshing and welcome addition to the corpus of Tolkien studies so richly available to the modern reader.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was like being wrapped in a cozy blanket with a friend having tea and talking about everything and nothing (I don't mean that in a bad way at all). This book goes over a lot of topics but they are all interconnected- faith, Tolkien, encouragement for living a simpler life. This book put into words a lot of feelings I've had over the last year getting back into Tolkien and viewing his works from a Catholic mindset, however the author does not make assumptions that everyone is reading. this book from that perspective. Are there much more in-depth works on Tolkien, religion and Middle Earth? Yes, of course. But the specific elements she addresses from Tolkien's works are very well done. I felt especially touched by the chapter on hope, I know that will be a reread for me many times over.

Thank you to Ave Maria Press and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tolkien’s ability to point to something greater within his works is the driving force that has brought me back time and time again. In “Into the Heart of Middle-Earth”, Kaitlyn hones in on the paths that one can take to find that “something greater” within Tolkien’s works. From discovering the “little way” of the hobbits to the reveal of the “unexpected happy ending”, Kaitlyn calls us to enter more deeply into the fictional world of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth to inspire real change in the physical world. The journey Kaitlyn guides us on takes us into the Catholic hearts of Tolkien, Kaitlyn, and many Catholic saints but (in true Tolkien fashion) is welcoming to all who enter. This work has found a way into my heart and home and I look forward to sharing the experience with others, in my personal life and within the Tea with Tolkien community. Hope to see you on the journey!

[Grace (alatteofliterature) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book, tying together Tolkien's faith with his creative works, a feat that I think he would be proud of.

Kaitlyn Facista's writing and works have crossed my digital paths many times over the years through her "Tea with Tolkien" community. Funny enough, I didn't put 2+2 together that this was her book until the first instance of referencing said online community in the book.

This is not a prescriptive self-improvement book, not a themed devotional, but a peaceful walk through Middle Earth, acknowledging all of the ways Tolkien uses subcreation to point his readers back to Creation.

Easily 5 stars. Will be buying. Will be rereading.

Thank you to Ave Maria Press and Kaitlyn Facista for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading "Into the Heart of Middle Earth" by Kaitlyn Facista!!! :D I've followed her online through her Tea with Tolkien community since the TV show "The Rings of Power" came out and it's one of my favorite communities in the Lord of the Rings fandom. She's written a great book about how so many things in the LOTR books, movies, and show relate to our lives and our spiritual journeys. It does remind me of some other Bible studies I've done, especially ones that include other books, TV shows, and movies, but it can be read too for those that aren't Christian or aren't religious as a lot is just how it relates to living our lives. Very well done and I learned more the stories and Tolkien himself too.