I read one previous book by Victoria Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic, the first of the "Shades of Magic" series. This book has a totally different premise. Adeline LaRue grows up in a small rural village in early 18th century France. Against her will, she has been promised as a bride to a village widower with 3 children. Adeline doesn't want to live a small life determined by others and, on the eve of her wedding, she falls to the ground pleading with whatever gods can hear to set her free. The Darkness responds but in a particular way designed to make young Addie want to give up her life--and therefore her soul--sooner rather than later. Her freedom comes at the cost of no one ever remembering her. She can carry on a conversation, eat a meal, or sleep in the same bed with someone and, the moment she is out of sight, they have forgotten her existence. She is now immortal in body but no one will remember her. However, over the centuries she does, in fact, serve as a muse for artists who capture essential bits of Addie in their music, writing, paintings--even though the artists can't identify the source of their inspiration. Her benefactor, Luc--the devil we are to believe--wants Addie for himself and shows up periodically over the next 300 years trying to convince her to join him. Although life is often a struggle, even terrifying at times, Addie refuses. Then, one day in 2014 New York City, the rules change. Addie tries to return a book she has stolen--a tactic that has worked countless times in the past--but this time the bookstore clerk remembers her. Addie eventually discovers that Henry has also made a desperate pact with devil. They fall in love, but of course there is a catch.
Glowing reviews from NPR, The Washington Post (which calls this novel "propulsive, compulsive and captivating"), Kirkus ("rich and satisfying and strange and impeccably crafted"), and Slate among others. Apparently the film rights for a big screen adaptation have already been sold.
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