Gallant by VE Schwab!

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Title: Gallant.

Author: VE Schwab.

Format: Hardcover.

Publisher: Greenwillow Books.

Page count: 334

Release day: March 1st 2022.

Genre: YA, fantasy

Rating: 4.5 stars.

GoodReads summary!

Rating:
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 7/10
Intrigue: 9/10
Logic: 8/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Average: 8.57

@Evelynreads on Instagram!

My thoughts:

I don’t know why I decided to review this book, since I have no idea how to write down my thoughts and feelings for this one.. But I will do my best!

This was my most anticipated release of the year, so as soon as I received my copy I picked it up! Which I should do more often, since I loved immediately reading the book I received!

In this book we follow Olivia Prior who grew up at this school for Girls, but she is getting at her end of her time there. In the beginning of the book the school/Olivia receives a letter from her Uncle, inviting her to come ‘home’, which here means Gallant. The only thing Olivia has from her mom is her journal, which mention to never go to Gallant. But obviously she does, since she hates her time at the school. However, when Olivia arrives at Gallant no one is expecting her. She still stays and starts to learn about her family and the mysterious place that is Gallant.

I really loved slowly learning more and more about this strange family and the weirdness around the house.

We read the entire story from Olivia’s POV. Olivia is unable to talk, but she can hear. For a bit I was afraid the big ‘reveal’ at the end was that she randomly could talk again, but that did not happen! But be aware, if you’re big on dialogue, you are not going to get that in this one! Of course there is dialogue between side characters, and Olivia is following their conversations, but she isn’t performing any herself! I loved how VE Schwab found ways for Olivia to express herself to others without the use of words!

I really liked Olivia as a character, and how she really wanted to proof herself so she could stay in Gallant. But also using her ‘resources’ to figure out the things the other characters refuse to tell her. Since the other characters refuse to tell her things, there was also a mystery around them, which I quite liked.

My favourite thing about the book was definitely the writing! It was so beautiful, and I just needed to continue on!

At the start of each chapter, and sometimes in between text, there were drawings. And honestly I would frame so many of them!

This is where I’m going to struggle to explain myself. The plot was my ‘least’ favourite bit of the book, and the reason I didn’t give it 5 stars. I mean there was a plot, but not a lot happened, it just felt kinda simple?! Though for me the beautiful writing overshadowed it.

I definitely recommend this one! VE Schwab once again proved herself to be an auto-buy author for me!

Have you read this book? What did you think?

15 thoughts on “Gallant by VE Schwab!”

  1. I was also afraid that the big reveal at the end was going to be Olivia talking, and I don’t know why I was afraid of that because it’s Schwab, they wouldn’t do us dirty like that, so I’m really glad that Olivia remained mute because it was such a big part of her character, and it would have been just destroyed the whole book if that was taken away from her. I definitely agree with you that the plot was kind of nonexistent and more just vibes. I got a very Secret Garden meets Coraline aesthetic from this book, so I was kind of okay that there wasn’t that much of a plot. Definitely another fantastic addition to the Schwab collection!

    1. No you´re right! Idk why I was worried haha!
      Ooh Secret Garden, i can see that!

  2. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I agree, the writing of it was wonderful. When you get thr journal in the middle of the book it even almost made me cry! Plotwise I just wish there had been a bit more of Olivia in the other Gallant. I think, from the blurb, I thought there was going to be more of it & the Master. Although I loved the little snippets in his POV at the start of each segment. And I thought it was really brave to have a mute central character as so many books rely on dialogue a lot.
    My favourite of the two (really need to get to some more this year) of the two books I’ve read by the author is Gallant but I still loved this & gave it five stars. I found it hard not to because, as much as I wanted more of the other Gallant, I feel like everything Schwab writes fits perfectly into place & changing bits simultaneously seems impossible

    2. Yes I would have liked more of the other Gallant as well!
      I also thought it was really nice that she chose to go with a mute character!
      Schwab is one of my favourite authors, soI definitely recommend all her works!

  3. Beautiful writing but over simplistic plot about hits the nail on the head for me with this one.
    Lynn 😀

  4. I’m so glad you enjoyed this so much!! ♥ Great review!

  5. This does sound wonderful! Off to place a hold request at the library…

  6. I had this one preordered for months, but haven’t gotten to it. She’s an auto-buy for me. Glad you enjoyed it, Evelyn!

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