Ghouls, death, and the madness of mind, oh my! Victoria E. Schwab, or more commonly known as V.E Schwab, culminates these elements in her newest novel, Gallant. This novel was released on March 10th and is 352 pages long. Schwab is well known for some of her other best-sellers like, The Secret Life of Addie LaRue, and the Vicious series. 

The book follows 14-year-old Olivia Prior and her experience with death. Olivia grows up without her parents in the school, Merilance, and has the unique ability to see ghosts. After spending most of her life at the boarding school, she gets a letter from an uncle she didn’t know she had, and is whisked off to a new home with new adventures. The novel is sectioned into 5 parts, with some parts taking place in different locations and at different levels of the plot. 

Olivia is non-verbal, so the novel shows the ways this affects her and her interactions with others. The novel shows the other children at school being scared of her, and expresses her joy when the caretaker at her new home knows sign language and can speak with her. This element brings representation and understanding to a different experience that not everyone may be familiar with. 

The way Schwab writes the novel is quite interesting. The writing style included lots of figurative and metaphorical language. Schwab’s writing at times almost seems like poetry, with descriptions being told in a unique way. The writing portrays things from the perspective of a young teenager, specifically one like Olivia who takes in every detail of her surroundings. 

Olivia takes the main stage in regards to the characters, and has the most developed and evolved character. Some other characters are Matthew Prior, Edgar, and Hannah. Schwab does not develop the secondary characters as well, but it doesn’t take away from the quality of the novel. 

To add the more mysterious and creepy mood of the book, the ambiance of the book as a whole is very ambiguous. The ages of characters seems to be hard to decipher, as well as the time period the book takes place in. There are inventions like cars and the stove, but no modern-day technology. 

Olivia is a very interesting main character, and her inner ramblings are thought-provoking to follow. Her character is more dimensional than traditional characters in YA media, as she doesn’t fit within the flawless girl stereotype, who are the perfect caregiver and make no mistakes. Olivia is a young teenage girl who is driven by her emotions and desire to have a family, and therefore, makes rash decisions.

Potential readers should be wary of some of the more mature aspects of this novel. Self-harm and suicide are present themes, as well as dealing with grief. The characters have all lost loved ones, and the writings of Olivia’s mother are often described as “mad,” when it is apparent she may have been truly suffering. 

Arguably the best part of the novel is the media attached to each chapter. Whether in the form of pictures or diary entries,  these additions add to the intrigue and mystery the book brings. The diary entries come from Olivia’s mother, and have lines crossed out and altered. This interactive aspect of the novel creates an immersive element to the novel. 

The book can be described as fantasy, horror, and mystery. At times, the novel was genuinely scary, (whether from the content of the book or from being in a dark house alone does not matter). With graphic depictions of gruesome ghouls, as well as a more psychological scary. Reading Olivia’s mother lose hope and succumb to the demons only she can see from the perspective of her daughter is chilling. 

This book often leaves you confused, not understanding the secrecy of the different elements. However, once all the pieces come together, it all makes sense in a satisfying conclusion. 

Gallant was an unsettling, unique novel, unlike many fantasy books the YA genre currently has. The darker elements add to the story, and create a universe that is easy to become attached to. Those in the mood for a quick read that will leave you on your toes should pick up Gallant.