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A review by theespressoedition
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was one of my most-anticipated releases of 2022 and unsurprisingly, it did not disappoint.
V.E. Schwab does it again, friends. I mean, she opens it with the most beautiful dedication:
"To those who go looking for doors, are brave enough to open the ones they find, and sometimes bold enough to make their own."
And like, I feel as though when you start off that strong, there's no way that the book is about to go downhill.
I'm not a horror fan. I need to preface this review with that because this book falls in the horror genre. I can't handle horror. In fact, I sometimes avoid even reading horror synopses or looking at their covers. That being said, this book did not frighten me, so, if you find yourself worrying about reading it, I say to at least give it a try. It's more... subtly spooky and hauntingly beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that you'll find quotes peppered throughout this review just because I loved them so much. Like this one:
I am so happy. I am so scared. The two, it turns out, can walk together, hand in hand.
The characters were so intricately written. I felt as though I knew them personally. I also felt as though I had walked the halls of Gallant (both of them...) because of how wonderful the descriptions were. They weren't annoyingly extensive or ostentatious. Instead, they made me feel like I was seeing life through the eyes of Olivia Prior and walking right alongside her through every comforting and frightening moment.
“Everything casts a shadow,” he begins. “Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.”
This book isn't happy. It isn't filled with brightness and sunshine, but that's what makes it so grand. Keep your eyes open as you go into it, knowing that you'll be left with questions, you may even shed a tear or two, but you will also walk away with hope.
But the truth is, death is everywhere. Death comes for the roses and the apples, it comes for the mice and the birds. It comes for us all. Why should death stop us from living?
This is probably my favorite quote in the entire book. Slight fatalist mentality with a splash of looking on the bright side.
I truly can't imagine never getting a sequel to this book. I realize it's a stand-alone, I do. But, there's just something about it that makes me crave so much more. I don't know if we'll ever get it - and I will be okay if that's the case - but I just couldn't put it down once I started it and I already want to read it again. I'm getting emotional just thinking about it! If you pick up little else this year, please at least read Gallant. You will not regret it in the slightest! It's quick-paced (I could've read it in an afternoon had I the time to do so) and just plain stunning.
V.E. Schwab does it again, friends. I mean, she opens it with the most beautiful dedication:
"To those who go looking for doors, are brave enough to open the ones they find, and sometimes bold enough to make their own."
And like, I feel as though when you start off that strong, there's no way that the book is about to go downhill.
I'm not a horror fan. I need to preface this review with that because this book falls in the horror genre. I can't handle horror. In fact, I sometimes avoid even reading horror synopses or looking at their covers. That being said, this book did not frighten me, so, if you find yourself worrying about reading it, I say to at least give it a try. It's more... subtly spooky and hauntingly beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that you'll find quotes peppered throughout this review just because I loved them so much. Like this one:
I am so happy. I am so scared. The two, it turns out, can walk together, hand in hand.
The characters were so intricately written. I felt as though I knew them personally. I also felt as though I had walked the halls of Gallant (both of them...) because of how wonderful the descriptions were. They weren't annoyingly extensive or ostentatious. Instead, they made me feel like I was seeing life through the eyes of Olivia Prior and walking right alongside her through every comforting and frightening moment.
“Everything casts a shadow,” he begins. “Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.”
This book isn't happy. It isn't filled with brightness and sunshine, but that's what makes it so grand. Keep your eyes open as you go into it, knowing that you'll be left with questions, you may even shed a tear or two, but you will also walk away with hope.
But the truth is, death is everywhere. Death comes for the roses and the apples, it comes for the mice and the birds. It comes for us all. Why should death stop us from living?
This is probably my favorite quote in the entire book. Slight fatalist mentality with a splash of looking on the bright side.
I truly can't imagine never getting a sequel to this book. I realize it's a stand-alone, I do. But, there's just something about it that makes me crave so much more. I don't know if we'll ever get it - and I will be okay if that's the case - but I just couldn't put it down once I started it and I already want to read it again. I'm getting emotional just thinking about it! If you pick up little else this year, please at least read Gallant. You will not regret it in the slightest! It's quick-paced (I could've read it in an afternoon had I the time to do so) and just plain stunning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Gore