I had such high expectations for this book, and I’m so thrilled to now say that the book was just as incredible, even better, than I had hoped.

This book is about a girl who makes a deal to be free from her restricted life and live for as long as she wishes in exchange for her soul. The catch? She is forgotten by everyone she meets. The book charts her 300 year life, where you jump between her past narrative and her current life where, inexplicably, she meets someone who remembers her.

There are so few words to describe how wonderful a book like this is. I know I’ll carry it with me for a long time, and I loved it so much that I’ve already preordered a finished copy. Two of them, in fact.

Schwab’s writing is lyrical and so engaging that you’ll forget you’re reading a book, utterly enchanted by the world and characters she’s weaved. Unlike the other characters in this book, there is no chance that I’ll be forgetting Addie La Rue any time soon.

I absolutely adored this book, to the point that I'm considering getting a tattoo related to a quote from Henry (booksellers unite!).
I'd love to be involved in more promo for this book.
A full review is up on my website which I'll post to Amazon, goodreads, and Waterstones.

Thanks so much for letting me read this wonderful story! I've pre-ordered two copies of the book.

Imagine making a pact with the devil where in exchange for immortality, you will be cursed with always being forgotten. It sounds rather lonely to live forever with no one remembering you. This is what happens to Addie LaRue in the early 1700's. She travels throughout the world living like a ghost, touching so many people's lives only for them to not remember why or who impacted them so deeply. Her one companion in life is the devil she made the deal with who visits her every single year on the anniversary of their pact. And then, of course, everything changes when, one day, Addie meets someone who actually remembers her. This novel blends genres in such a brilliant way. You have literary fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, magical realism, and maybe even more. Schwab's writing is incredible and the world-building is detailed and creative. If you're looking for an original novel with excellent writing, this is the book for you! Highly recommended!

The first thing that is immediately evident about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is that V. E. Schwab has raised the bar on her writing. I am a huge fan of Schwab's books and I've read the majority of the 800 books she has published; some of them more than once and some I've attempted to read in different languages despite only being able to read English fluently. I have always enjoyed her writing style especially in her more speculative works like the Villains series and Monsters of Verity series. Schwab is a conceptual creative, in that I imagine a lot of her stories start out with her sitting down with a notebook and asking a 'what if?' question and then building characters and plot around that concept. This is probably the reason that some reviewers often say that they enjoy her ideas more than the execution of those ideas; the idea might be enough to draw a reader in but it's not going to carry them through the story if they don't get along with her writing style. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is very clearly a Schwab book, but elevated in all aspects.

The premise of Addie LaRue is grand in scale, we're following 300 years of a person's life and the blurb promises a 'dazzling adventure' whereas what we actually get is a lot of quiet and slow introspection about the nature of time and legacy. The reason I call out the blurb is because for the first third of this book I was a little bit bored. I was expecting a 'dazzling adventure' and I absolutely did not feel like I was getting that at all. Unless 'dazzling adventure' was supposed to be referring to the significant moments in Addie's long life being defined by the people that she had sexual relationships with (more on this later) or having the same conversation over and over with the "devil" that cursed her? If so, dazzled I was not. For the first third of this book I was hovering between 2 and 3 stars, and I was quite disappointed because this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. It was not until the second third that I felt my preconceived expectations start to dissolve and I began to adapt to the story I was actually getting. Addie's life was monotonous and repetitive for a big chunk of the book because she is experiencing the ennui of living forever, being forgotten by everyone she meets and being unable to leave her mark on the world... until she meets bookseller Henry and he says the words 'I remember you.'

From there the pacing does pick up, but it is unlikely that anyone will ever describe this as a fast paced book. It is still extremely slow paced even after the main plot kicks in, yet it is the intrigue of Addie's curse and her relationship with both Henry and the "devil" that keep you reading. In addition to that, Schwab's prose, as she unpacked the concepts of time and legacy, were particularly engaging; so much so that I was very eager to get to the 'conclusion' of her 'hypothesis.'

This book is not for the cynics. If you tend to sneer at character led stories where the focus is upon emotion, you will not enjoy this book. You'll likely view Addie and Henry's relationship as a montage of manic-pixie-dream-people doing random hipster cool things in New York whilst woeing-is-me their life choices. And, I say that as someone who thought this more than once because I can be a bit cynical but I also enjoy character led stories based upon emotion, what a dilemma! Despite the fact that I did have these thoughts, I also think it's a an unfair critique; it completely disregards the nuance of the story and misinterprets what the manic-pixie-dream archetype actually is. I had to forcibly disregard the cynical part of my brain whilst reading, which got easier as the story went on.

There were also many occasions where I felt like I was being overly analytical, especially when it came to the mechanics of the curse itself. I loved that we were slowly given more details about how the curse worked throughout the course of the story. Schwab is excellent at world building as if there are actual building blocks; you don't get the full picture until you reach the end. However, there were times when I found myself asking things like 'does she follow them to the bathroom so they don't forget her whilst they pee?' and 'what happens if they step through a threshold just before she steps through?' and 'do they only interact with her because they can see her? What if someone is visually impaired?' and 'what happens if someone looks away from her for a period of time does proximity cancel out sight?' and the list goes on. Some of the questions that I had were answered but oftentimes these answers raised more questions, or the questions themselves were throwing me out of the story. So I got to the point where I just decided that it didn't matter and went with it and I'm so glad I did because I got so much more enjoyment out of the story that way.

The final third of this book most resembles the story that I was expecting to get before I started reading. The atmosphere becomes more fraught and heady, the tension becomes more acute, and the stakes become unstoppable. By this point I had thrown out all of my earlier criticisms and I was fully invested. Where prior to the final act I would have said it was a bit of a slog to get there I now look at it like a journey. The desperation of the situation was palpable and thrilling. I cried a lot. Would I have preferred this kind of intensity throughout the whole book? Maybe. But, I think that would detract away from the impact of the final act and also force the book to be something that it is not.

One thing that I'll be thinking about a lot when it comes to this book is the exploration of sexuality, both sexual fluidity and the act of sex itself. Schwab's representation of cis allo bisexuality was really well done. I think there is sometimes a bit of trepidation with showing bisexual people having a lot of sex with multiple different people through fear of playing into the bisexual greed stereotype, but Schwab is extremely respectful and truthful about bisexuality, whilst also not shying away from how sometimes sex can just be sex or it can be a transaction where one party consents to the act in order to receive something in return or it can be about emotion and love. Addie uses her sexuality in various ways throughout the book, to the point where you could probably write a full dissertation about it - especially when it comes to the way in which sexual experiences have defined certain parts of her life.

This seems like a really negative five star review but I'm hoping it will be helpful to people who might be tempted to DNF this book early on. My advice is to try and rid yourself of any expectations relating to 'dazzling adventures' or 'a girl in love with the devil that cursed her.' Read this book when you're feeling a bit decadent, read this book when you're feeling like you want to get lost in the woods and think about life, read this book when you're panicking about getting older, read this book when you need creative motivation. Whatever you do, read this book to the end.

5 Stars

You know when you read a book, and it's like nothing you've ever read before, and you're fairly sure you won't read anything like it ever again? That was The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue for me.

This is very much a chimera of a story, in that it feels in equal parts like a contemporary fiction, an historical novel, and a fantastical fable. The writing is beautiful - Schwab's best to date, in my opinion - the characters real enough to jump off the page, the themes wonderfully woven. This is definitely the most literary of Schwab's works, but not pretentious in the slightest. The slow pacing and minimal plot may not appeal to everyone, but having said that there are little mysteries and twists throughout which propel the story forwards. I only expected half the ending, and the half I didn't expect was a delight.

Though The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue didn't make my soul sing to the same extent as other novels I've rated 5*s (including other works of Schwab), I loved this book for its cleverness, its uniqueness, and the fact it does have heart, too. Any small flaws I could speak of aren't really worth noting. Overall, it was just a really great, refreshing read!

This book intrigued me from the moment I heard about it; in the 18th century Addie LaRue makes a pact with the devil trading her soul in return for a life of immortality - this comes with a curse however, that no-one will ever remember her. Her life spans centuries and continents and Addie gets by without leaving a trace of her existence, living only to be a muse for others who will forget her the next day.. Until she meets a bookseller who does remember her.

'Addie has had three hundred years to practice her father's art, whittle herself down to a few essential truths, to learn the things she can do without.
And this is what she's settled on: she can do without food (she will not wither). She can go without heat (the cold will not kill her). But a life without art, without wonder, without beautiful hings - she would go mad.'

This is a mystical and magical historic fiction, weaving through the highs and lows of society, cleverly incorporating culture and history where artists, philosophers and musicians make cameo roles. Addie reinvents herself daily, her tricks and bluffs learned through repeating actions enable her to infiltrate society. She learns what to say to who and when to get all she needs. Her relationship with Henry is precious, wholesome, and the only stability in a life of invisibility. the twist at the end of part three comes at exactly the right point, and the ending of the novel is heartbreaking and uplifting.

I adore this lyrical and mystical gem, it's everything I had hoped that it would be.

Many thanks to Titan Books, V.E. Schwab and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

Just beautiful.
Utterly beautiful

Addie's life is basically forfeit after a 'bad deal' so she wanders, wanders for years with no one remembering who she is....

....until 13 March 2014 and 3 words rock her world.

“I remember you.”

I loved Addie, her stubbornness, her zest for life, how she lives and how she loves.

I don't want to say too much else because you need to experience the glorious that is this book but I will say at one point my jaw hit the floor with the revelation and the ending I was very surprised at...but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

WOW

I am completely awestruck. I was not able to put this down until I finished. This may be my new favourite Schwab book! Honestly exquisite writing and characters. The pacing of this book was slow and some readers may not love that but I honestly was never bored and there was never a dull moment. Usually with books that are slow, I lose interest but Schwab went back and forth in time to show the depths of Addie's life, to really capture the essence of Addie's character and life. I read this book so fast, I wish I savoured it. I can see a reread happening soon though because I am not over this book. I don't think I'll ever be.

When I heard about this book, the concept of a love story between a girl and the devil over 300 years. That sold me completely but this book was not what I was expecting. It was so much more. so so much more. It was about the power of art, healing and living life. The characters are so unique and refreshing and my heart ached for Addie, who wants to be remembered, who is lonely. She goes through so much but never gives up! Even though Addie is lonely, cursed, abandoned, she has strong willpower, she is stubborn and fearless and despite the pain she goes through living a life in the shadows, she never regrets the life she has lived. That ending wow!!! Truly incredible. I was tearing up so hard. Why did this story have to end?!

Without a doubt, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue earned a spot among my favourite books of the year!

As Victoria Schwab is one of my favourite authors, I was really excited to read this book, and it sure did not disappoint. It was such a magical experience: you could tell how much work and time the author put into this, from the poetic aspects of her writing, to details of all the different historical settings.

It didn't take me long to love Addie: she was such an interesting (and unforgettable!) protagonist to read about, and I could relate to her pretty easily. I adored reading about her development through 300 years, it was a very unique story in that sense. More than Addie, all of the characters in this book are very fleshed-out, from Henry, whom I deeply felt for, to Luc, who was such an enticing antagonist (I loved him AND loved to hate him), but also some secondary characters like Bea. The dynamics between the characters were so compelling, and also contributed to make me love them as much as I did.

I honestly flew through this book, the plot was so engaging, and I loved how it tackled themes such as wanting to be remembered and loved, but also being more than enough by being yourself. I really enjoyed that Victoria Schwab chose to write this book in two separate storylines, one going from the past to right before the story starts, the other set in present day, following Addie and Henry, it worked so well, and made for a very gripping book, as I always wanted to keep reading it.

All in all, this book is very close to my heart, and I can't wait to reread it once it comes out, to pick up on some details that I have missed, and to fall in love with this story all over again. Thank you for this story Victoria Schwab, I shall always remember Addie.

I’ve read quite a few of V.E. Schwab’s novels, but there’s something special about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. This novel affected me on such a deeply personal level that I feel like a completely different person after I finished it. There’s only a handful of books that have ever affected me like this, so I savoured every moment I read Addie LaRue, spreading out the chapters across days so I could never finish it.

Addie LaRue is a free spirit, spending her days in her tiny 18th century home in rural France always searching for something greater, much to the chagrin of her mother. But when her parents force a marriage on her — to a man she doesn’t like, who already has multiple children — Addie feels the walls closing in like never before, so on the eve of her wedding, she makes a terrible decision: she prays to the gods after dark. The darkness responds and saves her from her fate, but tricks her: in giving her immortality and as much time as she needs to live a truly free life, she is destined to be forgotten by everyone she ever meets, moving through people and the years as a ghost. But Addie is cunning and finds that although she is easily forgotten, ideas remain, so she becomes a muse for artists across the centuries. And then, one day, she meets a boy in a dusty, secondhand bookstore who remembers her.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is completely unlike anything V.E. Schwab has written before. It’s a quiet novel, soft and delicate. Although it spans centuries, from tiny Villon in the early 1700s, to Paris and the revolution, to Venice and Florence, London and Germany at the height of the war, it never feels overwhelming or puzzling. Schwab’s masterful storytelling is comfortable and welcoming, as you come to love and understand Addie and experience this magical journey of her life along with her.

Addie’s journey is heartbreaking and devastating, but filled with so much light as well. She’s touched so many lives, even if they don’t remember her, that you can’t help but feel awed at everything she has accomplished and seen. Her one companion through the lonely 300 years is the darkness — the devil — who, at first, sees her as a challenge to break, and then sees her as something more. Their interactions are heady and tense, and I was like Addie, never quite sure if I wanted them to just kiss or if she should push him and his cruel promises away.

By far my favourite character, and the one I connected with the most, is Henry Strauss. All he’s ever wanted to be is loved, completely and wholly, for who he is, but he continues to fall short of people’s expectations. His parents and siblings are disappointed in him, and his lovers think he is wasting his potential, but the truth is, Henry doesn’t know what to do: doesn’t know what to study or what he wants in a career. He’s lost. So he spends his days working in a hidden-away secondhand bookstore, until he meets a girl attempting to steal a book and his life changes forever.

Ultimately, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a book about art and how, even after we are dust, our art — the mark we have made on the world — will remain. Addie spends her days reading and wandering through museums, until she meets someone she falls for — a painter, a sculptor, a philosopher — usually a struggling artist who just needs a slight push in the right direction. And although she becomes their secret muse, someone they forget the following morning, she herself can never create art, or write her name, or make any impact at all. So the question becomes: if you can’t leave a mark on the world, cannot leave any type of legacy, where you ever really alive at all?

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a book that touched me in irrevocable ways. It’s a stunning book about art, joy, pain, revolution and war — but most of all, it’s about memory and legacy and falling in love. So on October 6, join me in falling in love with Addie LaRue, and remembering her story.

I don't think there are words, or stars, enough for this book. It is everything you could possibly want from a fantasy novel, everything you could want from a literary fiction novel, everything you could want from a book in general.

I'll be posting a full review nearer the time of publication on my blog aboywithabook.wordpress.com but until then, if you can, read this book and fall in love with it the way I, and everyone I know, did.

This is the first book I have read from this author, despite selling so many of her books and hearing how fantastic she is. I have no excuse, I'm late to this party. But wow, what a book to start with! I absolutely loved this book, couldn't put it down. Its got everything, and I could have read another 300 pages. Honestly so brilliant, I'm now away to read every other book she has written.

3,5 stars

A standalone book by Victoria Schwab. Of course I had to read that. I have a bit of a hit and miss kind of relationship with her books. Sometimes I love them (ADSOM, the Archived) other times they just aren't for me (Vicious). The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue kind of falls in between. 

We start this book with a focus on Addie of course who tells us her story of how she became immortal but unmemorable alternated with chapters of the present. The question of how it is to live like that is an interesting one. Because we all seem to want to leave a mark on the world. Addie can't. Not even her parents remembered her when she returned. It was as if she had never existed. Never had been born. How do you keep going with that? 

Regardless of how interesting of a question that was, I wasn't really grabbed by this book until Henry was introduced. Henry gives us another dynamic to the story and he is such a soft hearted boy. My heart aches for him.

I never had that with Addie. She was fine to follow through the book but I didn't really care about her as a person. I guess she wasn't memorable. #oops And that is the biggest reason I guess that this book didn't quite strike a cord with me. 

