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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Tor Nightfire for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I rarely finish a book in one sitting, but I devoured The Night Guest in an afternoon. The premise alone was deeply intriguing and once I started reading I could not put it down. The pacing of this book was excellent and I found myself deeply entrenched in what would happen next with Iðunn as she tries desperately to figure out what’s happening after she falls asleep at night. The horror elements are excellent and I enjoyed the Icelandic setting.

Overall, I can’t recommend this novella enough! It's an excellent creepy read that will leave you wanting to start the story again once finished.

This was a creepy and bizarre novella about Iðunn, a woman who feels constantly tired. She seeks medical attention and is told to get more rest, to eat better, to exercise, and she will be fine. The tests the doctors order show no health issues. She tries to follow the advice she is given but to no avail. Then one night she goes to sleep and wakes up with strange injuries and finds that she has walked 40,000 steps. That's sleepwalking overload!

This book is bizarre with a creepy vibe to it. There is an uneasiness and atmospheric vibe to this book as well. This is a fast unrelentingly odd book that is also quite enjoyable until the ending. Umm what? Seriously I'm lost. The book just ended and left me wanting more--- more of an explanation, more answers, more I don't even know what. The author leaves it up to the reader to surmise what happened at the end and I have a theory but don't know if I am right.

I've used the word bizarre a lot in this review but can't think of another word that is more fitting. I also think this word works well to describe the main character. She has her quirks and an interesting way of looking things.

This is hard to rate because it is creepy, enjoyable, different, and unsettling. The Night Guest left me wanting more. The author did succeed at setting the atmospheric stage for this novella. The author has an interesting way of writing and some of the chapters are mere paragraphs. I thought the author did a tremendous job with creating the mood and feel in The Night Guest.


TW: death of cats

Unsettling, atmospheric, and creepy.

3.5 stars

This should be a movie!
Very creepy novella that will definitely stick with you. Iðunn keeps waking up not rested and as the days go on, bruised, cut and injured. She sees a doctor, but is seemingly healthy. She decides to eat better and start exercising more. She purchases a watch with a pedometer. One morning she wakes to find she has walked over 45,000 steps. WHAT. THENNNNNN…..the neighborhood cats start to disappear…

I read this very quickly, couldn’t put it down. The ending was definitely STRANGE and a bit confusing. I think I went back and re-read the last few chapters three or four times to make sure that I wasn’t missing anything. Despite the weird ending, the book was still very enthralling and I didn’t want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the digital copy for me to review. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

I haven't read a story like this in a while. It was the kind that made me happy to sit back and enjoy as it slowly built up. Really great story telling.

4.5 Stars rounded to 5:)
*slight spoilers ahead, TW for animal death and off-page cruelty*

Wow. I haven't read a good horror in quite some time... I'm quite impressed that a novella has pushed me to want to read more of them!

Knútsdóttir (and the translator, Kowal, without whom there would be no English version of this story) is incredibly talented; there are so many aspects of this novella that I really enjoyed. The narrative is blunt and to the point, fast-paced, and at times the commentary is incredibly relatable. Somehow, in the short amount of time I got to spend with the story, Knútsdóttir had me on the edge of my seat and my heart racing. They're definitely able to create a creepy setting in very little time.

Now to my one (and a half) slight critique. The ending😩 While I understand the use of a quick and confusing ending, I wish there were just a little bit more. I found myself going back a couple pages to try and work out what happened. Had it been fleshed out (humorous pun for a horror story) just the slightest bit more, it absolutely would've been a 5/5 for me.

As for the half "issue," this story involves the murdering of cats... while there is nothing on page that describes any abuse, you do get a peek at the aftermath. As a cat-lover myself, it wasn't a huge issue being that the abuse was not explicitly written out, but it was still not an enjoyable part of the story.

Overall, it was a super quick read that had me hooked immediately and definitely had me scared about what was going to happen next.

What’s with these Scandinavian authors and a preternatural ability to craft a story? Popular thriller writer Hildur Knútsdóttir produces an astonishingly gripping plot in her latest offering The Night Guest. Conjuring up the most horrid of stories, and yet treading the path of alluring sophistication and simplicity, Knútsdóttir comes up triumphant in more ways than one.

Iðunn, a resident of Reykjavík is plagued with constant fatigue and lassitude. Every morning, she is a ton of bricks as she wakes up. Non localized pains hammer her joints to add to inexplicable scars and bruises. Iðunn manifests herself at the doorstep of doctors and psychiatrists seeking a remedy to her mysterious ailment. Exasperated and overcome by a feeling of understandable hopelessness, Iðunn decides to take matters into her own hands, by strapping a GPS enabled watch to her wrist.

What transpires next bewilders Iðunn no end. The GPS on her watch reveals that she has walked a mindboggling 40,000 steps. Has she been sleepwalking? If yes where? Why? Night after night the active GPS faithfully tracks Nadia’s footfalls. Every single time the destination is the same – Grandi harbour. A perplexed and lost Iðunn decides to abdicate sleep. Taking recourse to long and aimless walks and binge television watching, she always strives to remain awake. But how long can a human being resist the lures of Hypnos? When she finally succumbs to the forces of exhaustion, the dreaded GPS becomes hyperactive and yet again the harbour at Grandi beckons.

When the cats prowling the area where Iðunn resides start to vanish in thin air (yes you read that right), things begin to take a nasty turn from being merely mysterious to downright macabre. Grandi holds more secrets than what is either desirable or digestible. Things climax to a crescendo when Iðunn decides to face her fears for the last time by making her way to Grandi, but in a perfectly sane and alert state.

The Night Guest is a stirring testimony to the limitless and boundaryless capabilities of the human imagination. Ingenious in its sweep and spontaneous in its wake, it is a work which would make people sit up and take notice of this splendid author. Juxtaposing despair with psychological debilitation, the book is also an indirect exhortation for addressing the pernicious evil of depression. No amount of appreciation would do justice to Mary Robinette Kowal for her spectacular work with the translation. She succeeds superbly in keeping her readers riveted and glued to every page, paragraph, and phrase.

A virtually ‘unputdownable’ read, The Night Guest, is a book that would linger in the minds of its readers long after the covers have been closed.

The Night Guest is published by the Tor Publishing Group and will be available on sale beginning 10th September 2024.

Thank you, Net Galley for the Advance Reviewer Copy!

Thanks NetGalley. This was a crazy spooky thriller. I liked the setting of Iceland and trying to piece together what was going on. The dead cars I could have done without…disturbing and not sure what it added to the story. The ending is a choose your own adventure but overall was a quick read and makes you think, what goes on in the darkeness…

This was a quick, engrossing read. I liked how weird and creepy this was while still being sparse and pretty short. I felt like I knew nothing about Iðunn but still really liked her and was drawn to her. I can 100% related to going to the doctor and having some old man dismiss my symptoms as being ‘related to being a woman’ and/or giving me 0 help or advice. I also struggle with sleep and so it was easy to be freaked out by the idea of something weird happening at night while you think you’re sleeping. I love the scenes of Iðunn watching her self-recordings. I wanted a little bit more explanation from the ending, and if I had gotten that I think it would have been a 5 star read. The Night Guest is a wonderfully creepy and bizarre read.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.