Unrest

Jan 04, 2013 Lydia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural, teen

Premise: I'd read about sleep paralysis before and it seemed quite scary, so I was interested in how this could combine with astral projection and the vulnerability of this, especially if there are malignant forces on the 'spiritual plane' who could take advantage.

Characters: The main character, Elliot, wasn't developed much, as when the narrative began he was already reflecting on how he used to be a bad person before his accident but was different now. The sleep paralysis and spirit walking w...more Premise: I'd read about sleep paralysis before and it seemed quite scary, so I was interested in how this could combine with astral projection and the vulnerability of this, especially if there are malignant forces on the 'spiritual plane' who could take advantage.

Characters: The main character, Elliot, wasn't developed much, as when the narrative began he was already reflecting on how he used to be a bad person before his accident but was different now. The sleep paralysis and spirit walking were what made him interesting. Ophelia was the mystery, as she was at first indifferent and standoffish, but as more of her story came out her character became different. Her relationship with Elliot was believable and it is understandable later why she'd be reluctant; I liked the fact that it was suggested she still loved Sean and wasn't completely over him yet, as it would have been unrealistic of her and Elliot to have a sudden inexplicable head-over-heels love in that situation. Hodge is set up as an unlikable, quick-tempered figure from the start so you can't be sure what he would be capable of.

Plot: The story didn't seem very driven at first, as it was halfway through before anything serious began to happen (apart from a few creepy moments setting up Elliot's experience both with sleep paralysis and astral projection). Then once things with Sebastian started up, there were finally some stakes at risk. There were genuinely chilling moments with the ghost appearing to be malevolently attacking Elliot to try and get possession of his body, and it really seemed like he was after Ophelia for whatever reason. The reader is successfully misguided by the blurb's suggestion, so you don't see the twist coming until the last moment, when a final hint makes things click into place. I had a genuine moment of surprise, which made the meandering build-up worth it.

Other Comments: After the big reveal, the final ending (though somewhat dramatic) may seem a bit anticlimactic, but it is definitely worth reading, if you want to be scared and shocked.

(less)

like · see review

Aug 26, 2012 LH Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, spooky-scary

Elliott doesn't sleep well. He doesn't really sleep at all. He has out of body experiences and suffers from intermittent sleep paralysis. For Elliott, the things that go bump in the night really do go bump in the night. He sees ghosts, figures and things that are genuinely terrifying.

He gets a job at a local haunted museum. It's one of those historical re-enactment places where the staff dress up in period costume. Whilst working there Elliott decides to discover the truth about his experiences...more

like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Josie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I want to rave about this book because it was SO GOOD. I was completely sold on Elliot's voice, and it was great to read a YA book from the POV of a guy. The hauntings/sleep paralysis/out-of-body experiences were all suitably creepy, and I loved how the atmosphere and tension built up slowly throughout the book. (One minor gripe: I don't like it when the blurb mentions something that doesn't happen until three-quarters of the way through the book. I prefer surprises, please!) As for the ending -...more

like · see review

May 18, 2013 Aliana Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really loved unrest. I was completely hooked from the first page and had to keep reading page after page as I needed to know what happened next. It was both creepy and heartfelt and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Elliot is a really interesting character. He was in accident which technically left him dead only to be brought back to life by the paramedic team that arrived at the scene. Ever since then sometimes when he goes to sleep he finds himself quite literally drifting out of his body and...more I really loved unrest. I was completely hooked from the first page and had to keep reading page after page as I needed to know what happened next. It was both creepy and heartfelt and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Elliot is a really interesting character. He was in accident which technically left him dead only to be brought back to life by the paramedic team that arrived at the scene. Ever since then sometimes when he goes to sleep he finds himself quite literally drifting out of his body and seeing all manner of ghosts which frighten the life out of him. He is desperate to know whether it is as real as it feels or whether it is just him going crazy and starts work at an living history museum desperate for answers one way or another.

I'm not going to tell you too much more about the book because I don't want to spoil it (especially as I'm writing this a few months before it is actually released) but I will say the following few things.

The writing style in this book is exquisite and really draws you in as a reader. This story takes its time getting to where it wants to go and while sometimes this can drive me loopy in this case the writing style was so good it could have been twice as long and I still would have loved it.

The history geek in me loved the living history museum set up and loved the potential the setting gave to the story with having the characters and events based there.

I loved Ophelia who Elliot meets whilst working at the museum and adored the relationship that is built up between them. I really loved how different she was and how kick-ass she was and that she definitely wasn't one of your typical YA heroine stereotypes.

I really enjoyed the way this story went. Without telling you too much I liked how it all fit together and the explanations given for all the things that were happening and by the end I was left satisfied as a reader about what I had just read. This was particularly brilliant because so many books of late that I've read haven't had that sense of closure at the end leaving you with the feeling that you've only read half a book. I was delighted that this wasn't one of them!

All in all a fantastic read which I really enjoyed. (less)

like · see review

Jun 12, 2012 Clover (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, british-reading-challenge, ya

This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies

Unrest by Michelle Harrison is the first book I've read by this author. I'll admit what initially attracted me to this story is the really eye-catching cover. I just couldn't resist. I also love the idea of reading more YA books from a male perspective which this book does as well as the creepiness that comes with a book about the spirit world and of out-of-body experiences. Already I had high expectations before reading.

And Unrest is a...more This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies

Unrest by Michelle Harrison is the first book I've read by this author. I'll admit what initially attracted me to this story is the really eye-catching cover. I just couldn't resist. I also love the idea of reading more YA books from a male perspective which this book does as well as the creepiness that comes with a book about the spirit world and of out-of-body experiences. Already I had high expectations before reading.

And Unrest is a really good book, one that didn't disappoint at all. Despite reading this book during a busy time for me, every time I put the book down I'd be looking forward to getting back into it. The story and the characters were really interesting and I was always left wanting more!

I really felt sorry for Elliott. Months ago, he was involved in a car accident which left him clinically dead for several minutes. Ever since then, he hasn't been sleeping well. He's been experiencing some terrifying things when asleep - out of body experiences in which he's disconnected from his physical body, able to see ghosts, sometimes being paralysed. In order to combat Elliott's feelings of fear relating to these episodes, he decides instead of avoiding the problem to place himself in a position of more terror. Thus, he gets a job at a reportedly haunted museum so that he can tell if what he's seeing and feeling is actually real or all in his mind like his father and his doctors believe.

I thought it was pretty gutsy of Elliott to go towards the scary ghosts and put himself more in danger at new job, Past Lives. I thought the idea of being part of a living museum like that would be a pretty awesome place to work just in general, never mind a haunted museum. And I was officially creeped out several times during this story. It makes me shudder even now the idea of leaving your body and having some thing else take over it. And while Elliott is trying hard to find out more about psychics and mediums and ghosts and any sort of defense mechanism he can in order to keep him safe, there is also another sort of mystery going on with Past Lives and its employees. I love the mixture of both storylines and the rather sweet relationship that Elliott begins with Ophelia. There's a genuine build up here, and you can see actual friendship and reason for them to be with each other. I absolutely loved it. There's a slightly spoilerish quote that I'll add at the end which make me go 'AWW' when I was reading.

This book is utterly creepy and engrossing. It's fascinating the information about ghosts and spirits and like I said, I just didn't want to put this book down. I really recommend it!

I want the girl who wants and interesting portrait, not a beautiful one. I want the girl who's crazy enough to pull a fake gun on her enemies, who starts fights she knows she can't win. Who doesn't fall at someone's feet the minute she meets them. The girl who dances like she doesn't give a toss what anyone else thinks.(less)

like · see review

Jun 01, 2012 Luna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ohh this is good… it’s mysterious, spooky and pulls you in.

Yes there are ghosts and yes the story starts Elliot finding one in his bathroom but the writing and pacing are gentle. I wasn’t so much being dragged through Elliot’s journey but rather walked along beside him. It takes a lot of skill to give the reader breathing space without ever letting them get bored.

The characters are plentiful and Past Lives (the haunted museum) is brilliant. I’ve been on ghost walks and to museums like that and M...more

like · see review

Apr 03, 2012 Sammee (I Want to Read That) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review-read

4.5 Stars

Ever since I’d heard the synopsis for Unrest I knew I had to read it! And I’m very pleased to say it lived up to my expectations.

The story sucked me in straight away. I loved the voice Michelle Harrison gives to Elliott – he’s very likeable but not perfect. And the situation he finds himself in after his accident makes for compelling reading.

It is apparent a great deal of work has gone into constructing this story – it reads in such a believable way which makes it very creepy! I loved a...more 4.5 Stars

Ever since I’d heard the synopsis for Unrest I knew I had to read it! And I’m very pleased to say it lived up to my expectations.

The story sucked me in straight away. I loved the voice Michelle Harrison gives to Elliott – he’s very likeable but not perfect. And the situation he finds himself in after his accident makes for compelling reading.

It is apparent a great deal of work has gone into constructing this story – it reads in such a believable way which makes it very creepy! I loved all the ghostly, night time scenes when Elliott fell asleep. But the story is more than that – at its heart it is a contemporary mystery and I loved solving it alongside Elliott.

Not only is Elliott trying to deal with the repercussions of his accident – and the strange out of body experiences – but he also stumbles upon a ‘situation’ at his new place of work. Forced to investigate when his out of body experiences take a more threatening turn – Elliott has no choice but to undercover the truth…

One of the other aspects of this novel I loved was the romance between Elliott and Ophelia. It builds slowly and a genuine friendship develops between them. One thing that did bug me though was Elliott’s constant references to the fact that she wasn’t ‘that pretty’ – it really started to annoy me after a while. But the gentle way he actually treats Ophelia makes up for it! And the two have great chemistry.

I also really enjoyed the relationships Elliott has with his father and his brother Adam. Actually I kind of fell in love with Adam – he’s a bit of a bad boy with a heart – and I loved the scenes with the two of them.

Michelle Harrison has written a brilliant story that I’m sure will be a fan favourite. The story is so addictive I didn’t want to stop reading - I had to know what was going on! And I loved the way it unraveled – there were definitely a few surprises! And although this works perfectly as a standalone story – I can’t help but hold out a secret hope that there is a way for it to become a series. I loved the concept so much, and Elliott and Ophelia are such brilliant characters I’d love to return to the world!

Highly recommended.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Kate Walker rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay, so I'd read the first of Michelle Harrison's Thirteen Treasures sequence a couple of years back when it came out. I vaguely remembered enjoying her style so when I spotted Unrest on the shelf at my local supermarket (for three quid off the RRP, no less) I nabbed it and put it in my pile to be read after Daughter of Smoke and Bone. True to my plan, mere hours after I closed the beautiful cover of Laini Taylor's novel, I had Harrison's new - and boy is it new - book open on my lap. Unfortuna...more Okay, so I'd read the first of Michelle Harrison's Thirteen Treasures sequence a couple of years back when it came out. I vaguely remembered enjoying her style so when I spotted Unrest on the shelf at my local supermarket (for three quid off the RRP, no less) I nabbed it and put it in my pile to be read after Daughter of Smoke and Bone. True to my plan, mere hours after I closed the beautiful cover of Laini Taylor's novel, I had Harrison's new - and boy is it new - book open on my lap. Unfortunately, it was 3am and probably one of the stupidest decisions I've made in a while. You're not even ten pages in and BAM, have some suicide to send you off to sleep happily. Okay, I'm being melodramatic; there's no suicide to witness, only the unhappy spirit that was left behind after one Tess Fielding decided to end it all. And here our poor protagonist Elliott is stuck, having to deal with being stalked by the dead.

I'm not going to lie, this story genuinely managed to creep me out at some points. Enough that I made sure my lamp was plugged in when I went to sleep after reading it. Vampires, I can deal. Chimerae, come at me. Hell, demons themselves, I'm cool with (pun half intended.) But you stick me in the middle of a novel with lucid dreaming and angry-ass, long dead spirits with an axe to grind and you have got a girl who is too freaked out to go to the bathroom, a whole extremely well lit ten feet away.

Don't judge me.

There were a lot of surprises along the way, though a fair few of them were kind of sprung on you in the last chapters in the kind of hurried ending that has the potential to spoil a very good book, which was a great shame. Sebastian was surprisingly terrifying for a dead boy, and the sense of claustrophobia and helplessness that Elliott felt as his body was taken over and used certainly was carried across extremely well.

The inevitable love story wasn't bad in the great scheme of things. You should know from me by now that I hate sappy romance and this, thankfully, didn't do so badly in that respect. Ophelia, the sensationally named love interest, annoyed me at points but eventually grew on me like some kind of straw coloured fungus.

I loved the museum, though manager Hodge remained one of my least favourite characters throughout and I liked him less and less as the story progressed.

In all, an average success, though I don't think it'll be making it on to my 'read again' pile.
(less)

like · see review

Jun 16, 2012 Faye Butler rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would have rated this book 5 stars, but to be quite frank it scared me too much (almost to the point where I didn't want to go to sleep in case I started getting sleep paralysis and astral projection like Elliot). Saying that, it was an absolutely thrilling, eerie story and was really well written by Michelle Harrison. A lot of the time I didn't really want to read on because I was scared of what was going to happen, but I literally could not put it down. The storyline was fascinating and very...more

like · see review

Jul 09, 2012 Shaheen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: s-saust

I don’t read ghost stories on account of my being easily terrified by anything resembling a vengeful spirit. I decided to give Unrest a go for two reasons – it is written from a male perspective, which is rare enough in YA, and Elliott doesn’t hide from his connection to the spirit world, but goes and gets a job at a haunted museum. Talk about brave. I didn’t have the luxury to read the book in the daytime as I had initially intended, but it didn’t turn out to be half as terrifying as I expected...more I don’t read ghost stories on account of my being easily terrified by anything resembling a vengeful spirit. I decided to give Unrest a go for two reasons – it is written from a male perspective, which is rare enough in YA, and Elliott doesn’t hide from his connection to the spirit world, but goes and gets a job at a haunted museum. Talk about brave. I didn’t have the luxury to read the book in the daytime as I had initially intended, but it didn’t turn out to be half as terrifying as I expected. Yes, it’s creepy and there are a few disturbing scenes, but it’s no scarier than an average episode of Supernatural, and they’ve failed to scare me since season 3.

In a book such as this that deals with experiences like Elliott’s, I am analysing how those around the protagonist treat his/her experiences. I was glad that instead of dismissing Elliott’s visions, his family is both caring and supportive, which is a refreshing change. They aren’t sure if they believe him, but are genuinely concerned about him and are always there to help. Ophelia is my favourite character in the book because although Elliott’s strange behaviour creeps her out, she is still open and honest with him and tries to help in any way she can. Their relationship is realistic and sweet and grew slowly out of friendship, which I liked.

