Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to read this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

When I saw this was written by the same author as Addie LaRue I was so excited.

I enjoy her novels. I will say they can get alittle tedious at times, as you want her to get to the point. But she loves world building and giving detail which really makes a clear picture in your head and you can see what’s happening whilst the characters are looking at building etc.


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After finishing I found that I struggled to connect with the characters and therefore was uninterested in what was happening to them. I got bored a lot quicker and therefore lost interest. I nearly DNF but I was 80% through and thought I might as well finish. I’m not sure if she’s a good author or not. I just can’t find myself loving her work. She doesn’t have that wow factor and waffles too much that you lose interest. I don’t think I’ll be reading more of Schwabs stuff as I feel like you have to put too much work into them.

This magic filled story was one that I was initially drawn to by it’s intriguing cover before realising it was the same author as The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - I’m currently listening to the audiobook version. This was unexpected and magical, with a darkness simmering beneath the surface

While the premise of this book sounded interesting, I found that I struggled to connect with the characters and therefore was uninterested in what was happening to them. The writing follows V.E. Schwab's usual meandering prose which is beautiful but I just felt that there was something lacking in the plot. This one was just not for me.

Worst book I read. The writing is descriptive which is expected from Schwab but it was a bland story. I don't care about the characters, story, and the plot is missing.

It really pains me to say this but this was a DNF for me. I love VE Scwab's writing but for some reason I couldn't get into this at all.

I have given it a rating of 3 even though I didn't finish as the writing was excellent (like in all Schwab's books).

Maybe I set my expectations too high, but there's no escaping the fact that this book turned out to be dull and unsatisfying.

Right from the start, something felt off. The pacing was slow, lacking the usual gripping quality of Schwab's works. It dragged on, leading me to skim chapters.

The main issue might've been with Olivia, our protagonist. Her character felt flat, her actions often illogical. This problem extended to all the characters, lacking depth.

Even hoping for an interesting antagonist led to disappointment. Despite potential, the main villain lacked the personality and motivation to truly stand out.

Despite being billed as a gothic mystery, the story didn't capture that essence. The concept was promising, but the execution fell flat.

Honestly, I found myself more intrigued by Olivia's parents. A book centered around them could be far more engaging.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc (2.5)

I think I finally need to admit V. E. Schwab’s books just aren’t for me. I always love her premises and everything I’ve seen of her as a person/author, but although I’ve not disliked any of the books I’ve read, I haven’t gotten that real thrill that everyone else seems to. My experience with GALLANT was pretty much the same. It was alright, but I don’t imagine I’ll be thinking about it in a week’s time.

One of my problems with Gallant was the writing itself. GALLANT is a YA novel, but honestly, I couldn’t have told you how old Olivia, the protagonist, was, because for at least the first third of the book I was completely convinced I’d gotten muddled and the book was actually a Middle Grade. The writing, and Olivia’s internal voice, just sounded very young to me.

On the flip side of that though, the writing is also utterly gorgeous. Things like the scenery as Olivia is driven to the house, or as she wanders around Gallant itself, were stunning to envision. The setting and the atmosphere were immersive and showcased Schwab’s skill with description.

However, the plot itself didn’t feel as fully fleshed out as I would have liked. There was a lot of time spent at the start of the story (and spent creating the eerie vibe of Gallant’s halls and rooms) which I felt would have been better spent developing the final stretch of the plot. For me, this made GALLANT come across as far more ‘vibes’ than solid story.

I loved the dark, atmospheric vibes of GALLANT, and its rich Gothic setting, but the plot fell flat and overall the story was, for me, mediocre.

The urge to go back to the beginning immediately after finishing this book was so strong, even now days later I'm still thinking gallant and V.E.Schwab's completely captivating writing.
There's something about their writing that's just so lyrical and mesmerising to me, I don't think any other author quite hits me like V.E.Schwab and this book definitely confirmed for me that they are a favourite author of mine.

