Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

42 reviews

marissasa's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I loved the start and central premise of this book - a woman's desperate plea to the gods in search of freedom from a life where she would belong to someone else is only answered by a devil in the dark, and she accepts a deal as her only way out. She receives immortality, for the price of her soul and the catch that no one will ever be able to remember her and she cannot leave her own mark on the world. However, the rest of the book that followed was lackluster to me. V.E. Schwab writes beautifully with rich descriptions and atmosphere, but the plot ached along so slowly and I never found Addie compelling or interesting enough to root for her. She had her clever moments, but that's a bare minimum trait for any person who lived for 3 centuries and remembered and learned from every day of it. I didn't find Henry super compelling either and didn't enjoy them as a couple since the only reason they liked each other was because he was the only one who remembered her, and she was the only one who wasn't already affected by his deal to be loved. The best character in the story was Luc, and we didn't get to see much of him until the last 10% of the book when the plot really picked up. Although I liked the beginning and the ending, the story overall left me wanting more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

decie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: War

Minor: Confinement and Death of parent

sefab764's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I think this was a great concept and overall it was an entertaining read. It did drag in some places but Adeline's passion for art and the cruel realities she experiences gave lots of emotional depth that pulled at my heartstrings. It glossed over some details I felt should've been explored more over what was brought to the forefront but I read it in one day and would revisit it, perhaps for an anniversary ;) 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Minor: Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

laurendenton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Minor: Biphobia, Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, and Pregnancy

emilyf333's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

alyssasaurus's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

I’d give it 5,000 stars if I could. This is a perfect book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Blood and Fire/Fire injury

rosefl's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I absolutely adored this book. I'm not usually one for books where characters reflect on their lives (or so I thought), but I loved reading about how Addie fluctuated between wanting to leave a mark on the world, to just wanting to be remembered by one lover. This book does a great job at glossing over what a curse to live but not be remembered might actually be like. Learning the intricacies of one's curse, and finding loopholes, no matter how small. However, I am a bit disappointed that we didn't get more of Addie's story.

I want to know about each of her seven lovers, and how long she spent with them, and what they meant to her. I want to know more about her time with Luc,

in New Orleans and at the end of the book. If she ever learns how to break her curse. How Luc is more careful with the curses/wishes he grants. Did Luc actually feel more than desire for her during their time in New Orleans

. I know a lot of these musings are vaguely answered in the book, but I enjoyed being immersed in the world of Addie LaRue and would like something a bit more concrete. Or maybe I just want more of this universe that could be so carefully tucked within our reality.

I do like how Schwab approaches the topics of grief, family loss, and "invisibility." It reminds me of the idea that grief comes and goes, and that we learn to live with it in our lives rather than grieve and move on. It is something that I've learned to process myself, and comforting to know that it's not a terrible way to approach these things. 

This is a great read for those who loved The SevenHusbands of Evelyn Hugo, it just has a touch of magic.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Confinement, Sexism, Blood, Alcohol, and War

ashleybakerwrites's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Easy 5 star. Addie LaRue is the book I've wanted to read in New adulthood. I'm 25, and there is something so enchanting about this story. All the way down to the 4th wall breaking at the end. If I could remeet Addie every day I definitely would. Great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War

ladykatiereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and War

juliettea's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Perhaps 3.25 enjoyable relatable and nuanced but didn’t feel special enough to me for any higher of a rating

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism