Fun, fast-paced and magical, but not without its flaws. With interesting twist on immortality and old gods, this novel follows the life of a young girl who makes a deal more complicated than she realizes. Romance, history and magic are woven throughout the story that more or less falls to a love triangle with some more unusual stipulations. I appreciated the fluid and diverse sexuality of the characters, particularly Addie and Henry, who could've fallen within many labels, but were allowed to just simply like boys and girls and whoever else without any unnecessary explanation or backstory.

I enjoyed the author's treatment of the old gods as things that also are just simply what they are without rules or reasons, but it seemed strange to me that two characters have encountered this primordial, powerful being without having any other interactions with magic, folklore, etc of any kind, so that's a hit against world-building for me. The characters even bring up being away of existing folklore, but it never makes its way into the story further. I think this is a fun beach read, but it falls short on the characters, too -- even the main three characters feel a bit stilted, like hand puppets casting too-dark shadows, lacking deeper characterization. I always struggle with characters that are just too likeable, and both Addie and Henry fall into this category. The ending feels more set up for a sequel than anything else; I love an open ending where the author walks out the back door, but this one sort of feels like a cop-out. I also struggled with the god character - I am always here for ancient beings that act more like fickle humans than benevolent gods, but the one depicted here feels more like stereotype of a dark and moody boy than anything else. I'll stock this and I'll probably hand-sell it, as I do think ultimately it's just a fun ride -- and sometimes all you need is to leave the real world behind for a few hours!

I had some mixed feelings about this book. There are parts of this book that are inventive, delightful and intriguing. V.E. Schwab has delivered a novel that sweeps you into its world and carries you off with her imagination and prose. However, it's stalls out for a while on account of too much repetition and some other issues.

The book's premise is whimsical and likely to inspire curiosity in most fantasy lovers. Addie LaRue makes a deal with the devil, and now she lives an invisible life. She can't be remembered by anyone after she leaves their presence, can't own possessions, can't make new things or even leave marks on the world. However, she can steal to survive and inspire others to do things. (The logistics of how these rules function are a little fuzzy, but Schwab more or less makes it work.) Addie has lived for 300+ years, but all she really wants is to be remembered.

It's a strong start out of the gate, as Schwab uses vivid imagery and precise metaphors to tell her fantastical tale. However, just as you're ready for the plot to take off, it feels like the book is just <em>stalling</em> for a long stretch. A large bulk of the plot is packed into the first fifty pages and the last hundred pages. And while it's a really interesting plot, there's a lot of filler in the middle.

By the halfway mark, the plot still hasn't progressed past the point described on the book cover. The first few chapters start with her explaining how she sleeps a man who doesn't remember her the next day, which was good, but then it continues to describes in detail her meeting someone else and then then another, all of whom don't remember her, and I started getting impatient.

Also, the character of Addie LaRue feels a little juvenile. According to the book, she has lived for over 300 years, but her personality don't reflect it. There was just a weightlessness to her where I wish she would have had a fuller personality, with more specific interests or desires.

It seems strangely childish to me that such an old soul spends all her time yearning for familiar embraces with handsome men instead of things like family, children, societal progress or an occupation. She seems to have made peace with giving up all the rest of it, but for some reason can't stop pining after men. She just doesn't seem like an adult, much less someone with the wisdom of 300+ years.

That all said, I think on the balance, fans of V.E. Schwab will likely be able to see past these things and enjoy this story for what it is -- a tale that is whimsical, romantic and intriguing. Even with some less-than-exciting parts in the middle, the plot is constructed in a way that will make most people curious for what comes next.

<b>Read it or Skip it?</b>

There's a lot to like about this book, but it also seemed like there were easily a hundred or more pages that should've been cut and the story would be basically the same. The repetitiveness of it really dulled my enthusiasm for it early on, but in the last hundred pages, the story gathers a lot of steam and gets good. Of course, the book ends at that point, so you'd have to read the sequel to find out what happens next.

A part of me is curious to find out what happens next. But I'm also a little resentful that I read through 400+ pages only to find out it ends when the book hits its stride. It's not a cliffhanger, but it feels a lot like one. I'd say I'm a "maybe" for whether or not I'll read the follow-up.

Beautiful portrait of what life means and the time we have. I loved the idea of leaving your mark in the world and how art is such a powerful and amazing part of life.

This is the first book I've read by V.E. Schwab and it went off like a an explosion in my brain. I just get it now. I want to read everything else she's ever written. This book is EXTRAORDINARY. I never wanted it to end. It's surprising and sad and romantic and so full of life and passion and beauty. It makes you want to travel. It makes you want to listen to music at 2 AM and see the stars on a pitch black night and dance until you can't feel your feet. It makes you want to fall in love. I truly felt like I spent years with Addie growing and learning and struggling yet always finding something new and exciting to live for. You fall for each lover as she does and feel each heartbreak. And then there's Luc. I have made my love of Dark Lonely Boys well known and Luc may be one of my favorites. Their dance throughout the decades wasn't surprising, but it felt real and substantial. I love and fear him in equal measures. This book comes out in October and it's going to be tortue not having anyone to scream about it with until then.

"Never pray to the gods who answer after dark."

First of all I am very thankful for the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.
It is no longer that I am a big fan of Victoria Schwab because she's simply a great human and author. I loved her ADSOM series, The Villains series and even her Monsters of Verity series. I am planning to go back and read the rest of her backlist books but when I knew that I have a chance to read her upcoming book, I didn't think twice and jumped right into it.
As usual, Schwab has the weirdest, most creative synopsises and the idea of a girl falling in love with the devil is something I simply couldn't resist. when I got into this, it was a bit of a weird experience because it is unlike anything I have ever read by Schwab. I am kind of used to her mystical world-building and action scenes. This was kind of different!
“You know,” she’d said, “they say people are like snowflakes, each one unique, but I think they’re more like skies. Some are cloudy, some are stormy, some are clear, but no two are ever quite the same.”

The book starts kind of slow and I was a bit confused and did not know where things were going but at some point, everything felt into place and just clicked in my mind and I had an overwhelming wave of emotions crushing me because it was so good and it made me happy.
The book does tell us the story of Addie and we follow her through her life and see her growing as a character, and although I liked Addie and enjoyed reading about her, it was the story of Henry that really got into me. Simply he was one of the characters I related to most in my 5 years of reading books. The experience of just reading and seeing yourself in a book is not something you get to experience occasionally so I was just so happy when Henry was introduced and growed more and more. I do believe Schwab's success is due to her character-writing skills and this time was not different at all.
The world building was not extensive because it takes place in our world but it certainly has the magical spark that Schwab's has given us in her previous books. Mix this with the killer prose (I know it is either a love or hate kind of prose and fortunately for me, I do love it) and you get this excellent book. I was hesitant at first and a bit pessimistic after the fist few chapters but then this ended up being one of my favorite books by the author. 
“You are not capable of love because you cannot understand what it is to care for someone else more than yourself. If you loved me, you would have let me go by now.” Luc flicks his fingers. “What nonsense,” he says. “It is because I love you that I won’t. Love is hungry. Love is selfish.”

And if you were wondering about the devil romance then yes, it is there and it is not just a clickbait from the synopsis. Actually the devil was excellently written too. The plot takes a bit of time to develop but it certainly is there and certainly is good. The book works both as a standalone and I believe it could be extended into a series. (I have learned that it was a standalone after finishing it)
“But a woman must take responsibility for her own education, for no man truly will.”

Summary: Although this is different from Schwab's other books, it ended up being up one of my favorites as it has the usual magical prose, world building and plot and most importantly characters that I would die for. The story takes some time to develop but it is worth it. The simple cover is kind of an abstract to what the story is hiding and although I wasn't a fan of it initially, I do like it more now and I am planning of buying a copy when the book is released. And I am certainly waiting on my tiptoes for whatever Schwab comes out with next!!

We received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This book was like a beautiful symphony of words, with an adagio here, a crescendo there, harmonies and discords...

It's hard to describe the beauty of a work of the heart, which I believe this is. But it's about the characters and the story, and nothing is simple. It's beautiful, but it's also heartbreaking. The story is slow and meandering - much like I imagine Addie's 300 years were - but every step is important in developing the whole picture.

I cared about these characters - even the supporting ones. Addie and Henry, Bea and Robbie, Luc. They are so unique, so real, so relatable. Even the ancient god.

I was intrigued by the idea of Bea's dissertation, and would love to read an entire book about that.

Overall, this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Okay wow I am STILL crying over this book!!
“Do you think life has any value if one doesn’t leave some mark upon the world?”

This book hit me in all of the feelings. If I wasn’t laughing, I was crying. This is one of those books that will stay in your heart and your mind LONG after you’ve finished it. Maybe even for life. Being a VE Schwab book, I had high expectations that were beyond blown away. She’s raised the bar AGAIN.

