In full disclosure, I recieved this free in exchange for a review. The Hobbit Devotional is a reprint of a book written a few years ago but with an upgraded cover. This book will appeal for fans of the LOTR and Hobbit franchises - which is why I am intending to purchase a copy for a friend of mine for their birthday.

The devotions themselves are in simple to understand language, tied in with the books - referencing different scenes and characters. They are easy to read and take on board. The concepts relevant and each devotional is summed up with a question that provokes action (a what have you learnt type question).

Definitely worth it for the Hobbit lover in your life.

Every year I revisit The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This year, I get the add benefit of a wonderful devotional alongside this tradition. Tolkien penned such moving epic tales, rich with life lessons and Scriptural parallels to the Gospel and Ed Strauss does a great job of capturing these in sixty devotionals. Themes of bravery, tenacity, moving out of our comfort zones and perseverance are highlighted in these entries meant to encourage, challenge and move you as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the devotional entries and received a triple blessing from Scripture, Tokien’s powerful imagination and Strauss’s ability to bring them together in applicable terms.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Interesting book. I really enjoyed the excerpts from The Hobbit - makes me want to read that wonderful story again! As in many stories, there are various things happening that can be related to stories from the Bible and Strauss has taken some of the scenarios from The Hobbit and related them to biblical scenarios. He also provides some theological reflections. Some of the themes are courage, greed, overcoming fear, handling hardship, and several other important qualities we need as Christians.

Tolkien's spiritual roots are also discussed some. I liked that Strauss pointed out Gandalf's character to be more of an "angel" figure rather than any negative pagan depiction a "wizard" might bring to mind for some people.

I found this devotional fun to read and liked the biblical parallels noted. I was reminded of some things I had forgotten from both the Hobbit and the Bible.

Thanks to Barbour Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I read a version of this a few years ago. The only difference I can see between the new edition and the other is the beautiful leather cover. The devotionals included in this are perfect for fans of Tolkien and Middle-earth. Ed Strauss does a fantastic job connecting the events of The Hobbit to Biblical passages and truth, giving the beloved fantasy novel a deeper dive into faith.

Definitely worth picking up if you're a fan of The Hobbit.

I really enjoyed this devotional. It was great the way the author connected the fantasy world of The Hobbit with God's Word.

In each chapter of A Hobbit Devotional, similarities are pointed out between the story of The Hobbit and the Bible. For example, Bilbo's great adventure with the dwarves is compared to discipleship and the dwarves' loss of their homeland to the Jews' loss of Babylon at the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar. The book offers parallel lessons from both books on many things including hospitality, hardships, and finding your inner strength.

This book is best consumed one or two chapters at a time, as the comparisons between The Hobbit and the Bible are food for thought. The chapters are short, so they are perfect for nighttime reading before bed.

Recommended for Christians who like fantasy, especially those looking to learn about the Bible in a different way. The language may not be accessible to a child, but parents would be able to read this to a child and discuss the short chapters.

As beautiful as it is thought provoking. This is a wonderful tool that you can really apply to yourself. I would encourage you to buy a paper edition to write in!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Ed Strauss's "A Hobbit Devotional" is a light, engaging, and often inspiring read weaving together Scripture with the long beloved stories by J.R.R. Tolkien.

"A Hobbit Devotional" is a rather delightful example of a well designed and constructed literary collection, a book that recognizes imagery often matters and also a book that realizes that many Tolkien fans carry with them strong visuals when reading his stories.

Strauss expertly capitalizes on all of this by assembling 60 inspiring, humorous, and often incredibly engaging and encouraging devotions that take a central quote/theme from Tolkien and apply it with personal reflections and a brief yet certain theological reflection.

"A Hobbit Devotional" is likely best described as theologically evangelical, perhaps not quite aligned with my own theological background yet far from preachy and more concerned with application. Strauss does an excellent job of making Tolkien's material accessible and of finding the spiritual roots easily found in all of Tolkien's writing.

Truthfully, I've never made my way all the way through Tolkien's books yet, like so many Americans, I've eagerly devoured the cinematic creations of them. I was impressed with how easily Strauss brought this material visually to life and I found myself quickly immersed in his writing and the ease with which he related the material to contemporary life and Christianity.

This is the kind of devotional that deserves repeated visits, the life lessons nearly always engaging and the writing comfortable and compassionate. The book is written in such a way that it's easily accessible to younger readers, I'm thinking mostly teens here, and others who appreciate Tolkien and/or the fantasy genre of writing.

I've often felt as if Scripture is far more accessible than we realize and can come to life for us in a variety of ways. "A Hobbit Devotional" certainly brings this point to life in wonderful ways. Beautifully illustrated and written, "A Hobbit Devotional" is a delightful option for teenage readers needing a different lens through which to explore faith and a book that intelligently and entertainingly brings both Tolkien and the Bible to life in new and wonderful ways.

With the beautiful leather binding, this is a keepsake gift book for sure! Each devotional covers a section of The Hobbit and then explains how that section relates to scripture. For the Tolkien-ite who may struggle with spirituality (such as teens who are in the questioning phase....like mine), this book presents a great way to get into those deep discussions. My teen and I read through this together, one each day, and used it as a jumping off point. We'll be investing in the physical form once it releases!

I may be one of the few people that I know who has not read The Hobbit. I feel more inclined to now that I have entered the world of Bilbo and Co. through this thoughtful collection. In each entry, there is a quote from The Hobbit along with an entry that builds from this about ways to live one’s life. For example, an entry about fear gave me a good idea of the things that caused Bilbo to worry and showed how he dealt with a time when he had to face a fear. The very first entry is about comfort and invites the reader to think more deeply about what it is like to be in one’s comfort zone and whether or not there are times when this must be left. There are sixty entries in all so lots to contemplate.

I enjoyed this collection and imagine that I will be rereading a number of the entries. You might too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.