⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir is a dark, atmospheric thriller that kept me captivated from start to finish. Set in the eerie, quiet backdrop of Reykjavík, the novel delves into psychological horror, blending mystery with unsettling suspense.

What I Loved:

Creepy and Enigmatic Plot: The central mystery surrounding Iðunn’s strange nocturnal activities — walking thousands of steps while asleep and waking up with injuries — is incredibly intriguing and unsettling. You’ll find yourself questioning what’s real and what’s imagined, keeping you guessing until the very end.
Unreliable Narrator: Iðunn’s experience of not being believed and her descent into confusion adds layers of tension. Her constant fatigue, coupled with the dismissiveness of medical professionals and those around her, creates a sense of isolation and paranoia that permeates the entire narrative.
Atmosphere and Setting: The cold, isolated landscape of Reykjavík feels almost like a character in itself. The sense of entrapment and growing unease is expertly built up through the setting and Knútsdóttir's writing, ensuring a creepy, immersive experience.
Psychological Depth: The author does a brilliant job of exploring themes like the struggle for control, the fear of losing one’s own mind, and the tension between what’s real and what isn’t. The slow unraveling of Iðunn's story creates a chilling psychological depth that keeps you hooked.

Final Thoughts:
The Night Guest is the perfect read for fans of psychological thrillers and horror that stays with you long after the last page. With its dark, atmospheric writing and eerie sense of foreboding, this book is sure to keep you up at night — in the best possible way. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a spine-tingling mystery with psychological twists.

I read this book as a scathing review of the healthcare systems that are quick to dismiss (especially women) when they can't figure out what's wrong.

Iðunn knows something is wrong. She wakes up sore and exhausted. She has bruises and rust under her nails. She takes up exercising based on a suggestion and buys a fitness watch. And that's when she finds out she's been going somewhere. And she repeatedly asks:

"Where did I go?"

I wish I could have liked the answer to that better, because it was good up until then, but the answer was just a little too ambiguous for me - I felt like I missed something. It was an easy, fast read though, and I liked Iðunn's little asides.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance reader's copy.

I wanted to love this one but it didn’t give what my expectations thought. Please check the trigger warnings before picking up.

Thank you NetGalley and Hildur Knútsdóttir for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pub Date: 09/03/24

What a weird little story. Can’t lie, definitely had me hooked. I read it in one sitting, but it was unsettling and I was so intrigued to learn what was going on. Where was she going at night? Who’s the alter ego? It all was compelling… until the dead cats. Didn’t like that. Didn’t really feel like a resolution in the end. Sure, we have an idea but what was the motive? The reasoning? Felt a bit anticlimactic.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy through Netgalley.

This was a good sized horror novella with no lack of suspense but no answers.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. The idea of sleepwalking paired with not knowing what happens when you sleep is a super underrated horror theme. I loved the internal musings and how the days passed were presented in the chapters. Overall I thought the writing was smooth and the plot kept me interested. There was definite points of suspense that got my heart racing’s

I had such high hopes while reading both the overview and story but I was left feeling completely blindsided and confused at the end. There’s one thing to leave some semblance of mystery and there’s another to completely disregard giving any answers at the end. This unfortunately was the latter.

I really enjoyed this novella. It has some fantastic metaphors and the female voice is interesting. The cycle of doubt and resignation was powerful and the female characterization really helped to send the emotions to the reader. It had just the right amount of gore and creep factor. I don't know how I feel about the ending, but I also don't love it when things are tied up in a neat and tidy bow, so I'm fine with it. The short chapters were clipped and left an impression. This would have a lot to offer a book club even though it's a novella.

A great short story that is gripping and on the edge. While the story takes place over time (and it is short) there is still plenty of time to get to know the main character.

While trying to figure why she is so exhausted, Idunn cannot come to grips to get of ahold of the reason. She is hooked, exhausted and looking for answers.

Strongly suggest.

Hildur Knútsdóttir’s The Night Guest is a punchy little novella that follows Iðunn, a young professional living in contemporary Iceland. She sees doctor after doctor, complaining of tiredness and strange bruises, only to have her concerns dismissed. (This scenario will be familiar to many women navigating the world of healthcare.) When she gets a smart watch, she discovers that she is walking miles every night. Where is she going? What is she doing? The novella follows her as she attempts to solve the mystery.

I loved the set-up and the wry voice of Iðunn as a narrator. The novel’s mystery was compelling, and it also commented cleverly on misogyny, medical and otherwise, as well as other women’s issues. However, the ending really went off the rails. I finished feeling like I needed another chapter or a little more of an explanation as to what, exactly, was going on. Despite that, it was an enjoyable read and I am excited to see what Knútsdóttir writes next.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for a copy of the book.

The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir is a fast paced psychological thriller. I enjoyed the pacing of this book as it was an easy read. The plot kept me guessing; was it possession, sleep walking, or multiple personalities?
However, I was a bit let down by the ending. It left a lot up to interpretation.
Overall I give this book 3 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Night Guest - Hildur Knutsdottir

When Iðunn finds herself not feeling her best, being bogged down with constant fatigue, the blood tests reveal nothing and her concerns are dismissed. Her friends and family are also no help and recommend better habits, eating better, etc., without understanding that nothing helps.

It isn’t until Iðunn awakens one morning to find that she has walked over 40,000 steps in one night that she installs a camera to get to the bottom of it and find out what is happening to her throughout the night. She sees herself breaking out of her own home and not returning until hours later, sometimes covered in blood, not always her own.

What exactly is happening while Iðunn is asleep, and how can she make it stop?

The Night Guest admittedly is a little different from anything I have read before. It was a shorter novel, only 197 pages and I gave this story 3 out of 5 stars. To be honest, it’s not because I didn’t like it, it’s because it had the potential for so much more. Fair warning though, there are animals harmed within this book. If that’s something you can’t stomach, this book is not for you!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this! It’s weird, it’s fast paced, it’s an easy read, it’s good horror but not scary, and I really loved the writing style/perspective it’s written from!

*The Night Guest* by Hildur Knútsdóttir is a haunting and atmospheric psychological thriller that skillfully explores themes of isolation, trust, and the dark corners of the human mind. The story follows a woman named Inga, who is living alone in a remote house, when a stranger arrives, claiming to be a caregiver. What seems like a simple arrangement soon unravels, as unsettling events and a growing sense of unease permeate the narrative. Knútsdóttir’s writing is immersive and eerie, building tension with every page. *The Night Guest* is an intriguing, suspenseful read, perfect for fans of slow-burn psychological suspense and unsettling mysteries.

This was so unsettling and creepy. I bought this as an audio and it was wonderful!

Iðunn is struggling to figure out why she wakes up tired, even after a full nigh sleep. Then the bruises start to appear, and the achy muscles. She's gone to doctor after doctor, trying to figure out what's going on. Iðunn's life slowly starts to spin out of control as she struggles to cope with life with so little sleep.

It was so unnerving to wonder what was going on. As the symptoms progressed, I was making guesses left and right. There are twists and the cat part (check triggers) was definitely heartbreaking. But the deeply unsettling feel was so well done, I can't help but love this one for the well-done pacing and creepy factor. The ending left me wanting more - I'd love to read more!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This was my first time reading Hildur Knútsdóttir, and I received The Night Guest as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing premise with a strong psychological element. The plot is engaging, with a slow build-up that gradually reveals the depths of Iðunn's mysterious condition. The Night Guest is an eerie psychological thriller set in contemporary Reykjavík. The story follows Iðunn, a young woman plagued by constant fatigue and mysterious injuries that appear overnight. Despite numerous visits to doctors, no medical explanation is found. Iðunn's friends and family suggest lifestyle changes, but nothing helps. One night, she falls asleep with a step-counting watch and wakes up to find she has walked over 40,000 steps in her sleep. As Iðunn tries to uncover the truth behind her nocturnal activities, she descends into a terrifying mystery that blurs the line between reality and nightmare. The character development is solid, particularly with Iðunn. Her journey from confusion to desperation as she tries to understand what is happening to her is compelling. However, some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to fully connect with the broader narrative. The pacing of the novel is generally good, though there are moments where the transitions between Iðunn's waking life and her nocturnal experiences feel abrupt. The ending, while surprising, left a few questions unanswered, which might be frustrating for some readers. Overall, The Night Guest is a decent read with a unique premise and a strong central character. Despite its flaws, it shows promise for Hildur Knútsdóttir as a writer. I'm curious to see how her storytelling evolves in future works. #netgalley #thenightguest

