Love the Canadian representation.
The book showcases multiple point of views and the hardships faced in 1836 Bytown. I had a hard time feeling interested in many of the stories and wish it was more focused on certain ones like Mariah.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Gwen Tuinman's *Unrest* offers a vivid portrayal of 1830s Bytown (now Ottawa), delving into the struggles of Irish immigrants amid societal corruption and class divides. The narrative centers on Mariah, a woman scarred both physically and emotionally, as she confronts personal and communal turmoil to protect her son, Thomas. Tuinman's meticulous research shines through, painting a stark picture of Upper Canada's frozen wilderness and the resilience required to survive within it. However, some readers may find the pacing uneven, with certain plot developments feeling abrupt. Additionally, the dense historical context, while enriching, can occasionally overshadow character development. Overall, *Unrest* is a compelling read for those interested in Canadian history and tales of personal fortitude.

I really enjoyed this window back in time to the early beginnings of the Canada we know today, with some fantastic Canadian historical fiction!

This was a powerful and engrossing read - at times quite emotional, prompting the reader to continue flipping through pages grasping at every word until the very last page. Mariah was an inspiring character, who you really feel for & root for as the story unfolds and the past events are revealed. Every character included in the story was interesting in their own way, with complex family dynamics that were fascinating to see unfold and multiple perspectives to explore the characters from many different angles.

You can tell that the author did a thorough job researching all aspects needed to ensure that the reader would be fully immersed and informed into the historically accurate setting. I wish this novel had been published back when I was in high school, as I know the honours history class I was in would have loved this one! Quite an educational and riveting read! I always enjoy a historical read, especially when it is well written and informative. The author writes excellently and with such grace while not shying away from some harsh realities of history.

Read this book if you’re looking for something interesting and historically immersive! Definitely not a boring read at all (whoever said that Canada or history was boring?!) and absolutely bonus points that it’s set in the early days of Canada; a setting not often written about, especially in fiction. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Canada for providing me with an ARC of #Unrest in exchange for my honest review.

I was very intrigued to read this novel, with my hometown being described as a cesspool in the story description how could I not be??

And that is exactly what I loved about this book. As a history major from Ottawa I found the historical aspects of this book fascinating. Picturing the familiar place names and locations back then and what it might have been like to live there then was fun and I even learned a new , very Canadian, word.

Unfortunately the story itself although good was a little slow for me. The character development is wonderful and there are likeable characters that will have you interested in their story but the plot is slow moving.

If you’re from the area and interested in the history or interested in the history of early Canada this might be for you but don’t expect a fast paced gripping tale.

An interesting look back in Canadian history to the lives of the Irish who fled to Canada for a new life in Bytown. Tuinman has provided us with a tightly woven plot featuring a cast of complex and well- developed characters that you will love, or otherwise love to hate, that make this a riveting read. This is a well-written, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will leave you breathless at times in anticipation of the next twist in the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I loved this book. I find Canadian historical fiction so interesting. This was a page-turner I couldn't put down about family, gender, class, murder, cultural dynamics, and more.

Wow! What an amazing book...A historical fiction at its finest. So many characters and all with their own unique tale that all intertwined.. Definitely a nee favorite...Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

An interesting story about the early days in Ottawa before Confederation. Interesting characters and history of the area. Worthwhile and recommended.

‘Unrest’ is a historical fiction novel set in the 1830s in Bytown, in what will become the capital city of Ottawa, Canada. The author, Gwen Tuinman, masterfully transports readers back in time, immersing them in the era's rich historical realism and atmosphere, successfully capturing the complex tapestry of the town's cultural dynamics. One of the most striking aspects of ‘Unrest’ is its authentic portrayal of the period’s social and political turmoil. The novel doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of the time, offering a nuanced exploration of the struggles and conflicts that shaped the nation’s early days and the tense relationships between Irish and British immigrants, French Canadians, and Indigenous populations.

The story unfolds through multiple POVs and the writing leans heavily on narrative, with characters explaining their thoughts and goals. As a reader, I find this less effective than showing motives through actions and dialogue. However, the pacing was swift and it kept my interest until the end.

Overall, ‘Unrest’ was an engaging and enlightening read that brought to life Canada's early capital.

This was an ARC review for NetGalley.
Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon.ca.

At first, I had difficulty with the multiple POV's, but the writing and depth of the characters more than made up for it.

I have been following this author for a few years now, so I knew how she felt about history, and her research was evident in this book. It wasn't always pretty, but it was surprising in how much it drew me in. I was captivated after the first few pages.

Terrific read!

Unrest is a historical fiction novel by author Gwen Tuinman that I requested by chance on NetGalley after reading the synopsis and realising the story is set very close to home, but in the 1800s. It contained references to many places I know and love. Historical fiction is not my usual genre, but I am so happy I picked this one up, as it did not disappoint and I easily give it five stars. This book deserves much more attention!

