What do you think?
Rate this book
Hereafter #3
Elegy
A stalker ghost, misguided Seers, and spellbinding wraiths—Amelia Ashley has faced them all. Now her greatest hope is to spend the rest of her afterlife with her living boyfriend, Joshua. But the demonic forces return to give her an ultimatum: turn herself over to the darkness or watch them murder one living person per week until she does.
Amelia fears she might really be doomed, until the forces of light give her another option. She can join them in their quest to gather souls, with a catch: Once she joins them, she can never see Joshua again.
Faced with impossible choices, Amelia decides to take her afterlife into her own hands—and fight back.
Amelia fears she might really be doomed, until the forces of light give her another option. She can join them in their quest to gather souls, with a catch: Once she joins them, she can never see Joshua again.
Faced with impossible choices, Amelia decides to take her afterlife into her own hands—and fight back.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2013
55 people are currently reading
7024 people want to read
About the author
Tara Hudson
5 books1,218 followersBorn and raised in Oklahoma, Tara Hudson graduated with a degree in law, mostly because she believed all the horror stories about English majors and their careers in the food-service industry. Luckily, she soon remembered how much she loved telling ghost stories, particularly to her girlfriends who liked visiting abandoned cemeteries as much as she did. Tara currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband, son, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
January 16, 2024
“I love you. And hell itself won't stop that. Sorry to put it so dramatically but, well, it's the truth."
—————-
I swear binge reading a book in an entire day when you have absolutely nothing to do with your life is an amazing feeling.
God, I love books.
—————-
Amelia is once again, living peacefully with her boyfriend, Joshua.
That is until one day, she receives a threat; menacing her to turn herself over to the darkness (hell, basically), otherwise one person that has been part of her life will die per week.
But then she receives an offer, not from the darkness but from the light (heaven in this case, basically), she can join them and guide people to the light once their moment has arrived, and of course “live” in a wonderful place, but she will never see Joshua again. Nor any of the people she knows on earth.
I found this plot a bit slow paced, more like in the middle of the book and yet, the start and MAINLY THE ENDING OF THE BOOK made it all worth it. You read through it super fast, and gosh, this truly was just as entertaining as the second book. I gotta admit that I was absolutely not expecting that type of plot twist at the end… needless to say I just wasn’t expecting that sort of ending at all. I expected something cliche and basic, but… well, I was absolutely wrong, and to my own surprise, I was just as thrilled, fascinated and sad at the ending.
I did get confused sort of while reading the middle of the book, which is why I just didn’t find it as amusing as I expected. I honestly found it a bit… cringey, and not that investing, but nothing too bad either, to be honest. And once again, I will say it, the ending was just perfection even if my jaw was wide open while reading it and my eyes felt like crying, but I resisted. It takes a huge effort to make me cry, I won this time (I cry at the dumbest things, please don’t take this comment seriously).
As for the content of the plot… I think it was once again, very decent. I enjoyed it fairly enough. Entertained myself, raged a little bit… and yeah, it did hit me in my feels like I mentioned. The main couple was just wonderful, and this third and final book greatly shows how strong they both were, how supportive they were, and a way to demonstrate how these 2 are absolute green flags. And I’d like to point out that, not only the relationship gave something valuable in itself to the plot, but the main story is just the exact proof of how far you can go for the people you love, platonically or not.
The main dilemma of the story was honestly kinda random, cause it had sorta been hinted to be there since the very first book but didn’t fully develop until this one. And plus, there’s this huge reveal of a character that I managed to predict but still left me quite speechless.
As for the characters, I didn’t get to see many of them as book 2, so this one was more centered once again on the main couple and YET, there were less “romance” moments and more character development (which I honestly don’t complain about), along with what could be considered world building since you get to know more and more about the netherworld, etc. But yeah, Amelia’s gotta be one of the strongest, and least selfish main characters of them all, and I love her for that. And she’s not annoying, so that immediately makes her cool.
So in conclusion, the second and third book are better than the first one. And I’d openly recommend this trilogy to whoever is interested in reading something that you don’t have to fully pull yourself into or try really hard to understand. It’s enjoyable, intriguing. It’s good.
A great ending for a great trilogy. Now if y’all excuse me, I have a 3 hours date with my bookshelf to figure out what I’m going to read next.
—————-
I swear binge reading a book in an entire day when you have absolutely nothing to do with your life is an amazing feeling.
God, I love books.
—————-
Amelia is once again, living peacefully with her boyfriend, Joshua.
That is until one day, she receives a threat; menacing her to turn herself over to the darkness (hell, basically), otherwise one person that has been part of her life will die per week.
But then she receives an offer, not from the darkness but from the light (heaven in this case, basically), she can join them and guide people to the light once their moment has arrived, and of course “live” in a wonderful place, but she will never see Joshua again. Nor any of the people she knows on earth.
I found this plot a bit slow paced, more like in the middle of the book and yet, the start and MAINLY THE ENDING OF THE BOOK made it all worth it. You read through it super fast, and gosh, this truly was just as entertaining as the second book. I gotta admit that I was absolutely not expecting that type of plot twist at the end… needless to say I just wasn’t expecting that sort of ending at all. I expected something cliche and basic, but… well, I was absolutely wrong, and to my own surprise, I was just as thrilled, fascinated and sad at the ending.
I did get confused sort of while reading the middle of the book, which is why I just didn’t find it as amusing as I expected. I honestly found it a bit… cringey, and not that investing, but nothing too bad either, to be honest. And once again, I will say it, the ending was just perfection even if my jaw was wide open while reading it and my eyes felt like crying, but I resisted. It takes a huge effort to make me cry, I won this time (I cry at the dumbest things, please don’t take this comment seriously).
As for the content of the plot… I think it was once again, very decent. I enjoyed it fairly enough. Entertained myself, raged a little bit… and yeah, it did hit me in my feels like I mentioned. The main couple was just wonderful, and this third and final book greatly shows how strong they both were, how supportive they were, and a way to demonstrate how these 2 are absolute green flags. And I’d like to point out that, not only the relationship gave something valuable in itself to the plot, but the main story is just the exact proof of how far you can go for the people you love, platonically or not.
The main dilemma of the story was honestly kinda random, cause it had sorta been hinted to be there since the very first book but didn’t fully develop until this one. And plus, there’s this huge reveal of a character that I managed to predict but still left me quite speechless.
As for the characters, I didn’t get to see many of them as book 2, so this one was more centered once again on the main couple and YET, there were less “romance” moments and more character development (which I honestly don’t complain about), along with what could be considered world building since you get to know more and more about the netherworld, etc. But yeah, Amelia’s gotta be one of the strongest, and least selfish main characters of them all, and I love her for that. And she’s not annoying, so that immediately makes her cool.
So in conclusion, the second and third book are better than the first one. And I’d openly recommend this trilogy to whoever is interested in reading something that you don’t have to fully pull yourself into or try really hard to understand. It’s enjoyable, intriguing. It’s good.
A great ending for a great trilogy. Now if y’all excuse me, I have a 3 hours date with my bookshelf to figure out what I’m going to read next.
Want to read
November 13, 2012OMG! LOOK AT THAT COVER! AND THE BLURB. OMG! O_O
Ooohhkay now, let me guess.
