I don’t really understand the purpose of this book? I think it’s great for showing people who may be experiencing depression or other mental health difficulties that they’re not alone; but I didn’t feel like it had a clear message or reason for existing. It was also unsatisfying that by the end, the author seemed no further along with improving their wellbeing in any meaningful way which links back to my earlier point. I also didn’t enjoy the endless chapters after the therapy was over as I didn’t feel they added anything in the wider context of the narrative.

Starting with what I enjoyed; it’s a great premise. I’m a sucker for a Faustian deal with the devil and this one was excellently done. I loved the mythology behind the primordial spirits and the way Addie’s relationship with them changed, and Schwab wonderfully brought to the life the suffocating expectations on women in 1700 France. Was making the deal dumb? Yes. Did I understand why Addie did it? Absolutely. 

Luc was a great villain too. He stole every scene he was in and I loved his motivations changing as a primordial being. The bits between him and Addie were highlights, and I loved seeing how their relationship evolved over the centuries. The setting was well constructed too, and getting to see Addie’s hometown transforming over the years was as fascinating as it was heartbreaking. The curse itself was also a deliciously unique concept. The magic system could have been better developed for me; there were some inconsistencies in the terms of Addie’s pact, but ultimately the originality of the bargain made that very forgivable. 

Now for the things I didn’t enjoy. I don’t consider this in scoring a book: but the cover of my edition has the blandest design I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s very like Addie herself: unmemorable. 

The book was also way too long. I feel this could have been edited down by at least 100 pages, and wonder if it would have made a much more compelling novella than fully expanded story. 

I struggled with Addie as a main character too. Despite growing up in the 1700s in religious rural France, Addie has very modern sensibilities. These could have developed over time (the inevitable immortal bisexual is a trope I enjoy) but failing to do so was a disservice to Addie's origins. 

Henry, I enjoyed a lot more. I found myself wishing the story was told with a different approach; such as it be Henry’s story, where we unravel the mystery of this immortal girl nobody else remembers. Conversely, I wouldn’t have hated Henry being omitted entirely and it became a love story through across the ages between Luc and Addie. I think there were real opportunities to tell a unique story here – but instead it leaned on tropes it barely reinvented. Simply put, the gold in the story (Luc, the deal, and the consequences of an immortal travelling forward through time) weren’t explored in the way I wanted. 

This is the second V.E. Schwab book I’ve read this year (the first was Vicious) that was okay. I have The Fragile Threads of Power unread on my book shelf; and while I’m hardly dreading reading it, I like to go into a new book hoping it’ll become my new favourite. I fear TFToP will also only be okay. 

Overall, the book was vanilla for me. Nothing offensively bad, but at the same time, nothing extraordinary either. 

Ironically, I think as a book - it’s forgettable.