Review: Arise by Tara Hudson

ARISE by Tara Hudson

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Publication date: 6/5/2012

Pages: 416

Age range: 13 - 17 Years

Source: Author (ARC)

New Orleans Saint Louis Number One Cemetery A night there can change a life . . . or a death.

Increasingly worried that dark spirits will carry out their threats and hurt the people she cares for most, Amelia is ready to try anything to protect them. And for his own very different reasons, Joshua has come to this cemetery at midnight to join her in a powerful ritual.

Both know that once Amelia steps inside the Voodoo circle and the beautiful girl from the Conjure Café begins the cere­mony, everything will change.

Tara Hudson's enthralling sequel to Hereafter escalates the danger and excitement, bringing a new dimension to her already mesmerizing story of a haunted love.

In this installment, Amelia struggles with her decision to move on which would allow Joshua to fully live his life. As if that wasn’t enough for her to deal with, her connection to the living has presented a new threat that could have deadly consequences for the ones she loves. ARISE opened the door to endless possibilities – one of which asked the question if Amelia would be able to keep the ones she loved safe by giving up everything?

Readers are introduced to new characters in this installment and a new venue. I think New Orleans was the perfect place to set the stage for Amelia’s search for answers and the impending danger surrounding the evil spirits whom want to claim her. Hudson’s writing, whether it was dealing with Amelia’s emotions or describing New Orleans, had me fully invested in the outcome of Amelia’s and Joshua’s relationship.

This series has plenty of twists and I wonder what Hudson will do in the next installment to top this one. If you are a fan of ghostly reads not to mention star-crossed lovers, then I highly recommend this series. It’s hauntingly beautiful!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Check out the book trailer!

Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson
Pub. Date: June 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover , 416pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher (ARC)

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Breathtaking and eerie in its telling, HEREAFTER sheds beauty on the entangled existence of life and death. The story is unique and enthralling; I was immersed into its pages completely. A world beyond the living, the Hereafter dug its claws into me and never let up.

From the first thoughts of Amelia's nightmarish retellings, I was immediately captivated. Her voice is eerie but mesmerizing at the same time, I felt compelled to follow along as she told her story. HEREAFTER ended up being a ghostly page turner. There was not one thing in this book that I did not like. It felt effortless as I read the pages while lively images sprouted into my head. Hudson's writing flowed beautifully and captured the light and dark elements of the Hereafter.

With a cast of unforgettable characters, I can only imagine what's in store for Amelia and Joshua next. With all the secrets surrounding High Bridge Road, nothing is as it seems. This paranormal debut will ensnare you into its world with its eerie beauty.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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Order HEREAFTER

Check out Tara on HEREAFTER!

Check the booktrailer!

Sensational 7 Q & A with Tara Hudson (Author of Hereafter)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Born 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.

HEREAFTER is her first novel. It will be released June 7, 2011!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

I'd probably travel back to the Italian Renaissance to enjoy all the art, philosophy and - of course - literature. (However, I'd probably need to bring an anti-misogyny raygun with me, since that era wasn't exactly known for women's rights!)

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

Amelia is dead, but can she save him?

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

My favorite book of all time is Neil Gaiman's NEVERWHERE, mostly because it holds up so well to multiple (i.e. several hundred) readings.  I definitely have a fictional crush on its protagonist, Richard Mayhew - I even lent his last name to one of my main characters, Joshua!

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?
There are so many amazing stories, I'd probably have to be a Fraken-character: Elizabeth Bennet's wit; Melanie Hamilton's kindness; Scout Finch's sass; and Hermione Granger's cunning.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

I think I would die of happiness if the universe cast Emma Stone in the role of "Tara Hudson."  She's beautiful and funny, and I have the most enormous girl crush on her.  I mean, have you seen EASY A?  Case closed.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

"You're Perfect, Now Change."  I've spent every one of my 30 years as a Type A, constantly striving for an absurd level of perfection.  But as I grow up, I realize that perfection is not only impossible, but also a life-ruiner!

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

An overbooked mess of beautiful little moments.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**

 I'll be joining four other authors on the Dark Days of the Supernatural tour (info available on my website, http://www.tarahudson.com/), before sinking my teeth into HEREAFTER's sequel, ARISE!

Thanks for stopping by Tara!

For more information about Tara Hudson and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (80): Hereafter by Tara Hudson

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews, Guest Posts, and Contests for great books.

HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson

Pub. Date: June 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Hardcover , 416pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Order HEREAFTER

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Check out Tara on HEREAFTER!

Check the book trailer!

Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!