Amelia will go back to her home and then she will go and search for her father. She will find Gaby somewhere in this book too. She will face the dark evil spirits and put an end to it. She will find a cure to be alive or atleast seen again or something special and then she will go to her mother and be like "Surprise! Its me, your daughter, who died in 1999." And then she and Joshua will finally have a happy ending.
Lets see how much of that will be true.
On the other hand, please Amelia, get married to Joshua and have wonderful children who can also see ghosts and make Gabby their Godmother.
*Sigh* 2013 just seems so far away...
Ooohhkay now, let me guess.
Amelia will go back to her home and then she will go and search for her father. She will find Gaby somewhere in this book too. She will face the dark evil spirits and put an end to it. She will find a cure to be alive or atleast seen again or something special and then she will go to her mother and be like "Surprise! Its me, your daughter, who died in 1999." And then she and Joshua will finally have a happy ending.
Lets see how much of that will be true.
On the other hand, please Amelia, get married to Joshua and have wonderful children who can also see ghosts and make Gabby their Godmother.
*Sigh* 2013 just seems so far away...
June 13, 2013
Actual rating: 2.5/5
When I read books, I tend to take a lot of notes, quotes, observations, anything that stands out to me (for better or worse). After having read Elegy, I looked down at my notebook and realized that I've got almost nothing scribbled down. There was almost nothing that I found memorable. It wasn't exceptional on any front; it wasn't terrible, it wasn't good. I just didn't like it very much. From my subjective standpoint, it was just outstandingly boring, despite the fast pace and action-filled plot and despite the fact that this book closes the Hereafter trilogy.
In the first book, we are introduced to the main characters and the mystery of how Amelia died; we meet Josh, we see them as they fall in love. In the second book, Amelia and Josh goes to New Orleans, meet a whole clique of Seers, and some new friends. Now, we come to a close as Amelia is threatened by some ghosts who wants her to join their dark side under duress. Despite all the plotting and planning, all the action as Amelia and her friends plan to get back at the dark side.
I found their planning and and plotting to be harebrained and confusing. The writing seemed to be explanatory, until I find myself read passages where Amelia & co. were concocting their course of action and I realized I didn't have a damn clue what was going on. It seemed well-explained enough on paper, it just didn't make any sense. It feels like listening to a very confident speaker who's just bullshitting his way through a speech; the strong tone masks the fact that the whole damn thing doesn't make a grain of sense. Transfer powder? What the heck?
And it's not just the mechanism of the plan that doesn't make sense, some of the things that the teenagers do in preparation are just thoughtless beyond belief. They're supposed to be secretive and try to stay under the radar, yet they show up at prom in everyday clothes and try to lure kids into joining their side with beer. The idiocy of their plan are laughable at times. Hint: one plan involves a actual hand grenade. The plans they hatch are full of holes, and I didn't think a single one held up in credibility. Brilliant ideas hatched up by Amelia, and certain decisions made by the people involved just didn't make any sense, nor did the reasoning behind them.
The writing is fine, nostalgic, since it's from our sentimental ghost (or rather, Risen) Amelia's point of view. Amelia has always shown initiative and she does the same in this book, even if her plans are considerably more preposterous. She shows a pretty considerable amount of martyrdom, which I absolutely hate, blaming herself for things beyond her control. Amelia even recognizes it in herself:
"'Do you hate me now, knowing that I caused someone’s death?'
My question dripped with self-pity, and I hated myself a little for asking it."
Good lord. YA heroines, let me tell you once and for all: if people threaten to kill the ones you love, it's their problem. Unless you are a mass murderer, you are not directly responsible for anyone's death. Stop taking the blame for things beyond your control. Amelia is not a bad character in this book, she has never been overall, but I just can't find myself liking her or feeling like I connect with her character. Her behavior is consistent with the person she is overall, but she never really grows, despite making the sacrifices she has always done throughout this series. I never felt like she's a real person...even if she's not a real person. Or a real person in the book. And not because she's a ghost. Whatever, you get my drift.
I feel like we could exchange Joshua's character for Ethan Wates in the Beautiful Creatures series and the story wouldn't miss a step. Joshua is just too good to be true. He's kind, loving, caring, observative, forgiving; he's mopey, overly attached. He's more of a girl than Amelia is, I got pretty sick of Joshua's character because of how clingy and feminine he was. I know some readers find his actions to be sweet, and his and Amelia's relationship to be beautiful and strong. That it is, but it is also really unrealistic. I know guys are capable of the higher emotions, that they feel love strongly, that sensitivity is a positive character trait. That said, Joshua's character is just too much, too unbelievable, too perfect to be true. Their relationship is too perfect; they're too in love.
"'We can run,' he said fervently, bringing our clasped hands between us and clenching tightly. “Amelia, let's just run...we’ll run away---to California, or Wyoming, or...hell, we'll just pick a state with as few rivers as possible and settle there."
Instead of arguing with him---countering his appeals with all the reasons that they were wrong---I shook my head and smiled sadly.
'We can’t, Joshua. I can’t.'
Almost as soon as I said it, his face fell."
Yep, their fights are pretty legendary, all right, if legendary means "mild, half-hearted, and absolutely lacking any form of dissension." Amelia and Josh's fights last all of five seconds, Joshua concedes to Amelia 99% of the time, and the relationship is more idealistic than realistic.
I just couldn't conjure up any bit of emotion about this book. People die. Things get destroyed. I couldn't bring myself to care one way or the other.
When I read books, I tend to take a lot of notes, quotes, observations, anything that stands out to me (for better or worse). After having read Elegy, I looked down at my notebook and realized that I've got almost nothing scribbled down. There was almost nothing that I found memorable. It wasn't exceptional on any front; it wasn't terrible, it wasn't good. I just didn't like it very much. From my subjective standpoint, it was just outstandingly boring, despite the fast pace and action-filled plot and despite the fact that this book closes the Hereafter trilogy.
In the first book, we are introduced to the main characters and the mystery of how Amelia died; we meet Josh, we see them as they fall in love. In the second book, Amelia and Josh goes to New Orleans, meet a whole clique of Seers, and some new friends. Now, we come to a close as Amelia is threatened by some ghosts who wants her to join their dark side under duress. Despite all the plotting and planning, all the action as Amelia and her friends plan to get back at the dark side.
I found their planning and and plotting to be harebrained and confusing. The writing seemed to be explanatory, until I find myself read passages where Amelia & co. were concocting their course of action and I realized I didn't have a damn clue what was going on. It seemed well-explained enough on paper, it just didn't make any sense. It feels like listening to a very confident speaker who's just bullshitting his way through a speech; the strong tone masks the fact that the whole damn thing doesn't make a grain of sense. Transfer powder? What the heck?
And it's not just the mechanism of the plan that doesn't make sense, some of the things that the teenagers do in preparation are just thoughtless beyond belief. They're supposed to be secretive and try to stay under the radar, yet they show up at prom in everyday clothes and try to lure kids into joining their side with beer. The idiocy of their plan are laughable at times. Hint: one plan involves a actual hand grenade. The plans they hatch are full of holes, and I didn't think a single one held up in credibility. Brilliant ideas hatched up by Amelia, and certain decisions made by the people involved just didn't make any sense, nor did the reasoning behind them.
