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drewett's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent
justmys's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An brilliant book that would be perfect reading on a stormy winter's night.
Beautifully paced with intriguing characters and a bone chilling ghost story woven throughout. It's not a hopeful read, but it's a gift of a story.
Beautifully paced with intriguing characters and a bone chilling ghost story woven throughout. It's not a hopeful read, but it's a gift of a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
rinku's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
This review for Gallant is probably the shortest review I’ve ever written for a novel lmao. I liked it, hence the three stars, but there was not much more to it.
Olivia lives in an orphanage until one day, a strange letter arrives that she’s invited to Gallant. Arriving there, she soon realizes that something paranormal is happening her and that it’s connected to her mother. The story has some nice creepy vibes, especially with the ghouls. I also liked the mystery around the diary, even though it was a bit confusing. Furthermore, it was nice that we get a deaf rep with Olivia. Her backstory was a bit cliché though, especially the bullying part. I also liked Matthew; his death was quite sad . Besides this, the plot is sadly quite predictable. I’m also surprised that we get blood magic again because it was already there in the Shades of Magic series. At least the ending was nice with the ghouls helping Olivia and how Olivia re-writes the diary, that was so wholesome .
If you like Schwab’s writing, this book is probably for you. Otherwise, it unfortunately has not too much to offer besides creepy vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
bean_book's review against another edition
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death and Suicide
lisa_m's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.75
I liked a lot of things about this book but I feel like there isn't a lot of story to it, mostly just vibes and backstory.
I really liked reading about a mute main character and about how she is communicating with other people.
I liked Olivia as a character and her thoughts and storys where really interesting to read about.
But I constantly felt like I was stuck in the build-up phase of the book. The book is quite short and that also means that the main story is underdeveloped. All the characters besides Olivia are not really flushed out that well and even the main story of the wall and the not-Gallant felt under explained.
The ending was the biggest let-down for me.It is not really an ending but just exactly the same as where we started. The big conflict of the book is not solved. The emotional conflict of her wanting a family does not have a conclusion either because the other characters don't have real personalities. It's just "you choose your family" but it glosses over the fact that she not only looses the last living family she has, the last piece connecting her to her mother (the diary) and does not get many real answers about her father & mother either.
Realistically she just took over Matthews place and is now probably going to die soon. What also bothered me was that the main "adventure" / rescue Mission was completely useless. Honestly the Priors would have been so much better off if Olivia hadn't come. Matthew would still be alive, the Master would be Locked away and nobody would have hope that then gets shattered. They truly do not gain anything from her being there which is sad when you think about it.
It was really beautifully written though. I enjoyed the spooky vibes and what we got from the worldbuilding was interesting too.
I just don't like how the story went and it feels unfinished.
I really liked reading about a mute main character and about how she is communicating with other people.
I liked Olivia as a character and her thoughts and storys where really interesting to read about.
But I constantly felt like I was stuck in the build-up phase of the book. The book is quite short and that also means that the main story is underdeveloped. All the characters besides Olivia are not really flushed out that well and even the main story of the wall and the not-Gallant felt under explained.
The ending was the biggest let-down for me.
Realistically she just took over Matthews place and is now probably going to die soon. What also bothered me was that the main "adventure" / rescue Mission was completely useless. Honestly the Priors would have been so much better off if Olivia hadn't come. Matthew would still be alive, the Master would be Locked away and nobody would have hope that then gets shattered. They truly do not gain anything from her being there which is sad when you think about it.
It was really beautifully written though. I enjoyed the spooky vibes and what we got from the worldbuilding was interesting too.
I just don't like how the story went and it feels unfinished.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
raginsagein's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Violence
regaliaofchaos's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
ju_harue's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
Acho que a escrita e ambientação dessa história são o ponto alto da história, que tornou tudo bem imersiva (especialmente na época que li, de Halloween). Ela é lírica e mais parada, mas isso não torna-a cansativa, pelo contrário, é mais degustativa.
A minha questão foi o final, que achei um tanto redundante, corrido... mas a trama, o jeito como lida com assuntos como morte, abandono, de um jeito que equilibra o real com a fantasia, achei interessante, condizente com a abordagem tradicional da autora.
A minha questão foi o final, que achei um tanto redundante, corrido... mas a trama, o jeito como lida com assuntos como morte, abandono, de um jeito que equilibra o real com a fantasia, achei interessante, condizente com a abordagem tradicional da autora.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
doodeedoda's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Blood
boydgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood