A short novel that takes place in Reykjavík, Iceland about a girl named Iðunn (pronounced E-then) who starts waking up with bruises on her body, blood on her face, and unsure of what happened the nights prior to waking up. Iðunn's doctors tell her that her fatigue is just stress and that her blood tests are normal. There's nothing to report. Her friends tell her to try some yoga, exercise and eat healthy. She's left alone, trying to battle her parasomnia - adult sleep walking alone and things get intense.

I was very creeped out during the first 2/3 of the story. Iðunn's paranoia, symptoms and behaviors are very much disturbing and our authors (translator included) definitely do not hold back on the descriptions and gory content. The last third of the book left me disappointed and confused. What we find out about Iðunn is strange.

Despite the meh ending, I'd recommend this story since it's so short (208 pages on Kindle) There was potential! Heavy trigger warnings for dead animal content.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. "The Night Guest" publishes September 03, 2024.

I received a digital review copy of this horror novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was an intense and spine-chilling ride! From the start, I was drawn into the fast-paced horror narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat. The unconventional storyline had me hooked, but I have to admit, the ending left me slightly disappointed, resulting in a slightly lower rating.

However, despite my qualms with the ending, the book was still a thrilling and smart piece of work. The translation was well-executed, capturing the dark and sarcastic tone of the characters perfectly. I devoured the book in less than two hours, completely engrossed in the story.

After finishing the book, I couldn't shake off the eerie feeling. It felt like the main character, Iðunn, was watching me with her vacant, sleepy eyes! The story, set in the starless nights of Reykjavik, painted a bleak and haunting picture of Iðunn's struggles with clinical fatigue and her dysfunctional family dynamics. The ending wasn't something I expected, given the story I expected much better. To me the ending seemed rushed.

As I followed Iðunn's journey, trying to uncover the mystery behind her disturbing sleepwalking episodes, I found myself engrossed in the eerie atmosphere and unsettling events. Without revealing too much, I'll just say that if you're a fan of ultra-bizarre horror that sends shivers down your spine, this book is worth diving into.

Incredibly fast, incredibly eerie, incredibly worth your time. The Night Guest reads almost like the layout of a short horror film- there are pages with only a few words to show the gaps in our main characters memory, there are phone recordings showing an empty bed for hours at a time, there are cats who suddenly become terrified of someone they previously loved. The ending is quick and slightly ambiguous, though if you've been paying attention you'll know what's happening after the story ends. If this were a longer novel I'd be somewhat disappointed by that sort of ending, but the length and pace makes it an absolute perfect fit. I'd recommend this to any horror reader and even infrequent readers who enjoy horror films/shorts.

CW (no spoilers) for some animal death mentioned, non-graphic. I requested this ARC and was incredibly happy to receive it, and look forward to purchasing my own hard copy once it's published.

This was a fast-paced interesting read that held my interest while trying to figure out what was going on during the night with the main character. I would have loved to have seen this book more fleshed out, with a more satisfying ending. I did like the author’s writing style and would definitely try more of their work in the future. I would also love to read this book again as a full length novel with more detail. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

This book was very interesting and odd. You spend the whole book trying to figure out what is wrong. The main character is waking up feeling worn out and is going to the doctor trying to figure out why. Weird things happen whenever she goes to sleep.
The short chapters made for this to be a quick read and easy page turner. Right when the story started to get really interesting and good it just ended. The ending felt so abrupt and quick that it left more questions than answers.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The writing was captivating and the short chapters definitely kept me enthralled, however the ending definitely fell flat for me? I don’t mind “open ended” endings but I feel like this left you with more questions than answers…??? but!!! the writing was atmospheric and definitely chilling….

This novella was a quick and spooky read but it ended pretty abruptly. Overall I didn't mind the ending, but I wish there was a little more connection between details earlier in the story to help make it more coherent.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this novella. I had no idea what to expect, and appreciated the story. It started off with a FMC and mysterious health problems. As she starts to figure things out the tension really grows and I found myself flipping pages so quickly to figure out what was happening.
The ending is a bit ambiguous which I normally love. I am still a little confused as to who the night guest was, but that’s no problem for me. I loved the ride.

I would love to check out more from this author. The writing was amazing.

A quick engrossing read that I just couldn't put down- easy to read in one or two sittings. Despite all the bizarre things that happen, I actually liked the main character and loved her inner monologue- apart from the last few chapters which I'd advise to read trigger warnings for.
I don't think the book was that unique unfortunately, it reminded me of a couple of other books that I read last year.
The ending fell flat for me which I was so sad about. It ended abruptly and I wish it was longer! I wanted more of an explanation.
But the first 80% held my attention and the short chapters are always a winner.
I didn't find it that creepy but it would be a great start for beginners to the horror genre.
4 stars!

Thank you to Net Galley for my ARC copy!

I devoured this book. Easy. Quick. Kept me on my toes.

I loved the writing style, I was never bored and did not want to put this book down. I read it in a day!

I also just loved the premise of the book weird but interesting. Will defiantly be looking to read more from this author.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Hildur Knutsdottir for this ARC of The Night Guest.

3.5/5 stars. This is more of a novella. Very quick read which can result in not much character development and plot holes. I felt the main character was decently developed with how short the book was, but the story felt rushed. The first 2/3 of the book was attention catching but the ending was disappointing. I kept waiting for a some big twist or shocking ending, but this just fell short for me.. What I did love was the setting of this story. Set in Iceland, the mood this author was able to set was fantastic and spooky.

The main character is suffering with unexplained fatigue regardless of how much sleep she gets. Things begin to escalate and she starts to investigate just what is happening after her eyes close at night.....

