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diana_raquel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Home is a choice."
Talk about impulse buying! I was browsing the shelves of a bookshop when I noticed this book! I have read other books by V.E. Schwab but didn't know what to expect from this book. But it was a pleasant surprise, mainly because I actually liked a story with horror elements. Usually, horror isn't something that I tend to gravitate toward, but I really liked this book. Maybe because the horror elements are mixed with other elements that I like, such as mystery elements and a darker tone. The characters are well-developed and well-written. The story has good pacing and is well structured. I also liked the fact that the illustrations themselves are also part of the story and not only accessories, a means to show the scenes. To tell the truth, I think that V.E. Schwab was the potential to become a must-read author to me since I really liked every book that I read by her.
Talk about impulse buying! I was browsing the shelves of a bookshop when I noticed this book! I have read other books by V.E. Schwab but didn't know what to expect from this book. But it was a pleasant surprise, mainly because I actually liked a story with horror elements. Usually, horror isn't something that I tend to gravitate toward, but I really liked this book. Maybe because the horror elements are mixed with other elements that I like, such as mystery elements and a darker tone. The characters are well-developed and well-written. The story has good pacing and is well structured. I also liked the fact that the illustrations themselves are also part of the story and not only accessories, a means to show the scenes. To tell the truth, I think that V.E. Schwab was the potential to become a must-read author to me since I really liked every book that I read by her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Suicide, Violence, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
tays_books's review against another edition
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death and Child death
sioux_rowan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Ableism
vixenreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It’s like “Crimson Peak” for young adults, and that is still welcome. Also, there was some good disability representation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
I would also give a disclaimer for death of a sibling and sleep deprivation.saurahsaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
My favorite horror stories are both sad and spooky. This is an amazing marriage of both.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Medical content, and Alcohol
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Yeah I fuck with this. Super predictable though but idm
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder and Suicide
koistyfishy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was surprisingly good! It wasn’t a very long book and it’s something that you can get through very easily because VES writes in a very easy manner…
This was the first time I’ve ever picked up a VES book and wasn’t sure what to expect based on aspects I have read and watched in reviews of her books.
The story is simple but even in the simplicity it’s mysterious charm kept me entertained even though reading the additional genres (horror, paranormal, mystery) are not something I typically read.
This is the perfect book for spooky season and is just a lovely Victorian Vibe with a mystery I wanted to solve…
This was the first time I’ve ever picked up a VES book and wasn’t sure what to expect based on aspects I have read and watched in reviews of her books.
The story is simple but even in the simplicity it’s mysterious charm kept me entertained even though reading the additional genres (horror, paranormal, mystery) are not something I typically read.
This is the perfect book for spooky season and is just a lovely Victorian Vibe with a mystery I wanted to solve…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying and Gore
thevioletfoxbookshop's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
Atmospheric, eerie, and lush, Gallant is the perfect spooky read for Fall.
As we watch the leaves fall and the days get cooler, we know that Fall is a time when the life-bursting summer months will be sucked into a more gray and lifeless world. But for many of us, that's not a bad thing. We appreciate each season and know that all things happen in cycles and balance each other out. Such is the world built in Gallant.
Olivia Prior has grown up in a dismal orphanage, unable to speak, and feeling very alone in the world. Like the ghouls who haunt the orphanage, Olivia feels both invisible and unwanted. She clings to the one piece of hope she has left - her mother's old journal. But with hope also comes uncertainty...because her mother's journal is full or darkness and madness. It's one warning to Oliva - do not go to Gallant.
Everything casts a shadow and every shadow has a source. One cannot exist without the other. In between our world and the shadow world is a wall. On one side, life - a family, a garden full of roses, and a home. On the other - death, darkness, and decay. While Gallant is certainly a dark read, I think it's about balance. Light and dark, being alone and being loved, taking the good with the bad.
Did I mention there are illustrations? Deep inky illustrations by Manuel Sumberac bring the mysterious world of Gallant to life and pull you in.
