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cnannery19's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
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,
Overall there was nothing ground breaking about this book, but I found it entertaining, moving, and well-written.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
pluckedstrings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
shmayjoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
nicosta_music's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, and Violence
epellicci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Eerie and heartbreaking, Gallant tells the story of Olivia Prior's need for power and autonomy and home. A letter summons her from the miserable grey existence she's always known at Merrilance - a finishing school for abandoned girls - to the family she always dreamed was waiting for her. But all is not as it seems... She is fast drawn into a secretive family history more dangerous and strange than she could have ever imagined. Beautifully told through dual perspective that features a collection of gorgeous illustrations, this story is so poignantly told. The longing jumped from the pages and I was completely sold by Olivia as a character.
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Bullying
wild_rabbits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Suicide, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
drjoannehill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Nice audiobook listen, good narrator. I wouldn't have picked it up in hard copy but it entertained me while cooking and walking to work!
Themes of family, communication, and loyalty.
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
madalina0_0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
amandasky21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail