TheNecromancerofMirkwood

I would recommend Vinland Saga (S2 is more grounded and better than S1 in all honesty). Its a fictional version of 10th Century Icelandic saga (minus the overt supernatural). Funny enough, its what Tolkien's Middle Earth SHOULD look like.... I would also recommend Apothecary Diaries, which is probably a fictional version of the late Ming Dynasty of early 17th century (given some of the trade goods seen in the series).

Maybe I'm misinterpreting it, but I don't see Melkor as being nihilistic. He wants to be Master of All to the point he infuses all of Arda with his essence (making it Arda Marred). Of all the beings in Eä that could be said to be nihilistic are Ungoliant and Shelob, as they had no ethos beyond 'consume and spread darkness'. And I think that's because Ungoliant is the Anti-Bombadil, she is the literal embodiment of Melkor's Discord when during The Music of the Ainur whereas Bombadil IS the Music of the Ainur itself minus the Discord. (I don't think Ungoliant actually has a fëa, spirit, only a hröa, body.)

He should be doing 3 books instead of 2: The Winds of Winter, A Time for Wolves and then A Dream of Spring, each no more than 1000 pages. But, that's just my opinion....