The writing is fine, nostalgic, since it's from our sentimental ghost (or rather, Risen) Amelia's point of view. Amelia has always shown initiative and she does the same in this book, even if her plans are considerably more preposterous. She shows a pretty considerable amount of martyrdom, which I absolutely hate, blaming herself for things beyond her control. Amelia even recognizes it in herself:
"'Do you hate me now, knowing that I caused someone’s death?'
My question dripped with self-pity, and I hated myself a little for asking it."
Good lord. YA heroines, let me tell you once and for all: if people threaten to kill the ones you love, it's their problem. Unless you are a mass murderer, you are not directly responsible for anyone's death. Stop taking the blame for things beyond your control. Amelia is not a bad character in this book, she has never been overall, but I just can't find myself liking her or feeling like I connect with her character. Her behavior is consistent with the person she is overall, but she never really grows, despite making the sacrifices she has always done throughout this series. I never felt like she's a real person...even if she's not a real person. Or a real person in the book. And not because she's a ghost. Whatever, you get my drift.
I feel like we could exchange Joshua's character for Ethan Wates in the Beautiful Creatures series and the story wouldn't miss a step. Joshua is just too good to be true. He's kind, loving, caring, observative, forgiving; he's mopey, overly attached. He's more of a girl than Amelia is, I got pretty sick of Joshua's character because of how clingy and feminine he was. I know some readers find his actions to be sweet, and his and Amelia's relationship to be beautiful and strong. That it is, but it is also really unrealistic. I know guys are capable of the higher emotions, that they feel love strongly, that sensitivity is a positive character trait. That said, Joshua's character is just too much, too unbelievable, too perfect to be true. Their relationship is too perfect; they're too in love.
"'We can run,' he said fervently, bringing our clasped hands between us and clenching tightly. “Amelia, let's just run...we’ll run away---to California, or Wyoming, or...hell, we'll just pick a state with as few rivers as possible and settle there."
Instead of arguing with him---countering his appeals with all the reasons that they were wrong---I shook my head and smiled sadly.
'We can’t, Joshua. I can’t.'
Almost as soon as I said it, his face fell."
Yep, their fights are pretty legendary, all right, if legendary means "mild, half-hearted, and absolutely lacking any form of dissension." Amelia and Josh's fights last all of five seconds, Joshua concedes to Amelia 99% of the time, and the relationship is more idealistic than realistic.
I just couldn't conjure up any bit of emotion about this book. People die. Things get destroyed. I couldn't bring myself to care one way or the other.
September 27, 2015
Wow! What an ending to an amazing, incredible trilogy!
This ending was so tragic and heart wrenching, gosh!
This series is the series that got me into reading, so it has a lot of sentimental value to me, i can't believe it's over.
Please, please; do yourselves a favour and read this amazing paranormal/ghost story, it's gripping from start to end and with give you so many feeeels, both good and bad!
SPOILERS AHEAD:
ohhh, it's so sad that our strong and beautiful main character, Amelia died :( It's equally as upsetting to know that her captivating love story with Joshua was so short-lived, and came to such a sad end!
I really do hope Joshua lives a long and happy life; eventually dies of old age and reunites with Amelia, wherever she may be then.
If one good thing came out of the ending, it was the beautiful epilogue with Joshua and the flowers, that Amelia contributed.
I'm happy that her soul is living on, and that High Bridge was destroyed once and for all.
Overall, this series was amazing and i'm so glad i picked it up randomly one day on my way out of the bookstore, that's one thing i will never regret.
Bittersweet. Goodbye Amelia and Joshua's love story, you will forever take up a special place in my heart.
All 3 books have gorgeous covers!
This ending was so tragic and heart wrenching, gosh!
This series is the series that got me into reading, so it has a lot of sentimental value to me, i can't believe it's over.
Please, please; do yourselves a favour and read this amazing paranormal/ghost story, it's gripping from start to end and with give you so many feeeels, both good and bad!
SPOILERS AHEAD:
ohhh, it's so sad that our strong and beautiful main character, Amelia died :( It's equally as upsetting to know that her captivating love story with Joshua was so short-lived, and came to such a sad end!
I really do hope Joshua lives a long and happy life; eventually dies of old age and reunites with Amelia, wherever she may be then.
If one good thing came out of the ending, it was the beautiful epilogue with Joshua and the flowers, that Amelia contributed.
I'm happy that her soul is living on, and that High Bridge was destroyed once and for all.
Overall, this series was amazing and i'm so glad i picked it up randomly one day on my way out of the bookstore, that's one thing i will never regret.
Bittersweet. Goodbye Amelia and Joshua's love story, you will forever take up a special place in my heart.
All 3 books have gorgeous covers!
December 9, 2013
Ok. So here's what I think.....
WHAT THE HELL KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT!?!?!
(warning! Spoiler alert!!)
Amelia dies with Eli, gaby, Serena, and her mom and then goes to heaven ( or so we think cuz she never told the flippin ending!!!) and then leaves Joshua her one and only true love on his own in the living world. I mean seriously! Could it get any worse! She should have told us the stupid ending!!! and THEN made the epilogue about the end when Joshua dies (finally!) and sees Amelia again! I was expecting something like "Amelia defeats the darkness and lives with Joshua happily ever after! Joy to the world because the netherworld and it's creeps are dead!" I like unpredictable endings, just not like this. This book seriously dissapointed me.
Then again I could see from the last chapters that she wasn't exacly going anywhere with her plans, so I didnt exactly know what was going to happen. But the ending was disasterous. Why after all Amelia and joshua went through would she just go to heaven ( or I thought she did) and leave Joshua and his amazing midnight blue eyes all alone in the living world with nothing but that stupid incident from high bridge with the flowers and yada yada yada. Along with the hope that she's waiting for him when he dies...
I wanted to put the freakin book through the shredder! (but I couldn't since it was a library book...but I would have done it otherwise!!) It ruined my mood the whole day! It was so good in the beginning especially when amelia got the ability to touch Joshua again and with all the romance I'm like, " this is totally going somewhere! They're going to rescue gaby and company and still get out alive!" but nooooooo! It just had to be like that! Appearantly Tara Hudson LOVES crushing spirits!!!
I guess I just had my expectations too high for her to reach, and its okay as long as she learns from her mistakes (horrible ones too!) in time she will become a better writer. I just had my expectations too high for her. But besides the ending it was a good book, so I'm going to give it a 3.
WHAT THE HELL KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT!?!?!
(warning! Spoiler alert!!)
Amelia dies with Eli, gaby, Serena, and her mom and then goes to heaven ( or so we think cuz she never told the flippin ending!!!) and then leaves Joshua her one and only true love on his own in the living world. I mean seriously! Could it get any worse! She should have told us the stupid ending!!! and THEN made the epilogue about the end when Joshua dies (finally!) and sees Amelia again! I was expecting something like "Amelia defeats the darkness and lives with Joshua happily ever after! Joy to the world because the netherworld and it's creeps are dead!" I like unpredictable endings, just not like this. This book seriously dissapointed me.
Then again I could see from the last chapters that she wasn't exacly going anywhere with her plans, so I didnt exactly know what was going to happen. But the ending was disasterous. Why after all Amelia and joshua went through would she just go to heaven ( or I thought she did) and leave Joshua and his amazing midnight blue eyes all alone in the living world with nothing but that stupid incident from high bridge with the flowers and yada yada yada. Along with the hope that she's waiting for him when he dies...
