Really enjoyed the characters and world of this. The characters were enigmatic and intriguing, I felt gripped by the plot, and loved the setting and atmosphere. I only wish the characters had been given more concrete description in the beginning, as when they were described later in the novel, I was a little confused.

This was a really fun and quick read. The story centers on our main character Aurora/Rory and her adventures with her grandmother and Gunnar through glaciers and volcanos in Iceland in the winter.

I personally connected with this story because I traveled to Iceland a few years ago in the winter. I could relate to a lot of the locations either mentioned or visited, the food, and the culture. Reading this book was a comforting stroll down memory lane to one of the coolest places on Earth (in my opinion). The author herself has been to Iceland a few times and it shows because everything she mentioned was pretty accurate to my own trip there. In fact, one of the coolest things I did on my trip was take a guided hike on a glacier, so the fact that Rory and the gang also end up hiking on a glacier was pretty fun for me to read about (my hiking experience was not nearly as deadly as theirs).

The story itself was pretty fun and a quick read. The chapters are very short, which I personally like a lot, it keeps me reading just one more chapter. I also liked the little bits of clues we got throughout about something being not quite right and the eventual discovery was interesting and something you could probably figure out a bit beforehand but it wasn't so obviously in your face, I think.

The one thing I didn't love, was that the beginning was a bit of a slow start with a lot of exposition, but as soon as they are in Iceland it picks up pace, so maybe just like the first 20 pages take awhile to get through. Once in Iceland, I was pretty hooked and wanted to continue the story all the way through.

I am very curious if this is supposed to be a standalone or if the author plans on continuing the story. I'm honestly fine with it either way. I like when you can see a future adventure for a character but don't have to be told it, but I could also see a fun sequel for Rory, especially if she travels to some other gate of hell. I definitely trust this author to write about amazing locations she's been to and give them justice so if she's taken any other fun trips and want to feature those locations in a sequel, I would be here for it.

This book has everything that I want and didn't knew I need in my life.
Even if you want to punch Rorry sometimes, you know you had lots of her doubts at some point so you can pass through it. Gunnar and Einar are like the sun and the moon but you can see how their relationship between each other flows... and how that makes them be a better person.
The adventure is real. You can feel the danger lurking around and even like that it surprises you.
I hope you have at least thought about making a sequel... because I would love to have a real ending for all of them.

I have conflicting views on this book. It had adventure, strong character development and was set in a remarkable landscape. There was suspense, red herrings, and plot twists. So I enjoyed it to a certain extent.
I think my issue is that my imagination is not good enough to enjoy all of what Iceland has to offer.
I wonder if this is the type of book that would be better served in a graphic novel or as a movie. I think the story would be more exciting, more engaging, if it was visual.
Enjoy!

a story filled with adventures, I really appreciated the characters (especially rory!!) the pace was fast and I did not get bored as the story unfolded

Rating: 3.75 / 5

Rory tags along with her grandmother who was commissioned by a friend from Iceland. Their mission, to find the client’s grandson, Einar, and also recover a stone that is said to open the doors to hell. They will be accompanied by Gunnar, Einar’s twin, to help them reach their destination. They encounter enemies convinced to stop the group but also meet friendly residents that lent a helping hand. This marks the start of an adventure that Rory could never have ever believed before.

A young adult fantasy that starts off slow but as soon as the story gets more action-packed, I was immediately hooked and flew through the pages, eager to find out what happens next. A unique premise that made me curious as to where this adventure can take me. Will be keeping an eye on the sequel.

This book made me want to travel to Iceland as the writing excellently describes the landscape. I can’t help but imagine how beautiful everything is, the possible snow / ice activities and tourist attractions. Living in a tropical country, I could only hope to see that much snow in my surroundings. Going to Iceland will be added on my bucket list because of how well the author recreates the scenery.

Really interested in the fantasy elements tackled here, the different types of demons and weapons to subdue them. The book poses a question, how should one deal with their inner demons, accepted with an embrace or forcefully removed with an exorcism? The answer mainly depends on one’s morality and the extent of harm this demon creates to others and oneself.

This is Tomb Raider for teens!! YES PLEASE we need more stories about these kids. I have loved Stokes books since the early years and her one book was in Uppercase. I am a die hard fan and this one was so freaking good!! I loved the pacing and settings and could not put this one down!! Must buy and read! And I need MORE!!

Hellfinder is a YA novel following Rory and her treasure hunting Gram as the venture to Iceland to help out an old friend. The mission is much more complicated than it originally seemed, as they must hunt down members of a devil-worshipping metal band who are trying to open a gate to hell.

