The Children of Húrin, J.R.R. Tolkien
FWIW, I'm halfway through and I think it's his best work. Yes, including LOTR, which I've read maybe five times.
Much more mature, much more conflicted and realistic characters -- in essence, much closer to the Anglo-Saxon source material (i.e., Beowulf, which I'd recently re-read in this prose translation). Dark, violent, moving, and even frightening. There's a confrontation scene between Morgoth/Melkor and Húrin that is so far my favorite, and quite chilling. Not quite Grand Inquisitor-level, but surprisingly effective.
Beautifully illustrated throughout; very happily surprised (thus far). Didn't think it'd be this good.
Dig it.
Much more mature, much more conflicted and realistic characters -- in essence, much closer to the Anglo-Saxon source material (i.e., Beowulf, which I'd recently re-read in this prose translation). Dark, violent, moving, and even frightening. There's a confrontation scene between Morgoth/Melkor and Húrin that is so far my favorite, and quite chilling. Not quite Grand Inquisitor-level, but surprisingly effective.
Beautifully illustrated throughout; very happily surprised (thus far). Didn't think it'd be this good.
Dig it.