We Were Restless Things by Cole Nagamatsu

 “We Were Restless Things” by Cole Nagamatsu is a Young Adult fantasy novel. It follows several teenagers on a journey to solve the mysterious death of Lincoln Miller. Link drowned on dry land in the woods. The police never found a water source, but Noemi has. When Jonas comes to live with his dad in Shivery, he is drawn into the search for answers. Together with their friends, they face the dangers of the impossible lake. 

 


"We Were Restless Things" embeds a paranormal, fantasy element seamlessly into a normal world, adding intrigue and believability to the plot. There are five core characters, which I felt I came to know very well. Their relationships with each other shift and change slowly but drastically throughout the novel. The story is told from a captivating range of perspectives, including the main characters, an “Unknown” character and some of Noemi’s dreams. I liked the supernatural and mystery elements of the novel so much that I felt the characters’ family issues and relationship dramas were merely obstacles to the action. The fantasy element creates incredible tension but at the end of the novel, the reader knows all of the facts, with the magic of the lake clearly explained, the excitement and suspense are ruined. Unfortunately, there was also some swearing and inappropriate content which made it uncomfortable to read at times.

 

Cole Nagamatsu writes beautifully, with rich descriptions of the mysterious forest and magical lake wonderfully embellishing the reading experience. The atmosphere is dark and enigmatic, creating an experience similar to that of the final Harry Potter books. Paranormal occurrences are peppered throughout the story, building tension and making for a truly gripping read. 


Thank you to NetGalley and Sourebooks Fire for providing me with a digital copy of this book.


- Inkpot Blogger

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