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. The Secret Garden meets Crimson Peak in this stand-alone novel perfect for readers of Holly Black and Neil Gaiman. Schwab weaves a dark and original tale about the place where the world meets its shadow, and the young woman beckoned by both sides. A seam, where the shadow meets its source. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch.

Reviews remain my own.Everything casts a shadow. Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a paperback copy of Gallant. Schwab has once again crafted something so easy to slip into and, just like Olivia, it’s hard to resist the pull of Gallant. This is a solid YA Horror, one that will have readers both on the younger and older sides of YA engrossed in the gothic mystery. The mirroring aspect with the ‘Other Gallant’ is reminiscent of Coraline, and despite the fact the other side of the wall contains a world of decay, there’s something that draws Olivia to the place, deepening the mystery surrounding her and her parents. Olivia is a great protagonist, refusing to back down and determined to discover the truth.

The ghouls add a dimension of creepiness. As Olivia creeps through the house, you can almost feel the brush of a draught on your neck. Schwab is an expert when it comes to atmosphere, infusing her books with settings that completely plunge you into the world. Despite the instance of her cousin that she leaves, Olivia remains, determined to take her place in the home her mother fled. But when she arrives, her uncle is nowhere to be found, and no one seems to be expecting her.

When a letter arrives, Olivia leaves the school in favour of Gallant, eager to meet her uncle. Olivia Prior has no family to speak of all she has in the Merilance School is her mother’s journal, but even that doesn’t explain why she can see ghouls when apparently no one else can. Not to mention she skirts various genres really well, in this particular instance blending elements of fantasy and horror to give us the Gothic tale of Gallant. I don’t think I’ve come across a Schwab book yet that I haven’t really enjoyed.

Gallant by ve schwab