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jaybles's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fannak13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
qinnydapooh's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book, and a part of me does, but then there is also a part of me that feels underwhelmed and disappointed by the direction of the book. As I read through some of the reviews of the book, I notice that many readers found the first part to be boring and too drawn out. I think that part, being a big historical fiction fan, was actually one of the better parts. It fit well with the prose Schwab's was going for, narrating the vicissitudes of immortal life that Addie had to go through. I would have preferred to keep reading about the adventures of Addie LaRue with the occasional smoldering handsomeness of Luc spontaneously popping in every once in a while. But I know that Schwab doesn't write books like that so my expectations were low, it's fine.
My disappointment only continued to build with the introduction of Henry. Honestly, I was waiting for the punchline till the end of the book. I just couldn't believe that Shwab's added him as such a poorly designed way for Addie to gain some momentum in confronting Luc and her curse. I feel that Henry's story could have been great as a side story to this book, his backstory and his struggles warrant their own book about making a Faustian deal, minus Addie. Her bargain and his kind of go together, and I can see why this plot was chosen but it just doesn't feel like the perfect fit. And their chemistry wasn't there in my opinion. I hate to say this, but Henry has some serious second lead energy for being the "main male lead".
Who am I to say how this story should or shouldn't have been written, but image if Henry had secretly been Luc in disguise as either a diabolical means of pushing her to surrender OR if he did it because he wanted to be loved by Addie without bias. Oh man, what a story that would have been. And don't get me started on how beautiful the romantic tension between Luc and Addie was. Truthfully, they didn't even need to end together for me to be happy, but I just wish the end could have been done a bit differently. The build up for a big angsty end was there, not the part where she leaves Henry because I really just couldn't be force feed that love line anymore, you could almost touch it, but alas.
All my complaints aside, I did enjoy the story overall. I thought it was well written and the premise was interesting. Addie and Luc as characters were great. I liked Henry as a character, not as a love interest. That's why I gave the book 3 stars. If Schwab's had excluded the love story part and solely written about a girl trying to ward off the devil's attempts at redeeming the soul she bargained, I would have been more inclined to give a higher score. This is only my opinion. I still love Schwab and her work but this definitely isn't one of my favorites.
My disappointment only continued to build with the introduction of Henry. Honestly, I was waiting for the punchline till the end of the book. I just couldn't believe that Shwab's added him as such a poorly designed way for Addie to gain some momentum in confronting Luc and her curse. I feel that Henry's story could have been great as a side story to this book, his backstory and his struggles warrant their own book about making a Faustian deal, minus Addie. Her bargain and his kind of go together, and I can see why this plot was chosen but it just doesn't feel like the perfect fit. And their chemistry wasn't there in my opinion. I hate to say this, but Henry has some serious second lead energy for being the "main male lead".
Who am I to say how this story should or shouldn't have been written, but image if Henry had secretly been Luc in disguise as either a diabolical means of pushing her to surrender OR if he did it because he wanted to be loved by Addie without bias. Oh man, what a story that would have been. And don't get me started on how beautiful the romantic tension between Luc and Addie was. Truthfully, they didn't even need to end together for me to be happy, but I just wish the end could have been done a bit differently. The build up for a big angsty end was there, not the part where she leaves Henry because I really just couldn't be force feed that love line anymore, you could almost touch it, but alas.
All my complaints aside, I did enjoy the story overall. I thought it was well written and the premise was interesting. Addie and Luc as characters were great. I liked Henry as a character, not as a love interest. That's why I gave the book 3 stars. If Schwab's had excluded the love story part and solely written about a girl trying to ward off the devil's attempts at redeeming the soul she bargained, I would have been more inclined to give a higher score. This is only my opinion. I still love Schwab and her work but this definitely isn't one of my favorites.
sammesina's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
andrewjbank's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rjvaz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
localpeachthief's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kjthenerd3's review against another edition
5.0
Of course As the World Caves In by Matt Maltese would play on my Spotify playlist right as we think Henry is going to die. I didn’t think this would be a book to make me cry, but that combination really did me in. Good stuff, a new concept. As cheesy as it may sound, this piece is timeless — I feel like it could’ve been written in the 1800s or yesterday.
daniobsessivelyreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book makes you think about life in the most unconventional way. What if no one remembers you? Even after meeting you, they immediately forget you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite how slow it was to begin with. It did pick up about halfway through.
The ending surprised me in a good way. I couldn't imagine an ending for this story at all, but this one did quite well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Despite how slow it was to begin with. It did pick up about halfway through.
The ending surprised me in a good way. I couldn't imagine an ending for this story at all, but this one did quite well.