The trick to reading epilogues is that you don't have to read them as an epilogue, but as a prologue. Things get complicated, but it's not the end, it's the beginning.

That helped me<3

And I do recommend reading them, because even if things get complicated, they're really good and very well written, and Beyond Canon is also very good. You can tell it's run by a team that really cares about HS and wants to be authentic to the characters and essence of HS.

Personally, I think you're missing out on something incredible. I hope you find the courage to read them (^///^)