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sarahcar_63's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence
v_hankins's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my second time reading the book because as much as I liked it I couldn’t remember the end! A fascinating take on immortality but definitely gets dark at times. Also, Addie’s story gets a bit long-winded at times so the book has parts that are a much slower read than the end. All in all an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Blood and War
soyabeanos's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
angorarabbit's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
There is limited ethnic and lgbtq++ representation.
The plot is interesting and novel. It did give The Time Traveler’s Wife vibes, though it is quite different. There is a lot of potential there.
The plot is interesting and novel. It did give The Time Traveler’s Wife vibes, though it is quite different. There is a lot of potential there.
I also liked the writing style and will try another of Ms Schwab’s books
I was disappointed that it took Addie so long to leave France considering what she sold for the ability to see the world. I also would have liked to learn how Addie learned the languages she knew and how she learned to read considering the small amount of formal education she had before her first deal with Luc and her disability.
Addie herself did not really seem to grow as a character and minor characters were uninteresting, basically filling in the room. I would have loved to have seen Luc through other than Addie's eyes. Henry while nice was a bit of a cypher. Addie also does not seem to learn that many people work as day labourers, earning money with no documentation and different employers each day.
I was satisfied with the ending until the last chapter, now I have some questions now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
A main character is an occasional sex worker and thief.xvicesx's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
I can't say I really liked this, and it's at least 100 pages too long. Addie isn't really a likable character, being as vain and self absorbed as she is. Ultimately, I think I'd rather have read Luc's story, since he's a lot easier to root for than Addie's obsession with getting everything in the world without any consequences.
The whole foundation of this book was that she hadn't experienced the world, and somehow she still holds it against the god who gave her every opportunity to live because he didn't give it to her the way she wanted it, and because she couldn't get it without having to pay a huge price. Um. Right. So she's just a spoiled brat, you mean?
The whole foundation of this book was that she hadn't experienced the world, and somehow she still holds it against the god who gave her every opportunity to live because he didn't give it to her the way she wanted it, and because she couldn't get it without having to pay a huge price. Um. Right. So she's just a spoiled brat, you mean?
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content and Violence
casira's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book will doubtlessly be better the second time around.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
rainynook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
New favorite book! Wow, loved the whole story arc, and such beautiful, memorable, luminous writing. Very well done. I read the book + listened to the Audible version - extremely well done by the talented Julia Whelan. So good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Abandonment
peggy_racham's review against another edition
5.0
"If it cannot be love, well, then, at least it is not lonely."
Angry women, gods you shouldn't pray to and an intriguing answer to the question: what would you do with forever?
The answer is nobody wants to be immortal.
Angry women, gods you shouldn't pray to and an intriguing answer to the question: what would you do with forever?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
breaklikeafish's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ich bin ein großer Fan von Büchern, in denen eigentlich gar nicht besonders viel passiert und die einen irgendwie trotzdem berühren. Das unsichtbare Leben der Addie LaRue punktet vor allem mit sympathischen, dreidimensionalen Charakteren und einem spannenden anachronistischem Aufbau, der einen das Buch bis zum Schluss nicht aus der Hand legen lassen möchte, um endlich zu erfahren, was los ist.
Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Addie und Henry selbst hat mich eher wenig abgeholt, denn erstens hat die Beziehung sich für meinen Geschmack zu schnell entwickelt (unter den Umständen total verständlich, sie standen ja unter enormen Zeitdruck ) und zweitens hat das ganze auf mich ein bisschen so gewirkt, als wären sie nur zusammen, weil sie ihre Flüche neutralisieren und das reicht meiner Meinung nach nicht als Basis für eine Beziehung aus.
Gerade deswegen habe ich das Ende geliebt. Es war ein wunderbarer Abschluss der Charakterentwicklung beider Protagonisten. Im letzten Drittel hatte ich sehr Bedenken, dass es ein klassisches Happy End geben würde, was ich sehr unbefriedigend gefunden hätte: mir ist einfach keine Möglichkeit eingefallen, wie Addie und Henry einen Antogonisten austricksen könnten, der uns als praktisch allmächtig präsentiert wird. Umso erleichterter war ich über Addies Opfer.
Die Funktionsweise von Addies Fluch wurde auf sehr interessante Weise erklärt. Ich mochte vor allem die Kapitel, in denen man als Leser mit ihr gemeinsam die Grenzen und Schlupflöcher austesten konnte, und den Kontrast zur Addie der Gegenwart, die schon alles über den Fluch zu wissen schien. Sowieso spiegelt Addies Fluch so wundervoll die menschlichen Bedürfnisse nach Freiheit und danach, Spuren zu hinterlassen, wider, dass die Geschichte weitaus weniger fantastisch wirkt als sie ist. Unweigerlich fragt man sich auch, was man aufgeben würde, um frei oder geliebt oder gesehen zu werden.Henrys Abmachung hat mich hier besonders hart getroffen. Seine Gedanken und Gefühle waren so intensiv beschrieben, dass man als Leser absolut verstehen kann, wieso er eine solche Abmachung getroffen hat.
Addies Fokus auf romantische Beziehungen hat mich ein bisschen gestört. Offensichtlich vermisst sie jegliche Art von zwischenmenschlichem Kontakt und sagt das auch oft, aber ihre einschneidensten Begegnungen mit Menschen scheinen fast alle mit einem Date und oft einem One-Night-Stand zu enden.
Insgesamt ein sehr gutes Buch! Es hat eine Weile gedauert, bis ich drin war, aber dann wurde es mit jeder Seite besser und hörte mit einem absolut perfekten Ende auf.
Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Addie und Henry selbst hat mich eher wenig abgeholt, denn erstens hat die Beziehung sich für meinen Geschmack zu schnell entwickelt (
Die Funktionsweise von Addies Fluch wurde auf sehr interessante Weise erklärt. Ich mochte vor allem die Kapitel, in denen man als Leser mit ihr gemeinsam die Grenzen und Schlupflöcher austesten konnte, und den Kontrast zur Addie der Gegenwart, die schon alles über den Fluch zu wissen schien. Sowieso spiegelt Addies Fluch so wundervoll die menschlichen Bedürfnisse nach Freiheit und danach, Spuren zu hinterlassen, wider, dass die Geschichte weitaus weniger fantastisch wirkt als sie ist. Unweigerlich fragt man sich auch, was man aufgeben würde, um frei oder geliebt oder gesehen zu werden.
Addies Fokus auf romantische Beziehungen hat mich ein bisschen gestört. Offensichtlich vermisst sie jegliche Art von zwischenmenschlichem Kontakt und sagt das auch oft, aber ihre einschneidensten Begegnungen mit Menschen scheinen fast alle mit einem Date und oft einem One-Night-Stand zu enden.
Insgesamt ein sehr gutes Buch! Es hat eine Weile gedauert, bis ich drin war, aber dann wurde es mit jeder Seite besser und hörte mit einem absolut perfekten Ende auf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexism and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and War
emquartz15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The amount of CHILLS I got from listening to this book. A must, must, MUST read for honestly anyone. These characters, and this story, will live in me forever. I NEED a copy of this on my shelf! P.S. I loved how queerness was nonchalantly yet prominently included throughout the book, which as a queer person, made me enjoy it that much more. Just… go see for yourself. <3
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Violence