i'm honestly not sure what i was expecting from this book, as i have never read v.e. schwab's work, but it was really good. the writing was really nice and easy to read. When going into this book i would be careful, spirits and death is the whole plot of the book. if you are someone that gets easily paranoid i would suggest reading this during the day or when you are around people. it's not scary, but as someone who gets easily paranoid, the mentions of ghosts and death himself spooked me a little. i would definitely recommend!

"Home is a choice."

Talk about impulse buying! I was browsing the shelves of a bookshop when I noticed this book! I have read other books by V.E. Schwab but didn't know what to expect from this book. But it was a pleasant surprise, mainly because I actually liked a story with horror elements. Usually, horror isn't something that I tend to gravitate toward, but I really liked this book. Maybe because the horror elements are mixed with other elements that I like, such as mystery elements and a darker tone.  The characters are well-developed and well-written. The story has good pacing and is well structured. I also liked the fact that the illustrations themselves are also part of the story and not only accessories, a means to show the scenes. To tell the truth, I think that  V.E. Schwab was the potential to become a must-read author to me since I really liked every book that I read by her. 

the first half was super slow, there’s a bunch of flashbacks, and then the ending was super rushed. the story was intriguing, the setting eerie but not too scary! the drawings and diary entries added a nice extra touch. I liked the writing for the most part, too; but I wish the characters had been fleshed out more. 

still this was a good read and if the ending hadn’t been as abrupt, I’d have given it an even better rating.

"Everything casts a shadow," he begins. "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."

This also applies to Gallant. This house is filled with shadows and Olivia might have not known at the beginning what the shadows mean. But she does now. And I think, she will forever know now what hides behind the shadows you sometimes can’t see.

“It realized that it was living in the shadow of the world. And it wanted out."

It — The thing hiding in the shadows, in every whisper if you listen to closely. The secret Gallant tries to hide.
Something I can say for sure is that those secrets kept me intrigued in this story filled with shadows and whispers, about someone who doesn’t have a voice you can hear but you have to keep your eyes close onto them to see them talk. Olivia is an interesting protagonist. I think V. E. Schwab shows very well in Gallant how someone who is mute isn’t necessarily quiet when you pay attention. When you really dare to look closer. (And people rarely look closer.) 
The only solid reason why reading Gallant took me this long is because my daily life kept interrupting me.  

It’s a good read. My only wish was a bit more bonding between the characters. Just a tiny sprinkle more. Otherwise I can’t complain because the story is great in its own way.

It’s like “Crimson Peak” for young adults, and that is still welcome. Also, there was some good disability representation.