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Into the Heart of Middle-earth: Exploring Faith and Fellowship in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
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Expected 20 Feb 26192 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 3, 2025
"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.
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.
January 22, 2026
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.
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.
January 11, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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).
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.
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).
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.
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.
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?
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.
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).
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.
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).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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)
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)
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Thank you to Ave Maria Press and Netgalley for an ARC.
December 15, 2025
I expected this book to be more a mixture of literary analysis and theology, however it is more a self help book or devotional, deriving life advice from Tolkien's life and works as well as Catholic teaching. This works better in some sections as in others, as the combination doesn't always fit together perfectly. Especially the early chapters focus on the idea of being a "hobbit at heart" which is unclear and doesn't exactly match up with Tolkien's works (the main Hobbit characters are usual for Hobbits) and I never saw the hobbits in general as a role model. Still, I think many can learn from this book and think about the themes discussed. A lot of material from the Hobbit and LotR is described, which may be repetitive if you are familiar with those works.Still, it is written in a nice style. I wish there was more about Catholicism, because I am curious about it. This is not for every Tolkien fan, but I think some who aren't big fans but enjoy reading and thinking about moral themes and virtues will like it. In the end, what you get out of it, is largely going to depend on the work you do. For some this might just be a cozy read and for others an inspiration to change one's life, to embrace virtue and adventure.
Book was a free ARC
Book was a free ARC
January 21, 2026
A lovely contemplation of some of the main themes of Lord of the Rings. The author is extremely knowledgeable about the main books as well as the Legendarium and Tolkien’s life and faith. As a Protestant, I enjoyed the Catholic perspective as Tolkien himself was Catholic. But the book could easily be enjoyed by any denomination. You could read this book all at once or as a companion alongside the Lord of the Rings because it explores the books in chronological order. The perfect blend of spiritual contemplation and light literary analysis. Check out an interview with the author on the Lit Ladies Podcast! (Link to follow)
I received an ARC from the publisher.
I received an ARC from the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Into the Heart of Middle-earth by Kaitlyn Facista is a really interesting book that helps you understand Tolkien’s world on a deeper level. Instead of retelling the stories, it explains the ideas and themes behind Middle-earth and why they matter.
I liked how Facista connects Tolkien’s life and beliefs to his writing, which made me appreciate The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings more. Some parts are a little detailed, but overall it’s easy to follow and enjoyable.
Overall, it’s a good book for anyone who wants to better understand Middle-earth beyond just the main stories.
I liked how Facista connects Tolkien’s life and beliefs to his writing, which made me appreciate The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings more. Some parts are a little detailed, but overall it’s easy to follow and enjoyable.
Overall, it’s a good book for anyone who wants to better understand Middle-earth beyond just the main stories.
January 18, 2026
Into the Heart of Middle Earth may very well be my new favorite devotional. It explores faith and fellowship through the lens of The Lord of the Rings. You do not have to have read the book or watched the movie to appreciate the depth and beauty of this devotional. There are plenty of examples and insights from the book to keep you fully informed to connections and themes. It is well thought out and guides the reader through middle earth while contemplating so many poignant and powerful moments from the story. I loved the casual and down-to-earth approach while genuinely challenging and encouraging my faith through the lens of Lord of the Rings.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
November 15, 2025
We know the stories of our dear Hobbit friends, not because they stayed in the Shire but because they left when prompted by Providence. While we may not need to destroy Sauron’s Ring ourselves, Into the Heart of Middle Earth gently prepares you to carry the Shire with you each day, cultivating its values into your interior life. A monastic retreat within a cozy hobbit hole, you will emerge with inspiration from the saints and renewed understanding of what it means to be to a hobbit at heart.
November 22, 2025
Absolutely stunning! This book masterfully weaves together the tales of Tolkien, the Bible, and the stories of various saints. It never feels pushy or preachy; instead, it reads like an engaging conversation about the influences that shaped one of the greatest writers of our time. I love the thoughtful moments of reflection on how we can apply the themes in Tolkien’s work to our own lives and strive to live more authentically, hobbit-like.
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