I was really drawn in by the premise of the story and enjoyed the setting of Iceland. The pacing was pretty good, I got through this in one sitting! The characters were fun but I did find them a little one-dimensional at times! I can appreciate a character staying calm in a stressful situation, but some of the characters never seemed overly bothered by some of the higher stakes elements of the plot and it took me out of it a little bit.

The relationship between Rory and her Gram was really lovely to read, and it was nice seeing some of the other relationships develop.

I felt like it did get a little repetitive with all the various revelations throughout the plot - it was just one new thing for the main character to learn after another and it felt a little clunky.

Overall, I did enjoy Hellfinder! Not sure if it is going to be a series but it would be interesting where it goes next.

Hellfinder is a unique book, with an intriguing premise that drew me to look closer - and I’m very glad that I did.

We follow the adventures (with no exaggeration whatsoever) of Rory, a teenager who travels with her grandmother to find a lost treasure in Iceland that has some connection to her family. I did worry that this would turn out to be a bit Mary Sue/Lara Croft, but Rory is absolutely her own character, and it was also a real delight to see Grams, a kickass older lady, along for the ride.

The treasure has been taken by a ‘Satanic’ heavy metal band looking to use it for some sort of ritual, perhaps as an online stunt or something even darker. As the story unfolds, Rory is constantly wrong-footed as to motivations, who to trust, what’s really going on (is it real or supernatural?), and all amidst a gorgeous but deadly landscape of snow, ice and volcanoes.

This is not your average YA romance novel disguised as an adventure. It’s action-heavy, but Rory is thoughtful and smart while retaining her reality as a teenager in a strange land. It’s frustrating that the adults don’t trust her more, but that’s a challenge teen readers will easily relate to. The difference is that very few teenagers will find themselves in these situations!

I was cheering Rory and Grams on as the tale progressed, pleased with how the former handled potential Boy Issues (no spoilers, but let’s just say there’s twins), and amazed that she manages to survive intact to the end! Stepping back, some parts of the book may seem unlikely, but in the context of the story it all comes together beautifully, flowing forward as the author engages us until we’re lost in this remote world as well. Let’s just say that I had some late nights with ‘just one more chapter’.

I admit to not having heard of this author’s work before encountering Hellfinder, and I’m surprised she’s not reached a wider audience (yet). Her writing style is unique, quite unlike your usual fantasy-esque novels, and the whole mood is so Icelandic - insofar as I’ve read such books in translation - that I thought she was a native!

Definitely a recommend for clever young ladies out there (I would have loved this as a teenager!), but for adults who want something different, it was a pleasure to go along for the ride.

I received a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

And so the Icelandic tourism industry boomed upon this book’s release in hopes of finding demons in volcanoes. Awesome grandmas, black as death metal, and an intro to the Icelandic language. A love letter to Iceland with a hint of darkness throughout leading all the way through to finding out whether the fear is justified. A light adventure.

I can guarantee that I did not pronounce one single Icelandic word correctly. Maybe the names of some of the characters but that’s it.

The setting sounded gorgeous, the descriptions so well done it’s almost like you were there.

I wasn’t expecting the supernatural element but definitely didn’t hate it! This book was a lot of fun and I’ll be looking into the author’s other work.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a good read! I was fully sucked into the story right away and I really enjoyed the characters. The journey the author took these characters on was exciting and unique which is something I am really interested in with books now. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

Hellfinder is a YA Fantasy which follows Rory, her Grandma and Gunnar as they trek across Iceland to stop a metal band from opening a portal to hell.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. It’s very fast paced and surprisingly high stakes, especially towards the end, which meant to I just didn’t want to put this book down.

I felt as though the way it was written felt more like a middle-grade as opposed to YA, though definitely had YA themes. However, it just made the book such an easy read and quick to get through.

The plot had a lot of twists and turns and wasn’t a simple “adventure” story that I initially expected. Also major plot twist at the end which I just wasn’t expecting.

However, I did find that the characters could do with more development, however considering the book was only just over 200 pages, it’s understandable. I also found parts of the romance of the story to be quite cringey at the start but honestly turned quite cute at the end.

Overall, such a fun, easy and fast paced read and highly recommend!

3.5/5 Stars. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.

General Description: Rory and her grandmother treasure hunt. Mainly Gram, but Rory is trying to prove herself with this latest call that takes them to Iceland, where Gram and Rory must find Gunnar's brother, Einar, and bring him home to their grandfather, Henning. The theory is: Einar and a band are traveling to open a gate to hell. Will Rory, Gram, and Gunnar be able to stop them before they open a gate and let out demons onto Iceland?

The good:
- Extremely fast paced book, it grips you right away.
- I do like the magical element of the book
- I think the adventure element and the description of certain scenes were done so well it felt like I was there, which really doesn't happen as often as I'd like.

