The Night Guest was creepy!! I appreciate the slow tension and the twist was great. Loved the short chapters too

I'm usually not a fan of short stories but this one hooked me right from the start. Everything was going great until the last few chapters where I quickly fell off. I really had no idea what the point of the ending was and failed to understand it and had to run to Goodreads to get an explanation. The story was unsettling and made my heart race but ultimately didn't finish the job. I had A lot of different theories as the story went on but none of them ever panned out. I really did think that she murdered her sister and was dealing with the guilt of that, but I have no idea what the truth was. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me just hooked then it feel apart. It felt like the last part of the story was rushed and not finished. I feel cheated haha.

It was a real shame because there was this brilliant undertone with the sleep disturbances and the build up was so delicious I was hanging on for dear life then it fizzled out!

TW there is some animal abuse so be warned but

I could go for a follow up novella though..

Wow! This book gave me such a whirlwind of emotions. I was so invested and loving every second – only for the ending to be completely rushed and leave me with so many questions. As someone with a sleep disorder, I was completely drawn into the story about a character who sleepwalks every night for miles and miles with no memory of the experience. The creepy, unsettling moments were perfect, and I really enjoyed learning more about each of the characters. This book is ⅔ perfect and ⅓ unfinished. I still recommend it because the majority of the book is so well done. Also, the narrator is great!

ARC received from Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this audio ARC!
This was an incredibly unique read. At only 208 pages, I suppose it is more so a novella, which I didn’t realize until I opened the audiobook to see it was only four hours long.
I greatly enjoyed this book to be perfectly honest. The narrator was clear, concise, and engaging. I loved the use of the short chapters and first person POV. My favorite part was most certainly the ending, and IMO this story was the perfect length! I can’t say I have read a book such as this before, and it’s one I won’t soon forget. For that reason, it’s a 5 star read from me!

Started reading this three times, it is a very strange book, but not one that I didn’t enjoy. Didn’t understand what was going on half the time. Weird scenes, weird characters. Big trigger, dead cats. Definitely not my cups.

The audio was well done, but I can’t help wondering if I would have been as lost, if I was reading. The cats though would have been off putting either way.

This was such a wild and weird novella! Though I would’ve preferred a different ending, it was a very enjoyable 4 ⭐️ read for me and was great on audio. Highly recommend but check trigger warnings as there are some intense parts to the story.

What if the danger in the dark comes from within ? This short horror novella was very engrossing - the main character is at her wits end, she wakes up tired and at times bruised but doesn't know why. She discovers she sleepwalks a very modern way - her step count is way off, but that is not the only thing that is off, cats are acting strangely around the main character, so are some of the more perceptive humans ...
I couldn't have predicted where this was all going but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
The audiobook was excellent - I loved that this book is narrated by the translator !

This was such an interesting book. It was a quick listen, and it definitely had me intrigued. The pacing was so fast! Before I knew it, the conclusion was here. I did feel the ending happened too fast. Maybe I missed something, but the ending had me very confused. I was looking forward to a big reveal at the end, but instead there was nothing but confusion. I recommend this one, but prepare for a wide open ending that provides no clarity.

Mary Robinette Kowal was the perfect narrator for this quick book.

TW: animal abuse. Do not read if you don't like reading about animals being hurt.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Haunting and gruesome descent into madness for an ordinary woman. While our MC navigates the mental health care system and HR at her work, she spends her nights prowling the streets as a somnambulant predator. This darkly funny novella is an entertaining horror bite that is perfect for fans of witty social-commentary and a bit of gore.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Iǒunn knows something is wrong with her — she’s extremely fatigued and sore every time she wakes up in the morning. All of her blood tests are normal and doctors are trying to convince her that there’s nothing wrong. One night she leaves her watch on and wakes up realizing she has been sleepwalking or going out at night and not remembering anything.

The beginning started out strong and I didn’t want to put it down. However, the last quarter (maybe) was really bizarre, and I didn’t like reading about the cats. That being said…this book is creepy, bizarre, and can easily be read in one sitting. I had it on audio (thanks Macmillan), and the audio version was great. It was narrated by the translator of the book, and she did a fantastic job.

This was a fast and easy read for me. The atmosphere was on point, perfectly creepy and dark and with a touch of impending doom.

The open ended ending was the down fall of this book but I’d say if you’re okay with that check out this book.

The narrator did a fantastic job keeping it creepy.

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and Hildur Knútsdóttir for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this one! Thank you netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy. I will be telling my friends!

