The Flames of Rome

Summary

Things are looking up for Sabinus. He marries the most beautiful girl in the Empire, gets appointed as the prefect of Rome, and is backed by an experienced military campaign with his father in law, Aulus Plautius. But he soon finds out that all is not as it seems. The new emperor, Nero, adopted son of Claudius, is a wild teenager. Together with Senneca and Burrus, he tries to hold the empire together as wild schemes burst out from Nero and his allies/enemies Pallas and Agrippina. Then there is the matter of the strange religion of the Christians. Who are they? And why does Nero hate them so much?

Objectionable Scenes

Sabinus attends two brothels, but escapes both of them. Nero and Claudius's wife have several inappropriate dealings with other people. Nero also divorces his first wife. One women is killed by a guard. Another strangles herself. An inquisitor tortures several conspirators, and the massacres of Christians in the arena by crucifixion, beasts, burning, and even dropped from the ceiling are described with a horrific detail. Many people say, "By the gods." There are so many things in here I can't remember them all, it's history, which is way high then level 5.
Overall Rating
Level: 5. Inappropriate behavior, violence, swearing. 
Recommended Age: 15+

The Hobbit

Summary
A simple hobbit named Bilbo Baggins lives in his comfortable hobbit hole. All he wants is a cozy seat by the fire with the kettle just beginning to sing, but then a wandering wizard named Gandalf appears with a thirteen ragtag dwarves. Gandalf enlists the unwanting Bilbo to help the dwarves recover their treasure from Smaug the dragon. Bilbo is launched on a journey encountering goblins, wolves, giant spiders, and finally, the dragon.
Objectionable Scenes
This book is for the most part OK. There is some magic, and a few sword fights. Gandalf lights some wolves on fire, and kills several goblins, including the slicing the head off one. Another scene has a goblin head on a stake. There is also a battle at the end, that has goblins plunging from a mountain side, being picked up into the air and then dropped by eagles, and several of the main characters are killed, though none of it is is described.
Overall Rating
Level: 2, violence.
Recommended Age: 10+

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Summary
The quest for the destruction of the ring climaxes as a the legions of Mordor besiege Minas Tirith. Frodo and Sam enlist the foul Gollum as a guide in the land of Mordor, and the ring has almost completed it's hold on him. Aragorn rises to the kingship of Gondor, and the old prophecies begin to ring true. But will they remain so?
Objectionable Scenes
The War of the Ring climaxes in a flash of violence, heads are launched by catapults into Minas Tirith. Frodo is attacked by orcs and stripped, though this is not elaborated on. Also, Aragorn summons the Army of the Dead, an army of warriors cursed to not leave the world until a vow sworn by their king is fulfilled. Also, one of the orcs says d***.
Overall Rating
Level: 4, moderate inappropriate behavior, swearing, violence.
Recommended age: 13+

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Summary
Frodo continues his quest into the dark realm of Mordor, home of Sauron the Dark Lord. Boromir falls, and the Fellowship is divided. Pippin and Merry are taken by the foul orcs, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli pursue them.
Objectionable Scenes
This book has a bit more violence then the other book, The Fellowship of the Ring. There are no spirits in this battle, unless you count the Ents as spirits, but they really are not. They are just tree people. Also, Gandalf returns from the dead. A man named Denethor commits suicide, and tries to kill his unconscious son as well, but fails.
Overall Rating
Level: 3, violence, resurrection.
Recommended age: 12+

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Summary

A powerful magic ring comes into the hands of Frodo Baggins, a hobbit. Frodo is then launched on a quest to destroy the ring so that the Dark Lord Sauron cannot regain his strength, which is imbued in the ring, and become all powerful. With his loyal servant Samwise Gamgee at his side, he begins his quest, meeting Black Riders, a man named Strider, dwarves, elves, and a wizard along the way. 

Objectionable Scenes

There is a good deal of magic used in this book. There is also the Black Riders, ghostlike creatures described as being neither dead or alive, and made of nothing. These creatures also have the use of a deadly black magic. A fiery, shadowy creature described as a fire demon is also encountered by Frodo. Another concern for some people may be the Barrow-wights, which seem to be some kind of ghost. There is a death, a creature flying in the sky is shot down by an arrow, but no swearing or crass language. 

Overall Rating

 Level: 3, violence, spirits. 

Recommended age: 12+

What to Expect?

I noticed one day that movies and video games have ratings, so I thought, "Why don't books have these ratings?" So I decided to rate books that I have read by appropriateness. Each rating will have a summary of the story, a list of objectionable scenes, and an overall rating, like this:

Summary
......................................
Objectionable Scenes
............................................
Overall Rating
.............................................

This is the guide I use to rate the books.
1. Little or nothing of concern.
2. Some violence.
3. Violence, swearing, death, crass language, spirits.
4. Moderate inappropriate behavior, (Like a naked character not described.), gore, excessive swearing.
5. Very inappropriate behavior, excessive gore, excessive swearing, excessive crass language.

Please let me know if I missed a scene or if there is a typo. Feel free to recommend a book for rating. Also, remember that I list only that bad things, not the many many positive things of these books. Thank you!