This book is about Addie LaRue, a French girl born in the 1700s. Despite being warned not to pray to gods who answer when it gets dark, Addie becomes desperate and does it anyway. Addie ends up making a pact with the devil— now she will live forever, but she will be forgotten by everyone.

Everything changes 300 years later when a boy says “I remember you.”

It’s so much easier to tell you what this book is about vs what it made me feel. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and now I’m worried nothing else will live up to this phenomenal novel. Please, pick this book up once it comes out. Read it. Tell your friends and family and pets about it.

“Do you know how you live three hundred years? The same way you live one. A second at a time.” This book was possibly the most beautiful book I have ever read. I will definitely be thinking about this book for a long time.

This book was WONDERFUL! I actually slowed down the pace of my reading and broke away from it for a couple of days (with great reluctance) because I wanted to enjoy every word and action. I know when I go to handsell this to family, friends, library patrons, bookstore shoppers, fellow book buyers, etc... I found myself excited to read another book where Lucifer or Death is portrayed so wonderfully - the only other book I've come across so far is Zusak's Book Thief which is in my top 5 favorite of all time. Addie LaRue is another book that will fall into my top favorite reads. Thank you to Tor/MacMillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this delightful book.

I am a big fan of V.E Schwab and I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since she mentioned it on an author panel. A story about a woman who made a deal with the devil to live forever but to always be forgotten by everyone she meets, sounded wonderful. And it was! I loved the whole story of Addie, desperate to live a life beyond the boundaries of the world she was born into. The writing was beautiful, haunting, lyrical and I couldn't stop reading.

Déjà vu. Déjà su. Déjà vecu. Already seen. Already known. Already lived.

If you follow Victoria at all, you probably already felt like you knew Addie a little. For a project to take almost a decade...well it shows. Every turn of the page was a window into a beautiful world that Victoria has welcomed us into.

You follow Addie through 300 years of single days. 300 years of loss, fear, angst, and Defiant Joy! I felt the longing, of both Addie and Victoria, to stamp themselves upon history. To make something that outlasts themselves. I feel like they both succeeded.

The Devil is literally in the details, and I want more of him.

Every once in awhile, a book comes along that reminds you why you enjoy reading. this is definitely one of those books.

Adeline LaRue does not want to marry a man she does not love so she runs away, only to make a deal with the darkness (he's the hot villain) for the freedom she has always wanted. But she finds out afterwards that her freedom comes at a cost: she will not be remembered by anyone and will spend 300 years living as a ghost in the shadows of the world, until one young man remembers her.

This story is such a gem. It's my first by this author and I absolutely loved the way the book flowed. The characters, especially Addie, were sharp and relatable. There are plenty of twists and turn throughout the story as Addie tries to live a full life and find happiness while caught in a game of control with the darkness.

Would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and has ever wondered what it would be like to live through history.

I don't know how to start this review -- I've watched the cursor blink for a while now -- or even how to go about explaining how I knew I was enjoying this story throughout, was likely to rate it a four, but kept waiting to be blown away. It was an almost love, complete with admiration for the creativity, the detail, everything the author researched; it was a maybe reread, but equally maybe not, which is a distinction not many books get, as we all know.

<i>Being forgotten, she thinks, is a bit like going mad. You begin to wonder what is real, if <b>you</b> are real. After all, how can a thing be real if it cannot be remembered?</i>

And then suddenly I'm crying. Then I'm marveling at.. something. Then I knew I loved it.

<i>Time has no face, no form, nothing to fight against. But in his mocking smile, his toying words, the darkness has given her the one thing she truly needs : an enemy.</i>

Even knowing the premise of what this book was about, I didn't think long enough on the mechanics of it, the complexities and caveats created by the bargain. And I thought that was wonderfully done. I'll admit certain bits did feel a bit repetitive in the beginning, and I wasn't always totally immersed in Addie's mind or perspective (though I couldn't tell you why), but neither of those things take away from the fact that the way this was written, the choice of words, the passages, the.. everything.. was just so beautiful. I don't know if maybe the sheer loveliness or the sheer loneliness is to blame for sometimes pulling me out of the story, instead of pulling me under, but I mean.. that's still kind of a good thing?

This should definitely be on your radar and, incase you couldn't tell, I can't wait to read this one again.

