2020 Most Anticipated - The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue

The next book in my 2020 Most Anticipated event is one that doesn't have a lot revealed about it, but what has been revealed has basically made me want it immediately.

It has a deal with the devil, sounds pretty romantic, and is written by one of my favourite authors. It is, naturally, The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V. E. Schwab.

The Goodreads page doesn't have much of a synopsis yet because this book is not going to be out until sometime in late 2020. Victoria has, however, teased it a bit on her Instagram. Here is how she described it on there:

ADDIE is about a young French woman who is terrified of being buried in the same place she was born. She tries to make a deal with the devil—for freedom, for time, for eternal life—but the devil refuses, because he doesn’t get her soul until the deal is done, and if she lives forever, he’ll never get his reward. In a moment of reckless desperation, she says he can have her soul when she doesn’t want to live anymore. Sensing an opportunity, the devil agrees. He grants her the ability to live forever...and curses her to be forgotten by everyone she meets. ADDIE is about how you matter in a world where you can’t leave a mark, and follows their relationship over 300 years, and what happens when she meets a boy in 2014 NYC who somehow remembers her name.

I’ve been working on this book for 8 YEARS, and these days I’m pitching it as Interview with a Vampire meets Rebecca, and I couldn’t be more excited for you to finally read it next Fall :)

I am all sorts of intrigued by this one boy who can remember her name. That, to me, just seems really romantic, but Victoria has also teased that there may be a romance of sorts between the devil and Addie. I am also here for the Interview with a Vampire comparison.

My top three reasons for wanting to read The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue:

1. The author! V. E. Schwab's books are always incredible and I especially love the idea of her writing this particular story. It seems to fit her style perfectly.

2. The deal with the devil element. I have yet to experience this done really well in book format and I am pretty confident this is going to be the one to do it.

3. The characters! Addie already fascinates me. She is going to have this perspective that seems very unique to me. She'll almost have a very vampire like perspective but she, obviously, won't be drinking blood or biting people. Adding to this the aspect of everyone forgetting her and it must be a very lonely existence. There is also the character of the devil and I can only imagine how fascinating and compelling he will be. 

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue releases autumn 2020 and is therefore not up for preorder just yet.  Please do follow Victoria on Twitter so that you find out more details about the book as they become available, and add it to your Goodreads to be read list as well so you won't forget to preorder when it does become available.

Do you need this book as much as I do? Is it also on your 2020 most anticipated list? Let me know in the comments.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2020 most anticipated list. 

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Just a small post this week, but a pretty exciting one. You may also have noticed this is on Sunday instead of the usual Saturday. This is because I don't have new books or anything to show in my book haul so I thought I would shift this by a day!

BOOKS

Gillian Flynn Is Writing A New Novel

I came across an interview with Gillian Flynn where she talks about the novel she is currently working on and I became VERY excited. I loved Gone Girl and cannot wait to read whatever she writes next.

Of her new work she said:

I’m about halfway through a solid first draft of my next novel. It’s very sinister and dark, and there are definitely some funny pieces to it. Brett, my husband, has read the first page, which is a fucking spectacular first page. It’s the greatest first page that’s ever been written.

I am already in. I don't even have to know any other details. I want it immediately.

Cover Of Vengeful By VE Schwab (goodreads)

I read (and loved) Vicious when it came out and immediately wanted a sequel. The cover for that sequel was just released and I LOVE it. It is, obviously, a much different look than the first book, but a look that I think really works for this series.

It is my favourite colour combination and immediately catches your attention. The cover for Vicious was also redone in this style and I think I may have to get them both.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Busy week in the mailbox but filled with so many amazing things that it's a fantastic ending to 2015. I feel EXTREMELY lucky and I cannot wait to read all of these books.

Keep Calm and Color On by Meredith Mennitt (goodreads)

A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Raincoast books for A Gathering of Shadows and my first ever 'adult' colouring book. I am going to need to get some pencil crayons and try it out very soon!

This next arrival was a complete surprise and I was really excited to receive it.

It's All Your Fault by Paul Rudnick (goodreads)

The Secret Language of Sisters by Luane Rice (goodreads)

Unbecoming by Jenny Downham (goodreads)

The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork (goodreads)

Thank you so much, Scholastic. It was a lovely Christmas surprise and I am really excited about the new Jenny Downham (but am looking forward to all of them).

The next package definitely caused me to make some inhuman noises while I fangirled. I got this Christmas Eve and it was seriously THE BEST Christmas gift.

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard (goodreads)

This glass box of emotions is seriously the BEST THING ever and it's so pretty in person. I am excited to read the ARC and to share my review as part of the tour! It may be my New Year's Eve read. Thank you a million times to Epic Reads, the Scarlet Guard, and Harper Collins USA for this incredible package.

I also received these adorable Throne of Glass bookmarks from the lovely Christy (The Reader Bee). How cute is Dorian?! I love that I have a bunch of adorable bookmarks now. Thank you so much, Christy. You seriously spoil me and you are simply the best.

These bookmarks can be purchased from the Magicbookmarks Etsy shop. She has a lot of amazing things (and she does fantastic custom orders, too).

What books made their way into your mailbox this week?

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Release Date - February 24, 2015
Publisher Website - Tor Books/Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 400 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received for an honest review from publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Kell is one of the last Traveler - rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive - trickier than they hoped.

Magic, blood, adventure, action and consequences all combine to create a delicious journey through three different and distinct Londons. If Victoria Schwab is not already on your auto-buy author list this complex, page turning read will have you obsessively pre-order anything she releases next.

Creating rules and confines for any world, or magical system you create is vital. An author who recognizes this and stays within these boundaries while pushing them creates a nuanced, and believable world. Victoria Schwab plays with her world and it's rules in a very logical, thought out manner. Anything that happens has reasons and forethought behind it. Nothing is without merit, consequences or reasoning. Nothing happens strictly to advance the plot so nothing feels out of place or convenient.

In a novel steeped in magic, it is perhaps the characters who are the most magical components of this rich, layered tale. The characters are as rich and complex as the world they inhabit. Victoria balances the wonder and magic of their surrounding with satisfying character development. They manage to compliment each other rather than one taking over the story from the other. This creates a highly engrossing and satisfying experience that will only leave you wanting more.

Our choices define us and we pay for them with the consequences of those choices. Each of the characters, but Kell in particular, struggles with the fallout of his choices. In a setting where worlds are layered on top of one another, these choices send ripples throughout all of them. The biggest theme of the novel is cause and effect and Victoria uses all elements to weave this together.

Magic becomes a character in it's own right. The different Londons even represent the various relationships magic can have with those who use it. Black London is the addicts who have burned themselves out. White London is the brutal, sadistic side of magic. Red London is the more frivolous, fun side of magic. Grey London represents those who have forgotten it's existence. Each of these worlds has it's own rules, truths, and laws. They are as complex as the magic that flows through them all. Victoria adeptly balances all of this, along with the cast of unique, engaging characters which is no easy task to to, and to do well.

Those who despair cliffhanger endings or novels within a series that do not feel as if they stand on their own will be happy to hear that this feels like a complete story within one novel. You want more of this world, these characters and there is so much potential for where this story could go, but it feels complete. The story within these pages is a full, complete story with a beginning, middle and ending all it's own. It was a refreshing, welcome change from the usual. This novel excels at the unique however, so it is not surprising.

Victoria Schwab proves herself adeptly capable at moving in between writing young adult, adult and middle grade as well as writing various genres. This novel offers up a spellbinding, magical journey filled with brutal kings, a bad ass pirate in the making, a mesmerizing prince, and a charming protagonist. It'll leave you desperate for the sequel and for more magical adventures...wherever they may take you.