This story was very well written and can be followed easily, even for non-history people like me! This book is set in Bytown (present-day Ottawa) in the 1800s and discusses the tensions between the poor Irish, the working-class French, and the rich English and Scots. I learned a lot about the mayhem and lawlessness that roamed the streets of Bytown, as well as gang activity (or early-day terrorism if you ask me!). A family drama is woven into this story, yet also discusses the roles of (or curses of being) women in a very patriarchal society. This is a story about violence, family, love, and also strength. I was also pleased with the ending.

Read if you like:
⏳ Historical fiction
🗡 Chaos and mayhem
🇨🇦 Canadian history
💪 Strong women

🙏 Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the gifted electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This historical novel takes place in 1836 Bytown, just before Ottawa became a city. It follows Mariah, a woman with a hidden secret, and her son Thomas. Their stories intertwine with the societal struggles of the time, including poverty and lawlessness. The book offers compelling character development and a vivid portrayal of early Canadian history, making it a must-read and providing a captivating and immersive journey into the past.

Worth a try.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel for review purposes.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a Canadian story.

I loved this novel, the characters were so real and well written and the plot was engaging. I was rooting for Mariah through the entire novel. Her story was heartbreaking and she was treated so very poorly that you can't help but hope for the best for her.

I learned a lot about our history and I do enjoy when a fictional novel can teach me something.

I hope I can find more by Gwen Tuinman

I gravitated to this book for its historical fiction take of 1830's Ottawa, Ontario. Ottawa may be the seat of federal political power in modern day Canada, but back in the mid-1800's it was a rough, squalid town where the wealthier English merchant class and its Irish immigrant labour engaged in clashes of conflict, labour strife and violence. Tuinman's meticulous research shines here as she gives readers a story of wilderness hardship, maternal love, survival and resilience. The story is told from multiple points of view giving the reader a sense of the strained family dynamics that compound an already harsh struggle in the Canadian wilderness. Unfortunately, the focus on the family dynamics, that come across as overblown dramatics, and the lack of character development really take away from what could otherwise be a truly great story!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the advanced reader copy.

Another HistFic book set in Canada! Huzzah! Unrest is set in Bytown, 1836 which will one day be known as Ottawa and tells of Mariah, an Irish immigrant with a scarred face and secret she’s held onto for long enough. She often appears timid and scared, but deep down, there is a strong woman and reading as Mariah found her was a treat indeed.

Though the story is told in multiple perspectives, it’s Mariah’s story that was at the forefront for me — the rest of them were just supporting characters in her journey, in my opinion. I found it to be a slow read, meant to be savoured and immersive with its lush descriptions of place and time, oftentimes despicable characters, and tragedy and triumph. How she chose to deal with her situations, refusing finally to be content with her lot in life, it was a pleasure to see Mariah grow in strength. She’s one of my favourite characters in any book I’ve read so far this year.

I hope Gwen Tuinman continues to write Canadian Historical Fiction. It’s so important to have our country’s history told and to have stories that are set in Canada even if they aren’t historical. I’ve been devouring as many as possible lately and will continue especially if they are as well written as this one.

I enjoyed this book very much! As a Canadian living in a region of Ontario very near the setting of this story, I enjoyed the picture this book painted of the history of this area and its people. Thank you for this advance copy!

Unrest is a fascinating look into 1800's Ottawa and the clashing between cultures and within families. Following our protagonist Mariah and the family around her, it is a story about class, gender, familial dynamics, murder and immigration. I did find the book to drag on at times, and took me a while to get through sections. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the ending immensely and thought it tied together well. Overall a good insight into the chaos and mayhem that was 19th century Bytown.

2.5/5 rounded down. This one was a bit of a slog for me. I think part of the problem was that I mostly didn't like any of the main characters, nor the vast majority of the side characters. Besides that, for such a long narrative, I felt like all the characters were pretty two dimensional. A couple of the characters have some growth and are changed by the end of the story, but despite everything they went through, I was still unconvinced that their growth was really believable. It more happened because that's what the plot required. The early parts of the book spend so long dwelling on this family, their misfortunes, and their soap opera-esque family drama that by the time we get to the later parts of the book where the plot really picks up, it all felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped. In the end, things work out for a couple of the main characters but in really unsatisfying, unbelievably facile ways. So much intensely harsh and violent action is depicted in this book which was not only deeply unpleasant to read, but also seemed to veer into salaciousness more often than not. And for a book with several actual psycho killers and remorselessly violent men, it sure was a choice to make Biddy the biggest psycho of them all. Like, the author could have conveyed the complicated, competitive, jealous nature of Biddy's and Mariah's relationship as sisters without making one of them the most selfish, unsympathetic creature imaginable. This book was a miss for me, unfortunately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC! I really thought I was going to like it because it sounded very interesting since it was set in my hometown but in the past. I found it to be very slow up until the 80% mark and from there on out it felt a little rushed. I was very confused at the very end because I thought it introduced new characters and it might but that only makes sense if there's a second one coming out as well.