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kimtazo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, and Suicide
Minor: Child death
panic_at_the_bookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
I am not sure where to start with this review. From the very first page my interest was caught. There was something in or about this story that I haven't seen before. Somehow the ending was both expected and unexpected. I don't even know how to explain. V.E. Scwab has stunned me with world where life and death seem to fight against one another while also walking hand in hand.
I also want to emphasise how beautiful the drawings in this book are. Just like Olivia I found myself looking at them many times trying to figure their meaning or simply enjoying the mystery it held.
I also want to emphasise how beautiful the drawings in this book are. Just like Olivia I found myself looking at them many times trying to figure their meaning or simply enjoying the mystery it held.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Child death
hannaws's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
When people see tears, they stop listening to your hands or your words or anything else you have to say. And it doesn't matter if the tears are angry or sad, frightened or frustrated. All they see is a girl crying.
My review side of my brains are so rusty that I have no idea what I'm supposed to do here now. I have not written a review since last April or something. This might be all over the place but if you're reading this for some reason, bear with me!
In all honesty, I grabbed Gallant from our library just because of the cover. I had no idea what I was getting into, I was just drawn to the beautiful cover. I've read some of her books before, so I had a vague idea of what it was going to be like.
I'd like to say that Gallant is a book about found family. Olivia is in an orphanage, kind of, when she receives a letter from a family member, asking her to come home. How she has been looked for and hoped to come back. But at the same time, her mother has written into her journal something that she should take into consideration.
Family is not always easy and neither is the road for Olivia either. She is in for a crazy ride which she did not expect to be facing once going back home. Or is it home?
I do like the characters in this book. It is especially nice to read a fantasy book with a brave main character whom is disabled. You don't get many books with characters with disabilities, you know. And especially the fact that she cannot speak. Yet she still has to make her way in a world where very few are able to understand her signing.
Yet, I still was hoping for a little bit more from the characters. For me all the character building seemed a bit shallow. I'd say this is a book that is more plot driven.
There is still some character growth happening throughout the story. Especially Matthew. He really grows into something completely different. Though sadly his development is a little short lived.
The story in itself is okay. A family with powers to see ghosts, ghouls, whatever you want to call them. And with a task to keep something out of this world in it's place. I would have liked some more information about all of this. You know, where, who, why, what? I've got a lot of questions about everything but very little answers.
But it is a medium paced book with some twists and turns that are somewhat foreseeable since the beginning. Gallant definitely has it's moments when you just can't put the book down. You got to read forward to see how it ends. But it does also has the moments when I was just wanting to put the book down and leave it there.
All in all I am glad I did end up finishing the book. It is a nice quick read for someone who graves for a little bit of fantasy but doesn't want to read a book with 700 pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Bullying
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Schwab's atmosphere and settings in books are always to die for, that is all.
Representation: MC is mute
Representation: MC is mute
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Bullying
gssll_lpz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, Bullying, and Animal death
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: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Confinement, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Pregnancy, Bullying, Body horror, and Violence
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 of parent, Murder, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death and Child death
dosxhime's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Not quite the stunning work that I expected from VE Schwab, but definitely not bad by any means. I loved the mysterious entries and illustrations, which gave the book an extra layer of atmosphere. I wish there was a little more character building between the Gallant residents, such as Matthew. However, Gallant was a satisfying and atmospheric read for this autumn.
3.8 / 5 B+
3.8 / 5 B+
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Bullying, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
marareading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.75
Alright, I get it. I finally understand why everyone was falling over themselves to get to this book. It's great. An orphan who sees ghouls, and finds her way to Gallant. An estate with a sorted history. She is mute and the adventure that is coming, so one could prepare her for.
It is beautiful, Gothic, mysterious, and atmospheric. I devoured this book and will probably do it again. Highly recommend.
It is beautiful, Gothic, mysterious, and atmospheric. I devoured this book and will probably do it again. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Animal death, Terminal illness, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Violence
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, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Gore, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, and Medical content