After a long wait that was entirely my own fault, I finally read THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by VE Schwab and it blew me away. Total 5 star read. Haunting, beautifully written, gloriously explored. Shooo dog, I get it now.
Okay, it’s hard to classify this book so I won’t try too had, but I’d call it light-fantasy literary fiction.
In 1714, Addie LaRue makes a deal with the darkness for her freedom–freedom from her provincial life and her impeding marriage. Now, she’s eternally 23, eternally young and healthy and free, but cursed to never be remembered.
Told in two timelines, we follow Addie from 1714 onward a she lives through history, interacts with the darkness, and struggles with the curse. In 2014, we see Addie finally meet someone who remembers her, but he has his own darkness.
As Addie lives the live she never expected, falls in love, is forgotten, and inspires art, the reader is gasping for more and more and loving every moment of the glorious prose. Short, beautiful chapters, fascianting characters, I loved this book.
I loved Addie. I loved Henry. I even loved Luc in his own way. I loved the dual timelines and the PROSE was intoxicating. Schwab is clearly well-traveled and worldly, and it shows in this book without showing off. It’s a slow-burn, but it doesn’t move slowly, if that makes sense.
And that final chapter–WOW
God, I hope this book gets its due and not being from a big 5 publisher doesn’t hurt it. I would LOVE to see this be a BOTM pick or from one of the celebrity book clubs. I cannot wait to recommend this book all around!
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