*The Night Guest* centers on a woman who wakes up with mysterious bruises and marks on her body, feeling unrested and increasingly unsettled. As the novel progresses, she becomes more paranoid and unhinged, realizing she may be doing something strange in her sleep, but has no control over it. The tension builds as she spirals deeper into her own mind, struggling to understand what’s happening.

Unfortunately, the story didn’t pull me in. While the premise was intriguing, it failed to deliver on the suspense and psychological tension it promised. The inclusion of dead cats was an absolute dealbreaker for me, and overall, the book just didn’t hold my attention. Despite it being a quick read, it took me over two weeks to finish because I had no desire to return to it once I stopped. Ultimately, it felt like a missed opportunity for a more engaging, gripping experience.

This was an intriguing title that left me wanting more, all I could want was more info about the sister and what was happening.

This one had so much promise, but kind of drifted off and lost me at the end ( much like the MC’s sanity). Overall an interesting quick read with a thrilling premise, if you like a Scandi styled thriller/horror this is a good pick for you.

The narrator was great, very engaging.

The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir

Iðunn feels exhausted and sometimes battered, every morning and has been to a few medical specialists to determine what is going on. She wonders if there is some underlying neurological issue or something worse. Bloodwork rules out medical issues, mental health questionnaire suggests depression. She is given a recommendation to exercise (and buys a watch that allows her to track steps) and for a psychotherapist (which she ignores). One morning, finding blood on her jaw, having walked over 4 times the usual number of steps AFTER midnight (when the watch steps reset) and noticing that once friendly neighborhood cats now hiss at her, she wonders if she is sleepwalking. She wants/needs to know - what is going on?

I had trouble putting the audiobook aside as I also wanted to know just what is going on – so this was a quick listen. The short chapters led to a brisk pace which kept me interested. Kowal is a captivating narrator – she is both expressive and brings different voices to the characters adding . Her storytelling is perfectly paced for the suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hildur Knútsdóttir, McMillan Audio, and Mary Robinette Kowal, both translator and narrator for the advanced copy.

Review posted in Goodreads and posted in Amazon (9/16/24), username Springfever.

This is a short novella, and I went in knowing absolutely nothing other than it was translated from Icelandic and it was horror and honestly I think that's the way to go so I won't say much.

On the surface, this is a simple sleepwalker story but Knútsdóttir (and Kowal as the translator) utilize fairly simple prose and incredibly short chapters to create a tense and unsettling story. The way the story builds a sense of dread and confusion is top tier.

I will say that if you don't like open ended or ambiguous endings, maybe give this one a pass. Although I don't love an open ending and I still had a great time on the journey of this one.

I think this is the first of Knútsdóttir's works to be translated into English but I will absolutely be looking out for more of her work as well as for more of Kowal's translations.

💊 The Night Guest💊 by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Narrated by Mary Robinette Kowal


Pages: 208 🎧
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Goal 2024: 90/100

Thanks to NetGalley and @macmillionaudio for this advanced audio copy of the night guest.

The Night Guest is about our main character who keeps going to new doctors to discover why she is so fatigued. No one ever believes her complaints and often shrugs off listening to her. There are often suggestions of quick fixes or blame in her diet, lack of exercise, etc. (Which is really relatable.)

Finally after one night, our main character realizes that she had been walking all night long when she thought she had been sleeping safely in her home. She has no memories of where she was walking to, what she was doing or even leaving her place. As She kept waking to find bruises and unexplained injuries, my curiosity peaked.

She continued to go throughout the book representing many of todays struggles like abusive ex boyfriends, unrealistic familial expectations, and demanding work environments. All touchy topics wrapped into a quick horror themed escape.

This book was a quick listen and enjoyable. I was curious to learn what the main character was going through and was surprised to find out. If you’re looking for a fast paced, and easily digestible horror then you can easily listen to or read this in one sitting.

This quick read will be enjoyed by those who enjoy horror books. Iounn is always exhausted, and visits doctor after doctor to learn why, with no success. She's tried changing her diet, exercising, vitamins, and all the other suggestions made by family and friends. On impulse, one day she purchases a smart watch and wears it to bed. When she wakes up, she is astounded to discover it has tracked her as having walked 40,000 steps.

She sets up a camera to see if she really is wandering at night. When she discovers she is, she attempts to lock herself in. Her parents, still mourning the loss of her sister, don't want to discuss it. Iounn's whole life seems off kilter. Even the neighborhood cats, which she enjoys from a distance due to her allergies, run from her.

She meets a man who knew her sister. Iounn also mourns her sister and the two of them get along well, at first. Then things change. Iounn finally discovers the secret to her exhaustion.