Gallant

Gallant by V.E. Schwab, 338 pages.

Olivia Prior has never entirely fit in at Merilance School for Girls, partially because she can't speak, and partially because she sees the dead. A letter from a man claiming to be her long-lost uncle invites her to his country home, Gallant. And Olivia, desperate to be wanted and find a place to belong, goes willingly, even though Gallant is the one place her mother warns her never to go in the diary that shows her slow spiral away from sanity. When she arrives Gallant is not what she expects, but she has to learn its secrets quickly if she is to have any hope of the family she has longed for. 

This was a fabulous, very gothic, novel. The books blurb describes it as The Secret Garden  meets Crimson Peak, and honestly that's an extremely accurate comparison. I liked how spooky it was, but also how thoughtful. The writing is beautiful, and the images are striking. Highly recommended for fans of modern gothic.