Terrible writing. Skimmed most of book. Feels like cheap fan fiction aimed at children or possibly young adult audience. Juvenile tone is jarring after mature palette of original series. Philosophically misses every point of that hexalogy. To add insult these prequels and sequels are also packed with nonsensical retcons that degrade the broader narrative. Overall impression is a blatant cash grab by the entitled, talentless son of a great writer. Tacky and disrespectful. Complete opposite of the stewardship Christopher Tolkien provided for his own father's body of work. Best ignored. Next best treated as non-canon experimental meta-comedy.