I wanted to put the freakin book through the shredder! (but I couldn't since it was a library book...but I would have done it otherwise!!) It ruined my mood the whole day! It was so good in the beginning especially when amelia got the ability to touch Joshua again and with all the romance I'm like, " this is totally going somewhere! They're going to rescue gaby and company and still get out alive!" but nooooooo! It just had to be like that! Appearantly Tara Hudson LOVES crushing spirits!!!
I guess I just had my expectations too high for her to reach, and its okay as long as she learns from her mistakes (horrible ones too!) in time she will become a better writer. I just had my expectations too high for her. But besides the ending it was a good book, so I'm going to give it a 3.
June 1, 2013
Bittersweet. That’s the word I keep coming back to each time I think about this novel. When I won an ARC of Elegy from the lovely Tara Hudson at RT, I was torn between starting it immediately and burying it for a while to avoid knowing the ending. I love this series so much and have enjoyed watching Joshua and Amelia and even Jillian grow into super awesome, fantastic characters. It was hard to watch this series end. I was afraid for the characters and the emotional turmoil I knew was ahead for them (and for me). The plot and imagery were just as beautiful as we’ve been accustomed to in the first two novels. Everything wrapped up beautifully, if tearfully, and the ending was utterly thrilling. This was an absolutely exquisite ending to a wonderful series. Well done, Tara. Well done!
December 22, 2014
Apparently disappointing endings are "IN" this season. And in that regard Elegy does not disappoint.
Several major points irked me enough about this book, that i was forced to use the word "irked".
First would be the story, which continued to remain same through out the trilogy. Joshua and Amelia love each other, their situation is doomed, Joshua is an optimist who believes everything will be fine, Amelia is a pessimist who keeps thinking doom and gloom, and certain dark forces are after them. If felt like reading the same book with different titles.
Second would be the unnecessary addition of scenes. issues that could be resolved in one scene are repeated again and again.
Third major major point that i could not get over was how Amelia convinces her mother to commit suicide and the reasons her mother gives for her assent. Her mother says that her family is dead and therefore she has nothing to live for, therefore she might as well kill herself. Seriously!!! How old is her mom anyway? fifty? sixty tops. and instead of telling her mom to live her life for herself or start over, Amelia basically encourages her. She might as well be saying, yeah sure kill yourself. you're life is over anyway!. I know this is a complete fiction book about ghosts! but, what type of message is the author trying to convey anyway.
Fourth is the ending. or more specifically the abruptness of it. so many issues were left unresolved, that i don't even know where to start. Joshua and Amelia were always the exception. They were special as a couple. They understood each other, they actually fell in love over time (not suddenly at first sight), they could touch, they overcome so many obstacles. and then ever so suddenly it ends! why couldn't Amelia be an exception? why couldn't the forces that be, give her another chance at life for trying to destroy an evil stronghold? it felt like there should have been one or two more chapters to finish off the story properly but author got fed up and ended it before it got to the serious stuff.
Over all, Elegy was not the book i waited for or expected.
Several major points irked me enough about this book, that i was forced to use the word "irked".
First would be the story, which continued to remain same through out the trilogy. Joshua and Amelia love each other, their situation is doomed, Joshua is an optimist who believes everything will be fine, Amelia is a pessimist who keeps thinking doom and gloom, and certain dark forces are after them. If felt like reading the same book with different titles.
Second would be the unnecessary addition of scenes. issues that could be resolved in one scene are repeated again and again.
Third major major point that i could not get over was how Amelia convinces her mother to commit suicide and the reasons her mother gives for her assent. Her mother says that her family is dead and therefore she has nothing to live for, therefore she might as well kill herself. Seriously!!! How old is her mom anyway? fifty? sixty tops. and instead of telling her mom to live her life for herself or start over, Amelia basically encourages her. She might as well be saying, yeah sure kill yourself. you're life is over anyway!. I know this is a complete fiction book about ghosts! but, what type of message is the author trying to convey anyway.
Fourth is the ending. or more specifically the abruptness of it. so many issues were left unresolved, that i don't even know where to start. Joshua and Amelia were always the exception. They were special as a couple. They understood each other, they actually fell in love over time (not suddenly at first sight), they could touch, they overcome so many obstacles. and then ever so suddenly it ends! why couldn't Amelia be an exception? why couldn't the forces that be, give her another chance at life for trying to destroy an evil stronghold? it felt like there should have been one or two more chapters to finish off the story properly but author got fed up and ended it before it got to the serious stuff.
Over all, Elegy was not the book i waited for or expected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2013
Elegy....... Elegy...... where to start this review. To say that I loved this book would be an understatement. I always get nervous when I read a trilogy because the ending sometimes is rushed and it ruins things for the reader. Can I just say that Tara Hudson you are BRILLIANT! I mean Amelia has faced so much from waking up dead in a river and not knowing what happened or why to having stalker ghosts, crazy seers, and who can forget our favorite friendly wraiths (NOT)!
All Amelia wants to do is settle down with the love of her life Joshua. She has fought the good fight and now she wants to bask in the afterglow and share that life with Joshua. But let's face it life is NEVER EVER easy and for Amelia it just got harder maybe unbearable because the demonic want her. They have offered her a pretty sweet deal. If she joins them she can have everything but if she does not join them well they will kill someone every week until she decides to join them. WTH what kind of option is that? Amelia is not sure what to think when she is offered another deal by the lights.
The lights have offered her a sweet position of gathering souls and bringing them into the light. Okay sounds to good to be true well duh because she will have to give up the one thing she has fought so hard for and that is Joshua. What is a girl to do well Amelia decides she will make her own life and do what she wants. She will fight back and keep Joshua and not be forced into something she does not want! What unfolds after her decision will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see if she and Joshua make it.
All Amelia wants to do is settle down with the love of her life Joshua. She has fought the good fight and now she wants to bask in the afterglow and share that life with Joshua. But let's face it life is NEVER EVER easy and for Amelia it just got harder maybe unbearable because the demonic want her. They have offered her a pretty sweet deal. If she joins them she can have everything but if she does not join them well they will kill someone every week until she decides to join them. WTH what kind of option is that? Amelia is not sure what to think when she is offered another deal by the lights.
The lights have offered her a sweet position of gathering souls and bringing them into the light. Okay sounds to good to be true well duh because she will have to give up the one thing she has fought so hard for and that is Joshua. What is a girl to do well Amelia decides she will make her own life and do what she wants. She will fight back and keep Joshua and not be forced into something she does not want! What unfolds after her decision will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see if she and Joshua make it.
