It’s unsurprising, then that when the invitation to join her family at Gallant arrives, she jumps at the opportunity.įans of the found family trope will enjoy the way the other central characters, Matthew, Hannah, and Edgar, whose presence becomes a warm comfort to Olivia. The only belonging she has of her mother’s is her old green journal, and she spends hours pouring over the writing and images there, trying to better understand the mother she never really knew. Schwab likes to create protagonists that are ostracised or don’t fit in with society, then explore their search for belonging and their desire for a place that feels like home, and we can see this in the way Olivia longs for a family. Olivia herself is an inherently curious, contemplative character.

The plot is linear and relatively simple and the pacing is on the slow side, but this feels purposeful Olivia is gradually uncovering the dark secrets of the house and so are we.Īs the mysteries of why she was summoned to Gallant, what happened to her family, and what lurks beyond the wall are gradually revealed, Victoria Schwab draws all the threads of the story to a startling, dramatic conclusion. This is more of a character-driven story about the ambience of an old house and the history of the Prior family and for that we need evocative prose, which is exactly what Schwab gives us.

The narrative style of this novel doesn’t perhaps pack the same punch and power of A Darker Shade of Magic or Vicious, but it’s not meant to. 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? Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant-but not. Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them.

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. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home-to Gallant.

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. Today is the UK release day for Victoria Schwab’s latest YA novel, Gallant, and I’m excited to be sharing my review of this haunting, lyrical novel.

Schwab gallant