Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

93 reviews

luuleggelibri's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Mi è piaciuto. 

"Gallant" è stata una boccata d'aria fresca.
È molto diverso dal mainstream; l'autrice non ha creato un capolavoro ma ha comunque scritto un libro dalla trama assolutamente inaspettata, che mi ha dato quello che di cui avevo bisogno di più in quel momento, ossia la possibilità di evadere completamente.

È molto scorrevole; ho divorato questo libro completamente in tre giorni. Non è un capolavoro ma l'autrice ha creato un altro libro stupendo, con una prospettiva diversa da tutti i suoi libri che avevo letto in precedenza.
La storia è molto dettagliata come anche l'ambientazione, e i personaggi principali sono ben caratterizzati.

L'atmosfera è molto inquietante: questo libro sarebbe stato perfetto per #Halloween. Mi ha tenuto con il fiato sospeso per la maggior parte del tempo, anche se ho ritenuto il finale un po' frettoloso, cosa non necessariamente negativa.

Non ci sono drammi, scene inutili ed eccessivamente lunghe; non ci sono scene romantiche (non è in nessun modo un Romantasy), di conseguenza non ci sono scene sp1cy (this book is definitely my cup of tea❤️). Troviamo alcune scene v1olente.

Leggerei molto molto volentieri un sequel😌💖

Do' 4.3⭐. Ormai questa autrice è una garanzia!!! ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Abandonment

hippievamp's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Terminal illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Animal death, Suicide, and Bullying

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

mysterious tense 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Grief, Abandonment, and Violence

Minor: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Animal death, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Bullying, Self harm, Mental illness, and Pregnancy

sageandcitrus's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

This book had INCREDIBLE vibes. Every chapter had me ready to dive in! The plot was so engaging and well paced, if a little slow at times. This book was very easy to immerse myself in. The art and design of the book adds to the overall experience. I would have ADORED this book as a young teen! While it didn’t absolutely blow me away at 23, I have no complaints! I’m looking forward to reading more of V.E. Schwab’s books. She has a wonderful voice as a writer!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Gore, Animal death, Child abuse, Self harm, Ableism, and Bullying

sabrielsbell's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-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

4.5

You should read this if you like haunted houses, ghosts and ghouls, or middle grade books.  I love V.E Schwab and this was no exception.  It was spooky and somber but you still felt hope and I found myself really rooting for Olivia. I can't say this was a happy read but it was really beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Child death

Moderate: Suicide and Grief

Minor: Animal death and Blood

styxx's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

juan_adhd_reading's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

As I struggle to write this review, I’m doubting if it really deserves 5 stars. Because the thing about a 5 star review is that it implies perfection, an exemplary book, a story that would be universally enjoyed. This book is not perfect and I don’t think everyone would enjoy it. But it was perfect for me; and so, it gets 5 stars.

The thing is, I just really love VE Schwab. I love how her prose can be both beautiful yet haunting: a shiny rose, vivid and colorful; its stem full of sharp thorns, tangling around a skeletal hand. This story was as dark, mysterious and fantastical as I hoped it would be. Though I wouldn’t describe it as fast paced, I was constantly kept at the edge of my seat, savoring the rich setting that is the Gallant manor along the way. The illustrations and the diary were beautiful, a perfect picture of Olivia’s parents’ relationship. This book, I think, will stay with me for a long time to come, and will probably remain one of my favorites of 2024.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Child death

Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, Self harm, and Death

Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent

ayoung720's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

I really enjoyed this book, I felt like it was a great introduction to darker fantasy when I'm more used to "wizard and orc" fantasy. The world building was great, the main character is amazing, the role of her muteness in telling the story is fascinating - I never thought a mute character could say so much through internal thoughts. The setting is beautifully described and I'm sure it's even better for its intended YA audience. 

HOWEVER, I have a gripe with the last 15 pages... Essentially everything the main characters do is completely irrelevant? They hatch a rescue plan but then William dies, Olivia nearly dies, Death escapes but then is recaptured, and everything ends the same way it started except now Olivia is in charge of keeping Death locked behind the door instead of William? It just felt incredibly inconclusive. The only "change" is Olivia's realization of her powers which felt completely underdeveloped. 

I still enjoyed the book overall and am excited to read more of Schwab's works, but the ending has definitely knocked my rating a bit .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Death of parent

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Confinement

justmys's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

An brilliant book that would be perfect reading on a stormy winter's night. 
Beautifully paced with intriguing characters and a bone chilling ghost story woven throughout. It's not a hopeful read, but it's a gift of a story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Death, Bullying, Medical content, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, and Child death

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Body horror, Pregnancy, Blood, Ableism, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Terminal illness, and Gaslighting

rinku's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, and Child abuse