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MY REVIEW
1714, desperate times and a pact with the devil for freedom. And it was granted. But being the darkness that he was, it came with shackles. Adelene soon discovered that the curse was strong and binding with slivers of cracks.
She had the freedom to be, and she forgot nothing. But the world forgot her as soon as she was out of sight. Thus began The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, 300 years, until one day in New York, a tiny bookshop, a forgettable place, he remembered… Henry
My first foray into the world of author Victoria Schwab, the story was timeless. It moved like a wave, forward and backward in time, piecing together the jagged frames of her life. I got to know Addie as she lived in the shadows of memory, in art and paintings, and in blurred photographs and lyrics of a song.
The writing was lyrical, haunting in its quality. There were times I took a complete breath, and then the words on the page would cause it to hitch right in my throat. But at 442 pages, it came with its niggles. Too long, sometimes it dragged with its narrations of her life. I wanted more of my emotions evoked as she lived hers.
To know Addie was to empathize with her, to see her was to love the darkness, to read her was to never forget her. When one lone man remembered her the next day, I too felt the awe and the bittersweet happiness that swept through Addie, of someone having a lasting memory of her.
A love story it was, but the devil was in details. Or was he in darkness biding his time. Would the love story last forever or was it time-strapped?
This was a dance, I realized later, the steps started the day she prayed to the Gods in the dark. The dance for her soul between the devil and Addie started slowly, the beat swaying and the rhythm unhurried.
Till it reached the last few pages where the sound was deafening in its silence, and I realized the truth. A lifetime she had, to see and learn, and sometimes go beyond that. She had time, and the devil taught her patience.
And if you asked her as she lived beyond – was it worth it? The answer was—
ALWAYS!!
MY RATING
BOOK LINKS
AMAZON USA: https://amzn.to/355xfKu
AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2MtWi3I
BOOK BLURB
A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.
But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.
BOOK DETAILS
Publication Date: December 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my journey down its pages, straight from the heart. STRICTLY HONEST and UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be found here.
20 Responses
I want to read Schwab books for ages. I have heard so many good things about this. Amazing review, Shalini!
Such a long review I wrote. I went back and deleted lines. 😂😂Thank you so much
This one sounds interesting. I have a Schwab book on my bookshelf i need to read. Fab review.
I wanted to read that ghosts one. I think city of ghosts it was called
I have the Dark Vault, its a beast.
Ooo…I’m on the waiting list for this book from my library. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much.
This is on my list
This is lovely – just lovely!
I have heard a lot about this book. Great review, Shalini! Hoping to get this book soon.
It sounds special and touching because nobody wants to be forgotten and this really speaks straight to your heart. Fab review!
I tried to get this on NG… but wasn’t successful. Lol. I already have one of the shades of Magic books on my Kindle though so I might start with that one! Your review still makes me was to try this one too!
Awesome review Shalini. This is on my TBR, but at over 400 pages, I don’t like hearing slow. I am keeping it on three for now.
It is nearly every part of her life for 300 years, all her travels and interactions.
Great review! I loved this book!
I liked it too. Thank you so much ❤️
Wonderful review! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Addie LaRue as well. xx
Fantastic review, Shalini💜 I keep seeing this but haven’t checked it out. Now I will.
Thank you so much ❤️ I hope you like it too