The Fall of Gondolin - JRR Tolkien

The latest Tolkien book I devoured, the Fall of Gondolin, like Beren and Luthien before it, handles the tale from the Silmarillion, but also looks deeper in how the tale came to be through it's various iterations.

And it has those gorgeous Alan Lee illustrations again.

In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world.  There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband.  Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe, chief of the Valar:  he is called the Lord of Waters, of all seas, lakes and rivers under the sky.  But he works in secret in Middle-Earth to support the Noldor, the kindred of the Elves among whom numbered Hurin and Turin Turambar.

Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable... until it becomes under siege due to an act of supreme treachery.  Balrogs and countless orcs assault the city, dragons burn down the towers of the cities, and mighty sacrifices are made for the Elves to survive the assault...

Another great journey on how the story evolved from Tolkiens notes to the full tale...