Book Review: "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E. Schwab
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab
Synopsis: 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.
Rating: 4.5
Trigger Warnings: suicidal thoughts
Review: I had never read anything by V.E. Schwab, but now I want to! This tale of magical realism covered a lot of territory—curses, demons, mythological gods, immortality—all while remaining grounded in the story of our protagonist, a 23-year-old French woman born in the 17th century.
If you go into this expecting a historical fiction take on key moments in world history, think again. This is Addie’s story—her experiences throughout her 300 years as an immortal being. We bounce back and forth between present day (2014) New York, and Addie’s journey throughout the past 300 years: the circumstances that led her to make a deal with a “god of night,” and the anniversaries of her becoming immortal as the years pass.
Throughout the years, the god of night (or “darkness” as he’s referred to) visits her, usually on “their” anniversary. We learn more about Addie and her struggles to live in a world in which she’s immediately forgotten after walking away from someone—she gets scrappier, wiser, and also a bit unscrupulous. After all, if no one remembers that she steals some food or clothing, does it really do any harm? But we also learn what really matters to her, and the canny way she has realized she can live on—even without being able to say or write her own name.
Once Addie meets someone who remembers her (in present-day New York), we get glimpses into his life. Henry manages a bookshop, and his and Addie’s journeys become inextricably linked, for reasons that, of course, I won’t spoil.
Schwab’s prose is beautiful, lyrical, and compelled me to keep reading. I often say that I don’t find myself reaching for fantasy or magic books, but I think that’s changing! I loved this book and highly recommend it even if fantasy isn’t your go-to genre. It’s a beautiful rumination on love, art, and the stories we tell, and made me think fondly about the relationships in my life—especially the ones in which we pick up after weeks (or months) like nothing has changed.
TL;DR: A beautiful, epic tale of one young woman’s 300 years of immortality. Incredibly moving and emotional—highly recommend!
If You Liked This, Try These:
The Darker Shade of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab
“Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo (Bookshop | Kindle) (Elizabeth’s review here)
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