The Night Guest

The Night Guest is such a fun and fast read I highly suggest this novella for many reasons. First, it's set in Iceland, while the setting isn't extraordinarily descriptive within the narrative, I always gravitate towards books set in Iceland and it does amp up the spooky feel if you've been to Iceland you know the feeling. Our main character is also very relatable, she is a woman who is experiencing non-descript physical symptoms that have been dismissed time and time again by doctors. Nothing is showing up in her blood work and all she wants is answers or even just a doctor who cares and takes her symptoms seriously. Everything changes after she takes the suggestion to walk more and increase her physical activity, she buys a step-tracking device and discovers that her nighttime activity is through the roof. This novella is the perfect length for this fun little story!

Woooooo, this is creepy! Iðunn keeps waking up as bone tired as if she hasn’t slept at all. She gradually starts to realize that something is happening at night after she falls asleep, something seriously wrong. And if she tries to stop it…she gets punished.

The less said about this novella, the better, although I will put a very heavy trigger warning on this for multiple violent animal deaths. If you’re a cat lover, especially, you should never read this.

There are a couple of open door sex scenes, and the gore content is way up there.

Still, it’s a quick, intense read, and it sufficiently creeped me out, enough to start a more innocuous book before I try to get to sleep. 😉😱

I received an advance eARC from NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Tor Nightfire in exchange for my honest feedback (thanks!). Also, Mary Robinette Kowal not only introduced the author to her own agent, but Kowal translated this from Icelandic! Thanks for helping to get this published!

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.

_The Night Guest_ by Hildur Knutsdottir is a fast paced, dark, and nightmarish horror read. It follows Iðunn, who is suffering from immense fatigue and mysterious wounds when she wakes in the morning. She seeks medical help to no avail, and then discovers she is walking vast distances in her sleep. Strange and disturbing things plague Iðunn until she discovers the truth behind her night journeys. This short and engaging read will leave the reader delightfully disturbed.

When the horrors of the monotony of life turn into a terrifying quest to discover the truth behind a blurred reality.

A heart pounding dive into the depths of the psyche of a young woman who, after reeling from the death of her sister, begins to notice strange occurrences happening each time she wakes up. Her body is bruised, her nails are torn to shreds. Trying to keep up the farce of normalcy, she goes in search for answers from health care professionals and family and friends. When she can't find the answers she is looking for, she begins to question herself and find her own ways to figure out:

What happens to her at night? Where does she go and why?

I enjoyed the unreliable narrator, and although controversial, the ending. It had me flipping back and forth to see if there was anything I missed! This was a psychological thriller that really kept me guessing the entire time and wondering where the story would take me. I also enjoyed the fact that there were elements of women vs. the void.

Overall, I am so thankful to Netgalley (mil gracias!) for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.