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

I read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue back in January of 2021. A friend of mine just finished the audiobook and recommend that I give it a try. She discovered that she enjoyed the audio version much more. I figured I'd give it a try. It would give me something to do while I clean house and run errands.

 I initially found the book to be a slow build but the audio version pulled me in. I become much more involved in the story and found myself caring about the characters. The narrator brought the story to life. If you struggled to read the book or found it to be an okay read I recommend listening to it. You'll get an entirely different experience. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is about a striking woman who makes a deal with the devil. She sells her soul for immortality. The catch as she discovers later is that everyone she encounters will forget her the second they no longer see her. This leads to a life in which Addie is unable to make strong connections with others. Addie is strong willed and doesn't let it destroy her but she is lonely.

After 300 hundred years of  being alone things change. Addie comes across a young man who remembers her. They quickly bond to one another but something is off about Henry and when Addie discovers it she is broken. 

Addie's story and that of the devil is complex and strange but oddly beautiful. 

The Dead Weight by Jo Salazar

 

The Dead Weight is all the rage right now. I've seen positive review after positive review. I finally decided to give it a try as I am in desperate need of a good zombie book. The book was just okay. It does have a fair amount of twists and turns and it does start off with action. It's quite predictable but has some well written and complex characters. I can see this being a great book for people just entering into the zombie genera. 

Quinn is only 16 years old. She lives in a residential treatment center with other teens. They each have their own unique issues and are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. Quinn has a best friend at the center named Keisha and they team up to escape the enter when they discover that carriers are taking over the city and no one is coming to help them. What they didn't count on was others from the center tagging along. 

As they navigate outside the center and try to find a food and shelter the are forced to make some difficult choices and lives are lost. It's all about survival of the fittest and Quinn because the anti-heroine you cheer for.

For You and Only You (You, #4) by Caroline Kepnes

 

Kepnes has lost her shine or passion for Joe Goldberg as a character. This book just doesn't hit the same at the first and I found myself skimming sections and speed read. I was simply wasn't feel it. 

Joe is living in Massachusetts and enrolled in a writing fellowship at Harvard. Joe wants to be a writer but in typical Joe fashion he gets sidetracked by a love interest. People die, the book moves along slowly and then picks up. Then it ends in a whimper. 

Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1) by Kaylie Smith

 

I don't usually read dark romance or paranormal books but the synopsis on this one caught my attention.  I was completely absorbed by the story which is full of twists and turns. The characters are superb and well developed. The storyline is enchanting and plays upon Dante's Inferno. 

Ophelia's mom is dead. Her sister is missing and in order to save her she has to enter a deadly contest. This contest is called Phantasma and their can only be one winner. The winning prize is a wish granted. The contest consists of nine challenges, each challenge more dangerous than the previous. The levels play of individual fears and rival players will do what's necessary to eliminate others.

Ophelia is "lucky" in that she gets a guide of sorts named Blackwell. Blackwell is similar to Dante's guide Virgil in that he leads Ophelia thru the levels of hell and provides information and explanations. Ophelia doesn't want to trust Blackwell but his good looks and charisma have her falling for him and he will also have you under his thrall. 

                                                         This book may be triggering for some.