Everything in here was a complete dream the characters, setting, the loss and the need in here to belong to a home/family was spellbinding, ugh I don't think I could ever do this book justice in a review. It has that eerie gothic vibe that I adore and every moment in here once Olivia reaches Gallant was just filled with that foreboding sense of dread. I could have tabbed this book up with annotations galore definitely a book I'll return to often and cannot wait to read more from V.E.Schwab. 100% a favourite of the year!

I absolutely loved this book! The premise immediately hooked my interest and it was filled with twisty characters and such intense plot! I was absolutely gripped by the end!

I really enjoyed this book. While it didn’t capture my imagination quite as much as Addie Larue, I still found it to be a really immersive and captivating read.

There was a real sense of foreboding and I loved the creepy, intense atmosphere V.E. Schwab created. It was a spooky, gothic read with the spirits lurking beyond every corner. I don’t read a lot of supernatural fiction but I enjoyed how the spirits were portrayed and the purpose they had within the story.

Olivia is a really intriguing character and I appreciated her family secrets were unveiled to her at the same time as the reader, as she explored the creepy old mansion and read her mother’s diaries. It helped created the illusion that I was on the adventure with her.

I would describe Gallant as a young adult novel, especially considering the young protagonist. While it didn’t quite have the complexity and depth The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, it was still a really compelling read.

So I originally read this and gave it a 4 star and think it's partly because I rushed reading it and partly because I had just reread The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue before reading this, and with that being my favourite V.E. Schwab book, think it overshadowed my view of this one. However on rereading Gallant I took my time reading it and ended up really enjoying the story and bumped up my rating to a 5 star. I loved the main character Olivia, and loved the bonds she formed with the people at Gallant. The atmospheric vibes were beautiful and the descriptions of the house and the garden were incredible.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of Gallant by V. E. Schwab.
I'm sorry it took me so long to get round to this one!
Gallant was a lovely yet harrowing tale I read leisurely over a couple of days.
Olivia immediately resonated with me. Not only was she an interesting girl, but she is also non-verbal, and uses sign to communicate. I myself am not non-verbal, but I work with many brilliant people who are, and it was wonderful to see that represented between these pages.
Olivia shows that despite her differences, you can still be outstanding, brave, and (despite what she believed for so long), loved.
Gallant is written beautifully, and I expected no less from Schwab.
This story was just the right amount of spook that it could be read by any age group and have everyone hooked.
I wish I'd read it sooner.

Olivia Prior is an orphan, sent to an orphanage, she leads a solitary life as the other children find her odd, but she is not alone. The ghosts she sees keep her company. As she reaches age to leave she recieves a letter from an unknown uncle asking her to come live with him in the family home Gallant. When she arrives she is greeted by her cousin Matthew who informs her her uncle is dead. There are only two rules stay inside the house at night and don’t go past the walls of the property. Overall it’s a beautifully written gothic story. The characters are likeable and their relationship is endearing. My only criticism is it could have been longer as I was invested and wanted to know more and read on.

Gallant is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Gallant today.

Firstly, let me start by saying I love V.E. Schwab’s writing, she always crafts a wonderfully atmospheric story regardless of the subject matter or genre. I always appreciate her writing whether the book is for me or not. Unfortunately Gallant fell in to the not for me category.

I’ve tried reading the eARC a few times, I have a physical copy and I even bought the audiobook but I just could not get in to the story. I guess dark gothic vibes just aren’t for me.

I will absolutely read V.E. Schwab’s books again, there are some that I loved and I’m sure there’ll be more I love in future, this one just wasn’t for me.

3 stars for the beautiful writing!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Schwab's writing didn't disappoint. Every book of hers is so evidently HERS. You can feel it through the way she puts pictures together. Sometimes it feels like she is painting with words. It's very vivid and atmospherical, and in this case, I could feel the eerie, creepy, dark vibes all throughout the novel. I don't know what it is, I feel she has a special talent for bringing evil characters who stand on the balcony with their cape billowing in the wind behind them while they stare at their pray to life. Gives me goosebumps every time. But, all jokes aside, painting a vivid picture and pulling you into the novel so you are easily visualising these things is where she thrives.