I liked the premise of the book but I was never really invested in Addie's story. The darkness she made her deal with could have been interesting but he was never truly menacing and his interest in Addie was honestly creepy. Their 'romance'  never really worked for me either. And the ending was a mess for me. It was so obvious.

To write this review, I need to take some time, metabolize everything I have just learned from this book.
I admit, it is not easy.

The invisible life of Addie LaRue was the right book at the right time!

The story of Addie LaRue is a strong story and emotionally, it leaves you with a broken heart and tears in your eyes.
The novel takes place between past and present, all written very smoothly! We know that Schwab writes so good, and we don't fall for that.

Addie was born in a time that is close to her, the 1700s. A time when women had great ambitions and dreams, a time that screams loudly to pursue those dreams.
A hymn to the strength and independence of women!

Throughout the book, it was nice to embark on the journey with Addie. Every place visited by our protagonist was described in every little detail, it was like being there with her and living the story personally to fight the battles with Addie.

One of the worries that haunts Addie is that she wants to be remembered. Hers is a kind of curse... to be able to find someone to remember her.
And this is where Luc and Harry enter the field. Two people of great importance in Addie's life. They will make the story even clearer.

I think this is the hardest review I've ever had to write. There would be so many things to write about, probably after I've metabolized it all, I'll write something decent.

“I guess so,” she says, “but I don’t know; history is something you look back on, not something you really feel at the time. In the moment, you’re just... living. I didn’t want to live forever. I just wanted to live.”

For sure, The invisible life of Addie LaRue is one of those books you need in your life!

I would like to thank the publishing house infinitely for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
When I applied for the ARC, given my lack of follow up, I thought I was refused and instead... I was reading the email for a few minutes thinking I hadn't read it well.

Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

VE Schwab knows how to write books with fantastic hooks and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is no exception. It has a great premise. At the age of 23, Adeleine or Addie makes a deal with the devil that ensures no one can remember her name, or her face, or even her presence in the world.

The premise reminds me somewhat of Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana (read many many years ago now so I have - coincidentally - forgotten the details), in which a whole city is cursed not to be remembered. The books are not similar at all, but that core concept - who are we if we are not remembered? - is fascinating.

Many years and places later, Addie bumps into an oddity in a bookshop in New York. A man called Henry who can remember her. How, after all this time? And what does it mean? But while she wonders, the devil draws closer. What does he want from her now?

I found this a compelling read and Addie's curse intriguing. The most enjoyable part of the book for me was Addie meeting Henry and them (slowly slowly) figuring out (or not) what was going on. You do spend a lot of time in Addie-related flashbacks which weren't quite as fun for me, but Schwab is a strong writer who works hard to keep your interest.

The Invisbile Life of Addie LaRue

This novel follows a young woman called Adaline later known as Addie LaRue, she feels trapped in her life, desiring to be free, to be able to make her own decisions and path her own future. When one day her parents tell her, she must marry a local man from her small town in France, she despairs and desperately wants to change the narrative of her life, and so prays to the gods to hear her plea and grant her the freedom she so desires. Although she unknowingly prays to the god of darkness, a monster who doesn’t give wishes for free and a huge price must be paid, her soul. Fraught, Adaline agrees and turns into a ghost of herself. Someone no one will ever remember, an immortal cursed to never be loved and to walk through time alone, but she has freedom and she also has time and enough cunning to possibly take on the gorgeous devil himself.

I finished reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue late last night, I just couldn’t put it down and so I just had to stay up late to read it. I can honestly say it is my favourite read of the year so far. I devoured it, each and every word was savoured. I don’t think I can properly articulate how special I found the novel, it appealed to me on a personal level. I felt so connected to some of the characters, that I sometimes felt they were extensions of myself and I have never experienced that before. Henry particularly was a character I hadn’t expected and adored, his mentality struck a chord. I also loved the rawness of the book, the brutal honesty of human experiences and the historical element. It was just perfection, in my opinion, V E Schwab is an incredibly talented author, I would recommend her to anyone.

A huge, huge thank you to Titan for the advance copy via NetGalley (and I’ll be buying a real copy too!) and a not so large thank you to V.E. Schwab for making me cry like an idiot.