November 6, 2014
My, oh, my, oh, my. *starts fanning myself* Wow. What a read. I just finished the book but, half way through it i was like I HAVE TO FINiSH THIS! Like, not because it was horrible, BUT BECAUSE I HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPEND AT THE END! Was she gonna give herself in to the darkness? Or was she going to follow the light? I mean the choice is simple; the light, but after reading three quarters of the book u'd think "Woah are u actaully choosing the dark side?" But the end. My goddess. It was the sweetest ending i've probably ever read! Although very cheesy i must say :P I think the end should have carried on a litttle bit more cause it made me think "Sooooo?.... WHAT HAPPEND TO HER AND HIM AND THE OTHERS?" I really hope Tara hudson would write like a LONGGGGGG short story of what happens to everyone after the finale :D
May 17, 2013
While some of the surface action in Elegy didn't seem to support the plot and sometimes even defied logic, what happens below the surface is amazing. Tara Hudson captures the contradictory joy and grief that people face when they have a larger spiritual belief or knowing. "If you love someone, let them go" never rang truer than in Elegy. Hudson really shows what it means to have a love bigger than physical love, and what it feels like to leave someone behind, and what it is to be left behind. Though uneven at times, the stunning ending makes it all worthwhile.
Want to read
September 17, 2012 9-16-12; 11:54pm : I need this book. Now. I loved the first one, loved the second EVEN MORE. -sigh- Tara Hudson is amazing.
May 29, 2013
I received this ARC at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention 2013. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Tara Hudson's Elegy was an astounding end to the Hereafter trilogy. Ghost books can be hard to write, especially when they involve romantic interests and you know, romance. But somehow Tara manages to do it in a remarkable way! I was truly moved by the ending to this one, while I could see this ending coming, I still didn't expect it.
Amelia is now Risen, giving her a few extra perks to being a ghost, but also taking away her ability to touch, aka kiss Joshua. And other humans, but that's not as important as Joshua. While living as a ghost isn't all that it's cracked up to be, Amelia is managing it. She loves Joshua and has even created some pretty good friendships with other living humans, but the demons that live near High Bridge and make their hellish home beneath it, will not be satisfied until Amelia is theirs. And they're willing to kill anyone and everyone to get her. Starting with those she loves first.
It's amazing how much death there was in this series, despite the whole Amelia is a ghost thing. There were quite a few deaths to occur in this trilogy, including this one. It was mindblowing! And yes, tragically sad. Yet all the deaths did serve a purpose. There was meaning behind them. It didn't make them any easier to swallow, but stepping back later, you can see how they fit into the plot arc overall.
Amelia knows that this battle to end all battles will not end well. In some way or another, she knows she will have to die...permanently. If she wants to protect Joshua and her new friends, she's going to have to keep some secrets and make her own plans, while still agreeing to their main plan. Yeah, vague details, but it's the best I can tell you.
There was quite a bit of action to this one. Amelia and her friends make a few attempts at bringing down High Bridge, but they all prove fruitless. The end results are going to require a bigger sacrifice.
The best way to describe this novel is that it was intense! Lots of emotions were going around. But I think the love between Amelia and Joshua was one of the strongest. They knew that their days together were dwindling, yet they were too afraid to admit it. I enjoyed how Tara built up their moments and took it a new level. Again, I want to say more but I don't want to give out too much info.
While the ending was final and resolved, I still felt like there were some unanswered questions. Sort of along the lines of what just happened? What next? You know, the basic kind of questions that pop up when a series ends. Of course there are no real answers. I guess we readers just have to use our own imaginations to give ourselves the answers. I can't even touch on how I felt after the ending, because I feel that it will spoil things for you. It was definitely emotional, that's all I'll say!
This has been a great trilogy that explored more of the ghost--a classic in all things paranormal, because they're real (at least I believe so)--and yet they are so untouched in paranormal reads, except for when Scooby and the gang are being chased by one! Or something like that, because yeah those ghosts weren't real...expect for Scooby-Doo and the Boo Brothers...I'm getting off track obviously! But yes, having a ghost as the main character in novels can be hard, yet when one does come up, I usually enjoy them! And Tara Hudson's Hereafter trilogy was definitely one of them!
So if you're looking for a "ghost" book to read and don't want the scary type, but more light-hearted one, this series is definitely one I recommend!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
Elegy releases June 4, 2013
Tara Hudson's Elegy was an astounding end to the Hereafter trilogy. Ghost books can be hard to write, especially when they involve romantic interests and you know, romance. But somehow Tara manages to do it in a remarkable way! I was truly moved by the ending to this one, while I could see this ending coming, I still didn't expect it.
Amelia is now Risen, giving her a few extra perks to being a ghost, but also taking away her ability to touch, aka kiss Joshua. And other humans, but that's not as important as Joshua. While living as a ghost isn't all that it's cracked up to be, Amelia is managing it. She loves Joshua and has even created some pretty good friendships with other living humans, but the demons that live near High Bridge and make their hellish home beneath it, will not be satisfied until Amelia is theirs. And they're willing to kill anyone and everyone to get her. Starting with those she loves first.
It's amazing how much death there was in this series, despite the whole Amelia is a ghost thing. There were quite a few deaths to occur in this trilogy, including this one. It was mindblowing! And yes, tragically sad. Yet all the deaths did serve a purpose. There was meaning behind them. It didn't make them any easier to swallow, but stepping back later, you can see how they fit into the plot arc overall.
Amelia knows that this battle to end all battles will not end well. In some way or another, she knows she will have to die...permanently. If she wants to protect Joshua and her new friends, she's going to have to keep some secrets and make her own plans, while still agreeing to their main plan. Yeah, vague details, but it's the best I can tell you.
There was quite a bit of action to this one. Amelia and her friends make a few attempts at bringing down High Bridge, but they all prove fruitless. The end results are going to require a bigger sacrifice.
The best way to describe this novel is that it was intense! Lots of emotions were going around. But I think the love between Amelia and Joshua was one of the strongest. They knew that their days together were dwindling, yet they were too afraid to admit it. I enjoyed how Tara built up their moments and took it a new level. Again, I want to say more but I don't want to give out too much info.
While the ending was final and resolved, I still felt like there were some unanswered questions. Sort of along the lines of what just happened? What next? You know, the basic kind of questions that pop up when a series ends. Of course there are no real answers. I guess we readers just have to use our own imaginations to give ourselves the answers. I can't even touch on how I felt after the ending, because I feel that it will spoil things for you. It was definitely emotional, that's all I'll say!
This has been a great trilogy that explored more of the ghost--a classic in all things paranormal, because they're real (at least I believe so)--and yet they are so untouched in paranormal reads, except for when Scooby and the gang are being chased by one! Or something like that, because yeah those ghosts weren't real...expect for Scooby-Doo and the Boo Brothers...I'm getting off track obviously! But yes, having a ghost as the main character in novels can be hard, yet when one does come up, I usually enjoy them! And Tara Hudson's Hereafter trilogy was definitely one of them!
So if you're looking for a "ghost" book to read and don't want the scary type, but more light-hearted one, this series is definitely one I recommend!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
Elegy releases June 4, 2013
September 7, 2012
This is one of the most bittersweet novels I've read in a while. I knew what was coming, but that didn't stop tears from welling up in my eyes. I stayed awake until 3am to finish reading this book. I couldn't put it down.
On one side stand the evil forces that will not stop until they have Amelia under their control. They give her an ultimatum...she must give herself over to them, or they will kill someone she cares about every week until she gives in. On the other side, the forces of good offer her the chance to join them and save souls. The one thing both sides have in common is Amelia won't be able to see Joshua again.
