Reviews

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

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elizabeth_its_liz_reading's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars

roeckitcody's review against another edition

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the illustrations were gorgeous, but something lacked in this one for me.

dashie's review

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3.0

One of V E Schwab's talents is her rich, rich way of writing. The sentences are stilted, unnecessarily poetic but the effect is amazing especially when she's describing fight scenes.

Though the plot of this story felt incomplete; and similar to ADSOM which is the greatest story she's ever written, period, it was still one that kept my attention.

kornita's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

3.25

rhiannajohnson's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

Not a lot happened in this book, yet Schwab’s beautiful language and how she conveyed what I think the message was sold it for me. Olivia is a young girl coming into a family (sort of) she didn’t know she had, and she is the one who has to fix the problem and save the day (

yet there was nothing to save anyway what the fuck every Prior is dead because of her and for what???)

She also cannot speak. It may be because I’m also rereading Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan, but characters who cannot speak and have frustration at their inability to communicate break my heart. This book is about a physical sacrifice for family, how the Priors literally just give themselves up, but it turned into a message about what we will do for family - especially those we share blood with (because she truly has no other connection to Matthew, and yes he was mean to her to try to get her to leave to protect her, but that isn’t a love built from connection). I read it as a commentary on how fucked up families can be and the toll it takes on younger generations. What we do now will affect our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Like she realizes on page 273, family feels like sacrifice but it’s also being there for each other.

This is a book that feels like you’ve stepped into someone else’s shoes for a bit to learn a lesson, but I don’t know think I learned the possible intended lesson. Her life in the epilogue was better than her life before, but

it’s still haunting her too, so won’t she just die? And what happens when there isn’t a Prior at the gate? The whole world does or his ability to get out is over?

Solid 3/5. Would not recommend as aggressively as I recommend Schwab’s Shade of Magic trilogy or Vicious duology.

selenafoxglove's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

abbyfrelier's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Entertaining while I was in it but I don't think I'll remember anything about this book in a year. I didn't love the ending and read most of the book expecting a clever turn to make everything add up but was left disappointed!