She has such a loud presence and strong inner voice that I felt an instant connection with her.

Abandoned as an infant on the doorstep of an orphanage for girls, and without a voice, Olivia has to defend herself with her actions. She's strong-willed, independent and incredibly brave, even when she's afraid. I found Olivia's character really compelling. The tension in Gallant is palpable, so much so that I found myself holding my breath and quite literally on the edge of my certain at certain moments, and I adored the mystery and ominosity surrounding Olivia's parents, and Gallant and it's inhabitants. I will admit that I don't read horror at all, and while I wouldn't categorise Gallant as horror per se, it did make me jump a couple of times. Now, this could be me being an absolute wet lettuce, but I actually found this book really quite scary and creepy. He tips them out onto the wasted soil and wonders what will grow.'

'When he opens his hand, there is nothing left but a streak of ash and rot and a few white teeth, little bigger than seeds. I read the first page, and from that moment I was hooked. I didn't actually read the blurb for this book before I bought it. TW: Grief, Mild Horror, Murder, Paranormal Fantasy 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? Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant-but not. Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them.

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. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home-to Gallant. 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. A seam, where the shadow meets its source. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch.

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