Victoria Schwab has an incredible ability to take shopworn themes in fiction and mold them into something new and unique. She does it again here with the Gothic “There’s something wrong with the house” trope, putting her own unusual, fresh spin on one my my favorite topics in one of my favorite genres.

The bones of this are pretty standard to the trope, but Schwab takes us on an atmospheric, beautifully eerie and meandering trip through the strange world of Gallant.

Olivia, who cannot speak but has a gift for sort hung and can see and interact with ghouls, is a fairly standard to the genre but likable protagonist. Her foe (despite being based on an age old character of sorts) is a far more unusual fellow. But Olivia is easy to root for and their relationship to one another is based on some interesting stuff.

I loved the concept of the house and the shadow house, and Schwab’s world building was as creepily gorgeous as always, though I think the story could have used more of it.

This lacks the emotional pull of Addie LaRue, and while it’s less dramatic in some ways, it’s a gentler and more atmospheric novel than Vicious. In all, a lovely, dark gothic fairy tale and a delight to read.

Gallant is a fast paced gothic novel for middle grade/YA that is sure to delight fans of Coraline.

Olivia is a mute orphan who can see ghouls. She lives at Merilance, a school that trains girls up to be maids and other household servants. One day, a letter arrives from her uncle claiming her and returning her to her ancestral home, Gallant.

What ensues is a dark journey into the mysteries of Olivia’s family and why her mother tried to protect her from it all those years ago.

Fantastic storytelling and an unforgettable main character. Highly recommended.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another fantastic read from Victoria Schwab! Olivia discovers she has family she never knew about, and makes a journey into the shadow world. Excellent read!

Enjoyed this book. The plot and characters were well thought out and vivid. I would recommend this book to others and can't wait to read what the author does next.

I am as big fan of all Victoria Schwab’s fiction, but if you have not read her before start with something else. This is a peculiar story reminiscent of another era and it might not suit the contemporary reader’s taste. It is a darkly sad tale from start to finish. The battle between death personified and the Priory family does not lift the spirit in spite of the strength and resilience of the characters. If you are in the mood for haunting melancholy this is the tale for you.

A fun haunting dance through captivating house. Gallant is perfect for anyone that is a fan of Tim Burton or Guillermo Del Toro.

This book was about as perfect of a follow-up to “The invisible Life of Addie LaRue” as one could ask for. Once again, we have a strong, female protagonist who knows she is due much more than her destiny, even if that means chasing down a god who answers after dark. Olivia Prior is a multi-faceted character, with many redeeming qualities/powers but also some flaws/impediments that make her an extremely realistic and relatable character. Furthermore the writing style and pacing of the book far exceeded my expectations; I don’t usually read YA nor do I read a book in under 2 days. To add to that, the atmosphere was engrossing and perfectly suited for a Halloween-time read, although I read it in the peak of summer and was still enamored. I don’t want to say much more in order to keep the plot a mystery, but I highly recommend this book.

Gallant is a bit Coraline, a bit Jane Eyre, a bit The Secret Garden, and a large dash its own thing. It is a quiet and creepy story, all about family and ghosts and unexpected homecomings.

Olivia grew up in an orphanage, a harsh one whose job is to prepare children who have no place in the world to be adults who have no place in the world. All that she has of her history is a journal that once belonged to her mother, and a strange ability to see spirits. Olivia is also mute, a condition that sets her even more apart from her fellow students. This all changes when Olivia receives a letter from a previously unknown uncle, begging her to come join him at Gallant, her ancestral home.

Gallant is rather empty and full of secrets. The only residents are two aging servants and a cousin. There is also a mysterious wall in the garden, with cracks perpetually appearing...almost as if something is trying to push through from the other side.

I enjoyed this book, and the story is nicely dark and creepy in the style of older gothic novels. Olivia's muteness works especially well here, since it sets her aside from the world around her and creates a sort of muffled and claustrophobic atmosphere. Her justified anger at the way that the world ignores people like her is well done, with little moments like a character turning away in order to cut off a conversation, knowing Olivia is unable to call after them and make herself heard. There is also something added to a horror story when you have a protagonist who is literally unable to call for help.

Gallant falls more under horror then fantasy, and it would be a great Autumn read. It is a quiet and personal story, and the answers that Olivia eventually finds feel like exactly the right answers for the story being told.

Gallant is a novel that pulls you in and refuses to let go as you finish each chapter and the novel itself. It is marketed for fans of Crimson Peak but to me felt more like the Haunting of Bly Manor. Gallant follows Olivia Prior, orphaned and without any future prospects, as she receives a mysterious letter for her uncle inviting her back home. All she knows of her mother is from a journal whose entries mark a decline into madness. She makes her way to her family home and finds that her mother’s journal was just the beginning of a peculiar existence for the Priors.
Schwab’s writing style is so atmospheric and immediately pulls you into Olivia’s haunted world. I was unable to put it down and was entranced by the by the mystery of Gallant and Olivia’s family. Easily five stars and one of my favorite novels that I have read this year.

This was a fast, creepy ghost story. It was enough to enjoy, and that's about it -- enough backstory and lore, enough spooky moments, enough interesting characters and pathos. Perfect for those looking for a tasty snack rather than a heavy, three-course meal.

V.E. Schwab is one of my very favorite authors, which led me to have very high expectations for Gallant. I also did not realize (and perhaps it hasn’t been advertised as such) that Gallant is a middle grade, not an upper-YA or YA crossover book, so I should have been more prepared for something closer The Near Witch as opposed to Monster of Verity or A Darker Shade of Magic though the cover of Gallant does have similar artwork to DSOM. These two factors combined left me slightly disappointed with Gallant.

Gallant does contain many of Schwab’s signatures. The writing is gorgeous and the story unspins quietly but intensely. There is an eerie, fairytale like quality to the novel which definitely works in its favor. However, it is missing some of Schwab’s other hallmarks. Olivia is an underdeveloped character. She is an orphan who cannot speak and there’s not much beyond that. She has an anger and desire to belong, but that does not shine through in a compelling way like it does with Lilah Bard, Katherine Harker, or Sydney Clarke. It is perhaps unfair to compare her to other Schwab characters, but it is hard not to do so when character development is one of her immense strengths. Similarly, we get to know next to nothing about Matthew which makes it difficult to be invested in his struggle.

It’s not quite an Easter egg, but I like to joke that a V.E. Schwab heroine loves a knife (see: Lilah, Katherine, Lexi). At one point in Gallant, Olivia picks up a knife but discards it quickly.
In some ways, Gallant has echoes of The Archived in its relationship to life and death and loneliness. Gallant is quieter, spookier than that series, which I appreciated.

Overall, Gallant is lushly written but did not have the depth to satisfy in the same way that Schwab’s YA and adult novels do, which is maybe not a fair assessment, so I think Gallant is best taken for what it is: A middle-grade novel about a girl, ghosts, and belonging.

PS- the art gorgeous!

*Thanks very much to NetGalley/ the publisher for providing me with an digital ARC.

A haunting book about the power that death has over the living and the power of family - chosen or otherwise.

Victoria Schwab is a master of words. Gallant, her latest work, lives up to the hype. It's lush, vibrant, and dark in a way only she can achieve.

This book was amazing. Victoria Schwab is one of my favorite authors so I went into this book with high expectations. It didn't disappoint.

Once again, Schwab is masterful at weaving a magical story. I found myself captivated by the unraveling of the many mysteries presented in this book. Gallant, itself, proved to be even more fascinating than I could have anticipated.

Olivia is a great main character. It was unique to have a main character that does not speak. And yet, Olivia was able to make herself heard when she wanted to be.

My only complaint is that this book didn't feel long enough. The plot didn't really pick up until about halfway through, which led to the ending feeling a bit rushed. I also found myself frustrated to still have some lingering questions unanswered (or at least not answered as fully as I would have liked.) I would definitely read another book in this story's universe!

Holy cow, Victoria Schwab can write a story. I think I say that at the end of all of her books, but time and time again, I am shocked at how her stories unravel. There was so much to love about this book - the main characters, the villains, the secret garden, the journal, and all of the twists and reveals. Just so good! The beginning starts a little slow as the main character, and the reader are on the same foot, but the story takes off once we get the first big reveal.

I was very sad at the end of this book. I was sad because it was over, because of some characters' fates, and because I want to know what happens next! I cannot wait to recommend this to everyone!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this early.

Gallant is a dark, melancholy, and gorgeous tale of ghosts, family, and belonging, and it's easily my favorite of Victoria's young adult works. Our mute and determined heroine, Olivia Prior, is one of Schwab's most memorable protagonists and the lush, bloody world of Gallant is one that I would love to see more from. With its family history, beautiful artwork, and a mirrored world but a step away from our own, this story feels timeless in the way that many fairy tales do, and while the comparisons to The Secret Garden and Crimson Peak were dead on, Gallant's quiet ferocity makes it stands out not only against other stories of its kind, but against Schwab's own impressive backlist as well. This one is perfect for fans of Coraline, The Near Witch, and Mexican Gothic, and I can't wait to see where Schwab's young adult fiction takes us next.

The book begins with a note from Victoria Schwab about her interest in doors throughout her life. As a person who as always been fascinated with keys and doors, I was already excited to see where this was going.

I would say, it's like a very dark Secret Garden (which was also one of my favorite stories growing up). What if what was on the other side of that hidden door wasn't an amazing magical place, but a terrifying one? What if there's a curse on a home you've finally found and the only place you've ever felt you belonged?

It's fascinating and haunting and I wasn't able tp put it down.

I've been thinking long and hard about what to write or what to say about Gallant. Each and every time I think of what I can say about the time I spent curled up inside these pages I fall short.

To me as well as many other millions of readers books are more than just books. They are a leaf that carries us away through gentle streams into another world, another time.

That is how it was for Gallant and me. I felt as though I held a dream of Victoria Schwab's in my hand. Gallant starts with a dream of family and home and gives us much more than we could have ever hoped for.

If you have ever dreamt of home, of magic, of monsters than please do me a favor and spend some time inside this dream. Like a leaf on a steady stream of water, let the words carry you and your imagination away.

Wow. This was a very unique book. I definitely didn't know what to expect going in, but I really liked it. It was dark and lovely.

Although this one is entertaining, it seems maybe too dark for kids in the classroom who might be a bit sensitive. I know that sounds silly, but that’s what I thought of as I read it.