Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

97 reviews

literally_mint's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

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+ 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Bullying, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Abandonment, Child death, and Suicide

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, Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Grief

Minor: Suicide

angela005's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Child death, Abandonment, Blood, and Bullying

Minor: Suicide

ten_telegrams's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Bullying

tilde_c_s's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Mental illness, and Suicide

Minor: Child death and Blood

jesselopod's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This novel is like a dark and creepy fairytale for adults without the morality twist. It wasn’t deep tale but it was entertaining and enjoyable although

I would have liked a more conclusive ending, a greater resolution or even a better hook where my imagination could have run wild with what may have happened next

. It was exactly what I wanted to read right now, an easy to read, fast paced story which isn’t an epic multi-book journey but instead a self contained plot. The descriptions and atmosphere in the book are beautifully crafted, and I enjoyed it for the vibe more than the plot itself. The perfect thing to read after binge watching Sandman and then listening to the Stardust audiobook. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, and Confinement

Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Bullying, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Content warning: sleep/nightmare/insomnia related themes

relearning2read's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I found it overall enjoyable, but the ending strangely unsatisfying compared to the potential of the elements that were introduced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Terminal illness

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Self harm