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16.4k reviews for:

Gallant

V.E. Schwab

3.77 AVERAGE


Nothing happened in the first half then, when things did happen, I didn’t care because the writing was so surface level. Not her best work.

Fabulous gothic ghost story

I’m so surprised this book has less than 4 stars. Gallant makes me wish there was an extra “bonus star” option for those books that thoroughly knock you off your feet. Haunting in the best way, the characters came alive and held me in their grip from start to finish. The writing was as engrossing as it was poetic. It’s a rare treat to experience such a delicate balance executed so beautifully. Gallant is the definition of spellbinding.

(And if that weren’t enough, I listened to the audio and I think this may be the best narration I’ve ever heard.)
challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I'm not usually a fan of thrillers, but this had just the right amount of scary mixed with world building to make me invested in the characters.
adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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: Complicated

This was a pretty good one, and perfect for the start of spooky season. I liked Olivia as a protagonist, and the world was interesting and creepy (the ghouls are pretty cool).

I personally would have preferred a happier ending with more things resolved, but I think the way this played out works with the vibes. But I want to see Death defeated and I was so sad when Matthew died; she just found her family and didn't even really get to know him. The end scene at the piano was very nice though.

Je suis convaincue que c’est une super lecture pour le public jeune ado.
Pour moi, adulte, c’est une lecture sympa mais qui ne me restera pas. C’est pas un livre qu’on a lu 200 fois (sauf si on a déjà lu du Schwab, mais casi tous les auteurs réécrivent en permanence le même livre) mais j’ai un peu du mal avec la métaphore un peu vaporeuse du récit (d’ailleurs tout est un peu vaporeux). L’écriture (ou la traduction) perd parfois un peu en clarté et s’abîme un peu dans les effets de style. Je vois bien que le but n’était pas de créer des personnages très développés, de rester dans un récit « conte gothique », mais à mon avis ça manque de profondeur psychologique. C’est ça globalement : le roman est très (très très) porté sur le fait de dépeindre à petite touche une ambiance de flottement sombre, du gothique silencieux, des ombres, la mort, etc, mais de façon évaporée, et il manque le cri qui déchire tout ça.
Je suis aussi partagée sur la résolution, qui est belle mais qui prolonge encore cette idée d’immobilisme.
En gros je trouve que ce livre a de nombreuses qualités qui ne sont volontairement pas tape à l’oeil, mais qui ne touchent pas totalement ma sensibilité.