Review by Booklist Review
The Merilance School for Girls isn't the worst of places to grow up, but for orphaned Olivia Prior, who has always felt like an outsider, it is an isolating one. For Olivia, who cannot speak out loud--only in a sign language that no one else at Merilance bothers to learn--and who can see the intangible ghouls of those who have died, life is a very lonely thing. She longs for the family she assumes is dead, clinging to a journal that once belonged to her mother and is filled with strange drawings and nonsensical babblings. When a letter arrives at Merilance inviting Olivia to come to Gallant, a mysterious old home, she may finally have found the family she's always wanted. But her mother penned dire warnings about Gallant, and Olivia will have to decide if her desire is worth the risk--or, if there is darkness at Gallant, if it can be fought. Schwab nestles this story of heritage and hope into rich, evenly paced prose. Readers of character-driven literary fiction will be mesmerized by this darkly magical tale.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Schwab is a proven best-seller across the YA, adult, and middle-grade markets, and this new stand-alone, which gives her a chance to flex her considerable literary muscles, will appeal to all her audiences.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ages 13--up. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Schwab uses a blend of Gothic, fantasy, and horror to create an unsettling story that reads like a cautionary folktale to beware the shadows. Olivia Prior spends her days at the Merilance School for Independent Girls reading her mother's journal and longing for a family. It seems her wish is granted when a long-lost uncle writes to her and calls her home. But when she arrives at Gallant, no one is expecting her, and her angry cousin, Matthew, just wants her to leave. When Olivia eventually finds herself in a warped mirror version of Gallant, she finds answers, too: what happened to her mother, who her father is, why she can see ghouls wherever she goes. She will have to make a choice; which version of Gallant will she choose? Will she stay and step into her role as a Prior, or will she stand behind the dark creature that rules the other Gallant? There is so much grief in this story: over losing family, home, and the way things were. Olivia is a protagonist who doesn't go out of her way to be likeable, but she still very much wants her found family to want her back. The Priors are white. Olivia cannot speak, and her cousin, Matthew, cannot read. VERDICT A must-buy for libraries where Holly Black, Neil Gaiman, Emily Lloyd-Jones, and other authors of creepy and unnerving tales circulate well.--Ness Shortley
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Review by Horn Book Review
Olivia endures a miserable existence at the dreary Merilance School for Independent Girls -- her inability to speak and upsetting ability to see ghouls make her unpopular with the other orphans and the matrons. Then a letter arrives from a hitherto-unknown uncle, welcoming Olivia back home to the family estate, Gallant. Despite the pleasant surroundings and cheerful estate caretakers, something appears to be dreadfully wrong. Olivia starts seeing her own mother's ghoul. The sinister garden wall seems to be always in shadow. And why is her cousin Matthew so unfriendly? When Olivia starts exploring Gallant, she discovers a mirrored world where a Death-like demon reigns, making knights of his shadows and sucking the life out of every living thing. Olivia also discovers the secret of her own birth, the reasons for her mother's madness, and even an explanation for Matthew's standoffishness. Olivia is a stalwart and sympathetic heroine, whose actions occasionally defy the rules of the house but never those of the heart. Bittersweet, gripping, and with atmosphere to spare, Schwab's (The Archived, rev. 1/13) latest gothic tale is exactly the right mix of dark and delightful. Sarah Berman May/June 2022 p.153(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Seeking a place to call home, Olivia uncovers long-buried secrets after arriving at Gallant. Olivia Prior has always hoped for a place to belong and a family that cares for her. Instead, she's isolated at Merilance School for Independent Girls, with its strict matrons, shunned by students who ostracize and torment her for being mute. Olivia uses sign language, taught to her by a now-departed matron (although nobody else signs); treasures the journal belonging to the mother she doesn't remember; and can see ghouls. When she receives a letter from her uncle, Arthur Prior, inviting her to live at his manor, Olivia leaps at the chance. However, instead of the big, welcoming family she imagined, the opulent yet run-down Gallant only holds Matthew, her irritable cousin, and kindly caretakers Hannah and Edgar. Olivia unravels the ominous secrets of both her family and the house, where ghouls lurk around every corner and the dilapidated garden gate calls to her. The evolving relationships between Olivia and her found family shine, and themes of freedom, the self, and belonging are well depicted. The gripping writing and effective incorporation of horror elements, including haunting, inky artwork, are satisfyingly spine-tingling. Olivia's use of sign language and her artistic talents, part of the exploration of the importance of communication, are skillfully incorporated into the overall story. Olivia and the main cast are White. Will hook readers with its gripping worldbuilding, well-rounded characters, and fantastic horror. (Fantasy. 12-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
