I had been eyeing Gallant for a really long time, the synopsis drew me to the story, and I'd say it suited me absolutely beautifully now in autumn. It's wistful, melancholic, and at times it can be dark and even sinister.
I really grew fond of the main characters, whether it was Olivia, who was headstrong and not easily scared, her cousin, or the other residents of the house.
I enjoyed the plot and the explanation of why Olivia's family had to stay at the manor and the whole history surrounding the stone wall with the mysterious door without a handle.
The only thing I had a problem with was the main villain — he was charismatic, yes, he was scary, he has truly amazing passages, I enjoyed everything about him except that I was bothered by what or who he was; if he had been some demon, evil specter, ideally even unnamed, it would have been more to my taste and would have suited me absolutely perfectly.
This book wrapped around me like a beautifully dense, heavy, sad, gothic, spooky, unsettling blanket, and I read it within a few hours because I wanted to know how it would all turn out and I refused to put it down.
I felt sorry for Olivia, that wistfulness that surrounded her, her desperate longing to belong somewhere, her wish to be part of a family.
I love the illustrations, I really enjoyed the diary interludes, which are absolutely amazing.
I can only warmly recommend it.
Rating: 4.5*/5
65📚/2025
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