Number one New York Times bestselling author Victoria Schwab spins a dark, original tale about our world — full of life — a world that mirrors it — haunted by death — and the manor that stands between them. The Secret Garden meets Crimson Peak in this novel perfect for readers of Holly Black and Neil Gaiman.
Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal — which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home — to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home, it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.
Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant — but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unravelled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.
Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?
Copy received from New South Books for an honest review
That up there ^^? That is me after finishing Gallant.
Days after finishing, I am still not 100% sure what I read.
It started of strong, and I really liked Olivia, her time at the school and her seeing the ghouls.
Then, like the message she reads, I should have stayed away from Gallant.
Once she arrived at Gallant, I found myself losing interest, quickly. I didn't get what was happening, I didn't care for Olivia or any of the residents, and found myself nearly giving up on it completely.
And I think this is all about me, and not the book. I knew it was YA when I requested it, and the blurb intrigued me, but I feel that I really was not the right demographic for it. I have no idea how old Olivia is - sometimes she comes across as quite young, like 10 years old, other times more a mid teenaged girl. I was scratching my head at that too.
So overall, whilst I was not overawed with Gallant, it i more me and my age than the story itself.
Thank you New South Books for my copy of Gallant.
New York Times bestselling author Victoria Schwab crafts a vivid and lush novel that grapples with the demons that are often locked behind closed doors. An eerie, standalone saga about life, death, and the young woman beckoned by both. Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, Melissa Albert, and Garth Nix will quickly lose themselves in this novel with crossover appeal for all ages.