The Legacy We Leave Behind: The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V. E. Schwab

My Personal rating:

This review may contain spoilers.

What does it mean to be truly free? Is living without leaving a mark truly living? After all, what are we if not the legacy we leave behind?

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue is a character-driven and thought-provoking novel by V. E. Schwab. It is about a girl named Adeline “Addie” La Rue, who made a pact with the devil to leave everything behind – her name, family, and home, in exchange for a chance at a life free from the societal box that she’s been imprisoned in.

Summary :
The novel opens with a snippet of Addie running away from her small village of Villon, where people live and die in the same 10-meter plot, and people’s lives had ended even before it even started.
From her first venture to the city of Le Mans 1968 at age seven to accompany her father selling woodware, the readers are introduced to Addie’s personality – carefree, ambitious, and eager, against the stark contrast of boring, monotonous life that the rest of the villagers lead. From here, it is apparent where the conflict will arise: Addie’s thirst for life and adventure and coming to terms with domestic expectations laid by her parents and society.

Through an act of desperation, Addie made the mistake of praying to the wrong supernatural power, Luc, who granted her wish in exchange for her soul. Only to realize later on the repercussions and loopholes of semantics on her uttered deal.

Now, Addie trudges along centuries to get the most of her bargain, win the battle of wit against the devil, find love, and finally leave her one true mark in the world.

This book roused mixed reviews from readers and critics, hence my reluctance to add my own to the multitudes of praise or disappointments when I have mixed opinions on this book.

The reason for the divide, I guess, lies in the perception and understanding of what the book is all about.

When Luc asks Addie what she wants, Addie replied, “I want a chance to live. I want to be free… I want more time.”

I find this scene emotionally monumental because most readers failed to grasp that this is not about bargaining one’s soul for immortality. It is about fighting for individuality and freedom, against a society of norms and sameness, against the confines of gender bias, generalism, and inequality that can never be fully understood from the outside.

I relate so much to the main character’s drive to push past that wall and wholeheartedly admire her courage and determination to experience life without boundaries or hesitation. Like what Ethan of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl has said, only two kinds of people stay – the stuck and the stupid.

On the other hand, what good did she do with her youthful immortality and freedom? She saw the beauty and wickedness of human nature and came to appreciate the little things that most take for granted. She has watched and helped shape history and art, seen things most can only dream of. She has lived a thousand lives that many are too afraid to live.

But what good would that do when no one would remember? What could one achieve if your day is counted by moments, turns, and closing doors?

I most particularly liked Schwab’s writing style – lyrical and poetic almost. The transition between backstories is smooth and intriguing. There was a lull in the pacing when Addie meets her love interest, Henry, but it was necessary for the satisfying and well-executed ending.

What I would have wanted different was the love story between Addie and Henry. For some reason, it lacks charm and emotional impact for me. It would have been better if Addie found someone she appreciates for who he is and not what he represents.

With Addie and Luc, it is clear that each admires the other’s strength, cunning, and courage, despite their backgrounds. But for Henry, there’s really nothing special about him that stands out, except that her curse does not limit him.

Overall, I liked this book more than I thought I would. A strong independent female character who makes her own rules, added to the magic and mystery, is precisely what makes this a treat.

If you’ve enjoyed the likes of The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, then The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue is for you.