I urge anyone who likes fantasy, especially historical fantasy/magical realism to read this as SOON as you can. You’ll fall love with Addie as quickly as I did and I promise, you’ll never, ever forget her.

3.5 stars

I'm very conflcited on how I feel about The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, in fact even as I start writing this review i'm unsure what I'm going to rate it, hopefully getting my thoughts out will reveal to me how I felt about it.

Firstly the writing is stunning and probably my favourite thing about this book, I think this is definetly Schwab's best book in terms of prose, it is simple yet stunning and incredibly easy just to get lost in while being very easy to read. This book definetly leans more towards literary fiction rather than fantasy, the magical elements were very minor/not really explored it much more focuses on Addie's life. I think if you are a fan of Erin Morgenstern's books you will love this one, a slow meandering plot with lush lyrical writing. This is defiently the most sophisticated of her books.

However one flaw I had with the writing was the dialogue, sometimes it felt like the dialogue was just there to be a quote (especially Luc/Addie interactions- I'll talk more about this later) or like the diaglogue had been written entirely seperately from the scene. Parts of the book felt more like it was a writing exercise than a story, an exploration of a concept rather than a fully flegded novel.

At the start of the book I was really into it, I loved the french setting in the flashbacks (both in Villon the village where we start the novel and Paris, watching Addie struggle to survive on her own for the first time as no one remembers her) as well as the modern day new york setting and the exploration of Addie and how no one could remember her after they had met her, and what it means to be remembered. However it just went on and on and on and on.....etc - I usually really like longer books (the longer the better in my opinion) but I thought this book was way longer than it needed to be, and it focused on the wrong things. It felt like we were being told all the important things and shown all the irrelevant things. I think this stems from my main issue I usually find with Scwhabs books is that they feel like a series of scenes all stuck together, rather than one cohesive story - I think this style some people would really like however I don't think this quite clicked with me. Flashbacks are also hit or miss for me, I thought I was going to love them at the start of the novel (like I said earlier the Villon/Paris ones were excellent) but I felt like eventually there were too many of them and they didn't always tie in to the main plot, they were just Addie and Luc basically rehashing the same scenario but in different locations. Ultimately it felt like either they (all the extra flashbacks) weren't needed or they should have been expanded more and been fewer settings/time periods. I think this is why the ones at the beginning worked well, because we actually followed a narrative compared to later flashbacks where we really didn't get anything except a few pages of Addie/Luc having some dialogue (that felt out of place) when we could have been exploring the world in all the different time periods and follow Addie on her adventures.

Next I want to talk about the characters, I liked Addie for the most part (although she defiently gave of a few not like other girls vibes) but I do think she is a vast improvement on Schwabs other female characters and I liked her conflicts about wanting to have a free life and then later about what it means to live a life where no one ever remembers you. One thing I didn't like (this is petty) is the scenes where Addie smoked, I don't think this is a thing that should be glorified in books, another character (Henry) also smoked weed and took drugs later in the book which while I think these things should be shown in fiction because they happen in real life I don't think they sjould be glorified (but maybe I'm just not cool enough haha). Also one thing I didn't quite connect to but I think a lot of people in the book community will is the Idea of Addie being a muse and how important stories are (at points it is implied that stories are the most importnat things there are) and while I agree with this for the most part I am also a very sciency person so I think some of this was lost on me.

The other 2 main characters are Henry and Luc I'll talk about seperately:

Henry - Henry was by far and away my favourite character (I love soft boys okay), Henry runs a bookstore and his life collides with Addies in an unexpected way. I feel like I almost Henry to be the main character of this book, I think his curse was so interesting and could have been such an interesting exploration of power and exploitation. I also think I connected more to the themes of Henry's story, he feels like he is not good enough and has anxiety/depression and just wants to be loved. I was also really happy with how his story ended.

Luc - Luc is my biggest frustation because he HAD. SO. MUCH. POTENTIAL. to be an interesting character with so much backstory and grey motivations but instead he had barely any development and felt more like a carcicature than a character. His dialogue did not feel very natural but maybe that is how devils talk? I wish we had gotten some of his POV because he would have been such an interesting character to explore but instead he just felt so flat. He was there to antagonise Addie and I feel like this book is pitched as a love story between them which it NOT. They do have a relationship at one point but this feels very toxic and I feel like it is meant to be that way and not seen as a good thing. However I feel like it could have been a bit more believable. They literally went from being mortal enemies/out to foil each other to being in love IN ONE PAGE. I think this goes back to what I was saying about a) the flashbacks not being long enough, b) being told not shown the important things and c)not getting enough infomation about Luc as a character and his motivations. He just feels more like an aesthetic of a character rather than an actual one. I did however like the conversations between Luc and Addie about what it means to be human and whether Addie was really human any more.

Finally the ending, I'm also quite unsure about whether I liked it or not, I liked how Addie/Henry's story ended and I feel like it was satisfying seeing how they had learned from each other (it reminds a lot of the song for good from wicked) but I don't know how I feel about the Addie/Luc ending, the last page feels like it needs a whole extra book but I guess an open ending is good? I feel like it fits the story at least.

I have defiently felt like I've been quite negative in this review however I did enjoy the reading experience (which I think is largely due to the writing) and I would defiently reccomend it to people who like books like the night circus and the starless sea. I think for me some aspects just fell flat on the execution, especially with regards to plot (but this could have been due to me expecting slightly more fantastical elements).

A stunningly beautiful and touching tale of life, time, and leaving a mark: a literary feast! You will NOT regret reading this book. (More detailed review to follow around publication date.)

This story isn’t just a story. The tale of Addie LaRue is more than special. The introduction is built up slowly and the characters all get their own voice in different environments. But the story takes a different turn when Addie is married off and begs the gods or more time and a life of freedom. The exact moment of her spoken wish was crucial. She might have gotten what she wanted: more time, but not in the way the hoped. He gave her freedom, but won’t be remembered by anyone. It is not quite a supernatural or fantasy story, despite of the unearthy man that granted her wish. It just feels real.

The places where Addie’s character passes through are no different from the world as we know it. There are even moments in the story where great events, like the Great War or the death of a celebrity. The story also takes the reader through different time frames. From 2014 to 1714 and from 1826 to 1944. Each time the world Addie lives in is different, but her character remains quite the same. She is quirky, determined but lonely. She sees so much of the world but always misses the same thing. Recognition. In time, the structure of the story changes, with time jumps and later on some changes of perspective. But the story miraculously remains one and easy to follow. The idea of making a wish that comes true, but in such a different way than hoped for, is very interesting.

Different forms of art area rrecurring and important theme in the story. Literature as well as music, photography and paintings. Each part of the story begins with a work of art that is described and later on it actually comes along in the story. As the story progresses, it becomes clear what these works of art have to do with Addie. The meaning of this, which was at first quite mysterious, is quite emotional and important to the story, it’ll astound you. Victoria has put all these elements together so well that when everything falls into place and becomes a whole, the story gets a different meaning. But, not only these different art forms are important. Addie also looks at the world around her in an artistic way. At some points, something simple happens, but it becomes of much importance because of the way Addie looks at it. Some events remind her of something that she has seen or has happened to her before. Other things are still new to her, despite all her life experiences.

When the end of the story approaches and the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place, emotions occasionally take over. As a reader you might have an idea of how the story is going to end, but Schwab has quite a few other ideas left for us. She somehow knows to outsmart the characters in the book and the readers aswell. She does this so beautifully yet sudden, that the story turns 180 degrees and she gives us the opportunity to look at the story in a whole different way. Addie’s life has been woven into the world over the years that you wonder if you have ever met her yourself, but you simply cannot remember. Just… What if…? This theory, this question is so beautiful and interesting to think about. It’ll leave you wondering for days.

Addie’s story is like no other you’ve ever read before. It’ll surprise you, move you and makes you wonder. They say as a reader you can live a thousand lives. Well this book makes you experience a thousand live within the pages of this book alone. Unbelievable, heartbreaking yet hopefull.

After publication I'll post my review on my blog (https://mywingedbooks.wordpress.com/) which is connected to my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/my.winged.books/) and Facebook. I'll also upload it on Goodreads, amazon, barnes and noble, etc. I've already posted a photo talking about the approval for this e-arc. Thank you so much!