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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was enjoyable enough. Felt quite similar to the City of Ghosts series. Wasn't wow but enjoyable.
Magic is tied to life and death. The atmosphere is eerie from the beginning and it only intensifies as our main character travels from the first location, an orphanage of sorts, to our destination. Gallant is an old mansion hunted by more than ghouls. There’s something really wrong there but we're yet to find out the tale behind it.
I liked that there was no time reference. Is this story taking place in the present? Is it the early 1900s? Maybe? Who knows? Besides the fact that cars are hard to come by, there was no reference I could find regarding the time and I found that I actually enjoyed that. It suited the story and added even more mystery.
The reason why this was a four star read for me is because I usually like books with a more engaging plot. I needed more from the story. And I wasn’t a big fan of the ending. To me, it felt abrupt. The magical build up was so thoroughly satisfying and it was obvious that the author spent a lot of time and effort into the world building. The ending was disappointing to me because everything wrapped up quickly.
I liked that there was no time reference. Is this story taking place in the present? Is it the early 1900s? Maybe? Who knows? Besides the fact that cars are hard to come by, there was no reference I could find regarding the time and I found that I actually enjoyed that. It suited the story and added even more mystery.
The reason why this was a four star read for me is because I usually like books with a more engaging plot. I needed more from the story. And I wasn’t a big fan of the ending. To me, it felt abrupt. The magical build up was so thoroughly satisfying and it was obvious that the author spent a lot of time and effort into the world building. The ending was disappointing to me because everything wrapped up quickly.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
probably the least creative book i’ve read from her, but still a fun break from dense history readings
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
Gallant is my very first read from V E Schwab and I went into it knowing next to nothing. As a popular writer, my expectations of Schwab are quite high, but with this being young adult, I was not going to be harsh with the plot and the characters.
The story follows Olivia, a mute orphaned girl, as she unravels the mysteries surrounding her found family's estate Gallant. A predictable haunted mansion, Gallant has the perfect gothic atmosphere that I love when it comes to ghost stories. The atmosphere, combined with Schwab's writing style keep the pages turning and make Gallant a quick and gripping read.
Unfortunately, the plot is not as remarkable as I had hopped it to be. The events unfold in a rather slow manner and the mystery is quickly revealed and thus the story becomes predictable. Because of this, I feel that Gallant falls short on its message and quickly becomes predictable, the type of book that you can summarize in 2-3 sentences.
Although it is not your typical YA fantasy story, the haunted mansion story does not feel any different from any other generic story written until Gallant. I can praise Schwab for her beautiful writing style, she knows how to create an atmosphere, but atmosphere alone is not enough to keep the story afloat.
The story follows Olivia, a mute orphaned girl, as she unravels the mysteries surrounding her found family's estate Gallant. A predictable haunted mansion, Gallant has the perfect gothic atmosphere that I love when it comes to ghost stories. The atmosphere, combined with Schwab's writing style keep the pages turning and make Gallant a quick and gripping read.
Unfortunately, the plot is not as remarkable as I had hopped it to be. The events unfold in a rather slow manner and the mystery is quickly revealed and thus the story becomes predictable. Because of this, I feel that Gallant falls short on its message and quickly becomes predictable, the type of book that you can summarize in 2-3 sentences.
Although it is not your typical YA fantasy story, the haunted mansion story does not feel any different from any other generic story written until Gallant. I can praise Schwab for her beautiful writing style, she knows how to create an atmosphere, but atmosphere alone is not enough to keep the story afloat.
Wonderful wild and imaginative book. Olivia is a strong unusual child and has a very particular heritage which draws her to a frightening place. Beautifully written and detailed, with illustrations that at first seem random but are an integral part of the story. A delight and highly recommended.