This book is really difficult to out down, which I attribute largely to its suspenseful plot. Unrest went in a completely different direction to what I had expected. This is good – reading the book was a journey full of unexpected twists and turns. Plot details are revealed fast enough to engage a reader but with every reveal there is something held back so that the anticipation builds up until the very end, when everything finally makes sense. This is the first book I have read written by Michelle Harrison and I am impressed by her writing style. She brings the spirit world to life, and it’s every bit as creepy and disturbing as you would expect.

Unrest is a spine-tingling, exciting story that I feel many people will enjoy. I have read a few reviews where the supernatural elements have put off potential readers, and I realise that although I didn’t find it particularly scary, other readers may. However, it’s a great read and I wish there was more to come!

You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .(less)

like · see review

May 10, 2012 Richard (booksboysandsuch) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favorites

Creepy as hell and entertaining!

I could not put this book down. It was so dark, creepy, and had a mystery that came out of
nowhere, which I loved. If you are looking for a spooky read, then pick up Unrest by Michelle Harrison ASAP!

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 09, 2013 Anastasia rated it 2 of 5 stars

One word: disappointing. From the blurb I expected it to be really thrilling but all I felt was 'eh'. And to add insult to injury, it would have been a really good book if it was written properly. The big surprise and twist at the end wasn't even that much of a surprise because the author wrote it in such a way that you saw it a mile coming. Plus the ending just felt too botchy, like she was just adding all the answers to the questions at the end just for the sake of closing the book. It didn't...more

like · see review

May 04, 2012 Lisad rated it 5 of 5 stars

In contrast to her previous trilogy which appealed to 9-12 year olds and teens, Unrest is firmly in the teen category. The protagonist Elliott has left art school after a near fatal accident has destroyed his confidence. He is feeling depressed and disturbed and his sleep is interrupted by strange visions and dreams. Gradually Elliott realises that he had an out of body experience and is now able to see ghosts, as he is woken again and again by a young woman who took her own life a few years bef...more

like · see review

May 31, 2012 Sally rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think the highest accolade I can bestow to, Michelle Harrison's, Unrest is this; that I stared reading it whilst going through a period when I could not get in to any book enough to read past chapter two, and yet I finished it, and loved it!

Unrest drew me in, and kept me hooked. It's an emotional journey with plenty of meaty well-researched and beautifully envisioned supernatural along the way. A unique and original ghost story, with tension and romance, with a fabulous conclusion.

Definitely...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 03, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut-author, books-i-own-print, for-review-read, read-in-2012, signed, british-author

Several months ago Elliott was in a serious accident, one that left him dead for 2 minutes before the paramedics on scene were able to resuscitate him. Ever since that awful event he has been having problems sleeping, waking in the early hours each night to find that he is no longer in his body or finding that he is completely paralysed. That would be bad enough but add in the strange ghostly figures he sees during the experiences and it has left Elliott terrified - either he is losing his mind...more Several months ago Elliott was in a serious accident, one that left him dead for 2 minutes before the paramedics on scene were able to resuscitate him. Ever since that awful event he has been having problems sleeping, waking in the early hours each night to find that he is no longer in his body or finding that he is completely paralysed. That would be bad enough but add in the strange ghostly figures he sees during the experiences and it has left Elliott terrified - either he is losing his mind or he is being haunted and he can't figure out which one it is. To try and get some answers Elliott decides to take a job working at a supposedly haunted living history museum. He is hoping to convince himself that he has been imagining things but instead it just get a lot more complicated - especially when his body is taken over by a mysterious spirit that has been watching him as he sleeps.

I knew I wanted to read Unrest as soon as I saw the cover! I enjoyed Michelle Harrison's book The 13 Treasures and was looking forward to seeing what she would come up with for a teenage audience. I wasn't disappointed and Unrest was a captivating read that I didn't want to put down. This was a seriously creepy story and one I would highly recommend!

Elliott was a fairly typical teenage boy before his accident, he was confident, outgoing and enjoyed spending time with his friends and his brother going out meeting girls. Things have changed a lot for him since his near death experience though and he hates the pitying looks he gets from people who know about the accident. His sleep problems have had a major effect on him - he is exhausted, depressed and his confidence has taken a knock. It was easy to feel for him but I loved the fact that he didn't spend all his time sitting around moping, he wanted to figure out what was happening to him and try to find a way to stop it. Michelle Harrison's vivid descriptions of his out-of-body experiences were terrifying and felt so real that it was like you were living through them yourself - this wasn't a book that I would have felt comfortable reading just before bed! I don't want to give spoilers so I'm not going to say anything more about Elliott's experiences and what caused them but I will say that the answers we are given made it seem very believable which just made it all the more scary to think about.

I really enjoyed reading from Elliott's point of view and thought his voice felt realistic for a seventeen-year-old boy. I loved his relationships with his dad and his brother Adam (who was one of my favourite characters!) and really liked how he slowly built up a friendship with Ophelia before they became romantically involved. Ophelia was another likeable character who had been through a lot but was a survivor, she has a few secrets of her own and I enjoyed finding out more about her.

