Thank you to Hildur Knútsdóttir and Tor via NetGalley for the eARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a breath of fresh air! After slogging my way through books, this story grabbed me immediately. I found the writing perfect and the pacing tight. It ends just when it needs too and is the exact right length for this story. It is super short, so I feel like there isn’t a lot I can say about it beyond generic excitement over how much I loved it and enjoyed it. One reason I think is that there are aspects to it that legitimately unnerved and disturbed me, but not to a horrifically extreme way. Trigger warning for violence against animals.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed “Bunny” and “Rouge” by Mona Awad or anyone who is looking for an unnerving yet gripping novella.

Oh this was a hit. In fact, this was getting 5 stars until the end, which I don't understand at all, can someone please explain it to me? Thanks.

I won't say a ton about this, because it is short and exciting and very readable and you should read it for yourself and then please explain the ending to me remember. Anyway, I fell in love from the start, because we meet Iðunn, who wakes up exhausted every morning. Like, no energy, can barely drag herself out of bed. Doctors do not take her seriously, and she feels so completely defeated. And I feel this on such a level I cannot explain.

But just as she's worried that she's got some awful thing happening and no one will find it in time... weird stuff starts to happen. Like, her fitness watch tells her she's walked over forty thousand steps. Look friends, I have never in my whole life walked more than 12k, and that was when I was traveling and walking literally non-stop. So. This is a lot! What does it mean? What the heck is going on with Iðunn? Well, you're going to have to read this incredibly fast-paced, very unputdownable book to find out. (And then seriously for the love of all that is holy, tell me about it!)

Bottom Line: Legit could not put this down, read in one sitting, just wanted to understand the ending.

Honestly so confused after finishing this…it was good and promising until the very end. It left me completely confused and unsure of what even happened. I feel like the book got published too early or something and they just ended it abruptly?? The mystery and plot was interesting I’ll give it that but I really don’t understand the ending if anyone would like to explain it to me…thank you NetGalley for the early release all opinions are my own.

Note: some spoilers ahead

An eerie and surreal experience of a person's mental health spiraling when they are unable to have a restful sleep. While it could be taken literally that she is being haunted by the ghost of her dead sister, to the point where her sister possesses her in her sleeping hours, I prefer the metaphor of it all. Delayed grief. Difficulty coping. Perhaps even experiencing a psychotic break and losing touch with reality and a health care system that struggles to meet specific needs. Maybe even about how "invisible" chronic illnesses can eat away at a person over time and the subsequent decline of their mental health.

What an interesting start to a character- a very relatable experience of going to the doctor as female identifying and I couldn’t wait to continue reading this main character’s story.

Our MC wakes up with strange bruises and is trying to figure out - why? What’s wrong with me? And sends you down a rabbit hole of paranoia and slight influences of hypochondria. What makes this story interesting is the protagonist. Her personality is well developed for a novella. I did find some pacing issues about half way in, as I was waiting for some progress on the story. But stay for the main character, she was an interesting read. At times it can be intense as the writer tries to build up suspense of “the morning after” her sleepwalking spells but overall it would become too repetitive and lose some of its intrigue. Reader beware- the chapters at time are her random thoughts and keep be me sentence. So like 100 chapters in less than 200 pages. So be prepared for choppiness. But a slow burn good read if you can hang out for the unreliable narrator and a very ambiguous ending

Finally a horror story to unsettle both you and your feline companion. I’ll start by saying there is a TW with this one (animal death) and I chose to glaze over those parts a bit. I initially listened to this one when I was sick and had quite the fever overnight. I actually went back and re-read the ARC the next day to make sure the fever dream-like qualities came from the book and not me. The creepiness was done really well in this one, the pacing of the buildup and the unnerving confusion were superb. My only complaint is that the ending was a bit abrupt and ambiguous. I’m a big fan of Mary Robinette Kowal and I thought her translation was really smooth.

A woman seeks help from multiple doctors due to the increasing amount of discomfort, pain and bruising she wakes up with every morning. Her watch that has been tracking her steps shows she’s walking upwards of 40K steps a night? What is going on? Will she find the answers?

3.5 rounded up - I loved the plot, the setting, the MC and the short chapters. This would’ve been a 4-5/5 for me if the ending wasn’t so open ended. I definitely have some theories but nothing was answered.

If you’re looking for a fast paced horror story with incredibly short chapters and a story to keep you guessing, this one is for you!

You may look at the pink cover of the short book and think “how can this be a horror book?” I know I did. But boy howdy is it ever! Soooo creepy! And so much story packed into 208 pages. It’s a mix of psychological/body horror. Highly recommend to horror fans and those who might not really like horror, this is horror without lots of blood, etc.

I’ll definitely read Ms Knutsdottir’s next book.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

The Night Guest tells the story of a woman who wakes up tired despite sleeping all night. The more she learns about her condition the creepier things become.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book. Nice, short chapters. The plot was very interesting, but the ending was lame. I was disappointed by the vagueness of it.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Night Guest was a trip from start to finish, and I found myself thinking about it days after I finished reading. Each time I thought I had the story figured out, I'd find the narrative moving in a different and somehow even more unnerving direction. I found myself reading the entire book in one sitting because I simply needed to know what came next. Including elements of both body horror and psychological horror, The Night Guest perfectly encapsulates how loss of agency can be just as horrifying as a literal haunting. The relatability of the protagonist, Iðunn, makes the terror of the story all the more real: readers can just as easily picture themselves in her shoes, watching their lives spiral out of control as they desperately attempt to preserve themselves. This story was both a joy and a nightmare to read, and I wish I could experience it for the first time again.

Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir is a quick and gripping read that pulls you in from the start. The eerie atmosphere builds a sense of dread throughout, making it feel deeply creepy and twisted in all the right ways. The story unfolds with an intensity that keeps you turning the pages, but the ending left me feeling a bit unsettled. It was abrupt and confusing, and I'm still unsure how I feel about it, as it left more questions than answers. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book overall—its unsettling tone lingers long after you've finished.

Iounn wakes every morning exhausted with aches, pains, and bruises. Doctors can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong. Her friends offer helpful tips for feeling better, including a smartwatch to track her sleep. But what her smartwatch displays in the morning brings more questions than answers.

This novella oozes with hopelessness, panic, and fear. It comprises 100 chapters, some containing only a sentence or a few words. As the chapters click down, the dread and weariness build with Iuonn's blinding fatigue.

Mary Robinette Kowal not only translated the novel but also narrates it. Her narration truly brings the story to life! Each time Iuonn awoke in her bed, I felt a deep sense of dread as I anticipated her nightly activities.

Overall, I loved this one. But….but….2 things. I strongly believe that the book needs a trigger warning for animal cruelty/death at the start. Additionally, the ending is ambiguous, and I would love an epilogue to add a bit more insight. I have a few theories about the ending and would love to discuss them further if anyone is interested.

😴Book Review😴
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Summary- Iðunn is in yet another doctor's office. She knows her constant fatigue is a sign that something's not right, but practitioners dismiss her symptoms and blood tests haven't revealed any cause.

When she talks to friends and family about it, the refrain is the same — have you tried eating better? exercising more? establishing a nighttime routine? She tries to follow their advice, buying everything from vitamins to sleeping pills to a step-counting watch. Nothing helps.

Until one night Iðunn falls asleep with the watch on, and wakes up to find she’s walked over 40,000 steps in the night . . .

What is happening when she’s asleep? Why is she waking up with increasingly disturbing injuries? And why won’t anyone believe her?
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts- this was such a super fun and unique read, it was very short and I just couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed Iðunn character, but I almost wish this was longer to really flesh out the ideas. The premise was interesting enough that this could have been much longer. The big part of this book that really killed it for me was the ending, it was so abrupt and unsatisfying. This one just left me wanting more.
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QOTD- what are your plans for the weekend ?! I have no plans and no idea what we are up to and I’m so looking forward to it 😂💕

I found this an unusual reading experience even for the horror genre. Idunn has been experiencing increasing fatigue, painful muscles, vague symptoms that are slowly tormenting her on a daily basis. She sleeps but wakes as tired as the night before…or more so. Initially, this woman did drive me a little nuts as I read her introspective thoughts that seemed to go nowhere. But then she got a smart watch and tried to monitor what was happening in her body. A friend suggested she try to monitor her exercise activity. One night she forgot to remove the watch when she went to bed and, when she woke, she’d walked thousands of feet while supposedly asleep. Modern technology meets the world of horror.

This is a story of a young woman with family issues and interpersonal relationship problems. Her life is coming apart from the moment we meet her. The momentum builds gradually. The ending was something that both surprised me and didn’t completely at the same time, though it left me with unanswerable questions. I look forward to reading more from Hildur Knutsdottir.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book from an Icelandic author so I was curious about that going in. I love how the language used is direct and to the point, and the short chapters allow the story to move at a fast paced rhythm. The plot is very intriguing and mysterious, as you the reader, along with the protagonist have no idea what’s going on and what exactly is happening to her every time she falls asleep. Is she sleepwalking? Why is she waking up with bruises? Why does she feel like she has spent all night walking or lifting?

Iðunn doesn’t know what’s happening to her, and neither does the reader. It’s a dark, twisty journey and you can’t stop reading wanting to know exactly what’s going on. If you love short books, this may be exactly what you need, as it’s almost 200 pages.

The prose is sparse, but you get the feeling of loneliness and isolation that plagues Iðunn like a haunted specter. From the first page, you will be sucked into this dark tunnel of no return and yet you cannot stop, because you need to know.

I recommend this book if you love mysterious, quiet horror and enjoy short books and chapters.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was so unnerving and creepy up until we got to the ending. I don't really know what was going on with that ending, honestly, but the lead up was very, VERY well done. I love an unreliable narrator and THE NIGHT GUEST has it in a woman who may or may not be having a psychotic break, or may be being taken over by something, or may be dealing with something else altogether. There were so many moments that got incredibly under the skin, and so many ways that Knútsdóttir just created unease and tension even if only a few words on the page. It's a quick and unrelenting read, and I highly recommend it for the upcoming horror season. But content warning: there are lots of dead cats in this story.

This book was a weird ride. I was lost for most of the story and felt like everything about this story was just disjointed. I hope that this books finds the people who love it. Unfortunately, that was not me.

First, the translation on this book is amazing! I didn't realize it even required a translation until I was noting the information on goodreads about it. I enjoyed the book. It was a quick eerie journey that might be difficult for people struggling with mental health. However, it is worth mental dive of the main character to see how the stories plays out. It is a little bit eerie, immensely sad, and leaves a big impact with the ending.

TW/CW: Language, drinking, death of sibling, toxic family relationships, death of cat, blood, gore, sexual assault, cheating

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Iðunn is in yet another doctor's office. She knows her constant fatigue is a sign that something's not right, but practitioners dismiss her symptoms and blood tests haven't revealed any cause.When she talks to friends and family about it, the refrain is the same ― have you tried eating better? exercising more? establishing a nighttime routine? She tries to follow their advice, buying everything from vitamins to sleeping pills to a step-counting watch. Nothing helps. Until one night Iðunn falls asleep with the watch on, and wakes up to find she’s walked over 40,000 steps in the night . . .
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 208
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Fast read
2. Unhinged woman
3. Writing style was good

What I Didn't Like:
1. Wish book was longer

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

I wonder how she takes an omega-3 as it's derived from fish oil. If she's a vegetarian eating fish then that's actually called a pescatarian.

I had to laugh because Iðunn reads the article about sleepwalking and it says that drugs and alcohol can cause it, so rather than her mind going to maybe giving up those things she decides she needs medication to help. Maybe quit drinking before bed or drinking at all to help with your problem.

Sleeping with your dead sisters boyfriend might be something I would not be about. Kinda yuck.

Awe the poor cats are being killed.

Iðunn being drugged by Stephen. I hope that she attacks him. But wait her hands are covered in blood so maybe she did.

He's missing.

Never go down to the police station because they suspect you. And if you do go bring a lawyer. We at least they let her go.

Oh poo it's already over. Wish I coukd have stayed with Iounn a little longer.

Final Thoughts:
One of the reasons why I was so interested in reading this book was because I went to the doctor for fatigue but the Dr didn't even draw blood, but instead said I was getting old. It reminded me so much of that episode of Golden Girls where Dorothy goes for fatigue and the doctor also dismisses her. There's definitely a long line of doctors dismissing women for certain ailments rather than just doing their job and trying to figure out what's wrong.

I thought the writing style was good and it was even translated, which I know can make the writing at times harder to understand. This book didn't have that problem and I was able to understand what was happening.

It's a weird book but weird in a good way that made me need to know what was happening.

This book was a strange one. I didn't really enjoy it. It was a really twisted story and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.