This was my first read by Hildur Knútsdóttir. I loved the brightness of the cover, but the synopsis is what drew me. The main character is seemingly exhausted and can’t figure out until it’s discovered that shes been walking 40,000+ steps while sleeping.—Goodness that’s a lot of walking. I really enjoyed the story and the pacing. It does have some dark themes—killing of a cat. It was hard for me to pronounce some of the characters names. It was an easy read at only 208 pages. I read it in one day.

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. I really liked the concept, but the story felt like it was lacking a lot of context (which was maybe intentional?) and the pacing was a bit off. This probably could have been a great short story, or more of a novel if it were longer. It kind of falls into a weird middle category. Would read more from this author in the future though.

🐈‍⬛ About the Book

Hildur Knútsdóttir's The Night Guest is an eerie and ensnaring story set in contemporary Reykjavík that’s sure to keep you awake at night.

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?

📚 How I See it 📚

All I can say is WOW. I read this novella in one sitting because it is quite short, faced paced, and just so creepy and bizarre you can't put it down. Highly recommend for any reads that is looking for a dark, twisted, unreliable narator, psychological thriller that borders horror.


💛 Find Me Here 💛

Blog : lipstickhorror.com
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Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own thoughts

This book was such a crazy ride! For such a small novel, it packed a major punch! And as a woman who has had medical professionals and spouses question my judgement, I identified with the main character so much more than I thought I would. Except for that whole ending part!

As others have mentioned, there is animal death in here but it felt well-handled. Further note on that below.

You know that episode of Buffy where she wakes up in an asylum and gradually comes to believe that the past six years of her life as a vampire slayer were all a figment of her imagination? Yeah, that’s my worst nightmare. In fact, I have had actual nightmares about that exact episode on dozens of occasions in my life. (Thanks, broken brain!) And this little book is like that episode. Iðunn first realizes something might be amiss when her new step tracker has added tens of thousands of steps overnight. What ensues is truly the stuff of nightmares as she gradually adds more safeguards against her nightly wanderings, only to be thwarted at every turn. By what? Who can say? (As evidenced by the fact that one of the first search autofills in Google when I was searching for this book was “ending explained” lol. This is definitely not one for you if you don’t like ambiguity and want a solid answer at the end.) The potential connection between women’s pain not being taken seriously in medical situations was interesting. The dead sister connection was interesting. I actually really love that we don’t get a concrete answer, which is not always my POV. The Night Guest is upsetting, unsettling, and is going to stick with me for a good long time.

I really vibed with the writing style. I think the kind of disjointed, disconnected, sometimes short chapters really added a lot to the atmosphere and vibe. And I obviously can’t speak to the directness of the translation here because I don’t read Icelandic, but it felt seamless and natural. This novella was a stellar example of the magic that can occur between an original piece and a work in translation. I like Mary Robinette Kowal’s work in her own right, and I think it’s just so fucking rad that she is also doing work like this.

A note on the animal death: I consider myself pretty sensitive to animal cruelty and death. And that goes double for cats. Everyone should decide for themselves - in an informed way - whether they can handle that. For me, the treatment of the cats was not overly graphic and was rightly portrayed as eggregious, deranged, troubling behavior. In fact, one of the most horrifying parts of this piece for me is the questioning of what is real or not, so I was left wondering if she really did find the cats, or even if there ever were any cats to begin with.

This slim volume packs quite the punch. Slow, creeping dread that rises to an ending both inevitable and shocking. I can't wait to see what Hildur does next.