The relationship between Amelia and Joshua was heart-achingly beautiful. The love between them is so obvious, it's practically a visible tie between them. Their love makes them stronger as individuals. They don't try to stop each other from making the choices they need to make. Their relationship is what good, healthy, amazing relationships should be.
The secondary characters play a huge role in this novel. They are there for support and make Amelia stronger, more ready to face her personal demons. She trusts them to be there for her when she needs them most and they are there. Amelia gives back as well, being a friend to Jillian and creating friendships that will leave a lasting impression.
I could see how the novel would end from early on. Hudson doesn't take the easy way out, that's for sure. I spent most of the novel getting ready for the end, savoring each word on the page, not wanting to miss anything. Without giving away too much, the ending is not that of a fairy tale, but it's what the series deserved.
Elegy is a touching, bittersweet, heartbreaking, make-your-heart-soar book that ends the Hereafter series in the way it deserved. It brought tears to my eyes, but the good kind. To put it simply, Elegy is beautiful.
On one side stand the evil forces that will not stop until they have Amelia under their control. They give her an ultimatum...she must give herself over to them, or they will kill someone she cares about every week until she gives in. On the other side, the forces of good offer her the chance to join them and save souls. The one thing both sides have in common is Amelia won't be able to see Joshua again.
The relationship between Amelia and Joshua was heart-achingly beautiful. The love between them is so obvious, it's practically a visible tie between them. Their love makes them stronger as individuals. They don't try to stop each other from making the choices they need to make. Their relationship is what good, healthy, amazing relationships should be.
The secondary characters play a huge role in this novel. They are there for support and make Amelia stronger, more ready to face her personal demons. She trusts them to be there for her when she needs them most and they are there. Amelia gives back as well, being a friend to Jillian and creating friendships that will leave a lasting impression.
I could see how the novel would end from early on. Hudson doesn't take the easy way out, that's for sure. I spent most of the novel getting ready for the end, savoring each word on the page, not wanting to miss anything. Without giving away too much, the ending is not that of a fairy tale, but it's what the series deserved.
Elegy is a touching, bittersweet, heartbreaking, make-your-heart-soar book that ends the Hereafter series in the way it deserved. It brought tears to my eyes, but the good kind. To put it simply, Elegy is beautiful.
didn-t-finish
April 1, 2014If fictional worlds can end with a bang or a whimper, Elegy concluded it's series with the malodorous sound of a fart. This terrible conclusion dragged on the tragedy of the second book until even the sweet love story itches like a hair shirt. If you want to write a trilogy the Hereafter series is a prime example of what not to do.
Read
July 27, 2015What a bittersweet ending to the trilogy. Many unexpected things happened but I really liked how everything wrapped up. I often sit next to Tara at conferences since both of our last names begin with "H" and she is an awesome person and a great writer. If you like ghosts you should pick up this series.
May 18, 2014
This whole series was just o.k.
Tara Hudson is not a bad writer, I just couldn't connect with the story or the characters.
If you're looking for a good ghost story, try Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake.
Tara Hudson is not a bad writer, I just couldn't connect with the story or the characters.
If you're looking for a good ghost story, try Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake.
Want to read
November 12, 2012Psyched for this.
October 3, 2020
The worst possible end to a series right here people. Maybe I grew out of this series but man. This was bad. It was far TOO LONG for that ending. Also disappointed that the epilogue didn’t go beyond five minutes past the last chapter. WTH.
I loved Amelia and Joshua’s relationship in the first two books and hoped that they would have received a better ending.
I loved Amelia and Joshua’s relationship in the first two books and hoped that they would have received a better ending.
February 18, 2019
Stupid ending made me cry.
Good book.
Good book.
February 22, 2021
Not bad. I think it was completely the right thing for Amelia to do -
January 6, 2022
OMG!!! I love this book, I really love the romance and really just everything about it. So if you haven’t read it then you’re really missing out.
November 23, 2018
Yanii bilmiyorum yaa yazar daha güzel bir son yazabilirdi. Sonuçta o kadar fantastik roman yazıyorsun her şey mümkün. Yazsana bizi tatmin edebilecek son... İlk kitap favorilerime girerken bu hayal kırıklığı... Her neyse daha fazla sinirlenmek istemiyorum.
April 18, 2013
3.5 stars
Find this and other reviews on my blog Love is not a triangle
The third book in a ghost trilogy is where I start to dread the fact that I'm reading a series that features a relationship between a human and someone who is dead. It's when reality sets in, and I realize that there aren't a lot of options that end positively for the couple in question. Although I love the HEA ending, it's a little unrealistic for the ghost to come back to life again, and most other endings involve a lot of sadness. Of course I won't divulge what occurs in Elegy, except to say that it is filled with love and hope, and that I was pleasantly surprised by how appropriate and true it felt to these characters and their story.
My favorite part of the Hereafter series, and the reason I've continued to read it, is the relationship between Amelia Ashley and Joshua Mayhew, who only found each other after Amelia's life had ended. Their relationship contains the sweetness of first love, but also strength and maturity from shared trials, as well as an aching inevitability that Amelia is living on borrowed time. Their commitment to each other despite impossible circumstances, and a constant threat from the Netherworld, gives their relationship a steadfastness of a more mature couple. I love that they are always kind, respectful and supportive of each other, and that despite their major life differences (i.e. Joshua is alive and Amelia is not), I felt like they truly understand each other. They also have a normal, inspiring relationships, which is sometimes rare the young adult paranormal genre (especially the relatable/normal part).
Not only together, I appreciated both Amelia and Joshua individually. Amelia is a likable heroine, who has come a long way from the scared and confused girl at the start of the first book. She is smart and determined to save the people that she loves, but she is no martyr. Amelia is dedicated to defeating the demons and wraiths that have been the cause of so much heartbreak and destruction in her town. In all the pressure she faces, she doesn't start pulling away or making irrational decisions, but decides to do what she believes will make the most difference.
Joshua is in many ways a regular teen boy, which is also refreshing in this genre. He is not a mysterious bad boy, or a traumatized, tortured soul. He has friends, plays baseball and respects his parents. He is open about his feelings for Amelia and is always supportive of her. He is the kind of boy that I wish I'd known in high school.
Of course, Amelia and Joshua are not the only two characters in this series. Several others have stood out to me. I enjoyed Amelia's friction and tentative friendship with Jillian, her contentious relationship with Ruth, her constant worry over her living mother and questions about where her father ended up after his death. In the final book we also get a glimpse of past characters again, and some are in much better places than others.
However, throughout the entire series, especially in the second and third books, I had a lot of trouble with the world building, most specifically the ghost mythology. Eventually it got to be distracting enough to affect my reading. I felt like the limits of how much I could suspend my belief in order to enjoy Amelia and Joshua's story, were being tested beyond their bounds. Many of the ghost rules did not make any practical sense to me, especially once elements change in book 2. Some of the rules seemed to be added just to create tension to the plot, and not because of a good explanation.
If you're looking for a sweet love story within a supernatural setting that has ghost elements, this series is great. If you get hung up on world building and the practicalities of mythology, you may have some problems with this series (or maybe not). However, in the end I'm glad I met Amelia Ashely and Joshua Mayhew.
