Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: Love, Determination, and Time

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the latest novel to come out of the wonderful mind of V.E. Schwab. Famous for her Shades of Magic series, fans have been talking about her latest novel nonstop. It doesn’t hurt that Schwab revealed that this novel was years in the making.

As is the story of Addie, for that matter. Once upon a time, she was a young woman in France. Then she made a deal with the devil, all for the chance to be free. That was nearly three hundred years ago, and Addie has found her way through life, finding the cracks in the rules that bind her to this world.

This is a breathtaking and compelling read, perfect for fans looking for a novel that will make them stop and think. It is a novel unlike any others I’ve seen, and I cannot recommend it enough. Now, onto the actual review.

Writing

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of those novels that will blindside you. It is emotionally powerful and intense and for all of the right reasons. Addie’s story is both beautiful and harrowing. Portraying a character full of determination, grit, and pure wonder for the world she was born into.

That isn’t to say that this tale is full of happy moments. There is darkness with the light – something that Schwab has always known how to balance. There are trials in Addie’s long life – of course there are.

The deal she made was the largest one, of course. Yet it’s fascinating, watching her find ways around the rules, little loopholes that let her breathe more freely. It’s liberating and beautiful, relishing in the smaller moments, the finer details.

On that note – the details! Oh, this is a lush book, through and through. Each little moment, every tiny mention felt full of significance. It’s so easy to read into every little mention to get caught up in the art of the story. It has been a long time since a novel caught me up like this.

Development

The pacing in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a unique creature, much like the novel itself. It wraps and winds, slowly unfolding the past three hundred years. All while setting the scene for Addie’s present.

It is not a novel that ever feels slow. Instead, it seems to be relishing in the details and in the little moments. Each chapter alternates, switching back and forth from Addie’s past to her present. That alone sets the pace, as well as the tone, for the entire novel.

Sometimes, the story feels daunting, heavy, and unafraid to show the darker sides of life. Then there are times when Addie’s story is so uplifting, so beautiful. Neither side could exist without the other, and Addie wouldn’t have it any other way.

Conclusion

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a powerful and evocative story. I can see why it took V. E. Schwab so long to write this novel. It is a labor of love, through and through. Every page reads as such, as it carefully reveals the whole story.

Honestly, I believe that The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has to be one of my favorite novels of the year if not more than that. It is a standalone novel, as it should be. Yet I can’t help but look forward to whatever Schwab comes up with next.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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