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jessicadoom's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've put off reading this book for so long. Everyone would tell me they loved it with all their heart. That it became their favorite book after they read it. (Except my sister, who simply described it as "okay.) Hearing that kind of praise always intimidates me. I'm worried it won't live up to the hype and that somehow I'm going to disappoint my loved ones if I don't love their favorite books.
(Can you tell I'm a chronic people pleaser?)
But, we're moving soon and I'm trying to work on my physical TBR. With that, I'm trying books that I'm not sure I'll love enough to keep. This fit the bill, and the audiobook was available on Hoopla. So, I dove in.
For the first, oh, three-quarters or so of the book, I was in love. I couldn't wait to see where the narrators took us. How would their stories end? And, with this, I begun writing my own ending to their stories in my hopeful little head. (Writers....)
This is not the ending we received, however. I hit part six and all of a sudden my mood towards this book shifted a bit. Yes, the writing was still beautiful. No one can say that the style of this novel isn't lyrical, poetic, artistic, etc. However, the plot (or lack thereof) took me to a place I wasn't ready to go. So, we ended at a solid four out of five instead of that glorious five stars I planned to issue.
The highlights for me were the blatant queerness of both narrators, the history we were able to witness through Addie's eyes, and the small reveals that really did help to drive the book forward. Would I read it again? Probably not. But I'm certainly not upset that I did give this one a try. It just might not be something I take with me to my next home library.
(Can you tell I'm a chronic people pleaser?)
But, we're moving soon and I'm trying to work on my physical TBR. With that, I'm trying books that I'm not sure I'll love enough to keep. This fit the bill, and the audiobook was available on Hoopla. So, I dove in.
For the first, oh, three-quarters or so of the book, I was in love. I couldn't wait to see where the narrators took us. How would their stories end? And, with this, I begun writing my own ending to their stories in my hopeful little head. (Writers....)
This is not the ending we received, however. I hit part six and all of a sudden my mood towards this book shifted a bit. Yes, the writing was still beautiful. No one can say that the style of this novel isn't lyrical, poetic, artistic, etc. However, the plot (or lack thereof) took me to a place I wasn't ready to go. So, we ended at a solid four out of five instead of that glorious five stars I planned to issue.
The highlights for me were the blatant queerness of both narrators, the history we were able to witness through Addie's eyes, and the small reveals that really did help to drive the book forward. Would I read it again? Probably not. But I'm certainly not upset that I did give this one a try. It just might not be something I take with me to my next home library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, War, and Stalking
questionable ability to consent, plot? what plot?summermc13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Minor: Addiction and Alcohol
rochelleisreading's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
juan_adhd_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have never cried as much with any book as this one, and this is not hyperbole. This was such a lovely story; beautifully written; and it was fantastic, sad, epic, everything I expected it to be and still managed to surprise me. It is probably one of V.E. Schwab’s best works and the reason she will forever be my favorite author.
I have nothing else to say for now, as I just have finished the story. Will probably come back soon to write a full review, but for now I feel completely satisfied and very hopeful about the ending. Highly recommend!
I have nothing else to say for now, as I just have finished the story. Will probably come back soon to write a full review, but for now I feel completely satisfied and very hopeful about the ending. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
claire_leibovitz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
Minor: War and Biphobia
kathrynok's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Alcohol, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
breaklikeafish's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ich bin ein großer Fan von Büchern, in denen eigentlich gar nicht besonders viel passiert und die einen irgendwie trotzdem berühren. Das unsichtbare Leben der Addie LaRue punktet vor allem mit sympathischen, dreidimensionalen Charakteren und einem spannenden anachronistischem Aufbau, der einen das Buch bis zum Schluss nicht aus der Hand legen lassen möchte, um endlich zu erfahren, was los ist.
Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Addie und Henry selbst hat mich eher wenig abgeholt, denn erstens hat die Beziehung sich für meinen Geschmack zu schnell entwickelt (unter den Umständen total verständlich, sie standen ja unter enormen Zeitdruck ) und zweitens hat das ganze auf mich ein bisschen so gewirkt, als wären sie nur zusammen, weil sie ihre Flüche neutralisieren und das reicht meiner Meinung nach nicht als Basis für eine Beziehung aus.
Gerade deswegen habe ich das Ende geliebt. Es war ein wunderbarer Abschluss der Charakterentwicklung beider Protagonisten. Im letzten Drittel hatte ich sehr Bedenken, dass es ein klassisches Happy End geben würde, was ich sehr unbefriedigend gefunden hätte: mir ist einfach keine Möglichkeit eingefallen, wie Addie und Henry einen Antogonisten austricksen könnten, der uns als praktisch allmächtig präsentiert wird. Umso erleichterter war ich über Addies Opfer.