4.5 stars

This book was so different than anything I've ever read. It was magical, heartbreaking, intriguing. I can't get over how much I loved this and I can't wait to tell everyone I know to read it too.

Rating: 4.5
Thank you to Macmillan and Net Galley for providing an ARC.
In a small village in 1714 France, 23 year old Adeline LaRue makes a deal with the devil/old god/monster/darkness. The deal is also a curse (because nothing is free). Spanning over the next 300 years we see the impact of Addie’s selling her soul to the devil.
This story is much more than the deal. We see what leads Addie to make the deal. I feel her horror when the full implications of what she’s signed up for become clear to her. No one will remember her. Over decades and even centuries Addie survives and learns and grows strong.
I cheer when she finds loopholes that lets her leave little marks in history. I became invested in Addie’s life, not life. I enjoyed her small victories & know she will make through the hard times.
Ms. Schwab writes a beautiful tale. I liked that this didn’t become a catalog of innovations and wars through the centuries but a story of Addie’s growth under tough circumstances.
Yes, I will recommend this beautiful & haunting story.

A wonderfully woven tale of life and love that alternates throughout 300 years of history as we explore the present and past of Addie LaRue. A rich story and world that drew me in and captivated at every turn.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a contextualization of every emotion that I've never been capable of describing in my life. Gorgeous and raw.

This book was truly addictive! Schwab's lyrical style and gripping plot hooked me in until the very end.

V.E. Schwab has an amazing talent that leaves me not only in complete tears at the end of books but also questioning and thinking about them days after. I was blown away by The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Adeline LaRue is a young girl who is born in 1698 in a small village in France. She does not want an ordinary life, where she lives, marries, and dies in this town. She wants adventure and learning. Addie soon meets Estele who teaches Addie about the Old Gods. The one rule Estele tells Addie to follow is "no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark." Addie follows this. Yet when she finds out she is forced to marry Roger, she runs away to pray in the woods, before the wedding, and before dark; yet while she's praying the sun goes down and a Dark God answers. Addie is granted her wish to be free, to have her own choices. In exchange, the Dark can have her soul when she doesn't want it anymore. The one hitch, no one remembers Addie nor can she make her mark on anything.

So, Addie lives and the Dark, she soon names him Luc, comes yearly then sporadically to ask her to give him her soul. She refuses each time. She learns the limits of her curse and how she can make her mark, through art. It isn't until 2014, that she finally meets someone who can remember her. Who is Henry Strauss? And why can he remember her?

This book is beautiful and extremely thought-provoking. What would we do with more time and how would we spend it? How would it feel to live forever but for everyone we know to automatically forget us once they leave the room, go behind a door, fall asleep? I was mesmerized from the first page.

The characters that Schwab creates are breathtaking and beautiful. Addie with her free spirit, willingness to learn, and her independent streak is reminiscent of Elizabeth Bennet and Jo March. I was especially drawn to Luc though. His devil may care attitude, but with a soft spot for this girl who continually defies him. There were also moments when he seemed to have a conscious. Luc wasn't exactly like Death from The Book Thief but there were definitely shades of that as I read. The one character I didn't really like, and this may be controversial, was Henry. I thought he was boring. He felt like most whiny, white boys today and I wanted something more from him, especially with how it ended. Even with that I still give this book a full 5 stars and definitely will buy my own copy once it's out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

On the cusp of an ordinary life, a girl sells her soul for a chance at something more. Addie is about to get married to a man she doesn't love and start a family in a town she is desperate to leave. Staying in this place will crush everything that she is, and in her desperation she makes a deal with the gods who only answer after the world gets dark. When you deal with the devils of the world, your bargain no doubt will serve them more than it serves you, and while Addie finds herself living forever, she is cursed so that no one can remember her. Then finally, after living hundreds of years and multiple lifetimes, Addie stumbles upon someone that remembers.

This story is beautifully told. Despite the fantastical elements, it is at its core a human story about our need for life to have meaning, of realizing our potential and making our mark. We all have an Addie inside of us that fights for our potential in a world that wants to forget us. Addie finds small ways to leave her mark, to create something beautiful and lasting despite the forces at work against her. I can remember that feeling of being on the edge of my future - terrified to move forward and terrified not to - and this book captures that urgency so well. I appreciate the look at mental health - we see characters struggling with anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Addie and Henry are both so lonely, and I appreciated the exploration of that profound loneliness we can feel even as we are surrounding by multitudes of people. VE Schwab is one of my favorite authors and this is my favorite from her thus far.