Gallant is a whole vibe and Olivia Prior will definitely be with me for a long time to come.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide
phillyhufflepunk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
Olivia grew up in an orphanage with nothing but her mother's very confusing journal to connect her to anyone else. Unable to speak and surrounded by people unable to sign, she's alone. Even the ghosts, that only she can see, are silent. Then, a letter arrives from a family she never knew she had.
A young adult gothic novel which features a character who struggles within an ableist institution, doesn't needlessly info dump, and doesn't waste time telling the story. Would love to see this as a movie or limited series. Quality storytelling.
A young adult gothic novel which features a character who struggles within an ableist institution, doesn't needlessly info dump, and doesn't waste time telling the story. Would love to see this as a movie or limited series. Quality storytelling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death, Self harm, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
onthesamepage's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I've had a similar reaction to Schwab's last two releases: an initial, "well, that was lovely" accompanied by a rating of 4 stars, but then, the longer I think about it, the more I realize the loveliness is very surface level. Of the 3 books I've read so far, This Savage Song is probably my favourite. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Gallant have similar issues, which is a lack of substance.
Schwab's writing is always beautiful, and it makes it really easy to sink into her works and enjoy them. Gallant relies a lot on atmosphere and vibes, and that part was executed really well. The exploration of the manor, as well as the feeling of secrets being hidden from the protagonist by the other characters, put me in mind of The Haunting of Bly Manor. I actually liked the setup of this, and was intrigued by the story of Olivia's parents, but there are several issues that made me lower my rating.
Olivia is mute, and has spent most of her life surrounded by people who never bothered to learn how to communicate with her. In Gallant, Edgar knows sign language, but we get repeated instances of him deliberately turning his back on her when she is trying to communicate, and he's not the only character to forcibly silence Olivia this way. I could really sense her frustration with how they were acting towards her and all the secrets being kept from her, and it evoked a lot of sympathy in me for her situation. And yet, Olivia is never forthright with them about her family and her ability to see ghouls either, even when it becomes clear that the knowledge she has may be the key to saving them.
There's very little focus on developing the relationship between Olivia and the others. We do get a few scenes between her and Matthew, but I don't think it was enough to flesh out their bond or even the characters themselves, and this goes double for Edgar and Hannah. Ultimately, this led to a disconnect from them and their circumstances, which makes the story much less impactful than it could have been. I also thought the resolution happened way too fast, and ultimately wasn't very satisfying, but pretty in line with what Schwab usually does.
Schwab's writing is always beautiful, and it makes it really easy to sink into her works and enjoy them. Gallant relies a lot on atmosphere and vibes, and that part was executed really well. The exploration of the manor, as well as the feeling of secrets being hidden from the protagonist by the other characters, put me in mind of The Haunting of Bly Manor. I actually liked the setup of this, and was intrigued by the story of Olivia's parents, but there are several issues that made me lower my rating.
Olivia is mute, and has spent most of her life surrounded by people who never bothered to learn how to communicate with her. In Gallant, Edgar knows sign language, but we get repeated instances of him deliberately turning his back on her when she is trying to communicate, and he's not the only character to forcibly silence Olivia this way. I could really sense her frustration with how they were acting towards her and all the secrets being kept from her, and it evoked a lot of sympathy in me for her situation. And yet, Olivia is never forthright with them about her family and her ability to see ghouls either, even when it becomes clear that the knowledge she has may be the key to saving them.
There's very little focus on developing the relationship between Olivia and the others. We do get a few scenes between her and Matthew, but I don't think it was enough to flesh out their bond or even the characters themselves, and this goes double for Edgar and Hannah. Ultimately, this led to a disconnect from them and their circumstances, which makes the story much less impactful than it could have been. I also thought the resolution happened way too fast, and ultimately wasn't very satisfying, but pretty in line with what Schwab usually does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Death
Moderate: Ableism