Gallant

Books, Coffee & Passion

Gallant started slow. This is the story of an orphan girl: Olivia. She's living in an orphan house, she can't speak and the only thing she cherishes is her mother's journal. She doesn't remember her mother and she has no friends. She's a lonely girl that sees ghouls. Unexpectedly, she receives a letter from her uncle summoning her to their family home: Gallant.

Despite the slow start, Olivia's journey after arriving in Gallant, and her parents' story, were beautiful. V. E. Schwab's writing set a creepy, atmospheric, gothic vibe that hooked me. The mystery about her family and Gallant, Olivia's need to belong, to have a family, and to be loved were beautifully incorporated into the gothic manor setting. The secondary characters that lived in Gallant were interesting too. The build-up took a while and the ending felt a little rushed. I think this could've been a little longer. The illustrations included in the book were stunning and added a fantastic layer to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot.

3.5..? Gosh, I loved the plot/storyline and the mysteries of Olivia and her family. But, the ending.. seemed so rushed and such a cliffhanger. I felt like it didn't resolve anything! ;-;

3.5

4.5

it's like The Secret Garden but gothic
SPOILERS FOR BOTH THE SECRET GARDEN AND THIS BOOKsimilarities between The Secret Garden and this book:-orphans get sent to their uncles house that never wanted them-male cousin is sick and gets forced to stay in bed-male cousin thinks they are doomed to die-both aunts are also dead-dead mums ghost comes to visit them -trying to get past a wall to see a garden-everyone is secretive whats in the garden and tells them to never go in there-magic plants-welcomed into family at the end-and many more but its 10pm and im tired

also mute character that doesn't miraculously talk at the end! as a mute girl its sad to see that mute people only get to have happy ending if they talk but being mute is fine and we can have happy endings too!

23rd May 2022:


Honestly, I don't know what to say about this book. It conveyed what it wanted to convey but it didn't feel like it was spectacularly new. I guess simply put it was not a boring book but not really my cup of tea. 

Final rating: 2/5.

Gene : YA, Thriller
Stars :

Olivia as a character is great. She is inquisitive and smart and her not being able to talk is great storytelling. It is not only connected to the mystery, of where she came from and who she is, but also a big part of the way she communicates and how her life has been shaped. All the characters from Gallant as just as complex, I loved that they all had their characters and motivations really making them feel very distinct. Even the ghouls who can't say much and aren't even alive had clear characterisations. 

The story was well written in the way that I usually figured out what was going on just before the characters did or it was spelt out. It makes you feel smart for knowing it but doesn't make the characters seem dumb for not seeing it. It also genuinely made me scared, the way some exposition was written made it seem like it should be made of movies scenes cut together instead of words on pages. It's like I could see exactly how this movie would be cut and directed somehow. 

The only thing that bothered me about the book is the thing that bothers me about more of Schwab's books. The villain's motivation is born out of him just being a monster. Sure he has reasons for doing specific things, like inviting her or being angry at losing a piece of himself. But the reason he is evil is just because he is a monster. He is Death and supernatural beings need no explanation for being evil. I don't like that about it. For the same reason, I find her endings often very unsatisfying. Like the book sets up this great story and then drops the ball in the last 30 pages.  

Well, i think this is the first time when i don't really have any thoughts about a certain book. I mean, it was an ok and easy read but it didn't live up to the high expectations i had for this book after reading the synopsis.

The strongest point of this book is definitely Schwab's writing style. Its artistry is one of a kind and it manages to create the eerie and ominous atmosphere characteristic of a gothic novel. The descriptions of the mansion and the ghouls were so intricate and vivid that i could perfectly picture them in my mind while reading. Ultimately, i really enjoyed the artwork within the novel, they complemented the story perfectly and were a pleasure to look at! I loved observing all the little details and trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind them haha!

However, the plot felt simplistic and underdeveloped to me. I actually was rather shocked when i got the novel in the mail and saw how short it was

UPDATE 2024: This book is so good I had to reread it. This hasn't happened since the Harry potter series. I could absolutely devour this book over and over again. I love Olivia and Matthew's character arcs. Just so amazing. As i mentioned in my previous review I loved Addie La Rue and I have to see this is my now favorite book of VE Schwab. Who knows I may reread addie la rue but for now I'm super satisfied and this has officially got me out of a reading slump.

I have yet to be disappointed by a schwab book. Her writing is chefs kiss perfection. This story is incredible and i love the representation for non verbal individuals and use of sign language throughout. I was so vested in this from page one and never a single dull detail within this story. The ending was even better than i imagined it with my theories. There is a spooky crimson peak vibe to it but it still feels absolutely unique and original like nothing that has been written before. This is one like addie la rue that ill be treasuring to re read for years to come.

Heel mooi geschreven, sfeervol en poëtisch. Interessant uitgangspunt, gaf me wat Coraline-vibes, maar zoals veel Schwab-boeken bleef het verhaal slechts vaag geschetst / gesuggereerd. Voelde meer als een jeugdboek aan dan als een YA.

I will buy anything that V.E. Schwab writes. Her writing evokes feeling and atmosphere and I was fully absorbed in the story from the first page. The physical book is also beautiful and enhanced the reading experience for me - from the black edges (Owlcrate edition) to the illustrations, the journal within a book and the typography - I loved every moment of this reading experience.

For more of my reviews, check out my blog.

For me, VE Schwab is one of those authors that I'll buy without question. I've read almost all her work, and already own what I haven't gotten around to reading yet. I love her books, and her style — dark, haunting, and just the tiniest bit curious. Gallant as a novel mostly lives up to this.

I say mostly, because there was no real reason for this book to be classified as a novel, and not a novella. This story is a short one, and truth be told, there was a lot of filler in it. There are many full-page illustrations, and many pages that are filled up with just a few lines of text. Without those in there, I doubt this book would have cracked 250 pages.

Now, the story itself is good! Gallant reminds me of a classic fairy-tale and a ghost story all wrapped up in one.

Olivia, a mute orphan, receives a letter inviting her to her family's estate, Gallant. Once she arrives, it becomes very apparent that no one there sent her the letter. There are only three people living at Gallant when she shows up — the gardener, the cook/house keeper, and her cousin. Everyone at the house is very secretive, and seemingly afraid of the dark. Schwab is excellent at making you feel dread without really knowing why. Olivia is instantly curious, and wanders until she finds something she is not supposed to. Gallant the house is spooky — filled with the ghouls of her family. The story moves forward and you realize that Gallant is haunted by something terrible.

Seeing the world from a mute character's eyes was incredibly unique. You could feel Olivia's frustration when she couldn't communicate with someone. You don't feel her voice as absent, though, because as you read, her thoughts fill up the pages.

This definitely isn't my favorite of Schwab's work, but I still think it's worth the read if you like her other books.

I ended this book last night at 12:00 am. And it keeped me thinking 1 hours after I finished it.
Proper review will be written soon.

I guess this is what happens when you have a tiny nice idea, but no plot, yet feel you HAVE to publish something. Fill it with endless repetitions and illustrations to make it look like a full novel when it's not even got a novella's worth of actual content...

This is a story that will live with me forever

I'll catch myself thinking about it, mind wondering back to Gallant like I belong. Finding a piece of myself within Olivia Prior. Wishing that I could relive this tale over and over again.

Wonderfully told, the world so frightening and vivid. The two Gallants, each house a character.

Olivia.
How I love Olivia.
Nonverbal and yet so strong. Stubborn. Angry.

I have so many feelings after this book. Emotions that'll keep with me long after I've set the book back on the shelf. V E Schwab writes so perfectly her words flowing onto the page and resonating deep within.

I will be returning to this book often.

This deserves all the stars. Utter Perfection.

This was such a fast read, holy moly! I started it like three hours ago. The writing style is great, what else would you expect from Schwab!!! I do wish the ending was prolonged a bit or that the pace of the story was more evenly ‘spread' through the book. The conclusion felt a bit rushed in my opinion.

Overall a very interesting and great read! Highly recommend. Love the spooky vibes. ;3

I am not ok!!! HOLY MACARONI!! I-I-I- I dont even know what to say... this book was at 4 stars the entire time until the ending!! WHY DID MATTHEW HAD TO AHHH HDEGFYHUW I AM IN PAIN IN PAIN I SAY IN PAAIIINNN!!!!! but you know he is with his dad and brother and mom now he been alone without his family and plus he was ready to give his life up!!! BUT STILL IT HURTS LIKE A BITCH.. IM HERE CRYING MY EYES OUT!!! IM SHOCKED I READ THIS IN A DAY LIKE WHHAAAATTTT!!!

This book was so GOOOOOODDD!!!! had my attention from the beginning to the end and WOOWW was it amazing.. had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happen to these characters that died. V.E Schwab did it again yall!!! SHE DID IT AGAIN!!! HER WRITING IS MUWAH JUST CHEF'S KISS!!!

now i need to see some fan art of these characters.

Rating: 3.63 leaves out of 5
Characters:3/5
Cover: 5/5 (It was the one from ForbiddenPlanet and not this one)
Story: 2.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Genre: Horror/gothic
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Kinda

I was eagerly waiting to read this and read it in mere hours but not because I wanted to devour it. It was more like I just wanted to get it over with and done. I wouldn't call this YA unless you are reaching to the younger side of it. This would be pretty cool in a middle school library though.

As for the story I am going to admit she could have gone so far with it and didn't. She made Titanic look like a little boat in a bathtub. Victoria skimmed a massive ice burg. But with that I loved the realm it was in. I think if she had the dad be the death dude and not give her this useless gift and I only called it that because it made no sense in the book. She used it maybe... what... 3 times but it was so nonchalant. Like oh ho ho look at this neat trick.

This story felt rushed and I feel like her publishers made her try and come out with a story. It lacked information and depth. This is something that would be written in an English college course, gone over in class, and then told to take the pointers given and revise it.

