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Gallant

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Olivia Prior, an orphan with no family or voice, receives a mysterious letter inviting her to Gallant, a family home with a dark and eerie presence. As Olivia navigates the secrets of the house and her own past, she discovers a world filled with ghouls, mysteries, and a sinister figure. The story unfolds through Olivia's perspective, blending words and sketches to reveal a gothic tale with unexpected twists and a hint of darkness reminiscent of a Gothic classic.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Olivia as a unique protagonist against a backdrop of complexity and darkness, including a hostile cousin and supportive household figures.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is poetic and atmospheric, featuring vivid descriptions that immerse readers in the gothic themes of the story.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around an orphan who discovers her family history upon receiving a letter. The setting reveals dark secrets intertwined with her past, and Olivia faces challenges with mysterious ghouls and her family's hidden truths.

Setting:

The setting alternates between the haunting Gallant estate and the oppressive Merilance orphanage, enriching the gothic atmosphere.

Pacing:

Pacing starts slowly, but accelerates as the story unfolds, maintaining reader interest despite initial lags.
They call it a garden shed, but in truth there is no garden on the grounds of Merilance, and the shed is barely even that. It sags to one side, like a wilting plant, made of cheap metal and moldering ...

Notes:

Olivia Prior is the main character who is an orphan and mute.
She grows up at Merilance School for Girls, facing bullying from other girls.
Olivia possesses her mother's journal, which hints at dark family secrets.
She receives a letter from an uncle inviting her to family home Gallant, only to find he has died before her arrival.
Gallant is described as a gothic horror with elements of magical realism.
The story features themes of belonging, identity, and supernatural elements like ghosts.
The book has a slower start, but many readers found it engaging once they reached Gallant.
Some readers compared it to works like "Coraline" and "The Secret Garden" due to its eerie atmosphere and themes.
It tackles issues of ableism, as Olivia is bullied for her disability by her peers.
The writing style is noted for its poetic and immersive prose.
Each character, particularly Olivia and her cousin Matthew, has complex backgrounds that affect the story's unfolding.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Gallant contains medium triggers/content warnings, including themes of grief and mental health issues.

From The Publisher:

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

A NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER

"A bone-chilling standalone . . . which fuses Shirley Jackson's gothic horror sensibilities with the warmth and dark whimsy of Neil Gaiman."-Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Gripping worldbuilding, well-rounded characters, and fantastic horror."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Unsettling and intriguing."-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.

#1 New York Times-bestselling author V. E. Schwab weaves a dark and original tale about the place where the world meets its shadow, and the young woman beckoned by both sides. The Secret Garden meets Crimson Peak in this stand-alone novel perfect for readers of Holly Black and Neil Gaiman.

Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for Girls, and all she has of her past is her mother's journal-which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home; it doesn't matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile, or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant-but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

New York Times-bestselling author V. E. Schwab crafts a vivid and lush novel that grapples with the demons that are often locked behind closed doors. An eerie, stand-alone saga about life, death, and the young woman beckoned by both. Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, Melissa Albert, and Garth Nix will quickly lose themselves in this novel with crossover appeal for all ages.

Ratings (23)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (8)
Liked It (6)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (65):

Read It (25)
Want To Read (40)

1 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 week

Victoria Schwab is a very hit and miss for me. I adored the invisible life... But other than that no book have gotten more than 3 stars from me. I hoped it would change with this one but unfortunately not. If the next books sounds something especially interesting to me I think I'll try not to pick up any more from this author

 
 
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