Unrest is a fantastic story for anyone who enjoys a good supernatural mystery, there are some shocking twists at the end that had me kicking myself for not guessing them sooner because they seemed so obvious when they were pointed out to me! I can't wait to see what Michelle Harrison comes up with next (hopefully another book about Elliott because although Unrest works well as a stand alone story I'd really like to see more of his abilities!)(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Alex Sharrock rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I didn't have much to go by on this book except the 4 Star Goodreads rating and the words on the back and to be honest I think this was the best way.

Elliot is a great main character, even though a little bit derogatory towards women at time but what can you expect from a 17 year old hormonal teen. He is quite endearing and with the first person narrative that the book is written it is as he is speaking directly at you. At the beginning and through out the novel I constantly felt a twinge of sorr...more

like · see review

Jun 27, 2012 Jessica (Jess Hearts Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I’d heard a lot of praise for Michelle Harrison’s The Thirteen Treasures series for younger readers and so was excited to hear that she planned to venture into YA with this standalone novel Unrest and it only took me until the end of chapter one to realize what all the fuss was about. The first chapter completely sucked me in, Michelle Harrison has this atmospheric way of describing what’s happening that sent a chill down my spine. Her writing is suitably creepy and suspenseful and I became abso...more I’d heard a lot of praise for Michelle Harrison’s The Thirteen Treasures series for younger readers and so was excited to hear that she planned to venture into YA with this standalone novel Unrest and it only took me until the end of chapter one to realize what all the fuss was about. The first chapter completely sucked me in, Michelle Harrison has this atmospheric way of describing what’s happening that sent a chill down my spine. Her writing is suitably creepy and suspenseful and I became absorbed in this book from the start longing for the next chilling scene to get my next terror fuelled buzz and to find out exactly what was going on with Elliott and what happened to give him his strange abilities.

When Elliott is in an accident that actually clinically kills him for all of two minutes and is resuscitated by paramedics and brought back to life he finds himself somehow newly connected to the spirit world. Elliott’s experiences with sleep paralysis chilled me to the bone. Sleep paralysis is a sleeping disorder I hadn’t heard of prior to reading this book and I found it a fascinating albeit terrifying illness to read about. The way that Michelle Harrison connected the condition to a ghost story made Unrest something new and exciting to read. Whilst at its heart this book is a ghost story it also reads as part contemporary romance and part mystery too. When Elliott wasn’t fighting off spirits trying to enter his sleeping body he also has a budding romance with his co-worker Ophelia developing, and had to learn the history and ghost stories of Past Lives the living museum where he’s recently started to work. There are also the mysteries of the ghosts that haunt Elliott that he has to solve in order for them to move on. There was always something exciting going on making Unrest totally gripping.

I really loved the characters in this book, Elliott wasn’t a perfect character and had a past and reputation with the ladies before his accident. I liked that in the beginning Elliott wasn’t perfect because as the book goes on he takes the horrible things that have happened to him and lets his experiences shape him into a better person. I loved watching him grow as a character and by the end of the book he was such a lovely guy who I really wanted the best for. I also really liked Elliott’s love interest Ophelia she’s feisty, smart, and doesn’t take any crap from anyone least of all Elliott. She has an interesting back story too that gets revealed as the book goes on and again, like Elliott, she’s flawed but not in a way that makes her unlikeable only more relatable and real as a character.

Unrest if the kind of book that does exactly what it says on the tin and more. Yes it’s scary and creepy which is exactly what I was after when I picked this book up but it was also rich with history, romantic, and addictive with plenty of page turning mysteries surrounding the plot. It was a flawless read that ticked all the right boxes and that I couldn’t bear to part with until I’d turned the final page. I loved everything about this book and look forward to seeing what Michelle Harrison writes in the future.(less)

like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Gary rated it 3 of 5 stars

What constitutes a good ghost story? The spook factor? The presence of a concrete plot? A genuine retelling of events?

Probably all of the above. At least for me, I think.

"Unrest" actually had all of those, but each trait just wasn't outstanding enough. It's like a jack of all trades, master of none.

The Story:

Seventeen-year-old Elliott came back from the dead, literally. Just when he thought he was killed in a car accident, the paramedics brought him back to life. Since then, he has had plenty ou...more