The missing 1.5 stars:
- I felt the romance aspects were a bit forced and Rory's overall progress was odd?
- While it was so fast paced in the first half, it stop abruptly, which left me wanting more but not in a good way? I wish this book was longer to give more explanation to the world that's being built (if there is not a book 2 I will be sad lol)

Overall: If you're looking for a fast paced, high action fantasy read, this fits the bill perfectly!

Despite this book's awesome premise, I could not get past how bored I was while reading this. It has a very slow start, which I normally don't mind as long as the exposition and characters keep me interested, but they didn't. I just found everyone to be so flat; the romantic interactions specifically had me cringing and wishing the book centered more on Rory and Gram's relationship than her and the pretty Icelandic boy.

It's nice to read a book about an adventuring Granny, and not the old trope of evil witch / evil stepmother /very secondary character . I did enjoy this book and found it an easy read. Not every book has to be high literary fiction, what a boring world that would be.

I'm having mixed feelings about this book. The first part was very enjoyable to read—intriguing, with a successful atmosphere and stunning landscapes. Everything is described so well that the slow pace of the story didn't bother me. However, I started to struggle with the protagonist's overly persistent thoughts about the physical appearance of the boy she likes.
But where I definitely lost interest was when the supernatural elements came into play. I found it to be introduced in a very artificial way, with everything happening too quickly. Too many things collide, and in the end, I didn't even pay attention anymore. They could have been attacked by aliens, and I wouldn't have noticed. I also felt that the characters were too detached from the consequences of it all, and in retrospect, it suffers a bit from the chosen one syndrome. It truly saddens me to end on this disappointing note for me because I genuinely loved the entire first part of this book.

Rory tags along with her treasure hunting Gram to Iceland in this adventure. My biggest critique was that I couldn’t really tell who the audience in terms of writing style was. It didn’t feel YA but it also didn’t feel middle grade. I think that made me not as engaged with the plot. Others might enjoy this quest more!

I am a fan of Paula Stokes' writing and was excited to read this since the setting is in Iceland. I adored the descriptive scenery of Iceland and hope to see the country in-person one day. Hellfinder was a quick read as Rory, her grandma, and Gunnar trailed his twin brother and a band to stop them from opening a portal to Hell. I was a little disappointed that the instant romance was portrayed more than the mystery nor was I a fan of Rory. Her words and actions were explained later in the story, which was a reveal that I guessed after a conversation she had with Gunnar. Regardless of these two things, I enjoyed the story and its atmosphere. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

Does anyone remember that text post that goes 'why is the chosen one always a teenager barely out of school? why can't it be someone's grandma?' Yeah, honestly, the older I get the more I wonder who left the fates of the world to literal children.
Thankfully, Hellfinder leaves the task of hunting down a death metal band hell-bent on opening the gates of hell to a cool adventuring 63 year old grandmother (and her 17 and a half year old granddaughter - I guess we can never stray too far away from the children)

<b>Rating: 2.5/5</b> (rounded up to 3)

I really wish I could love this book more since the premise is extremely intriguing, but the actual book itself falls really flat.
If I were generous, I might say that this was written for a younger audience, but honestly, that would be doing the kids a disservice. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief throughout the book in regard to the character's actions and reactions - I needed a moment to get over the fact that the best rescue team sent into the deep Icelandic winter are two teenagers and a grandmother (not to say grandmothers can't be fit, but i don't think even the fittest of climbers would brave an excursion free climbing a mountain in the deep of winter with nary any preparation or backup) (but this is young YA, and I am quite willing to overlook that for the sake of the plot)

To sum up my grievances (of which there are many), I just wish there was more depth and nuance to the story. Rory went along with everything and had no critical thinking skills of her own; Gunnar could actually kill someone and that was not explained, character's motivations were paper thin. Characters accepted things too readily and without any critical engagement. The pattern was rory gets told something > she is shocked and immediately thinks the worst > suddenly, a very detached reflection of the situation where the outcome is always 'this might be bad but i can see the good in it'.
Also, one of my biggest peeves is the 'purposely withholding critical information' trope, and this book features it in spades. Rory's possession felt gimmicky and a quick way out of a wall that the writer had written herself into - there ought to be more foreshadowing and nuance in how Rory could have handled it. All she did was go <i> oh! ok! guess im posessed by an entity i did not know existed 24hrs ago but im more worried if i want to kiss mr cheekbones because of my ~raging hormones~ or is it ~true love~ </i>

The author has set herself up for a series (or at least a book 2), but my journey with Grams, Rory and Gunnar ends here.

**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review