Thank you so much to publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

I don’t even know what to say. Ms. Schwab has done it again and I’ve fallen in love with another one of her books. I’m obsessed with the darkness, the way she ties sadness and strength together. Just ahhhh loved it so much!

Olivia, an orphan at a school for orphan girls, only has vague memories of her mother, but she has her journal. And when a mysterious letter comes from an uncle she never knew she had, she takes the opportunity to escape the orphanage. She arrived at Gallant and realizes the house and everyone in it is full of secrets. Determined to discover them, she realizes she may not want to know Gallant’s secrets. Full of shadows, death, and darkness she crosses over to an alternate world, a shadow world, and sees where she truly came from.

This book is just…. Oh em gee. It was beautiful and heartbreaking, dark and light, full of hopelessness and promise. The juxtaposition of everything is so well done and I loved original content that felt like a new fairytale. This has definitely become a new favorite of mine.

Thanks, NetGalley, for my ARC copy of Gallant!

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys Neil Gaiman; it's appropriate for most ages like The Graveyard Book, and it reads so well that I couldn't wait to see what twists were coming. From ghouls to Death itself and back again, this book was a great adventure.

Victoria Schwab is easily the best writer I’ve come across in the fantasy genre. This book is SO well written it’s actually insane. Every word has meaning and each sentence is crafted to perfection! I was definitely picking up Neil Gaiman and Shirley Jackson vibes from this book. I’m not sure if it’s pitched as Gothic but the manor really makes it feel like it is! Overall this was such a beautifully written book per usual!

**Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending me a copy to review!

Really liked this one. It’s been a summer of haunted houses for me, and this one was another solid story.

There were some elements I felt slightly rushed or breezed over, but in the end I understand why it was structured the way it was. This has a wonderfully spooky atmosphere, and the concept (though it took a lil while to get there) was worth the wait.

*thanks to netgalley for this ARC*

I don’t know what I expected from this book, but I definitely didn’t expect what I got. It had a very similar vibe to The Near Witch; it was short, dark, and a strange kind of sweet.

Olivia, the main character is fourteen. And she’s completely mute. That made for a super interesting dynamic and I love the way she interacted with the other characters. She didn’t have a lot of depth to her character, though, which may in part be because she didn’t express herself much at all. I would’ve loved to have more character development for her.

The setting reminded me a bit of Stranger Things, with the parallel worlds divided by a portal, one of them full of life and one of them full of death, and Olivia going back and forth between them. I wish there had been more time spent on both of them, as I was left feeling like I didn’t have the whole picture. It felt kind of like watching an old black and white movie, knowing that there’s more that what you’re seeing, but not being able to see it. I really wanted to see each world get fleshed out more and given more focus.

Overall this was a very short, plot driven story. The dark setting could easily have made it a thriller, but instead of being scary it was more a gentle haunting that leaves you wondering what kind of tea the ghost would prefer. My only complaint is that there’s not more of it.

Another hauntingly beautiful story from Victoria Schwab. With a unique story concept and an unconventional way of telling the story, Schwab has once again shown her master story weaving skills.

I love the ways that Olivia finds to communicate without her voice. She is a smart girl and through her eyes the story really comes to life. The artwork is such an amazing way of telling the story too. There are so many ways to interpret the art but I think that adds to the depth of the story. I found the art set the tone for the story early on but as the revelation of who created the drawings and what they represent to the story is revealed, each piece takes on a whole new meaning.

Overall, just a fantastic, creepy story told in a unique way.

You can’t go wrong picking up a Victoria Schwab book. Her writing is beautiful, her stories are easy to get lost in, and her characters/worlds are awesome.

Gallant is a unique, haunting story about Olivia and her journey to find home. I was so enamored with the story. The only I thing I wish there was more of was the world building and character development. I don’t want to say much, I think going into this story not knowing much really adds to the mystery of Gallant. But definitely keep your eyes out for this one next year. It’s gorgeous.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending me an ARC.

I generally like Victoria Schwab's work, but I found myself disappointed in this book-mainly the ending. The book did have a great pace and I stayed interested, but the ending just didn't work for what I was expecting. I am not sure whether this novel is meant to be a stand alone, but it seems to be expecting a sequel.

It's no surprise that Victoria's writing absolutely blew me away, it always does. Every so often I'd come across a line so beautifully written that it'd catch me by surprise and I'd have to stop to read it over again and again. The colorless environment makes everything so cold and dark and creepy, really setting the tone. The crimson peak description is spot on with the grandiose house, the flowy night gowns, candles, and decaying ghosts.

Our main character is easy to sympathize with and strong willed. The book doesn't overwhelm you with a large cast of characters and the ones that appear are there for a reason. This may be labelled as a YA book but it had me crying by the end.

This whole time I have been needing a gothic horror novel from Schwab and never knew it. Easy 5/5 for me.

#Gallant #NetGalley
A very different tale than what I am used to from Victoria Schwab. It took a little longer to get into, but the overall story is dark and suspenseful. It just was slow to get into compared to her other materials.

Will not read. Unavailable to send to Kindle device.
Will not read. Unavailable to send to Kindle device.
Will not read. Unavailable to send to Kindle device.
Will not read. Unavailable to send to Kindle device.
Will not read. Unavailable to send to Kindle device.

Olivia Prior has yearned for answers about her family's past, and what her mother was like. All she has to go by is a discarded journal her mother left behind, a symbol of Olivia's very being that she clings to as she navigates life at the Merilance School for Girls. But when Olivia is suddenly whisked away from the confines of the orphanage-like school, and reunited with extended family at a home with a curious garden, she is forced to confront her family's secrets. Just as Superman has Bizarro Superman, so too does Galant have an imperfect clone. There is a place on the other side of Olivia's new home, just past a crumbling wall in the garden, and she must grapple with what she learns when she crosses over to it. This book plunges the reader into the darkness of a world unknown, with descriptions so rich, they will feel as though they've been transported alongside Olivia. The touch of a wilting flower, the tone of a villain's voice, the creak of floorboards in a dilapidated hallway — Schwab gives life to the bleak and shadowy place just beyond our own. The book slowly pieces together a portrait of a lost girl on a quest to find the truth about who she is, where she's from, and what will make her feel whole.

One super nit-picky aspect: The use of "And yet...." throughout the novel is noticeably abundant.

Gallant is a hauntingly atmospheric story that is a cross between Coraline and Mexican Gothic. I really enjoyed reading this, but it was very different then other books in Victoria Schwab's impressive collection. Gallant is not driven by action; it is much slower paced, giving the reader time to sink into the world. The only draw back I has was with the ending. I did not feel satisfied as if there were a few promises that were made earlier in the book that did not come to fruition; things were answered and solved, just not in the way I personally had been expecting. But overall, this was a great read and I recommend it to readers who enjoyed Schwab's Nearwitch.

"Everything casts a shadow. 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."

Oh, how I adored this book. As usual, with her lush and descriptive writing, Schwab dragged me deep into her dark fantasy world: in this case, the life of Olivia Prior, a mute orphan searching for freedom and family.

"Free - a small word for such a magnificent thing."

Gallant is a vivid gothic horror tale, complete with hostile relatives, death, ghouls, and a mysterious wall on a creepy country estate. And Olivia is the perfect gothic heroine: fierce, defiant, clever, alone (in more ways than one). I don't want to give too much away, but I found this book impossible to put down and on par with Vicious. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, gothic horror or the author herself.

Possible spoilers......




I really enjoyed the story. Schwab is great at crafting worlds and characters and she has done it again with this story. I am making the assumption that since it's Victoria and not VE that this is a YA title, which I feel is a good categorization. I like that she didn't shy away from characters having things happen to them that may not be the popular choice with all readers as it made the story a lot less predictable and things weren't tied up prettily at the end with a bow.

Before I get into this, let me lay out the basics for you: Olivia Prior is a mute girl living in an orphanage with no hint of her parentage except for her mother's journal. The journal addressed to her father, details her mother's escape from a place called Gallant...and her descent into madness. Though her mother warns Olivia to never go to this mysterious Gallant, a letter arrives for her, insisting that she return to her family there. Olivia, with no better options in her grasp, returns as instructed and falls into a decades-old family secret.

This novel was EXCELLENT. It was not particularly scary, but I felt extremely uneasy as I was reading it. Schwab captures the eeriness of the uncanny in a way I have never experienced with the written word. Though Olivia cannot speak out loud, I did not feel in the dark (pun intended) during the journey. There were no frustrating moments that could be solved by lack of communication. The line between eagerness to unearth the mystery and patience with plot pacing was perfect for me. Schwab never reveals everything, but lays out all the clues for you and leaves room for imagination.

If you have been unsure about pre-ordering this book for lack of information, I went into this novel fully blind and found it to be an absolute joy; compelling, creepy, and dosed with (somehow) warm familial undertones. A unique addition to my shelf.

Victoria, you did it again! Gallant did not disappoint - it's like combining paranormal horror with a big hug.

Our protagonist, Olivia, is a young girl who's only desire in life is to find a place where she feels like she belongs. We first meet Olivia at the Merilance School for Girls, a refuge for orphaned girls and a place that is definitely not a place where any young girl should be. Much like the other girls, Olivia dreams of one day running away - unlike the other girls, Olivia is essentially rescued from Merilance when a letter arrives inviting her to "come home". The only thing about the letter...the author is dead. How did it find her?

What I really loved about this book is the spooky air that is present from page to page. It's not outright horror with jump scares; it's the kind of horror that has you slowly peaking out from behind corners, or looking over your shoulder, or holding your breath when you think you heard something while you're home alone. The suspense builds and THAT'S what keeps you on your toes. Gallant will keep you away from all of your responsibilities because once you start reading it you won't want to stop.

If you enjoyed the Netflix show Bly Manor you'll love this book. If you enjoy horror or suspense, you'll love this book. If you're a reader in general, you'll love this book.

Victoria Schwab is amazing at world building and character development and this book is a brilliant example of her power! Story is delightful and fun, while our main character feels like our best friend

Some may consider the hardest job of an author’s career to be writing their most successful novel. For Schwab, most would undeniably consider this her 2020 work “The Invisible Life of Addie Larue.” And yet, what might just be the hardest task, is writing the follow up book to one’s most successful novel; for Schwab this is her upcoming novel “Gallant.”

Gallant follows the story of Olivia Prior, a young orphan who can see ghosts, cannot speak, but still makes herself heard. Soon she is whisked away to her uncle’s home where what appears to be just doors, walls, and keys morphs into something much greater than that.

This text is the core of what Schwab is consistently successful in: crafting an immersive world and immaculate characters through words that work together like clockwork. And yet it still manages to set itself apart from all her other works. Schwab has stated many times that she draws much inspiration from fellow creative Neil Gaiman, and this the work in which I saw that influence the most. In an almost Coraline-esque tale, Schwab creates a story and characters that feel familiar and yet are unexpected and feel wholly fleshed out.

At the end of the day, do I believe this to be my favorite VE Schwab novel? Probably not. But do I think it a fantastic work in itself? Absolutely. Schwab could have reached for another masterpiece like she did with Addie Larue. But instead, she chooses to let this story be a small whimsical tale, and that is where it is so successful.

**Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.**

Gallant tells the story of a young orphan, Olivia, who discovers she has a family and a home, but the home is threatened by its dark image. The tone is similar to Schwab's first book--quiet and mysterious. The book is also interspersed with lovely illustrations that are rearranged for the plot. However, it did take a bit long for the plot to get going and I didn't feel particularly attached to any of the secondary characters. More backstory would also have fleshed out the story, so I would feel more invested.