like · see review

Dec 22, 2012 Nina at Death Books and Tea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review: Ever since Elliot was killed and revived in a car accident, he's dreamed of ghosts and out of body experiences-and not in a nice way. To try and understand these, he works at Past Lives, a haunted museum. He and fellow worker Ophelia later discover another ghost, and this one wants both his girl, and his life.
Ghost story! Yay! It starts off a little creepy, with Elliot dreaming of the girl who used to live in his apartment before she killed herself. Getting through basic backstory and st...more Review: Ever since Elliot was killed and revived in a car accident, he's dreamed of ghosts and out of body experiences-and not in a nice way. To try and understand these, he works at Past Lives, a haunted museum. He and fellow worker Ophelia later discover another ghost, and this one wants both his girl, and his life.
Ghost story! Yay! It starts off a little creepy, with Elliot dreaming of the girl who used to live in his apartment before she killed herself. Getting through basic backstory and starting work at Past Lives only took a few chapters and the whole book is well paced in terms of things happening throughout.
In terms of my interest levels though, it took about half the book for me to fully care. The first bit's ok, but it takes a fair bit of time for the out of body experience mentioned on the back cover to happen. After we get to know the spirit, Sebastian, that wants something off Elliot, it picks up a lot.
Elliot's average but likable, and you'll end up wanting everything to go well for him. Ophelia had to grow on me, which she only did just about. Their romance is the stereotypical meet, intensely dislike, somehow fall in love, but for Ophelia's personality, it worked.
The thing I enjoyed most was getting the backstories for the spirits, Tess and Sebastian. Both are sad in their own rights, and you do feel for them. They also ended up being the most developed characters.
XXX being the bad person was quite predictable, but there were other things that were a surprise-the circumstances of Sebastian's death particularly.
I liked reading from Elliot's point of view. You get a good sense of how much he's put off kilter by the hauntings, but you also get the normal teenage boy feelings. I personally don't get why he'd want a girl he thought was a complete ... but I suppose it beats instalove.
There's quite a few twists and turns that keep you locked in Unrest for a bit of time, from the middle onwards. And once you have become invested in it, it's worth it. I was mildly interested at the start of Unrest. My heart was racing at the three quarter mark as things were revealed.

Overall: Strength 4 tea to a ghost story that really keep you in once you're there.(less)

like · see review

May 13, 2012 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, young-adult, paranormal

Creepy and atmospheric, 'Unrest' is a book which, like the main protagonist of the story, will keep you up all night wondering what could be out there in the shadows.

Having previously read and enjoyed Michelle Harrison's award-winning series The Thirteen Treasures, I was eager to try her first young-adult novel. While I'm not a big fan of ghost stories you've got to hand it to Harrison - she sure knows how to ratchet up the tension and make you believe in things that go bump in the night.

Full of...more

like · see review

Jun 21, 2012 Leanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I first heard that Michelle was going to be releasing a YA set book when I was lucky enough to meet her last year at a bookshop signing. I'd heard everyone raving about her '13' series - which I own but am still to read (I'm so slow!) but I was still extremely excited and thought what a great way to introduce me to her work - reading in a style I'm more familiar with. I'm thrilled to say I LOVED it!!!

The cover is absolutely genius! Its very subtle, but so effective. It just shows that loads does...more

like · see review

Mar 13, 2012 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: uk-author, review-books, signed, favourites

I really loved unrest. I was completely hooked from the first page and had to keep reading page after page as I needed to know what happened next. It was both creepy and heartfelt and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Elliot is a really interesting character. He was in accident which technically left him dead only to be brought back to life by the paramedic team that arrived at the scene. Ever since then sometimes when he goes to sleep he finds himself quite literally drifting out of his body and...more I really loved unrest. I was completely hooked from the first page and had to keep reading page after page as I needed to know what happened next. It was both creepy and heartfelt and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Elliot is a really interesting character. He was in accident which technically left him dead only to be brought back to life by the paramedic team that arrived at the scene. Ever since then sometimes when he goes to sleep he finds himself quite literally drifting out of his body and seeing all manner of ghosts which frighten the life out of him. He is desperate to know whether it is as real as it feels or whether it is just him going crazy and starts work at an living history museum desperate for answers one way or another.

I'm not going to tell you too much more about the book because I don't want to spoil it (especially as I'm writing this a few months before it is actually released) but I will say the following few things.

The writing style in this book is exquisite and really draws you in as a reader. This story takes its time getting to where it wants to go and while sometimes this can drive me loopy in this case the writing style was so good it could have been twice as long and I still would have loved it.

The history geek in me loved the living history museum set up and loved the potential the setting gave to the story with having the characters and events based there.

I loved Ophelia who Elliot meets whilst working at the museum and adored the relationship that is built up between them. I really loved how different she was and how kick-ass she was and that she definitely wasn't one of your typical YA heroine stereotypes.

I really enjoyed the way this story went. Without telling you too much I liked how it all fit together and the explanations given for all the things that were happening and by the end I was left satisfied as a reader about what I had just read. This was particularly brilliant because so many books of late that I've read haven't had that sense of closure at the end leaving you with the feeling that you've only read half a book. I was delighted that this wasn't one of them!

All in all a fantastic read which I really enjoyed.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 24, 2012 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-review

This book blew me away. Once I began reading it, I just couldn't put it down. Michelle Harrison is excellent at hiding the truth from you until she is ready for you to hear it. There were elements that I really didn't see coming and I really should have. The story builds at a slow pace, which adds to the tension as you become desperate to find out what is happening to Elliott. As the book progressed, I had to finish reading it in daylight, as some of the scenes really did freak me out.

