A review by inejghafa
Steel Hand, Cold Heart by Rachel Menard
4.0
I am here for Viking YA! In this story, we follow Carina the Unstoppable as she is kidnapped by three boys (who I will be talking about later). Carina is a Daughter of Hel and actually has a steel hand. She always had to work harder and do better to fit in with the other Daughters, because she is not from the Island and is discriminated against. She has to prove her worth again and again. Then, on her first raid, she couldn't kill a priestess while she was supposed to. She later gets kidnapped and goes on a long journey full of adventure, murder thoughts, and a mysterious rock.
I liked the plot. It wasn't the most original but it still had elements that surprised me. Now, onto the characters. Carina is our main character. Don't be fooled because she didn't kill the priestess, she is not merciful at all. She is inventive, strong and hard-working. She also challenges your morals with her devotion to Hel, the Goddess of Death. Now, the boys. Flavian was my favorite of the three. He is charming, good with words and not afraid to wear dresses and rouge. I also liked Nik. He has a past and is cunning, brave and craves soapstone figurines. Lastly, Mateo. I couldn't care less about him in the beginning but I started appreciating him more and more. He is strong-willed and has been through a lot.
My only (minor) complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed. It could have been a little longer. Also, when Carina just met the boys, she has a hard time speaking their language but she quickly knows all of the words and it was a little unbelievable? I feel like she could have had a hard time finding a translation for a difficult word.
I liked the plot. It wasn't the most original but it still had elements that surprised me. Now, onto the characters. Carina is our main character. Don't be fooled because she didn't kill the priestess, she is not merciful at all. She is inventive, strong and hard-working.
Spoiler
She also struggles with having to meet her biological mother, as she despises her for not coming for her sooner. I can't relate to this but I feel like this is portrayed pretty well here.Spoiler
He also is the consul's son and like really handsomeSpoiler
He doesn't have a you-know anymore and is insecure about it. At the ending, Carina and him "make love" and Carina doesn't mind him missing it. It's good because nowadays there is a lot of toxic masculinity and Nic, the "manliest" of them all, misses something that is often viewed as something that makes a man a manMy only (minor) complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed. It could have been a little longer. Also, when Carina just met the boys, she has a hard time speaking their language but she quickly knows all of the words and it was a little unbelievable? I feel like she could have had a hard time finding a translation for a difficult word.