Gallant by V.E. Schwab

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

Submitted by Austin Leonard, Assistant Branch Manager, Thomas Memorial Branch Library

Gallant is a dark-fantasy, young adult novel surrounding Olivia Prior, a mute 16 year old. She grew up in the gray-scaled Merrilance Academy for girls, learning to keep to herself. She clung tight to her mother’s journal, her only link to the mother she’s never known. Through her journal she discovers her family’s dark past and learns of a place referred to as “Gallant” along with a warning to never return there. 

Olivia receives a letter from her uncle inviting her home.. To Gallant. She returns wishing to belong somewhere and finds herself with family she never knew she had. Here she discovers more about her past and about her abilities through her mother’s journals filled with mysterious inky illustrations. Her cousin Matthew remains hostile and doesn’t want her there, and she is seeing more ghouls than ever before.

Olivia learns of the Prior family mission. To upkeep the wall, and to keep its metal door sealed. Beyond the wall lives Death, the Master of the House of another Gallant. This one much darker, gray-washed and ashen, with only the dead for company. Olivia, who longs to belong somewhere, must choose between standing with her newfound family, or joining the Master of the House on the other side of the wall.

Schwab draws you into the story with detailed descriptions of all the characters and landmarks. Olivia’s muteness being showcased in her observation and sensory explanations of all the happenings around her. Gallant draws you in with the secrets and personality of its halls and residents, and delivers you a dark and reflective journey about death and the ghouls the dead leave behind.

Request the book from any of our libraries or you can find it on Libby!