Evocative prose, eerie b&w artwork by Šumberac, and superbly rendered characters (most of whom cue as white) elevate this affective, bone-chilling standalone from Schwab (the City of Ghosts series), which fuses Shirley Jackson’s gothic horror sensibilities with the warmth and dark whimsy of Neil Gaiman. Matthew orders Olivia to leave, citing spirits and curses, but Olivia stays on at least the specters here are relatives, and she’s determined to uncover the truth regarding her family’s past in this place.
Upon arriving, however, Olivia learns that Arthur is dead, and neither her ill-tempered cousin, Matthew, nor the manor’s kindly caretakers are expecting her. Schwab’s other stories, and fans of Holly Black and Garth Nix.
Unfortunately, I didn't find the book completely stunning. Gallant is a gorgeous book that is incredibly well written by an experienced author. The Illumicrate edition of this is absolutely stunning, just gotta get that out there. Olivia’s mother’s journal, which chronicles the woman’s descent into madness following Olivia’s father’s death, doesn’t mention any kin, so Olivia is elated to receive a letter from her uncle Arthur, inviting her to come live at Gallant, the Priors’ estate. Schwab was an Illumicrate book box pick for March and so I read it along with the Discord buddy read in April. Other residents don’t sign, the girls bully her, the staff “takes her silence for stupidity,” and the building teems with ghouls that only Olivia can see. Though artist Olivia Prior-who is 14 and communicates via sign language-has lived at the Merilance School for Independent Girls since age one, she has never felt at home.
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