This book follows a young orphan woman who can see ghosts. All she has of her family is her mothers journal. One day, she gets a letter from an unknown uncle inviting her to the family house, Gallant. What follows is a haunted house story, where this young woman must confront her past and her present family, as well as the horrors beyond the wall.

VE Schwab is an incredible story teller. Her prose is always top notch. This book is no exception. However, I found this story a little predictable. I was a little underwhelmed with the twists and turns. The family was the most intersting part of the story, but I didn't feel like we got enough time exploring the characters. I felt like the house was the focus, which is fair, but I wanted some more character building. I wanted to know more about the people that already lived in this house.

All in all, a good book and worth the read.

TW: abandonment, ableism, bullying, blood, death, grief, self harm, suicide (off page), suicidal thoughts

This was a surreal read; haunting, and occasionally dipping under the line of whimsy into creepy territory. Favourite moments from creepy to heartbreaking to soulful:

Thomas turning?

“Until I fall asleep”?

He's teaching her piano?!!!

Loved it.

5 out of 5 stars for Gallant.

It does border on middle grade mixed with YA.

This is a story about Olivia, who is an orphan living at a girls boarding school. She is also mute. She can also see ghosts. She doesn't fit in with the other girls and longs to find a place in the world where she belongs. This is a story about discovering yourself, finding your place in the world, and finding your bravery.

Olivia gets a letter calling her away to Gallant, her family home. She meets a whole new cast of characters and her adventure starts.

I loved the way that Schwab captured the voice of a young girl in this novel. She captures the innocence while also showing the young girls growth throughout her journey.

Olivia is a clever, brave girl, and the conclusion of the novel was at both times heartbreaking and satisfying.

I highly recommend this novel.

4/5 stars

I want to, soooo so badly, to give this 5 stars. Because it's VE Schwab, my favorite author ever and I love everything they do, but I don't give out 5 stars as easily as I used to and we've got to be honest with my rating.

But let's be real here, I'll probably go back and give it 5 stars. I'm just such trash for Schwab that it's not even funny anymore. And there were definitely parts that were 5 stars here, especially the writing, which was absolutely gorgeous (as per usual with VE Schwab) and the story between Olivia's parents. If this story was just about Olivia's mother and father, it might be one of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given out, but, unfortunately, it probably would have been too reminiscent of Addie Larue and we got this book instead.

And, also as per usual with VE Schwab, the plot and the world are so beautiful and complex and unique. Truly unlike any other book out there.

I loved all that, but I was left wanting more (and not in the good way).

I just think the story was rushed and the characters didn't seem very fleshed out. And there were a few times here and there where I was bored. I wasn't compelled to pick it up.

As Schwab is one of my favourite writers and ghosts one of my favourite subjects, it's no surprise that I really enjoyed this.
I agree with other reviewers that it's more of a very young adult or older childhood book rather than an adult read but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. I didn't agree with the fact that a lot of reviewers found Olivia really annoying. She's much more relatable and less obnoxious than Cassidy from Schwab's Cassidy Blake series, which is actually written for children. I found her mutism made her more interesting because she had to find more inventive ways to express herself or communicate, though these can be naughty as she's still a pre-teen and probably not as mentally/emotionally developed as normal having been raised by a religious orphanage. While she is communicating with the reader because it's from her POV, I didn't find her thoughts whiney or insufferable.
However, the plot didn't really feel as planned out as it should have been and, if you're an avid reader of the author like myself, you'll see a repeat of some ideas from their earlier books. It's obvious Schwab likes to write about ghosts and she has a specific idea of what they would look like, which is a theme throughout their descriptions in different books.
This reminded me a lot of Coraline, with some obvious influence from both Crimson Peak and The Haunting [on Hill House]. If you like fantastical or gothic horror, definitely give this a try.

I DEVOURED THIS BOOK OMGG

Schwab is a phenomenal storyteller. In my humble list of favorites, her writing and storytelling ranks up there with Rothfuss, Okorafor, and Becky Chambers for me. I don't always love the stories she tells (sorry, I'm one of those that was very “meh” on Addie LaRue) but she could tell me the story of how she bought spinach at the grocery store last week and I'd stick through to the end just for the descriptions.

Gallant was different. It didn't waft through centuries exploring personal connection and sacrifice. It stared down the deepest parts of youthful vehemence and the need to belong and challenged you to confront yourself. The story drags you along into battle to understand what it means to form a family and fight for it.

It is the tale of Oliva, whose father died before she was born and her mother left her at a home for independent girls as a young child. She has no voice, sees a few ghouls, and thoroughly hates where she has ended up. She finally is given a chance at a real home when a long-lost uncle writes and invites her home.

This book is a gutsy, emotional ride through self-discovery when all you have fought for is hanging in the balance. If you are looking for the teenage child of Coraline meets Shades of Magic.... this will not disappoint. If you are seeking another taste of the storytelling that only somewhat saved Addie LaRue, this is for you.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.