Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Some people steal to stay alive, and some steal to feel alive. Simple as that.”

A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1) by V.E. Schwab

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In one word: Even-keeled This book was a gift from Cannonball Gift Exchange this year (thanks Deborah!) so I thought it a fitting first read and review of the year. It was on my to-read list, though I had no recollection of it which makes it a perfect gift! I’ve been getting more into fantasy and magical tales lately so was excited to dive into a new series. Schwab has written a magical tale with interesting world-building but in the end, I think that the […]

An indifferent review of A Darker Shade of Magic

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

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I needed a distraction and the best way I can find is to get lost in a book. I can binge books the way people binge Netflix and I managed to finish this book in one day. I didn’t binge this book because I couldn’t stop reading, I needed to keep reading as a distraction and this book was a good option. The story itself is a lovely tale about being able to travel to different dimensions or versions of the same place. In this […]

A 300 year saga that goes surprisingly quickly

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

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Addie LaRue was born in a small town in France. Over 300 years ago. It’s 2014, and swhe now lives in New York and survives by lying, stealing, pilfering, and taking advantage of her unusual gift (or curse), she is forgettable. Not as in plain or nondescript. Rather, once she leaves someone’s sight, they forget her and meet her all over again. This is mildly inconvenient in shops and movies theaters, but it is tragic with lovers and friends. Imagine having a perfect day with […]

“It is sad to forget. But it’s a lonely thing to be forgotten.”

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

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When Adeline LaRue was a little girl in early 18th Century rural France, she went on a trip to the city with her father. And suddenly Adeline realized that there was so much more to life than just her little village, her house, and the life she is supposed to lead. As Adeline grows older, she understands that the life she is supposed to lead holds little interest for her. And she begins to make offerings to “the gods,” asking them to hear her pleas […]

Poetry in prose, and a beautiful life

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

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Addie La Rue has lived the last few centuries unable to leave a trace in this world. No one can remember her: not her family, not her lovers, not people she interacts with every day. She lives her life this way all due to a deal to give her freedom that she struck with a dark god known by Addies as Luc. And what is more free than living without leaving a single mark on the world? However, after 300 years of people forgetting who […]

Devastatingly beautiful. I cried, not because it was necessarily sad but due to the amount of emotion.

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

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V.E. (Victoria) Schwab was introduced to me by my favorite bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy and it was love at first read.  By pre-ordering the The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I was able to get a personalized book plate and used my birthday present book embosser to further claim the book.  Those actions decrease the re-sale value of a book but this is one I won’t be giving up! The simplest explanation of the plot is it is a Faustian deal between Adeline LaRue and a god-like, […]



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