The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

This review has been delayed to celebrate Addie’s anniversary. This book has been in the “to be read” pile (crate really) for some time, and once I started reading I was annoyed at myself for not reading this sooner. Addie LaRue wants to live a life different than the one she is running away from when she makes a deal with a god who answers in the dark. Having been warned by Estelle not to pray to the gods who answer after dark, Addie is running away from a marriage and life she does not want, when she doesn’t realize the time and prays in the darkness. Making a deal with Luc, what she calls the darkness, gives Addie unlimited time on earth but no one will remember her once they turn their back on her. What would you do if you could live forever? What would you do if no one will remember you? Addie experiences hardship, comfort, and heartbreak everyday when people do not remember her. Then one day she meets Henry, who does remember her, in trying to figure out why he does when no one else has for over 300 years Addie finds out Henry made a deal with Luc. While enjoying their time together, Addie learns of Henry’s deal. Addie is a fighter, it is how she has survived the game her and Luc have played for 300 years, and she wants to negotiate for Henry’s soul. The scene that made me tear up was when Henry let Addie use his hand to paint, and she was able to write her name for the first time in over 300 years.

Great story and if you have been thinking about reading this book, or author, go for it.

Character List

Addie LaRue – when she ran away from a life she did not want she prayed after dark and made a deal for her soul with the darkness. The deal is that Addie will give him her soul when she does not want it anymore. This starts the game of Luc trying to convince Addie that she does not want her soul, and Addie learning from Luc about the importance of words in a deal.

Henry – works in a used bookstore, after his heart was broken by Tabitha he made a deal with the darkness. Addie sees his good heart and that he made a mistake when he made the deal. Addie cares for Henry, something she has not felt for anyone else.

Luc – one of the gods that answers after dark, Addie gives him this name so she has something to call him. Sometimes saves Addie, sometimes brings Addie into new situations. At some point he claims he no longer wants her soul but her, and says he loves her.

Bea – Henry’s best friend and realizes that there is a ghost in multiple pieces of artwork, and that ghost is Addie (she just doesn’t realize it).

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