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stacksofwonder's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
lachicaderojo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
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β4'75/5β
Soy una persona a la que le encantan los capΓtulos llenos de acciΓ³n, por lo que estoy anonadada de que este libro me haya encantado porque es todo lo contrario.
Addie hace un pacto con la oscuridad: consigue la inmortalidad a cambio de que nadie en el mundo la pueda recordar. Hasta que encuentra a otra persona que sΓ la reconoce cada vez que la ve, despuΓ©s de trescientos aΓ±os de soledad.
Y realmente esta es la trama de casi todo el libro: acompaΓ±amos a Addie durante toda su existencia, intercalando el presente con el pasado. Nos cuenta cΓ³mo ella sufre, aprende y madura. Y es lo que mΓ‘s me ha gustado de Addie: su evoluciΓ³n como personaje, su entereza y sus ganas de vivir, tanto en una Γ©poca donde las mujeres solo podΓan casarse y tener hijos, como cuando encontraba motivos para continuar en la soledad. He llorado con ella, con cada uno de sus mini logros, me ha hecho reflexionar sobre la importancia de las pequeΓ±as cosas.
Luego tenemos a Henry. Ay, ay... Mi Henry. Creo que todas las personas nos hemos sentido identificadas en algΓΊn momento con la vida de Henry, con sus miedos y sus deseos. Me parece un personaje entraΓ±able y que me encantarΓa encontrar en mi vida.
Y Luc. Un personaje lleno de oscuridad y, a la vez, uno de los personajes esenciales que han dotado a esta historia de sentido, de intriga y de atracciΓ³n.
Los tres me han parecido un trio perfecto para esta historia. La pluma de Victoria me ha fascinado, y aunque te contara constantemente las sensaciones de abandono y angustia de Addie, no se me ha hecho pesado para nada. Le queda bien a la historia.
Y el final, aunque no es el que yo hubiera elegido, me ha parecido coherente y acertado. Una buena manera de cerrar el cΓrculo de Addie LaRue.
Me acordarΓ© de ti siempre, Addie. Y recuerda:
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Minor: Blood and Sexual harassment
skypotion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Biphobia
writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and War
lectrixnoctis's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
We follow the story of Adeline LaRue, a young woman who wants to be free and live her life like she wants to. But perhaps being born in the 17th century is not ideal for her dream of living an independent life. She runs off on her wedding eve as she ought to marry another local of Villon-Sur-Sarthe, France. In the woods of Villon, she pleads to unfamiliar gods. After endless begging, a god or perhaps a devil finally answers her calls. However, now she has to make a decision that will change her life forever. Does she want to be free, even if she has to give up her soul? As the darkling, who's named Luc, intends to leave Adeline alone in the woods, she finally decides to give up her soul to be free, but under the condition that she tell him when she is done with her life, he can have her soul. The presents grant her wish, but under the condition that everyone she meets will forget her after not leaving her alone for a split second.
But after almost 300 years, she finally meets someone who can remember her even after a day. She is complete shocked by this and wants to learn more about this particular human. His name is Henry Strauss, and he is in his late twenties. Not forgetting to mention almost double of the darkness reaping souls. The only thing that secrets them from appearance-wise is their eye colour; while Luc, the darkness, has poisons green eyes, Henry's are a bright blue shade. Addie finds herself in a sticky situation after falling for Henry. What will the future hold for her? Does she finally give Luc her soul?
This novel is written in the present and from a third-person omniscient narrator. The storyline springs through the ages from Villon-Sur-Sarthe in 1714 to New York in 2014, while making some stops between them, for example, Munich in 1872 or New Orleans in 1984
This story is about power dynamics and how they can virtually change but still be imbalanced. Humans sometimes hold onto the most toxic relationships that they cannot seem to let go of even if they are hurting them even more. Furthermore, it reflects how desperate a human being can be to search for their happiness and what they will give up to be not alone. We get to see the good and the ugly. We read about the lowers points of Addie's long way to happiness and the hurt that has to build up all these centuries. It also highlights how mental health can be such a hard thing to maintain.
I am not in the LGBTQIA+ community nor BIPOC, and I do not want to speak over their voices. I believe that this book has some good representation. Being LGBT+ Or BIPOC is not the main character trait of the main/side characters, which is refreshing. They have more levels, and every character feels super fleshed out and complexed. Maybe it is because every character has flaws, which makes them seem like they're real.
One of the main themes of this book is forgetting and remembering. While this may seem quite dull: I can tell you it is not. Just imagine you remember everything while the person with who you shared mane memories cannot recognise you for the life of them. At the same time, the only one who can remember you for enuresis is you charming yet abusive devil who ought to terrorise you till you are willing to surrender your soul. V.E. Schwab has done beautiful things with the character, Luc since he is intriguing and easily romanised but still maintains his role as an abuser so well. Henry, who is feeling a lot of mental health problems like depression, seems like a beautiful broke person who wants to be loved so badly and think for once that he is finally enough. Lastly, Addie is a solid female character who knows what is worth fighting for and when to give up on a sure thing.
I am entirely overwhelmed by how I grew to love this story and how beautiful Schwab's writing style is. This book is a masterpiece, and I do not use that word lightly. Now I know why everyone loves her stories and characters so much. If all her books are like this, I am going to be extremely broke.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cancer
mellowreading's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Violence, War, and Sexual harassment
st_ender's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Suicidal thoughts
lizaleoma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Torture
tbrinthestars's review against another edition
- 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
For one thing, the cover is gorgeous! The colour scheme and flower details enticed me, and the title itself is wrapped in intrigue. I went into the story with no expectations, for the most part. I hadn't read the blurb or any reviews beforehand (not even the spoiler-free ones), but I did see a number of references to
Going in without any prior knowledge is my favourite way to enter a novel. It keeps me open-minded and leaves room to enjoy the reading experience so much more. I've found many of my favourites novels and authors this way, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is no exception.
I'm surely not the only one who can say they have also wondered what it would be like (and even wished) to be invisible. Addie's story shows us what that could be like through the most wondrously descriptive experiences; traipsing through the art of remembering, of people, of France. The writing style feels so much like a symphony; a dance to preserve one's history through time. It was a glorious time in this literary world.
The characters are so, so loveable; all in their own unique ways. Well, there are a few exceptions... but for the most part, they are, ironically, unforgettable. This novel is strongly character-driven by Addie, and soon by Henry, and I couldn't love them both more. I adored reading and learning their stories, witnessing their growth and character development. They left a heavy mark on me, but so too did the minor characters we meet along the way.
I've left yearning for Schwab to gift us the blessing of more novels set in this world. I want to learn the stories of the other characters we got to meet. We don't have many pages or even chapters with them, but we learn so much. Enough to want to learn more, and I find that such a strong and compelling aspect, paired with the richness in prose.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is poetry in every sense of the word.
Even when we are known, we want to leave a mark on the world. How much more when you are remembered by no one?
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Grief
Minor: War, Violence, Gun violence, and Death of parent
maddycumerlato's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved Henryβs story; his family, friends, connection to Addie, and his life felt very real.
Addie is interesting, but falls somewhat flat as the main character in such a far fetched fantasy. Her interactions with Luc, the charming and deceptive reaper, are the most we see into Addieβs soul even though she does her best to hide it from him.
Addie is to us exactly what she is to others: a forgettable whisper of a woman. She says it best herself, that the best parts of her 300 years is the marks she makes upon the few that allow it.
Graphic: Abandonment and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and War