A review by mariebrunelm
Gallant by V.E. Schwab

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? No
 For a book set in Summer, this has major Autumn vibes and I was here for it.
Olivia Prior is living in at Merilance orphanage. All she has from her mother is her old diary, in which Grace recounted her slow but sure descend into madness. Her father is but a shadow — she has no memory of him. There aren't many certainties in Olivia's life, but her mother made sure to leave her this message: "you will be safe as long as you stay away from Gallant". When a letter reaches her from her uncle in Gallant, inviting her home, surely this is her chance to be free? Except if her ghosts follow her to Gallant, and if scarier ones await her behind a wall in the garden...
For a book all about death and ghosts, I found it quite soft and pleasant. It was extremely atmospheric, being set in an old manor with a spooky crumbing wall in the garden, filled with ghosts and giving strong Autumn vibes despite being set in Summer. The heroin is headstrong but kind, and although I didn't find the book particularly original, it was precisely what I needed at this very moment and I'm very happy to have picked it up. The prose is simple but poetic, and I'm considering buying a second-hand copy in English one day if I come across a bargain, because I can see this becoming a cozy seasonal re-read.
Rep: non-speaking MC. 
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