The Two Towers Audiobook – The Lord of the Rings, Book 2

Last weekend, I found myself tucked into a cozy armchair as the rain pattered against my Portland window, headphones on and mug of chai warming my hands. That was when I let Rob Inglis’s voice usher me back to Middle-earth in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Two Towers,” the second act in the Lord of the Rings trilogy—a story that feels both ageless and fiercely urgent with every listen.

There’s something about this middle chapter that lingers with me longer than the rest. Maybe it’s because, much like so many periods in life, everything here is uncertain; friends are scattered, hope hangs by a thread, and yet there’s beauty blooming in unexpected places. As Frodo and Sam inch closer to Mordor—haunted by Gollum’s shadow—I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences navigating challenges where each step felt heavier than the last, but camaraderie (and sometimes just sheer stubbornness) kept me moving forward.

What I adore most about this audiobook version is how Rob Inglis breathes fresh air into every corner of Tolkien’s world. His narration isn’t just skillful—it feels deeply lived-in, whether he’s lending an eerie cadence to Gollum or evoking Gandalf’s wisdom upon his return. The voices become distinct companions themselves; Samwise is given warmth and grit that tugged at my heartstrings (I’m always rooting for Sam), while even minor characters get moments of gravitas through subtle shifts in tone.

Tolkien has a famously intricate writing style: elaborate descriptions unfurling like lush moss over stone ruins. While reading can sometimes feel daunting (even for a lifelong fantasy lover like me), hearing it aloud transforms dense prose into storytelling music—each place name rolls off Inglis’s tongue as if he’d walked those paths himself. The battles—especially Helm’s Deep—come alive with tension that made me forget everything else happening outside my living room.

But what makes “The Two Towers” linger after you press pause isn’t only its epic scope; it’s also its intimate focus on loyalty—the way Sam refuses to leave Frodo behind, or Aragorn risks everything for his friends. Those choices reminded me of close friendships I’ve leaned on during tough times, their courage echoing quiet acts of kindness from people who helped light up some dark chapters in my own story.

If there’s anything I found challenging—and perhaps this speaks more to Tolkien than to this particular production—it’s that some sections still drag just a little (yes, I’m looking at you, endless marches across rocky plains). But whenever I was tempted to drift away from Middle-earth minutiae, Rob Inglis would bring me right back with another beautifully delivered passage or musical interlude.

All told: listening to “The Two Towers” feels less like consuming media and more like embarking on an emotional journey alongside dear friends facing impossible odds—with hope threaded through every perilous moment. Whether you’re already devoted to Tolkien or finally diving into these legendary stories for the first time as an audiobook fan like myself—you’ll find yourself changed by the end of this journey.