Published: 2022
Author: V.E. Schwab
Illustrator: Manuel Sumberac
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, Paranormal, Mystery, Young Adult Fantasy, Supernatural
Audience (Grade Levels): Middle School, High School; Grades 7-12
Number of Stars: 4-Stars
Goodreads Link: Gallant
Triggers: Death, Murder, Brief mention of suicide
Review By: Serena Waldron
Publisher’s Summary:
Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.
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 unraveled 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?
Review:
When we first meet Olivia Prior she is hiding in a shed, riding out her rage. A shed she knows no one else will bother finding her in because they can’t quite put their finger on why it creeps them out. But, “Olivia knows. It is the dead thing in the corner. Or what’s left of it”. In addition to being haunted by a past she can’t remember, Olivia Prior is haunted by ghouls only she can see. Despite this more unusual characteristic, Olivia feels real and relatable.
“And yet, Olivia is full of want. She wants a bed that does not creak. A room without Anabelles or matrons or ghouls. A window and a grassy view and air that does not taste of soot and a father who does not die and a mother who does not leave and a future beyond the walls of Merilance.”
When Olivia makes the choice to not only go back to Gallant despite the warnings in her mother’s journal, but to stay despite her cousin’s insistence she is not wanted, rather than thinking, “What are you doing? Get out of there!” as one might with other characters in haunted house settings, we find ourselves fully onboard with and invested in Olivia’s choice to stay. V.E. Schwab has created a character who’s longing to belong and have purpose not only feels relatable, but her determination to be her own hero and make things happen for herself feels admirable, rather than foolhardy.
Beyond her main character, Schwab also crafts an enticing eerie Gothic horror fantasy setting. Gallant’s fading glory, its many rooms, hidden passages, mysterious “off limits” locations, supernatural elements, family curse and revelation of a mirror world truly capture the traditional Gothic novel. Sumberac’s illustrations are used effectively throughout the novel to enhance the mysterious and supernatural elements and contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the setting.
Creepy without being outright terrifying, Gallant is an engrossing read that would be an excellent fit for students looking for “scary books” that aren’t too scary.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- English Language Arts / Literature (Gothic Novel Conventions): Gallant serves as an ideal mentor text for teaching the traditional elements of Gothic literature. ELA teachers can guide students to analyze how the decaying manor house, mysterious “off-limits” locations, family curses, and supernatural ghouls build suspense and establish the classic eerie atmosphere of the genre.
- Art & Visual Literacy (Illustration Integration): Manuel Sumberac’s ink-blot-style illustrations contribute directly to the novel’s storytelling and mood. Art and ELA teachers can collaborate on a unit analyzing how visual art operates alongside text to convey character psychology, maternal unraveling, and supernatural presence.
- Social-Emotional Learning (Belonging and Agency): At its core, the story explores Olivia’s intense longing to find where she belongs and her active choice to establish her own purpose. Educators can use her journey as a catalyst for discussions about personal agency, resilience, and the emotional struggles of finding home and identity.
Diversity & Representation:
Gallant supports inclusive library collections through its portrayal of Olivia Prior, a non-verbal protagonist who navigates her world without spoken words yet possesses intense internal strength and active agency. Rather than treating her communication differences as a deficit, the narrative highlights Olivia’s keen observation skills and resolute determination to be her own hero, providing meaningful, empowering representation for readers with varied experiences of communication and disability.
Readalikes
- The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
- Thornhill by Pam Smy
- The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