Cliffhanger Scale: Series conclusion
Love Triangle Factor: NONE for the series
Find this and other reviews on my blog Love is not a triangle
The third book in a ghost trilogy is where I start to dread the fact that I'm reading a series that features a relationship between a human and someone who is dead. It's when reality sets in, and I realize that there aren't a lot of options that end positively for the couple in question. Although I love the HEA ending, it's a little unrealistic for the ghost to come back to life again, and most other endings involve a lot of sadness. Of course I won't divulge what occurs in Elegy, except to say that it is filled with love and hope, and that I was pleasantly surprised by how appropriate and true it felt to these characters and their story.
My favorite part of the Hereafter series, and the reason I've continued to read it, is the relationship between Amelia Ashley and Joshua Mayhew, who only found each other after Amelia's life had ended. Their relationship contains the sweetness of first love, but also strength and maturity from shared trials, as well as an aching inevitability that Amelia is living on borrowed time. Their commitment to each other despite impossible circumstances, and a constant threat from the Netherworld, gives their relationship a steadfastness of a more mature couple. I love that they are always kind, respectful and supportive of each other, and that despite their major life differences (i.e. Joshua is alive and Amelia is not), I felt like they truly understand each other. They also have a normal, inspiring relationships, which is sometimes rare the young adult paranormal genre (especially the relatable/normal part).
Not only together, I appreciated both Amelia and Joshua individually. Amelia is a likable heroine, who has come a long way from the scared and confused girl at the start of the first book. She is smart and determined to save the people that she loves, but she is no martyr. Amelia is dedicated to defeating the demons and wraiths that have been the cause of so much heartbreak and destruction in her town. In all the pressure she faces, she doesn't start pulling away or making irrational decisions, but decides to do what she believes will make the most difference.
Joshua is in many ways a regular teen boy, which is also refreshing in this genre. He is not a mysterious bad boy, or a traumatized, tortured soul. He has friends, plays baseball and respects his parents. He is open about his feelings for Amelia and is always supportive of her. He is the kind of boy that I wish I'd known in high school.
Of course, Amelia and Joshua are not the only two characters in this series. Several others have stood out to me. I enjoyed Amelia's friction and tentative friendship with Jillian, her contentious relationship with Ruth, her constant worry over her living mother and questions about where her father ended up after his death. In the final book we also get a glimpse of past characters again, and some are in much better places than others.
However, throughout the entire series, especially in the second and third books, I had a lot of trouble with the world building, most specifically the ghost mythology. Eventually it got to be distracting enough to affect my reading. I felt like the limits of how much I could suspend my belief in order to enjoy Amelia and Joshua's story, were being tested beyond their bounds. Many of the ghost rules did not make any practical sense to me, especially once elements change in book 2. Some of the rules seemed to be added just to create tension to the plot, and not because of a good explanation.
If you're looking for a sweet love story within a supernatural setting that has ghost elements, this series is great. If you get hung up on world building and the practicalities of mythology, you may have some problems with this series (or maybe not). However, in the end I'm glad I met Amelia Ashely and Joshua Mayhew.
Cliffhanger Scale: Series conclusion
Love Triangle Factor: NONE for the series
July 8, 2013
Review 6******
This is the third and final book in the Hereafter Trilogy. I absolutely LOVED it!
Amelia Ashley is a fantastic character. I liked her from the first time I met her in Hereafter. No longer a ghost, but not quite alive either, she is Risen. She is still very powerful, but being risen has created a problem. Amelia can no longer touch her living boyfriend, Joshua. She will need all her strength to face what's coming!
Joshua Mayhew is also a fantastic character. He may be a bit of a sports jock, but he is also one of the nicest people I have ever met in a book! Thanks to a near death experience, he has the ability to see, touch and speak to ghosts. He is also madly in love with Amelia. (Darn!).
I love this series, so when the book became available to pre-order, I did so! I received it over the weekend and promptly began reading! Once again, I was pulled into Amelia and Joshua's love story! I didn't put this book down until I had read it from cover to cover! In fact, I read this book within 7 hours! The love story between Amelia and Joshua really tugged at my heart strings! I found myself tearing up a few times! However, there is a lot of danger in the form of the Demons living under Wilburton's High Bridge. They are extremely determined to get Amelia, and use any means to do so, including killing the residents of Wilburton. They are very unsavoury characters, and they made me shudder with revulsion!
Amelia has to make a difficult choice, and I don't envy her it!
I found the ending bittersweet in many ways, but I will leave it to you to decide if you agree or not!
Tara Hudson is a wonderful author! Her characters are extremely lifelike and her descriptions of places are very vivid. To say that she is a relative newcomer to the literary world, she makes it seem as if she has been writing for years! Her writing is fast paced, and flows beautifully! I am a HUGE fan of hers, and will read any books written by her in the future.
I HIGHLY recommend this book (and series) if you love YA, Romance or Paranormal Romance genres. - Lynn Worton
This is the third and final book in the Hereafter Trilogy. I absolutely LOVED it!
Amelia Ashley is a fantastic character. I liked her from the first time I met her in Hereafter. No longer a ghost, but not quite alive either, she is Risen. She is still very powerful, but being risen has created a problem. Amelia can no longer touch her living boyfriend, Joshua. She will need all her strength to face what's coming!
Joshua Mayhew is also a fantastic character. He may be a bit of a sports jock, but he is also one of the nicest people I have ever met in a book! Thanks to a near death experience, he has the ability to see, touch and speak to ghosts. He is also madly in love with Amelia. (Darn!).
I love this series, so when the book became available to pre-order, I did so! I received it over the weekend and promptly began reading! Once again, I was pulled into Amelia and Joshua's love story! I didn't put this book down until I had read it from cover to cover! In fact, I read this book within 7 hours! The love story between Amelia and Joshua really tugged at my heart strings! I found myself tearing up a few times! However, there is a lot of danger in the form of the Demons living under Wilburton's High Bridge. They are extremely determined to get Amelia, and use any means to do so, including killing the residents of Wilburton. They are very unsavoury characters, and they made me shudder with revulsion!
Amelia has to make a difficult choice, and I don't envy her it!
I found the ending bittersweet in many ways, but I will leave it to you to decide if you agree or not!
Tara Hudson is a wonderful author! Her characters are extremely lifelike and her descriptions of places are very vivid. To say that she is a relative newcomer to the literary world, she makes it seem as if she has been writing for years! Her writing is fast paced, and flows beautifully! I am a HUGE fan of hers, and will read any books written by her in the future.
I HIGHLY recommend this book (and series) if you love YA, Romance or Paranormal Romance genres. - Lynn Worton
August 10, 2013
I just finished this book, and I'm simply a puddle of emotion. I started this journey with Amelia, about two years ago, just happening to see that first beautiful cover on a shelf. I remembered liking the name, Hereafter, and vowing to read it when I got the chance. Naturally, I kept forgetting, and other books got in my way, but after a while I finally started to read it. And I kicked myself for not reading it sooner.
This has been one of my favorite book series, in the whole wide world. So beautiful, and so real in it's raw emotion and romance. I loved it all, and now I'm simply devastated that there are no more installments to look forward too.
It ended beautifully, if not a little tragically. I won't say the reason it was a little tragic, as not to spoil an incredible ending. But I will say, I understand why it was, and it was utterly perfect.
