“Love is an open door… be careful who steps inside.” That is the intriguing premise found on the back of A Frozen Heart, a new novel by Elizabeth Rudnick. Upon hearing about this book, I assumed that it would be like The Fairest One of All and The Beast Within, both of which were retellings of Disney animated classics from a different character’s point of view and both of which added details and subplots that were unseen in the film versions. A Frozen Heart doesn’t quite live up to those books.
Judging the book by its cover, which you’re not supposed to do, I assumed that A Frozen Heart would be the story of Frozen from Hans’ point of view. My assumption was half correct, but the chapters alternate between Hans and Anna. Since the film already follows Anna’s journey, there isn’t much to learn. It thankfully starts with childhood for both characters, so you learn a little more of the heartbreak that Anna felt when Elsa shut her out, but not much more.
With Hans, you learn a great deal about his upbringing on the Southern Isles. His father’s cruelty towards him and his brothers’ abuse helps you understand why he is the way he is. But once he arrives in Arendelle, there isn’t anything new to add to the story. You gain some insight into his internal monologue, but Hans doesn’t get any extra mischievous moments to enhance the story.
Overall, I found A Frozen Heart to merely be a retread of the film and beyond the first 50 pages, nothing new was added. If anything, you end up feeling like it’s missing something since it never switches to Elsa’s point of view. The only thing A Frozen Heart really accomplishes is providing the reader with a greater appreciation of the perfect balance the film achieved. This book feels less like an inspired idea and more like a cash grab than others of its ilk.