Hereafter by Jody Hedlund

Posted by abakersp in YA / 0 Comments

They say that all good things should come to and end, but this is one series I did not want to end. Full of romance, adventure and action, this fast paced (and thankfully quick released!) series is one I’ll be rereading for years to come. The Lost Series by Jody Hedlund takes readers on such a fun journey, with a fantastic finish. **sigh** I think I might have to go read it again. Right now.

Hereafter (The Lost Princesses Book 3) by [Hedlund, Jody]

The third lost princess. The final key to the treasure. And a battle for the throne.

Growing up deep in the forest as a poor charcoal burner’s daughter, Emmeline has always known her identity as a princess of Mercia, and she lives in fear of being caught and killed. When her adopted father returns from town with news regarding the imminence of war, Emmeline has no wish to join the rebellion against King Ethelwulf.

Prince Ethelrex, the strongest warrior in the land, has done everything he can to prove his loyalty to his father, including searching for the last lost princess. When Ethelrex finally captures Emmeline, the king commands his son to marry the princess in order to win the support of the people and undermine the rebellion.

Forced into marriage, Emmeline has one goal—to escape. But Ethelrex takes his marriage vows seriously, including his promise to love and cherish his wife, and has no intention of letting Emmeline get away. As the battle for the throne rages, will the prince be able to win the battle for Emmeline’s heart?

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What an amazing finish to a wonderful series! I must admit, I am so glad these stories were released close together, because I couldn’t wait to read each installment! Such a unique story, powerful characters, and intriguing situations. Makes for a good combination, don’t you think!?

Honestly, I think Rex and Emmeline were my favorite couple of the series. It was kind of this marriage on convenience / marriage of force storyline, if such a thing exists. Rex came as a complete surprise to me. Because of how he was mentioned in the previous books, I thought I had his character pegged – that of a bad guy. And boy oh boy was I wrong, and oh so happy to be wrong. He was so complex – one moment I thought he’d side with his father, the next I was sure he was on Emmeline’s side. He always kept me guessing, and I think that is why I found him so intriguing. But at the end of the day, he understood loyalty, and had a passion about him that was fascinating.

This series is fast paced, full of surprises, and carried a faith thread that is inspiring and uplifting. Hedlund has truly outdone herself with this series. Although I wish it wasn’t over, at least I have my copies to read again whenever I want to revisit Mercia.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.