Die Funktionsweise von Addies Fluch wurde auf sehr interessante Weise erklärt. Ich mochte vor allem die Kapitel, in denen man als Leser mit ihr gemeinsam die Grenzen und Schlupflöcher austesten konnte, und den Kontrast zur Addie der Gegenwart, die schon alles über den Fluch zu wissen schien. Sowieso spiegelt Addies Fluch so wundervoll die menschlichen Bedürfnisse nach Freiheit und danach, Spuren zu hinterlassen, wider, dass die Geschichte weitaus weniger fantastisch wirkt als sie ist. Unweigerlich fragt man sich auch, was man aufgeben würde, um frei oder geliebt oder gesehen zu werden.Henrys Abmachung hat mich hier besonders hart getroffen. Seine Gedanken und Gefühle waren so intensiv beschrieben, dass man als Leser absolut verstehen kann, wieso er eine solche Abmachung getroffen hat.
Addies Fokus auf romantische Beziehungen hat mich ein bisschen gestört. Offensichtlich vermisst sie jegliche Art von zwischenmenschlichem Kontakt und sagt das auch oft, aber ihre einschneidensten Begegnungen mit Menschen scheinen fast alle mit einem Date und oft einem One-Night-Stand zu enden.
Insgesamt ein sehr gutes Buch! Es hat eine Weile gedauert, bis ich drin war, aber dann wurde es mit jeder Seite besser und hörte mit einem absolut perfekten Ende auf.
Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Addie und Henry selbst hat mich eher wenig abgeholt, denn erstens hat die Beziehung sich für meinen Geschmack zu schnell entwickelt (
Die Funktionsweise von Addies Fluch wurde auf sehr interessante Weise erklärt. Ich mochte vor allem die Kapitel, in denen man als Leser mit ihr gemeinsam die Grenzen und Schlupflöcher austesten konnte, und den Kontrast zur Addie der Gegenwart, die schon alles über den Fluch zu wissen schien. Sowieso spiegelt Addies Fluch so wundervoll die menschlichen Bedürfnisse nach Freiheit und danach, Spuren zu hinterlassen, wider, dass die Geschichte weitaus weniger fantastisch wirkt als sie ist. Unweigerlich fragt man sich auch, was man aufgeben würde, um frei oder geliebt oder gesehen zu werden.
Addies Fokus auf romantische Beziehungen hat mich ein bisschen gestört. Offensichtlich vermisst sie jegliche Art von zwischenmenschlichem Kontakt und sagt das auch oft, aber ihre einschneidensten Begegnungen mit Menschen scheinen fast alle mit einem Date und oft einem One-Night-Stand zu enden.
Insgesamt ein sehr gutes Buch! Es hat eine Weile gedauert, bis ich drin war, aber dann wurde es mit jeder Seite besser und hörte mit einem absolut perfekten Ende auf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexism and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and War
hdoomk's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Cursing, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and War
nineinchnails's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this is definitely a no plot just vibes type of book and very slow paced so i can absolutely understand why so many people didn't enjoy this or even manage to get through it, HOWEVER i loved this. i am a sucker for pretty prose though and the prose was gorgeous in this book so i'm a little biased. most of the criticism for this book is warranted but this story and its characters really appealed to me. i wish we got more on addie's time in new orleans though, it seemed like it would have given some more insight into her and luc's relationship + would've given luc more depth. it feels like we barely got to know him .
it definitely could have been condensed just a little because "no plot just vibes" isn't much of an exaggeration and i'm not sure how it managed to be 500+ pages long but i can enjoy a slow book when i like the writing. the ending did feel slightly anticlimactic but it was more bittersweet than anything else to me. not sure if i would recommend this because the it really is slow but i definitely enjoyed this!!
it definitely could have been condensed just a little because "no plot just vibes" isn't much of an exaggeration and i'm not sure how it managed to be 500+ pages long but i can enjoy a slow book when i like the writing. the ending did feel slightly anticlimactic but it was more bittersweet than anything else to me. not sure if i would recommend this because the it really is slow but i definitely enjoyed this!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Violence, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Alcoholism, War, Biphobia, and Child death
Maternal mortality/Death during childbirthfairylass's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Let me start off by saying, I absolutely loooved this book and did initially rate it five stars. However, I kept ruminating over the ending being something I really did not enjoy. This is why I dropped it half a star. I felt like the last scene was kind of unnecessary? And I wish the author would’ve trusted the reader to make their own assumptions about what happened. It also takes it in a really weird turn very abruptly in my opinion that didn’t match the vibe of the story. Despite that *one* flaw, I feel like the rest of the book was pretty much perfection! The pace does feel a little slow in the first half of the book, but this wasn’t a flaw to me because it was necessary world-building that was just more character instead of event centered. The writing was so beautifulll!! I’m a big fan of “frilly” writing styles; filled with metaphor, extensive descriptions, and poetic and this was definitely that. The story was extremely compelling!
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts