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A review by mallorypen
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Overall, this was an “eh” for me. The concept of a shadow/mirror realm ruled by the dead was cool, but for the length of the novel it was kind of surprising how not a whole lot actually happened.
I did like the idea of Death having his four soldiers (horsemen of the apocalypse?) and that Olivia’s mother was helped by one of them and ultimately fell in love with him. Their story seemed much more interesting than Matthew and Olivia meeting as long-lost cousins and the last scions of the Prior family.
I also didn’t have much of an emotional connection to Matthew, Thomas, or anyone else other than Olivia and her mother. Even then, I didn’t feel compelled to keep reading to find out what happened to them next.
The climax of the story where Thomas isn’t actually alive felt kind of blah. The betrayal of Death, Matthew sacrificing himself for Olivia, and Olivia commanding the ghouls in the real world didn’t give me any big emotional payoff.
The spooky melancholy feel was a mood the entire read, though.
I did like the idea of Death having his four soldiers (horsemen of the apocalypse?) and that Olivia’s mother was helped by one of them and ultimately fell in love with him. Their story seemed much more interesting than Matthew and Olivia meeting as long-lost cousins and the last scions of the Prior family.
I also didn’t have much of an emotional connection to Matthew, Thomas, or anyone else other than Olivia and her mother. Even then, I didn’t feel compelled to keep reading to find out what happened to them next.
The climax of the story where Thomas isn’t actually alive felt kind of blah. The betrayal of Death, Matthew sacrificing himself for Olivia, and Olivia commanding the ghouls in the real world didn’t give me any big emotional payoff.
The spooky melancholy feel was a mood the entire read, though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent