Review Detail

GALLANT is a haunting and absorbing YA fantasy/horror read. Olivia has spent most of her life in the Merilance School for Girls, where her mother left her with only a journal when she was two. Olivia has memorized the journal, but she does not understand what her mother had written. When she receives a summons to Gallant, the place her mother seemed to have warned against, Olivia cannot deny the pull towards a place that could be home.

When she gets to Gallant, Olivia cannot help but notice the mysterious wall, the ghouls that haunt the halls, and the cousin who does not want her there. The house has secrets, and Olivia begins to uncover another world with rising danger that threatens our own.

What I loved: This is such a consuming and haunting read. The writing pulls the reader in from the start and is steadily paced to keep them hooked throughout. The world-building is atmospheric and chilling, with descriptions of ghouls and Death that will give chills. This is a read that shifts reality. Olivia is a compelling character who has always longed for a place to belong and, like many teenagers, is trying to find their place in the world. Her journey is one that includes self-discovery and the search for family.

Themes around mistakes, family, legacy, devotion, dreams, the power of choice, the meaning of being free, and life/death that make this really intriguing. The role of the Prior family in Gallant and the way this has trickled down through the generations has some heavy consequences. Without giving any spoilers, there are thought-provoking themes around legacy, responsibility, and the inescapability of heritage and trauma.

The book includes interludes from the other side of Gallant as well as the journal that Olivia has from her mother. These add to the atmosphere and intrigue of the story in a unique way. The images are also hauntingly beautiful and included at just the right times in the book as well.

Final verdict: Atmospheric and chilling, GALLANT is a consuming YA fantasy that grips readers from the start and never lets them go. Highly recommend for fans of HORRID, WINTERSONG, and HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS.