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ineffableverse 's review for:
Gallant
by V.E. Schwab
Of Ghosts And A Broken Family
I've read several of V.E. Schwab's books, and they are always unique und darkly compelling, rendered in a gorgeous lyrical writing style. This is very much true for »Gallant«: It's a creative, beautifully executed gothic mystery, drawing readers of all ages into a paranormal twist on »The Secret Garden«. It offers a fresh take on familiar stories and tropes, interlacing them with an unsettling atmosphere.
Gothic? Mystery? Portal fantasy? Horror? Dark fairytale? All of that, blended together with evocative metaphors and vivid imagery. The worldbuilding is subtle and delicate, inviting you to read between the lines. The plot unfolds at a slow pace, giving Schwab's words time to weave a delicicously eerie tale of ghouls and a broken family. But while I very much enjoyed basking in the beauty of her language, there was something about »Gallant« that did not fully satisfy me.
The dark and twisted storyline creeps towards an ending that does not shy away from heartbreak, which I actually think was a good choice. But it lacks resolution, in a way; it gets repetitive at times. The suspense flags for long passages, as creepy moments dwindle and fade away.
It's still a very good book, don't get me wrong! But I didn't devour it with the same breathless wonder as I devoured »The Invisible Life of Addie LaRou«.
I appreciated the representation in this novel: Olivia is mute and seem to be asexual, and the author does not even hint that either is a flaw or needs to be »fixed«. I liked her very much and felt that she was well-developed, although her story arch does not lead to a clear-cut resolution. The side characters also well-written, showing more depth with every chapter.
I've read several of V.E. Schwab's books, and they are always unique und darkly compelling, rendered in a gorgeous lyrical writing style. This is very much true for »Gallant«: It's a creative, beautifully executed gothic mystery, drawing readers of all ages into a paranormal twist on »The Secret Garden«. It offers a fresh take on familiar stories and tropes, interlacing them with an unsettling atmosphere.
Gothic? Mystery? Portal fantasy? Horror? Dark fairytale? All of that, blended together with evocative metaphors and vivid imagery. The worldbuilding is subtle and delicate, inviting you to read between the lines. The plot unfolds at a slow pace, giving Schwab's words time to weave a delicicously eerie tale of ghouls and a broken family. But while I very much enjoyed basking in the beauty of her language, there was something about »Gallant« that did not fully satisfy me.
The dark and twisted storyline creeps towards an ending that does not shy away from heartbreak, which I actually think was a good choice. But it lacks resolution, in a way; it gets repetitive at times. The suspense flags for long passages, as creepy moments dwindle and fade away.
It's still a very good book, don't get me wrong! But I didn't devour it with the same breathless wonder as I devoured »The Invisible Life of Addie LaRou«.
I appreciated the representation in this novel: Olivia is mute and seem to be asexual, and the author does not even hint that either is a flaw or needs to be »fixed«. I liked her very much and felt that she was well-developed, although her story arch does not lead to a clear-cut resolution. The side characters also well-written, showing more depth with every chapter.