The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue 

By V.E.Schwab 

Rating: 4/5

Genres : Historical Fiction, young adult, Soul, Devil, Romance, 2022-read 

This is my first book by the author and I am pleasantly surprised by the depth and insight she has into human nature and her grip over human emotions. I am trying to search for the right keyword to describe this book..its not great or amazing or any of those things..I would say the word would be impactful, heavy, deep and literally dealing in soul. A young girl makes a deal with the devil/darkness/God of the woods and sets off a game spanning over 300 years with him chasing after her trying to seize her soul..but she successfully evading him. He pushes her into situations where embittered, frustrated and broken she should be ready to offer him her soul but adamant and stubborn as she is, she chooses to live time and time again.

Yes! Addie LaRue is a young girl of 23 who born in a small village town of France has big dreams..to explore the world, experience things  beyond her limited world/imagination. She doesn't want to spend all her life in that small village and die there like all the others. So when she is forced to marry a man not to her liking, she makes a deal with the devil, Luc, that she gets absolute, unbound freedom in exchange for which she will offer him her soul when she is exhausted or has had enough with life. Her wish is granted but more and more it feels to her like a curse..because the devil wants to exhaust her and claim her soul quicker. She is doomed to walk among humans as a ghost - no one remembers her after a one night stand or looking away from her or after a door is closed after her. She can't have her own things or her own house or any of the things to call her own..except a trinket - the ring her father has made for her and which she offered the demon at her deal. So she falls in and out of love with many people..none of them remembering her. Some artists make her art and it is not known who the girl is but that way she leaves a mark on the world. The demon keeps chasing her asking for her to give up but she holds on..holds on.. until she one day meets Henry, a boy who remembers her after she walks away from him. It feels so liberating to her to have someone to finally remember her..and they start their tale of romance. How can Henry remember and notice her while no one else can? Why is he different himself from the rest? Well..as it turns out. He is one of the souls that made a deal with the demon himself. And as their love deepens and he writes down all her past history Addie recites to him, unbeknownst to them - Henry's time is running out. Addie makes one final deal to save her lover and her past along with him.

 I dont know but in the whole bargain, I felt that the demon is made to look like a fool by Addie since the start. The devil has immense power and cruelty obviously but here he is falling in love with her and wanting her company while she twists him around her little finger like a ribbon. He seemed very human and even kind at times rescuing her into safety from men/prisons in Germany and France. Maybe this game goes on for a much longer time since she is not yet ready to give up. I doubt who would ever want to give up their soul to the devil right? God - i think is a different deal but the devil? Nah. So how long will Addie evade Luc? Is forever the answer?