The Night Guest was definitely eerie and gave me some good goosebumps, I loved the the setting, and I liked the main character… but the ending left a lot to be desired. Mainly an explanation.

Throughout the story we are feed pieces of information that helps us figure out who/what the “guest” really is. I will give the author that, it was creative and I felt the pace- with a mix of short and longer chapters- fit perfect. I was looking forward to the climax but.. I’m so disappointed by what we got. I won’t spoil anything but everything seemed to get derailed and I while yes- I liked the gory parts- I just wasn’t a fan of how certain aspects were handled.

Which is a shame. Nonetheless the book isn’t a bad read and if you’re looking for something smaller and spookier give it a try.

*Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

This review will be posted on my socials closer to rev September release date

I like how it got me hooked, I can feel the dread & anxiety felt by the character. The author did a good job building the atmosphere of suspense, it got me guessing on what could be the reason. I just wished it could have been longer especially on the last chapters. Overall, it's a good read and will be looking forward for other works from the author.

What the actual f***. I was 1000% all in and totally invested in this creepy horror show. The suspense was amazing and I loved the idea of this book. It had soooo much potential. But that ending was an absolute let down. I have no idea what the hell happened and I am still so confused and scratching my head. So unsatisfying. While I loved how short all the chapters were and that it was a quick short read this just missed the mark. I was so excited to read this book and but I am so disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very quick, spooky read and I really enjoyed it. Trigger warning for dead cats and it’s definitely one of the spookiest books I’ve read in a while. Would definitely recommend.

Wow, what a completely chilling novella! I read this before bed and completely freaked myself out.

A novella, this story will take less than two hours to complete. I was completely captivated by the main character from the first page. I won’t rehash the plot, but her character is developed well, and I was hooked trying to find out what was happening to her.

This was a 5 star read for me until the end, where I took off 1/2 a star because it seemed rush. I went back to reread the last few chapters, and think I have the ending figured out, but I would love to discuss it with someone! This would be the perfect book for a book club!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Night Guest" by Hildur Knutsdottir, set to be released in September 2024, is a novel that I find absolutely captivating. It is a book that not only kept me awake for hours after reading but also instilled a slow, creeping dread as the story unfolded. The narrative is set in contemporary Reykjavík and revolves around the protagonist, Iðunn, who grapples with unexplained fatigue and mysterious nocturnal activities.

Knutsdottir's portrayal of Iðunn's struggle with her health, and the dismissive attitude of the medical establishment towards her, is both thought-provoking and frustratingly familiar. This theme resonates with the ongoing discourse about women's health issues often being overlooked or trivialized. The progression of the story is marked by Iðunn's attempts to understand her condition, leading her into a spiral of anxiety and panic as she uncovers more unsettling truths.

The book does an exceptional job in building tension. The suspense is not just about the physical happenings but also delves into the psychological aspects of Iðunn's journey. This blend of psychological and physical horror is what makes "The Night Guest" a standout. The narrative, while being fast-paced and tense, maintains an eerie and mysterious atmosphere throughout.

One of the most striking aspects of this novel is its ambiguity and the lingering questions it leaves in the mind of the reader. The book doesn’t provide easy answers, which adds to its haunting quality. The sense of loss of control and identity that Iðunn experiences is conveyed with a breathless intensity, making the reader feel her isolation and vulnerability.

"The Night Guest" is a brilliant example of psychological horror at its finest. Its capacity to evoke a range of emotions, from hopelessness to terror, is remarkable. The novel is a testament to Knutsdottir's skill as a writer, successfully delivering a story that is both chilling and deeply engaging. For anyone looking for a contemporary thrill that lingers in the mind, "The Night Guest" is an excellent choice. My experience with horror novels this year has been positive, and "The Night Guest" is no exception, earning a glowing recommendation and five stars from me.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdóttir, Mary Robinette Kowal (Translator)

Release Date: September 3, 2024
Horror, Novella

Content Warnings: animal death, su*cide

Themes: Doctors not listening to women, grief, creepy sleepwalkers

Synopsis: Iðunn is struggling with chronic fatigue. She sees multiple doctors that have no answers for her then one day she wakes up covered in bruises and desperate for answers. She now believes she is sleep walking so she buys a step counter and discovers she has been walking 40,000 steps every night to the harbor.

My Thoughts: I ATE THIS UP IN ONE SITTING!! The story is so unsettling and captivating with short chapters and around 200 pages, it’s easy to consume. As someone with a whole family of sleepwalkers, this story has me terrified.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Net Galley and Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 ☆

The Night Guest was a very creepy yet unputdownable read. The narrator, Iðunn wakes up every morning feeling exhausted and with unexplained injuries that appear seemingly overnight. She knows that this chronic fatigue and mysterious symptoms are not normal but all her medical tests come back normal and her family and friends brush it off. She decides to buy and wear a smart watch to track her steps and wakes up one night to find she’s walked over 40,000 steps in the night…Where is she going in the night?

This mysterious premise coupled with really short chapters made for a very quick and compelling read. I enjoyed this short novella. It was dark and creepy but also surprisingly very witty. I found the main character's inner thoughts to be quite quirky and they provided some very much needed comedic relief. Similar to other reviewers, I felt the ending was quite abrupt and ambiguous but I didn’t necessarily dislike it. Highly recommend if you want a fast and engaging read! Though please be aware that this story features animal death among other dark themes :(

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

So, I really should have been into this book, but there was something that just never clicked for me. It was also frustrating to kind of guess the ending early on and not have the story feel worth it to get there. Had a lot of promise, but it just missed the mark.