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a_very_dyslexic_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
pvbobrien's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, and Suicide
maartabarrales's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
kayladaila's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Ableism and Pregnancy
clairew97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
kgeogheghan's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
This is my first V. E. Schwab novel but certainly won't be my last.
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal death
bookcrushin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Animal death
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
V.E. Schwab does it again, friends. I mean, she opens it with the most beautiful dedication:
"To those who go looking for doors, are brave enough to open the ones they find, and sometimes bold enough to make their own."
And like, I feel as though when you start off that strong, there's no way that the book is about to go downhill.
I'm not a horror fan. I need to preface this review with that because this book falls in the horror genre. I can't handle horror. In fact, I sometimes avoid even reading horror synopses or looking at their covers. That being said, this book did not frighten me, so, if you find yourself worrying about reading it, I say to at least give it a try. It's more... subtly spooky and hauntingly beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that you'll find quotes peppered throughout this review just because I loved them so much. Like this one:
I am so happy. I am so scared. The two, it turns out, can walk together, hand in hand.
The characters were so intricately written. I felt as though I knew them personally. I also felt as though I had walked the halls of Gallant (both of them...) because of how wonderful the descriptions were. They weren't annoyingly extensive or ostentatious. Instead, they made me feel like I was seeing life through the eyes of Olivia Prior and walking right alongside her through every comforting and frightening moment.
“Everything casts a shadow,” he begins. “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.”
This book isn't happy. It isn't filled with brightness and sunshine, but that's what makes it so grand. Keep your eyes open as you go into it, knowing that you'll be left with questions, you may even shed a tear or two, but you will also walk away with hope.
But the truth is, death is everywhere. Death comes for the roses and the apples, it comes for the mice and the birds. It comes for us all. Why should death stop us from living?
This is probably my favorite quote in the entire book. Slight fatalist mentality with a splash of looking on the bright side.
I truly can't imagine never getting a sequel to this book. I realize it's a stand-alone, I do. But, there's just something about it that makes me crave so much more. I don't know if we'll ever get it - and I will be okay if that's the case - but I just couldn't put it down once I started it and I already want to read it again. I'm getting emotional just thinking about it! If you pick up little else this year, please at least read Gallant. You will not regret it in the slightest! It's quick-paced (I could've read it in an afternoon had I the time to do so) and just plain stunning.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Gore
bookaholic_in_wonderland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment