Imagine being blessed with immortality, but cursed to be forgotten by all; free to do whatever you please and travel wherever you wish, never confined by the fragility of mortal life, but forever unable to touch the lives of others or leave a mark upon the world.
This complex idea is explored in “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab, a blockbuster 2020 book that, in the months following its publication, left the reading community buzzing with astonishment and praise.
Since its release, the book has reached a jaw-dropping level of success. It was on the New York Times Best Seller list for 37 consecutive weeks and received many prominent literary awards. Even now, well over a year after its publication, “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” is still a top-selling book all across the globe.
This dazzling story takes off in 16th century France, where young, naive Addie LaRue is being forced into a marriage. She longs for freedom and adventure but is held down by the constraints of her small-town existence and the marital expectations placed on women. On the night of her wedding, desperate to escape her bleak, mundane future, she flees to the woods and prays for salvation. LaRue’s pleas summon an ancient demon who offers her a deal: she will live forever, with limitless time and freedom to explore all of the wonders the world has to offer, but will be forgotten by everyone she meets. LaRue impulsively accepts the demon’s offer, but quickly realizes just how steep the cost of her immortality is. LaRue yearns for love and connection, but such desires are impossible to attain under the conditions of her curse. She spends her eternal existence in solitude, constantly drifting from one place to another, never quite feeling like she belongs. Until one day, 300 years later, a boy says the three words that change everything: “I remember you.”
Words can’t begin to describe the beauty of this book. Everything about it, from the stunning storytelling to the intricately developed characters, was expertly written.
V.E. Schwab’s beautiful writing shines more than ever in this novel. Her lush imagery and lyrical narration will leave readers breathless. Flipping open the book is like drifting into a dream. The best thing about Schwab’s luscious prose is the raw emotion it provokes. Over the course of the novel, every emotion of each character is evident: the desperation, the hope, the wonderment and the pain.
“V.E. Schwab’s … lush imagery and lyrical narration will leave readers breathless”
The characters in this novel are immaculately written, which is no surprise considering that it’s very much a character-driven piece. LaRue is such a complex, gorgeously developed protagonist. Schwab does an excellent job at building up LaRue’s desperation and misery at the beginning of the novel, resulting in readers empathizing with her impulsive decision to bargain with fate. Hearts ache for LaRue through all the pain and loneliness she endures over 300 years of being forgotten, then swell with joy when she finally meets the one person who remembers her. Despite her unbearable suffering, LaRue always remained strong, compassionate and determined, making it impossible not to root for her. The supporting characters in this novel are extremely impactful as well, particularly Luc, the demon responsible for cursing LaRue with immortality. It was compelling seeing him weave in and out of her life, sometimes as a villain, and other times as a lover.
The most beautiful part about this story is that there’s something in it for everyone. Fantasy lovers will be absolutely spellbound by the magic and intrigue surrounding LaRue’s curse, whereas fans of historical fiction will find themselves enraptured as LaRue travels through time, discovering the wonder and beauty of cultures all around the world. Literary fiction readers are also bound to love this book, as it is one of the most stunning character-driven works of literature out there. Regardless of genre preference, this is a book that all readers will fall in love with.
Even though she lived a lonely, invisible existence, LaRue’s journey is an absolutely unforgettable one. Breathtaking, magical and endlessly thought-provoking, it’s a story that, once finished, will leave readers longing to go back to the beginning to read it all over again.
