Scan barcode
r_lynn13's review
3.0
A nice bridge between the two movies. I could truly see the characters although at times the speech was stilted because the author was trying to hard to be true to known characters. A good unique story.
kittykatrain's review
5.0
WHOA! That was one heck of an epic tale. it was nice to see everything come full circle. A perfect bridge between films, it reveals small things relevant to the second film while hinting at the bigger picture. My one and only problem was the addition of the lesbian blacksmiths, they were just kind of there, like "Hey representation" and when I thought they were going to help resolve the conflict it was Olaf who helped instead.
Still, it was an immensely enjoyable book.
Still, it was an immensely enjoyable book.
jandrews560's review
4.0
Excellent book. Dark for the Frozen world. I wouldn't even call it middle grade, it was so ominous & heavy. I enjoyed it very much. Found a but of it repetitive but all in all, dark, foreboding and fun.
ilikeshortchapters's review
Very dark, kids weren’t enjoying it. Neither was I. About an illness and very serious.
_mikichung_'s review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jeremychiasson's review
3.0
"Forest of Shadows" is not a novelization of Frozen II. It's a completely original story that takes place between the two movies, and helps set up/foreshadow the events of Frozen 2. Author Kamilla Benko already wrote a moderately successful middle grade fantasy series about two sisters (Unicorn Quest), so she really was the perfect choice for this assignment. She does a great job capturing the relationship between Anna and Elsa, and adds some depth and complexity to it.
Actually the whole book is surprisingly mature and dark. Even in terms of setting things are dark, as Anna and Elsa spend most of their time in dimly lit libraries, hidden rooms, underground passages, abandoned mine shafts, and the deep dark woods of Arendelle. There are also some surprisingly lofty philosophical/literary references: Olaf attends a lecture on Dante, we learn about Scandinavian Folklore, and existentialism gets a mention!
It was neat to read a grittier, more sophisticated Frozen story, but also super weird. The lighter kiddy characters make almost no sense here. Kristoff talking for Sven just seemed DERANGED and not funny during very serious, depressing situations. Olaf is walking around talking about Dante's Inferno--like, what's going on here?
Despite the dark themes and philosophical references, the love between the two sisters saves the day in the end. Maybe because the story is told from the perspective of a wounded Anna, but Elsa really doesn't come across as a very good sister in this one. I know she had a weird childhood, but according to this book she is in her mid-twenties: It's time to stop blaming your childhood, and start owning your behaviour, gurrrl! That being said, it's actually pretty realistic that the two sisters struggle to connect and communicate. They're two very traumatized orphans trying to run a Queendom.
I'm torn, rating this. On the one hand, this book doesn't have a lot to offer me personally. On the other hand, you really couldn't expect anything more out of a middle grade novel created to bridge the stories in a Disney film franchise. 2.5 stars!
Actually the whole book is surprisingly mature and dark. Even in terms of setting things are dark, as Anna and Elsa spend most of their time in dimly lit libraries, hidden rooms, underground passages, abandoned mine shafts, and the deep dark woods of Arendelle. There are also some surprisingly lofty philosophical/literary references: Olaf attends a lecture on Dante, we learn about Scandinavian Folklore, and existentialism gets a mention!
It was neat to read a grittier, more sophisticated Frozen story, but also super weird. The lighter kiddy characters make almost no sense here. Kristoff talking for Sven just seemed DERANGED and not funny during very serious, depressing situations. Olaf is walking around talking about Dante's Inferno--like, what's going on here?
Despite the dark themes and philosophical references, the love between the two sisters saves the day in the end. Maybe because the story is told from the perspective of a wounded Anna, but Elsa really doesn't come across as a very good sister in this one. I know she had a weird childhood, but according to this book she is in her mid-twenties: It's time to stop blaming your childhood, and start owning your behaviour, gurrrl! That being said, it's actually pretty realistic that the two sisters struggle to connect and communicate. They're two very traumatized orphans trying to run a Queendom.
I'm torn, rating this. On the one hand, this book doesn't have a lot to offer me personally. On the other hand, you really couldn't expect anything more out of a middle grade novel created to bridge the stories in a Disney film franchise. 2.5 stars!
lindsical's review
4.0
Excellent story that takes place in between Frozen and Frozen II! Well written. I was afraid it would be cheesy and very kid-ish but for being middle grade it was very well written - it felt like I could be watching another Frozen movie (in my mind, lol.)
pris's review
3.0
Actual rating: 3,5 stars! I really liked this. I already love the world and characters. The writing wasn’t mindblowing, but it was a really fast read. The second half of the book was better than the first. It was a bit much and cliche at some points though. Maybe I’m just used to seeing Frozen visible instead of book from. I do think that, for example with Elsa’s magic, the visible form of Frozen does it better justice. However it was a fun way to spend my weekend!
joanna77_'s review
4.0
I highly enjoyed this book. It was incredibly well-written and stayed true to the original feel of the movie. I liked the way mythology was incorporated into this book, and I really enjoyed the sisterly dynamic between Anna and Elsa. My one complaint with this book was Olaf. He was just so weird in it. I don't know if that how's he is going to be in the new movie, but he seemed significantly out of character in this book. Other than that this book was a solid middle grade book, and one of the better books Disney has come out with to support their new movies.