Past Lives...more This book blew me away. Once I began reading it, I just couldn't put it down. Michelle Harrison is excellent at hiding the truth from you until she is ready for you to hear it. There were elements that I really didn't see coming and I really should have. The story builds at a slow pace, which adds to the tension as you become desperate to find out what is happening to Elliott. As the book progressed, I had to finish reading it in daylight, as some of the scenes really did freak me out.

Past Lives, a living and working museum really came to life for me.The author made the village accessible to her readers; I felt I could walk down the streets and be able to name all the buildings and which ghosts haunted them. I have visited a similar museum and I really felt Michelle had captured its essence in exquisite detail.

Elliot was an excellent character, right from the start you want him to discover the truth and learn to deal with everything happening to him. He wasn't perfect and I think that is why I liked him so much. Before his accident, he really had been one of those boys your mother always told you to avoid, yet the accident changed him, opened his eyes and his emotions to the world. You could see how he looked up to his brother, yet he soon realises that the people you love the most are not are not infallible.

The blossoming romance between Ophelia and Elliott was beautiful, yet edgy. Each hiding a difficult past they still haven't learnt to live with. They both have flaws, neither one perfect, yet they still fell in love with each other. The scenes between them were quite breathtaking.

There is something very British about they way Michelle writes, no fancy and far fetched ideas, the writing is realistic and gritty. Certain scenes in the book really creeped me out.
If you love programmes such as Most Haunted you will love this.

I think Michelle Harrison has easily shown that she is capable of taking on the YA market as well as the children's genre. She has created a spine tingling spooky tale, guaranteed to give you goose bumps. Michelle Harrison is always at the top of my list of recommended authors; she writes with a voice that entrances you; gently leading you away from what you are supposed to be doing and losing you in the story. A modern day Pied Piper!

This book has been written as a standalone, but I do feel there is room for a sequel. I want to see Elliot's abilities grow over time; I want to see where they will lead him. I am also a sucker for romance and I definitely need to find out what happens with Ophelia and Elliot as life throws a few more obstacles in the way. If there isn't a sequel, I may petition!(less)

like · see review

Jul 03, 2012 Brodie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, aussie-swap

4.5 stars

I've always been fascinated with astral projection and out-of-body experiences, so to find a YA book which explores both these elements? Brodie EXCITED. And Michelle Harrison did not disappoint in bringing them to life with a creepy bite and a welcome emotional depth. It's easy to sympathise with Elliott. His life has gone on a downward spiral ever since the accident, where death took hold for a good two minutes before paramedics could revive him. Ever since, his sleep has been anything...more 4.5 stars

I've always been fascinated with astral projection and out-of-body experiences, so to find a YA book which explores both these elements? Brodie EXCITED. And Michelle Harrison did not disappoint in bringing them to life with a creepy bite and a welcome emotional depth. It's easy to sympathise with Elliott. His life has gone on a downward spiral ever since the accident, where death took hold for a good two minutes before paramedics could revive him. Ever since, his sleep has been anything but restful. Out-of-body experiences, terrifying sleep-paralysis and less-than-friendly visions from a ghost who committed suicide in his bathroom... well, you can see why he's a little screwed up. When he takes on a job at Past Lives, a haunted museum/park, in order to find out if he's crazy or actually experiencing these things, Elliott discovers things can actually worse. Spirits scarier than the girl from his bathroom, a gripping mystery that runs deeper than he could imagine and the nail-biting threat of possession. On the flip side, I found his new job inspired him to become more motivated, more alive than he had ever been after the accident, and a budding romance definitely helps balance out the creepy sh!t in your life!

Sleep is our sanctuary; where we can shut off from the stress and worries of our daily life and drift off for a few hours into a peaceful oblivion. But for Elliot, sleep is the most frightening part of his day. Imagine your spirit, your consciousness - whatever you want to call it - your sense of self, being separated from your physical body. You're no longer tangible in the solid, earthy world. You see, but cannot be seen. It's a very unsettling thing, but I find it also has the potential to be liberating and exciting at times. Though what is most spine-chilling is when something... someone... slips into Elliott's body while it's unoccupied. Someone with a purpose, fueled with furious need for it to be carried out. Michelle did an excellent job of making you share in Elliott's feelings of desperation, his terror and utter helplessness the first few times his body was possessed. To watch as someone else controlled your body, but you're unable to do anything about it? It's downright scary. Elliott has to battle for ways to maintain control, yet throughout it all - the possessions, the ghosts haunting his sleep, his exploration of his astral self - it never once felt unrealistic or over-the-top. There was always a very grounded, believable feel to the story.

Elliott has his flaws, but at heart he's a really good guy. He's very determined when he has a goal and whether he acknowledges it or not, he has quite a soft spot. I couldn't help but become emotionally invested as he struggled through everything. He develops a surprising relationship with Ophelia, a girl who also works at Past Lives. It's far from being love-at-first-sight, or even attraction-at-first-sight, and I think that's what made me all the more intrigued. There's a slow build of trust and chemistry between the pair and it was a shock to both of them as they slipped behind one another's protective shields. I like that their relationship was founded on genuine emotion and often disregard for appearance, rather than "omg you're so beautiful, I don't deserve you! angst angst angssssst!"