Tara Hudson is a very talented writer, with a knack for creating unforgettable characters and relationships. And though I'm sad to see such in incredible story end, I'm even more thrilled I got to be a part of it.
Amelia/Joshua forever. Always.
Carry on,
Bria
This has been one of my favorite book series, in the whole wide world. So beautiful, and so real in it's raw emotion and romance. I loved it all, and now I'm simply devastated that there are no more installments to look forward too.
It ended beautifully, if not a little tragically. I won't say the reason it was a little tragic, as not to spoil an incredible ending. But I will say, I understand why it was, and it was utterly perfect.
Tara Hudson is a very talented writer, with a knack for creating unforgettable characters and relationships. And though I'm sad to see such in incredible story end, I'm even more thrilled I got to be a part of it.
Amelia/Joshua forever. Always.
Carry on,
Bria
August 31, 2013
I put off reading Elegy for a good 3 months. I wasn't ready for the series to end. I just wasn't.
Deciding it was time, I picked it up, devouring it as expected and it was just beautiful. I loved the entire book. There were things I hoped would happen that didn't. And things I didn't want to happen that did.
I'm so happy that I was able to be a part of this journey with Amelia & Joshua and all the other characters & readers of this series. As many may have said it's a very bittersweet ending but I'm not sure I could have imagined it any other way.
All I can say is thank you. Thank you to Tara for creating this world, these characters who will always hold a special place in my heart and who will stay with me.
Thank you to everyone I've ever attacked my feelings with in regards to this series.
As much as I hate to see the series end. It's impossible to avoid it. I'll at least be able to take the wonderful memories and moments this series gave me and revisit them whenever I'm feeling lonely and miss the characters like old friends.
August 16, 2013
I CRIED. SERIOUSLY WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE THE ONLY BOOK I'VE EVER CRIED AT IS THE BOOK THIEF.
IT WAS HILARIOUS I WAS IN CLASS WITH MY FRIENDS, TOTALLY ABSORBED IN THE BOOK AND THE NEXT THING MY FRIENDS KNOW I'M BAWLING MY EYES OUT!
As you can imagine they're like "what the hell is wrong" they've never seen me cry. Then i try to explain it to them but i get all choked up in my tears.
ALL I GOTTA SAY IS THIS WAS THE PERFECT ENDING TO THE PERFECT ENDING I APPRECIATED AMELIA AND JOSHUA NOT STAYING TOGETHER, I MEAN I WOULD HAVE LOVED IF THEY HAD BUT THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T SHOWED HOW MUCH AMELIA LIVED JOSHUA AND THE EXTENT SHE WOULD GO TO, RO KEEP THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED SAFE. ALL I COULD THINK WAS OH MY GOD I WANNA LOVE SOMEONE LIKE THIS I WANT TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WHERE THE 2 OF US WERE SO IN LOVE WE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR EACH OTHER. TO LOVE SOMEONE SO MUCH THAT YOU LET THEM GO EVEN IF YOU HURT YOURSELF IN TE PROCESS. OH NO HERE COMES THE TEARS. I L-O-V-E-D THIS BOOK , THIS SERIES, EVERYTHING TARA HUDSON YOU ARE THE BOMB. PLEASE KEEP WRITING!!!!!
IT WAS HILARIOUS I WAS IN CLASS WITH MY FRIENDS, TOTALLY ABSORBED IN THE BOOK AND THE NEXT THING MY FRIENDS KNOW I'M BAWLING MY EYES OUT!
As you can imagine they're like "what the hell is wrong" they've never seen me cry. Then i try to explain it to them but i get all choked up in my tears.
ALL I GOTTA SAY IS THIS WAS THE PERFECT ENDING TO THE PERFECT ENDING I APPRECIATED AMELIA AND JOSHUA NOT STAYING TOGETHER, I MEAN I WOULD HAVE LOVED IF THEY HAD BUT THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T SHOWED HOW MUCH AMELIA LIVED JOSHUA AND THE EXTENT SHE WOULD GO TO, RO KEEP THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED SAFE. ALL I COULD THINK WAS OH MY GOD I WANNA LOVE SOMEONE LIKE THIS I WANT TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WHERE THE 2 OF US WERE SO IN LOVE WE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR EACH OTHER. TO LOVE SOMEONE SO MUCH THAT YOU LET THEM GO EVEN IF YOU HURT YOURSELF IN TE PROCESS. OH NO HERE COMES THE TEARS. I L-O-V-E-D THIS BOOK , THIS SERIES, EVERYTHING TARA HUDSON YOU ARE THE BOMB. PLEASE KEEP WRITING!!!!!
February 15, 2014
Well... it only took 2 books to finally get something good even if I would have like a different ending to the series especially after EVERYTHING Amelia and Joshua went through. I hated this series!
Now some of you may ask why I continued to read the rest of the series if I despised the first book? That's only because I have a very large curious bone that forces me against my will to continue reading until I know what happens at the very end. This is the case, no matter how badly I want to give up and throw the book in the bin.
Alas I finally finished and although this book was the best of the trilogy I still didn't like it.
I try not to judge books to harshly since a lot of someone's time and effort went into it but that just shows how disappointed I was by the whole thing
Now some of you may ask why I continued to read the rest of the series if I despised the first book? That's only because I have a very large curious bone that forces me against my will to continue reading until I know what happens at the very end. This is the case, no matter how badly I want to give up and throw the book in the bin.
Alas I finally finished and although this book was the best of the trilogy I still didn't like it.
I try not to judge books to harshly since a lot of someone's time and effort went into it but that just shows how disappointed I was by the whole thing
July 11, 2015
It's a fearful thing to love what death can touch...
This was so freaking heartbreaking.
I knew it would happen, but nothing could have prepared you for the emotional onslaught.
It still hurts, you still end up in tears, curl up and rock yourself back and forth in a dark corner...*or maybe that's just me*...
I know it's the right and just way to end it, but i still cant keep my heart from breaking, mostly for Joshua.
I have so many feels, but there's just no right amount of words to express it.
So I'll end this with one of my favorite and most fitting quote.
Unable are the love to die, for love is immortality
P.S. for PLL fans, see what i did there ;)
February 8, 2017
spoiler alert skip mine ~!
to be honest I love tragedy, but not this one..... I am hoping Tara would make a story about what happen to Amelia and Joshua because I am DISAPPOINTED!!! I mean seriously? This doesn't give a satisfying ending at all. Amelia can be with her friends and family up in the light is a great thing but what happen to Joshua?! did he found a new girlfriend?! did he grow old alone and meet up with Amelia in the light?! *sigh* I think this ending is just realistic, just ended nothing else happen in the world, it life~! you can't have everything you love in one place, kinda thing..... well I give the book a 3 because I feel like Tara could have done it better in the end.
to be honest I love tragedy, but not this one..... I am hoping Tara would make a story about what happen to Amelia and Joshua because I am DISAPPOINTED!!! I mean seriously? This doesn't give a satisfying ending at all. Amelia can be with her friends and family up in the light is a great thing but what happen to Joshua?! did he found a new girlfriend?! did he grow old alone and meet up with Amelia in the light?! *sigh* I think this ending is just realistic, just ended nothing else happen in the world, it life~! you can't have everything you love in one place, kinda thing..... well I give the book a 3 because I feel like Tara could have done it better in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews