I love a Gothic novel and had this on my to-read list for ages. While the concept wasn't as original as Addie LaRue (think Rebecca, Crimson Peak, Fall of the House of Usher with a dash of Coralline), I found it a more enjoyable read. 

Schwab's descriptions of place in the book are immediate and visceral. I particularly loved the use of colour, nature and decay to immediately situate you between Merilance, Gallant, and the not-Gallant. The slow reveal of Olivia's parents' story and the mystery behind the house at Gallant was well paced, with diary entries and images used to good effect (although I wonder if they would have had even more impact if I weren't using an e-reader).

I particularly loved the description of the ghouls; it was creepy and horrific to imagine a small child seeing flashes of of hovering body parts and half-people out of the corner of her eye. The use of the word ghouls instead of ghosts also differentiated them and their relationship to Olivia; it made them seem more real and tangible than if the word "ghost" was used.

I enjoyed Olivia as a character; she was relatable, resourceful, and charming without being cloying. Although I have no lived experience, I also thought the portrayal of disability and ableism was strong. Olivia is constantly underestimated by others due to her inability to speak, which has significant consequences on her happiness and wellbeing, but she is never treated with pity by the text; instead, the reader shares in her frustration with the limited thinking of the people around her.

I was expecting a happy ending at the end of the book from the way the story had framed Olivia as embarking on a hero's journey,

and I was surprised and a little bit cheated to not receive one. However was also impressed with Schwab for not pulling her punches, and I admire how the melancholy ending stayed true to the Gothic tradition.

Overall there was nothing ground breaking about this book, but I found it entertaining, moving, and well-written.

Humble. Heartfelt. Haunting. 

Gallant is my second Schwab book that I have read and it did not disappoint. Gallant is a book that had my heart throughout. As a protagonist, Olivia is daring, passionate, and felt so real despite the setting being a completely different time. The side characters also had their own arcs; I did wish for a little more from Hannah and Edgar at the end but am satisfied with what I got. For a small cast of characters and the limited setting the book has a complete and satisfying story. Schwab’s formatting strays a bit from the usual book; something that was in Addie LaRue as well. Being broken up into sections/parts seems to be a consistent theme; felt like the titles gave a sneak peek to what was to come and set the tone well. I also love intermingling the drawings and the extra POV was beautifully crafted and executed. It felt like I was with Olivia! The worldbuilding – both the history and the spooky magic – was so well put together. Revealed in an intriguing and engaging pace, I kept wanting more.

I also loved the representation within; both Olivia’s disability, Matthew’s and how their accessibility needs conflicted. Schwab made Olivia’s disability relevant but not the only interesting part about her; a perfect balance between it being part of her identity while not consuming her as a character. 

I think that this book could do with another round of editing as many of the word choices or phrasing in the book struck me as odd.  Otherwise, I thought it was very fun.  When I got about 2/3 of the way through I was shocked where we were and confused how it was going to end in just 100 pages, but I think the ending was very satisfying and it made me tear up a little.

Gallant took me by the wrist, whispered to me while I slept, and held me in the dark. I'll carry it with me now always.

Gallant was generally a pretty decent read. The overarching mystery was interesting, if a bit predictable, and the characters were well-written. My biggest issue with this book was that its brevity and fast pace kept me from getting fully immersed, but I don't particularly think it would have benefitted from being longer either.