I didn't find any of the spirits in this book written just to scare the reader. It's true each has a dark and creeping aura clinging to him, but with patience comes understanding and revelations that will both shock and tug at your heartstrings. The mystery itself is brilliantly executed. I managed to pick up on a few vague hints much later in the novel, but the actual reveal? Oh my god. I could not tear my eyes away from the pages. As it all quickly unravelled at the end, so did my mouth. It was shocking, tragic, and downright distressing. I'm still rattled by the turn of events. It's one of those endings that will send shivers up your spine long after you finish.

Brilliant on all accounts, Unrest is sure to unnerve readers enough to sleep with one eye open. Eerily realistic hauntings, emotionally moving history and a mystery to keep you guessing, it all builds up into an incredible, yet devastating finale. Don't think for a moment you'll be able to pull away, because once the restless spirits have a hold over you, they're not too fond of letting go.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 13, 2012 Sophie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: uk-author, arc, for-review, blog-tour

I’ve been a fan of Michelle Harrison since her debut, The Thirteen Treasures, so when I found out she was writing a ghost story for a YA audience, I got extremely excited. And I had every reason to.

Unrest immediately draws you into Elliot’s unsettled and creepy world where he is haunted in his own house. Wondering whether he’s losing his mind or experiencing something ‘other’, he needs to find a way to make it stop. There’s an electric tension running through the novel as Elliot’s encounters bec...more I’ve been a fan of Michelle Harrison since her debut, The Thirteen Treasures, so when I found out she was writing a ghost story for a YA audience, I got extremely excited. And I had every reason to.

Unrest immediately draws you into Elliot’s unsettled and creepy world where he is haunted in his own house. Wondering whether he’s losing his mind or experiencing something ‘other’, he needs to find a way to make it stop. There’s an electric tension running through the novel as Elliot’s encounters become more frequent and infinitely more dangerous that kept me on the edge of my seat and tightly clutching the book in my hands, furiously turning the pages.

I immediately warmed to Elliot and his struggles (and not just because I love his name ridiculous amounts) and there were moments where I was genuinely scared for him. I fell a little in love with him if I’m honest. Ophelia was rather different. At first, I thought she was stuck-up and cold, exactly like Elliot did. but as she warmed to him and more and more was revealed about her life and her character, I began to see what Elliot saw in her. One of my favourite elements of their relationship was the stony start they had and that Elliot wasn’t immediately drawn to her stunning beauty or anything like that. It was a natural and realistic progression that is really quite badly represented in YA sometimes. Ophelia continued to surprise me and with each revelation, I liked her a little more.

As well as the aching nail-biting tension, Michelle Harrison gripped me with the never-ending trail of questions that threaded through Unrest. Is Elliot mad, or is he really seeing ghosts? What does Tess want from Elliot? What exactly is Hodge up to? Is Lesley right about him? Each answer was revealed slowly, drip-feeding us hints and clues until being explained at just the right moment. Brilliant. I loved it.

Unrest is a chilling and atmospheric novel that will make night-time jaunts through the house a thing of the past.(less)

like · see review

Nov 26, 2012 C.J. Daugherty rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastically chilling ghost story. I intentionally read nothing about this book in advance, so I could approach it blind. It blew me away. The ghosts are believably terrifying -- even sad. And I loved the main characters. The twist at the end came out of nowhere -- I never saw it coming. If you like ghost stories, you will love this book.

like · see review

I thought that out-of-body experience could be fun as you can fly anywhere, going through walls or meets dead people.. After reading this book, now I realize that it was not easy to see dead people and the most important is what if the dead people using your body and be with your loved one.. ah.. surely I get really mad and pissed off...so, careful with what you wish for..

like · see review

Jan 03, 2013 Sophie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites

A chilling read, definatly not one to read at night for the faint hearted. It always kept me guessing, I had no idea what was going to happen next. Completely unpredictable. Elliot is easily relatable and really stands out as a character. The ending was a bit of a shock. An overall fantastic read

like · see review

Sep 24, 2012 Madeline rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

Quite disappointed with Unrest, I'll admit. It had the potential to be an excellent, mind-boggling story but went in the other direction. The writing was splendid, there was nothing wrong with the quality to which Harrison writes, however it was the storyline that was the final "nail in the coffin". At times I felt the book lose pace and slow to a crawl, and then pick up speed before slowing down again. I found that in my mind I was creating an alternative story when the book went a way I didn't...more

like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Edna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Seriously good creepy book. Ghosts and out of body experiences make this a great read. Don't read late at night - especially if you are on your own.

like · see review

title link	preview: Unrest
avg rating	preview: Unrest Goodreads rating: 4.06 (188 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11503082-unrest?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329243728l/11503082.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11503082-unrest?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Unrest by Michelle Harrison[/url]

Unrest

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Michelle Harrison

Books by Michelle Harrison

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Unrest