★★★★★ -
You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)
About the Book
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?
My Thoughts
What an exciting and thrilling conclusion to this incredible series! The final sister...The final key...The lost treasure...And a whole lot of the unexpected!
I have been so blown away by this whole series. These sisters, driven by the call on their lives, overcoming the enemy, fighting for good, together...Drawn by the bond of family.
Emmeline has grown up KNOWING who she is, PREPARING for the day that she would have to step into her birthright...But at the same time, hoping that day would never come. She was happy in her life. She was content...She was comfortable. It wasn't until she was swept away from everything that she held dear...From the only life that she'd known...That she began to understand the depth of who she is and who she was supposed to be. Drawing out the courage...The Survivor...The Fighter.
This book, I think, is my favorite of the series. All I kept thinking of was this verse...
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people." Genesis 50:20 NLT
How many times have we seen God working this way in our lives? Taking what the enemy meant for evil and turning it for good? Probably more times than we know. One of my favorite songs right now is See a Victory by Elevation Worship (see video below).
In the face of danger...In the face of defeat, Emmeline put her foot down and said, "NO! I will not back down. I will not surrender the fight." And in the end....Well...You'll just have to read it yourself. 😉
Rex...I admit...He had to grow on me. While I respected that he was put in a tough position...It wasn't until HE finally stood up for HIMSELF that I started to fall in love with him. His kind heart, his caring spirit endears him to Emmeline and to myself. A redemption story if ever there was one. #VillianTurnedHero for the win.
I want to thank Jody Hedlund for writing a story with depth, with truth, with emotion for Young Adults. A story of high quality and so exciting! It was a blessing to be able to read them all in quick succession. I don't think my heart would have been able to handle waiting months between releases.
I strongly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys YA lit and medieval settings...with a taste for the fantastical.
I received a complimentary copy of Hereafter from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
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About the Author
Jody Hedlund is a best-selling and award-winning author who loves fairy-tales and happily-ever-afters. She makes her home in Midland, MI with her husband and five teen-aged children. When she’s not writing another of her page-turning stories, you can usually find her sipping coffee, eating chocolate, and reading.
