Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

47 reviews

books4em's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I’m so excited to read more from V.E. Schwab! I greatly enjoyed Gallant and the quick progression of the story. That being said, I wish it had been longer and there had been more drawing-out-the-story. I’d also love a part 2! Having a physical manifestation of Death itself was quite an interesting topic in the book and I appreciated how it changed throughout the story. The MC’s story was tragic but she was powerful in her history. I greatly wish she had been able to recover the green journal though, that was heartbreaking. Loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Death

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, and Murder

mybestfriendsarefictional's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Child death

murmurations_x's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Gallant is my first dive into the worlds of V.E Schwab and it was enjoyable but not fantastic. This book is YA but does at times read more middle-grade, I do think it would be far to creepy at points for middle-grade but kids who enjoy Wednesday I feel will love Gallant.

I had an issue with the pacing, it took a while for everything to really swing into action and then when it did there wasn’t much of it, an ending that was less impactful as I don’t think we spent enough time beyond the wall for it to really matter to us or really feel the danger. Death, our villain was eerie, cool, interesting & underutilised in my opinion

If there is one thing I’ve learned about V.E Schwab from this book is her world building is fantastic. This really is a beautifully descriptive & rich piece of writing I could picture everything about Gallant. It is hauntingly atmospheric & if you are a mood reader October/November are the months for this book to be in your TBR. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Death

Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Animal death

leonormsousa's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death

_haggis_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Atmospheric and intriguing. The world building was really compelling and it was hard to put down! I found Olivia a little unlikeable at first but she definitely grew on me and I really liked the other characters. It was really lovely having a main character who communicated entirely in sign language and I thought  V E Schwab did a good job in making you feel Olivia's frustration at people not listening to her/taking her seriously/silencing her. 

The thing that stops me rating this 4 stars is that although the world building and mood are gripping, the climax is very fast and abrupt (only about 20 pages in total)

and the fight is too easily won/just not engrossing enough

. 

The story about Olivia finding out who she is and what she can do is really intriguing but told at the cost of the parallel plot - the family secrets, death and the wall. I think it feels a bit underwhelming and the plot potential & villain never quite fully realised.

Having said that, Schwab really trusts her reader and doesn't spell everything out - she gives us hints and things to ponder -

perhaps that's why Matthew dies - although it' tragic and feels like it was all for nothing, it points to bigger questions of death and meaning.

All in all, a really quick read with plenty of spook. 13 yr old me would have adored it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror and Murder

Minor: Ableism and Suicide

littletiramisu's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

hayleythegoose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death

Moderate: Abandonment and Animal death

kathrynleereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't ever read a book where the main character was unable to speak, and it was really enlightening to be able to visualize and better understand the struggles Olivia was going through.

I've always enjoyed reading a story with a static clue that twists and morphs throughout the story, just as the journal did in this book. The context and meaning of the journal entries and drawings shifted as the story went on and as Olivia began to understand her mother better and better.

I do believe that the story ended a bit abruptly and could have used a bit more at the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment

iane_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicide, Murder, and Blood

Minor: Gore and Physical abuse

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death and Grief

Minor: Blood, Mental illness, Child death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Medical content