whoa whoa whoa....Jesus Christ that is a lot, and i mean a LOT of things to digest and take in I don't even know where to start.
The Prolouge story, the events leading to the accident shown in the movie is very sweet and also very very sad if you think about how it all ended up as. "super sister promise" awwwww
How the book expanded on the specific events left out during DYWTBAS especially on the morning after the accident, How Anna woke up to an empty bedroom that was once shared with her beloved sister, to her knowing that something's not right with her parents and most especially the moment Elsa yelled at her to stay away and shut her out for the first time. HOLY SHIT THOSE WERE HEARTBREAKING TO READ. THIS BOOK IS A MUST HAVE I SWEAR TO GOD I REALLY DID CRY OUT AT THIS PART RUDNICK WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME HEART????
I noticed that Queen Idunn played a bigger role in this story, moreso than her role in the movie where she had only one line and most of the decisions were driven by Agdar...and I like that.
The way the parents had to dance around the real reason why Elsa has to stay away from Anna made me both mad and sad at the same time. Poor Anna feels left out.
"Does Elsa not like me anymore?" She asked in a tiny voice. MY HEART IT HURTS.
Anna yanks at the white tuft of her hair knowing that as if it were tied to how Elsa's problems came to be. How nice a hindsight for the author to add.
That scene. OMG that scene in the Solarium with the King telling Elsa to learn to control it with the Queen there to calm his temper...it's just so powerfully written man. You can feel Elsa's inner pain and turmoil, the King's anger and frustration, and the Queen's helplessness. Reading that scene the first time, I can't help but think this painted King Agdar in an even more worse light; he seems like a control freak towards Elsa here. though I won't necessarily agree, I won't be surprised that people would refer to this book as further proof that the Parents were an abusive lot to the sisters.
The way the parents' mood changed from tense and stressed (around Elsa) to cheerful and optimism around Anna in such a short span of time gave me a bad case of mood whiplash like I cannot believe how the parents flexibly adjusted their demeanor and personalities between their two daughters like that. One instant, King Agdar was about the blow up on Elsa, the next, he was cutely pinching Anna's cheek to tease her. Just....whoa.
(Nightmare Fuel:) Anna wanted to join her parents on that ill-fated voyage. Had Agdar not convinced her to stay with her sister in Arendelle, Anna would have perished at sea along with them....And Elsa would be all alone in the world
I LOVE the world building around the Southern Isles and its Royal Family. It seems everyone's headcanons came true: the Abusive Father King, the Kinder but albeit helpless Queen Mother, the 12 jerkass brothers of the SI, TWINS (and Fraternal twins at that, not the cliched, fandom-approved Identical twins), the teasing, the abuse, EVERYTHING the fandom had come up with about Hans' family life has come true in this book. That is so amazing.
IS IT ME OR IS HANS MASOCHISTIC??
I kinda feel sorry for Hans for undergoing such abuse like that for god knows how long, though I frankly found his daydreams funny
Their family name really is Westerguard, and they compare their family to Lions, not mice. hmmm interesting characterization there.
interesting that the twins and Hans are the only brothers left who aren't married and with issue.
Caleb sure is some immature heir to the throne. and the names "Rudi" and "Runo" seem like names befitting pets instead of Princes. LOL
so there really are stories behind each painting in the Gallery of Arendelle. I wonder if we get to know the story of some at some point, especially those seen in FTFTIF.
I think that painting of the Prince and the Commoner Girl that Kai seem to be disgusted at is the painting of Elsa and Anna's parents, meaning Queen Idunn was a commoner. I wonder if we'll get to find out about the painting's story in the book.
I half expected the way Kai breaks the news to Anna to be really heartbreaking. damn cliffhanger
It's good to see that Hans has at least one ally from his brothers. Prince Lars, not surprisingly, seems like the total amalgamation of every known Brother from various Frozen Fanfics who is the friendliest and closest ally to the unlucky 13th Prince. when I read about Prince Lars, his character, interests, and his importance to Hans, I could have sworn I've seen him before in fanfics, particularly 'A Song of Ice and Snow.' anyway, I can Imagine Prince Lars to be wearing eyeglasses.
Riverland???
so it IS Prince Lars who gave the (admittedly Brilliant) Idea of trying to marry into the throne of Arendelle to Prince Hans. And (of course) to Elsa no less. Hans had schemed planned to marry Elsa for 3 years Get it Helsa shippers? Helsa shippers will have a hella field day with this sort of fact
Hahaaha Hans had no idea about Arendelle Prior.
Arendelle is considered "not extremely powerful, and of no huge importance to Father" (Is the King of SI a warmongering conqueror or something???)
I can imagine the Helsa shippers' happiness with this, especially at the last paragraphs: "Tell me everything you know about Arendelle. Starting with this Princess Elsa." ooooooooooh....
CONCLUSION: Am very very happy and excited for this and glad how this turned out. This book, at last, caters to the older Frozen fans, unlike majority of Frozen books that aim for kindergarteners, which is a great great relief. Due to its target audience (older people) The writing is smart and straight to the point, and hella powerfully done. Masterful writing by Elizabeth Rudnick, she could be a screenwriter alongside Jennifer Lee!
Though i wonder: How much of this book is considered Canon"? If you think about it, Frozen 2 is in production, and to keep the brand's consistency with tie ins, the facts of Frozen 2 should not conflict with the facts in Frozen Heart, especially about the Southern Isles, and since Elizabeth Rudnick seem to have made such extensive worldbuilding in this book, do you think the worlbuilding came directly from the preproduction of Frozen 2? meaning Frozen 2 might feature the Southern Isles and its Royal Family? Do you think the author has some insider info about Frozen's worldbuilding from the directors and thus, 'Frozen Heart' may be a sneak peak of what's to come in Frozen 2? Am very curious about this!