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. 

This is one of my dark horse reads this year. My expectations were low but I found this to be an enjoyable book and a good distillation of gothic fiction.

The plot is uncomplicated but moves quickly in a very visual way; I always found it easy to picture what was happening. The writing style is pleasant to read. Overall a very accessible entry point to gothic/macabre fiction for most age groups, covering familiar gothic themes of darkness, death, loneliness, grief, and sacrifice, mixed with the common YA themes of self-discovery and belonging.

This is my first book by V.E. Schwab, and I was excited to read it because I’ve heard many great things about her writing. However, I wasn’t completely dazzled by this one. I enjoyed the atmosphere and world-building, which had a certain Coraline-esque quality. That said, the plot felt unfinished and somewhat rushed. I appreciated the overall vibes, and I plan to read another of V.E. Schwab's books in hopes of a better experience!