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The book that got Kaite through the start of the pandemic quarantine. Want to start over? What if you spent your life starting over because your life never ended and no could remember you after meeting you? At the tail end of the 17th century, in the midst of a life-threatening situation, Addie b... Read More »
Addie is an adventurer and not ready to settle for village life, so she makes a
deal with the devil. Instead of relinquishing her soul, however, she becomes
immortal, and also completely forgotten by anyone who meets her. Then,
after a lonely 300 years, she meets Henry. For fans of the Shades of ... Read More »
“But if you only walk in other people's steps, you cannot make your own way. You cannot leave a mark.”
“Live long enough, and you learn how to read a person. To ease them open like a book, some passages underlined and others hidden between the lines.”
“The first mark she left upon the world, long before she knew the truth, that ideas are so much wilder than memories, that they long and look for ways of taking root”
“Do you know how to live three hundred years?” she says. And when he asks how, she smiles. “The same way you live one. A second at a time.”
“Stories are a way to preserve one's self. To be remembered. And to forget.”
“Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives--or to find strength in a very long one.”
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Add a CommentThe premise of the story was so interesting, and the writing had really beautiful moments, but I had so much trouble getting into the book. It took a long time to finally get to the point, and many of the details about her situation and the "rules" of it were repeated in various scenarios. The chapters were short, so I thought I would speed through it, but it was a struggle. I wish they had cut the repetition and foreshadowing to just tell the story.
Ugh.
When you want to find out the plot twist but the writing style and characters make you not want to read the book.
I thought the premise of this book sounded interesting but I could NOT get into it. The voice of the writer was not at all compelling and in fact irritated me. Like they were trying too hard to be artistic. I don’t mind a slow book if it’s worth it, this one wasn’t. The character development and even likability was very low for me as well.
I read the first 20 pages, skimmed until she met Henry, and skipped to the end. Honestly feel like I didn’t miss anything important in those 200+ pages I missed.
Also, stealing and sleeping around to find places to live and things to eat is basically the most uncreative way to sustain an immortal life. It felt like a way for the author to live out her own sexual and kleptomaniac fantasies. The only part of the book I found myself enjoying was when she snuck into the actors apartment.
I loved this book, and it was a tear jerker for me at the end. I loved the different POVs, and how we got glimpses into Addie's past and the struggles she endured with her curse. The relationship he develops with Henry is such a special connection for the two that thought they'd never break the bonds of their curse again, and the ending continued to show Addie's spirit.
A centuries-spanning tale of a woman cursed for wanting more. A love story, with a stinger at the end.
I usually don't do fantasy, but I'm a sucker for books about immortality/characters living a really, REALLY long time.
This was my first V.E. Schwab book. The writing is smooth and lovely, and the storyline is painfully beautiful.
I did get a little confused on all the bouncing back and forth between time periods, but that's probably just my fault and hopefully you can pay attention better ;)
Addie will take hold of your heart and not let go. I loved how layers were subtly unfolded and revealed to the reader. And that ending was PERFECT.
“Because happiness is brief, and history is lasting, and in the end, everyone wants to be remembered”
Absolutely stunning novel. An incredible story about what it means to be human, to be lonely and the impact we leave on the world.
I don't read fiction much (typically biographies) but I loved this book! Even though the story jumps back & forth in time, the author did so artistically and with purpose, to help build the story & suspense. The premise is not flawless, but that's easily forgivable since the story is so unique and captivating. Great character development and perfectly timed plot twists. Made me think about how I would survive in a world of reverse dementia where I remembered everything but no one remembered me.
There are no words to put together to form a proper review for this work of art. This book is literal perfection. I loved this book so much and it is definitely a favorite book of all-time for me. The writing is beautiful and the story is unforgettable. I will always remember you Addie Larue.
The novel follows a young woman named Addie LaRue, who is living in early eighteenth century France. This historical fiction meets fantasy story explores Addie's relationships with others as well as herself, when her whole life is thrown off course by one decision
While the idea of the story was interesting, it was repetitive and slow in the beginning. It took a long time for the plot to begin. Overall, it was a nice book to read once but I would not revisit it.
Good, but kind of long and repetitive (which I think was a deliberate artistic choice, since Addie herself is bored of a repetitive and empty life). It's very similar to A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers, another 2020 book that I enjoyed but where I had some discomfort with the romance and relationships.