The book explores things like identity, sense of belonging, family, sacrifices and choices we make that shape our lives.

It's pretty short so I guess the focus isn't much on character development, especially not the side characters. There aren't many of them anyways, basically 3. However, I did love Olivia as our MC. Young, curious, rebellious, stubborn yet so hopeful and strong. I usually have a problem with YA simply because of the way the main characters are portrayed. Olivia didn't feel like the typical 'pick me' girl, although she did standout, obviously for many reasons.

I read it in basically one sitting because it grabbed and kept my attention. The book has an even pace, all throughout, but speeds up towards the end once the action you have been waiting for starts happening. I felt as if though the moment where we do get the final 'showdown', it might have been a bit too rushed. ''The enemy has breached the walls... oh wait, never mind, go back, shoo you!'' But it wasn't a deal breaker, it was just something I realised once I was done reading and I started thinking about all the pros and cons. Everything was wrapped up nicely, made sense, and I was left feeling satisfied.

The reason it's a 4 and not a 5, is simply personal...It just didn't feel like a 5 because of the little things. Like the rushed ending, or perhaps not knowing more about Matthew, so that the end would make more of an impact on me.

Who would like it? If you love gothic, paranormal, eerie tales, novels such as The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, The Animals at Lockwood Manor (purely for the atmosphere, big, old houses moment). If you are a SEASONAL reader, read it during fall, or around Halloween. When it's cold and dark outside and you're in the mood for something that gives you chills.

I adore V.E. Schwab and am a fan of basically everything she writes. This was once again a completely different book than her previous ones. But I will say the vibes are somewhat similar to some of her other works. I loved the 'darkness' of the book. And I liked the main character a lot, she was non-verbal and I don't think I've read about a non-verbal mc before. It was written very well and I like that V.E. used a sensitivity reader to make sure she did it justice. The plot was good, the book was pretty fast paced and once I got into it I read it pretty quickly. While this isn't my favorite V.E. Schwab book, it's definitely a good one and I would recommend it for sure.

I don’t know why it took me ages to pick up Gallant. It was nothing that I expected and everything that I wanted. At Merilance School for Independent Girls, Olivia is known as the ghost of Merilance. Since she doesn’t pick, the other girls started bullying her. The only thing in her possession that alluded to her biological mother is the diary. Full of sentences, warnings, and contexts that Olivia didn’t understand. Although she has wanted to leave this godforsaken place, Olivia never dared to. Until she received a letter from her uncle.

Upon reaching the house, Olivia wasn’t very welcome. Her cousin Matthew was like a child throwing a tantrum, wanting to send Olivia immediately. The vague mentioning of bloodlines, Gallant, and being the last one confused her. However, for someone who has never been to the house before, the house seemed to welcome Olivia. Oh! Something about Olivia is that she can see ghouls. Not only were there some at the school but also at this home. At the house, the truth behind her mother’s disappearance or possibly death will be uncovered.

Gallant feels sentient. The aliveness added another layer of spookiness to the setting. In Gallant, ghouls roamed around the house, a master determined to find all the pieces to his puzzle, a reflection of a house Olivia knew but not really.

Overall, it was pretty interesting! I adore V.E. Schwab’s writing so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed reading Gallant. As Olivia is mute, she communicated through sign language and her art. Since she never had a family, Olivia wanted to truly belong. While her cousin immediately wanted to chase her away giving no reasonings, Olivia wondered if she could be a Prior. The magic within the house, the story behind her lineage, and the truth behind her parentage are all things Olivia wanted to know. Soon, she discovers a house that is like hers but not really.

Mysterious and gothic and reminded me a lot of Crimson Peak with the crumbling old house and ghouls. It's no secret that I hated The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue (one star, terrible) but this had way more pace, a clear vision for the plot and a story that kept me intrigued to the end. I would have actually liked it to be a bit longer, but I loved the imagery, and the illustrations added a lovely touch.