It's week two of #spookyseason, and this time I read Gallant by V.E. Schwab. Gallant is a YA gothic horror novel, full of family secrets and ghost stories. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm interested in reading more from this genre. So, if you guys have any recommendations, please share them with me!
What is Gallant about?
This story is about the Prior family. Olivia lives in a home for girls, since her father is dead, and her mother (Grace) disappeared. The only thing she has of her family is her mother's journal, which gives nothing away. It only serves as a reminder that Olivia knows nothing about where she came from. The only warning her mother gives is to stay away from Gallant.
Olivia knows something isn't quite right. She already sees ghosts around her, and has learned to live with them. She's also mute, and only communicates using sign language. One day, she's called into the office of the headmaster, where she's informed she's received a letter from her uncle, and he wishes for her to go home-to Gallant.
Warning: The rest of this post contains spoilers. If you haven't read it, and you want to, come back later! I also want to add a trigger warning, for a brief mention of suicide.
I've always been a fan of ghost stories. My first introduction to the horror genre was a movie called "Darkness Falls", about an evil tooth fairy. I was eight. Not sure if that was a good idea, but I've been in love with horror ever since. R and I have probably seen every (good) horror movie in existence, and some bad ones too ("The Disappointments Room", was in fact, a disappointment). I'm not sure why it took me so long to explore horror novels, but here we are.
Olivia is a very likable character. She's fearless and doesn't shy away from the ghosts, or her past. Gallant is a crumbling, sprawling manor but she's instantly intrigued. The occupants have one rule-don't go outside after dark. Olivia soon learns why that is, but she's introduced to her cousin, Matthew, who clearly doesn't want her there. Not only that, but he informs her, Arthur (his father and her uncle), has been dead for months. There's no way the letter calling her home was from him.
Matthew says cryptic things, like Prior's are meant to die in this place, and he's always repairing and planting flowers. He's a little unhinged, but his father committed suicide, and his brother was taken from their home. The other occupants, Hannah and Edgar, are much more welcoming. They're kind of the servants of the home, and help care for Matthew and the grounds. Hannah gives Olivia a key to her room her first night, and tells her to make sure she locks her door and stays in her room at night. Of course, Olivia doesn't listen and goes hunting for answers.
As Olivia becomes more comfortable, she explores Gallant's many rooms, and learns a few secrets as she uncovers another one of her mother's journals. Grace's journal's are one of my favorite parts of the book. There's haunting pictures that accompany most of them, and she later learns that the drawings are her father's answers to her mother, and the way he communicated. In her uncle's study, she finds an interesting sculpture. The sculpture has two houses that look like Gallant, that spin around each other and are connected at the bottom of each house. Olivia is intrigued by this, but doesn't have answers yet.
Olivia finds more answers in Grace's journals, and reads about how she went beyond the wall that surrounds Gallant, and that she met her father there. Olivia decides to see for herself what's behind the forbidden wall, and almost immediately wishes she hadn't. She's faced with Death, and he's not easy to beat. With courage and determination, the Prior family banishes him once again.
What I Loved about Gallant
The ghost story V.E. Schwab tells is exquisite. I adored the journal pages and illustrations throughout. They really made the story come to life. The plot was fantastic and unique. I couldn't predict any of it, which was a nice surprise. Gallant was short and sweet, and was easily read in an afternoon.
What I Didn't Love about Gallant
I wish the story had been a little longer. It would've been nice to have some more backstory on Olivia's parents, and the Prior family in general. Much was still a mystery, but maybe that was intentional. Leaving some things to the reader's imagination can be fun sometimes.
Overall Rating
I give Gallant 3.75 stars. It was a cozy read, with a little bit of mystery and suspense. It was a tame ghost story, and perfect for anyone 13 and older. Did you read Gallant? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
-xx Alycia
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