Devi Nair
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by Julia Whelan ā± Duration: 17 hours š Published: October 6, 2020 š·ļø Publisher: Macmillan Audio & Tor Books š Read as part of: Lasting Read Goodreads Challenge Genre: Fantasy
This was my second attempt at The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and the difference four years, and an audiobook, can make is honestly staggering. Four years ago, I tried to read Addie LaRue in print and couldnāt get past the slow start. The size intimidated me, and it landed in my DNF pile without much ceremony.
This time, Julia Whelan's narration pulled me in like a whisper that turns into an obsession. Addie's curse hit differently in audio: her loneliness echoed in every forgotten encounter, every stolen moment of inspiration she leaves in paintings, songs, and stories without credit. The way she clings to life, refusing to surrender even when Luc tempts her with release, feels achingly real. Her resilience through wars, revolutions, and quiet nights alone? It wrecked me.
Addieās life, forgotten every single day for over 300 years, slowly seeped into my own thoughts. I couldnāt sleep. I couldnāt focus. I started wondering if Iād passed her on the street once and forgotten her myself. The way she survives by becoming inspiration rather than memory is quietly devastating. Paintings, songs, stories, vague echoes of her existence scattered through time. She may be forgotten, but she is never truly gone.
But what destroyed me (in the best way) was Henry. When he remembers her, itās like the world pauses. The fantasy softens into something deeply human, about being seen, truly seen, after centuries of being invisible. By the time it ended, I didnāt just love Addie; I missed her.
Fantasy takes on a life of its own here, but the emotional core is achingly human. Julia Whelanās narration brings Addieās loneliness, resilience, and quiet hope to life, while V. E. Schwabās prose works pure, devastating magic. Donāt fear the size of this book. By the end, youāll be wishing it were longer.
Would I recommend it? If you love immersive fantasy with deep emotional layers, immortal curses, and stories about memory, legacy, and unbreakable spirit, this is it. I regret ever setting it aside the first time. Now it's lodged in my heart like one of Addie's unseen marks. Don't let the length scare you; you'll finish wishing for more.
Have you met Addie yet? If you have, did she leave her mark on you too? Or did you, like me once, set it aside before she had the chance?
Originally posted at www.goodreads.com.
š§ Listened in audio š¢ Narrated by Julia Whelan ā± Duration: 17 hours š Published: October 6, 2020 š·ļø Publisher: Macmillan Audio & Tor Books š Read as part of: Lasting Read Goodreads Challenge Genre: Fantasy
This was my second attempt at The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and the difference four years, and an audiobook, can make is honestly staggering. Four years ago, I tried to read Addie LaRue in print and couldnāt get past the slow start. The size intimidated me, and it landed in my DNF pile without much ceremony.
This time, Julia Whelan's narration pulled me in like a whisper that turns into an obsession. Addie's curse hit differently in audio: her loneliness echoed in every forgotten encounter, every stolen moment of inspiration she leaves in paintings, songs, and stories without credit. The way she clings to life, refusing to surrender even when Luc tempts her with release, feels achingly real. Her resilience through wars, revolutions, and quiet nights alone? It wrecked me.
Addieās life, forgotten every single day for over 300 years, slowly seeped into my own thoughts. I couldnāt sleep. I couldnāt focus. I started wondering if Iād passed her on the street once and forgotten her myself. The way she survives by becoming inspiration rather than memory is quietly devastating. Paintings, songs, stories, vague echoes of her existence scattered through time. She may be forgotten, but she is never truly gone.
But what destroyed me (in the best way) was Henry. When he remembers her, itās like the world pauses. The fantasy softens into something deeply human, about being seen, truly seen, after centuries of being invisible. By the time it ended, I didnāt just love Addie; I missed her.
Fantasy takes on a life of its own here, but the emotional core is achingly human. Julia Whelanās narration brings Addieās loneliness, resilience, and quiet hope to life, while V. E. Schwabās prose works pure, devastating magic. Donāt fear the size of this book. By the end, youāll be wishing it were longer.
Would I recommend it? If you love immersive fantasy with deep emotional layers, immortal curses, and stories about memory, legacy, and unbreakable spirit, this is it. I regret ever setting it aside the first time. Now it's lodged in my heart like one of Addie's unseen marks. Don't let the length scare you; you'll finish wishing for more.
Have you met Addie yet? If you have, did she leave her mark on you too? Or did you, like me once, set it aside before she had the chance?
Originally posted at www.goodreads.com.