Hi Rylyn!
I just recorded a playthrough of your game for my channel, and I really enjoyed the experience! I especially liked the visuals—they give great vibes and feel quite consistent. Even though you mentioned having a hard time with the walking animations, I actually found them to be one of the stronger parts of the game.
It does feel more like a tribute rather than a game, and the actual book quotes break immersion for some reason. The text appearing from the middle is also a bit difficult to read. But the biggest missed opportunity is the lack of TTS—it'd make the experience much better.
Overall, it's a great effort! I had a good hour playing it and wanted to reread the book afterward, which is probably the exact right mood for a game like this. I personally like There and Back Again more than LOTR. Imagine playing a full-blown point-and-click adventure inspired by it! In ten years or so, it should enter the public domain, so hopefully someone (or maybe me) will make it happen...