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l_e_lavalle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Self harm, and Violence
frankieclc's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Self harm and Blood
saurahsaurus's review
- 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
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
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Gallant is a YA standalone novel by V.E. Schwab. This was the perfect atmospheric read for spooky season! We get ghouls, a haunted house/haunted garden, and blood magic. This was sort of like if you mashed The Secret Garden with the upsidedown in Stranger Things.
We follow Olivia Prior, a mute girl who is an orphan at a school for girls that has never felt like home. She also sees ghouls everywhere. As she is about to age out of the school, she receives a letter apparently from her uncle that invites her to come live at his estate called Gallant. Olivia sees this as an opportunity to finally have a family.
When she gets to Gallant, it becomes quite clear that her uncle was not the one to send that letter, and she is far from welcome. Her cousin, Matthew, demands she leave. Olivia has her mother's journal that is full of mad ramblings and drawings that don't make much sense, but she holds onto it for comfort anyway. The. She realizes there is more to the garden than just a wall.
Not a ton happens in this book. It's slow paced and doesn't have much action, but the spooky vibes are immaculate. It was fascinating to see the world through Olivia since she can't talk. I'm pretty sure Olivia is ace based on how she talks about kissing someone. Matthew is dyslexic and sickly through the majority of the book. We get good character growth out of him. The other side of the garden wall is creepy af! I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that.
I do wish Schwab had given us more about Hannah and Edgar as well as the being on the other side of the garden wall. I wanted to see more from Olivia when she was over there. I absolutely loved the journal entries and drawings from Grace's journal throughout the book. Over all, this was a good read. Schwab hasn't steered me wrong yet.
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Self harm and Blood
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Graphic: Self harm, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Blood, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide and Eating disorder
ashdroid's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent and Self harm
Minor: Suicide
phillyhufflepunk's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
laguerrelewis'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, Body horror, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Moderate: Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
hellaedra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
rlobel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Death, Grief, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence