As an adult sleepwalker who loves a good horror book, I was SO excited for this. I’ve also had the goal of reading more translated works so this was right up my alley. However, I have mixed thoughts about this one.

As I mentioned, I have a history of sleepwalking. I’m also a psychology professor. So…I’ve always been quite interested in crimes during somnambulism (for legal reasons this is NOT because I’m looking to get away with any crimes, ok?). This novella was super fast paced and definitely creepy.

Iðunn, sarcastic and full of existential dread, has been suffering from a staggering case of chronic fatigue. When she seeks medical attention, nothing seems to be the matter. But why, then, is do her limbs ache like she has been running marathons in her sleep?

Overall, yes, this novella was creepy and yes I enjoyed it. I don’t think it is earth-shatteringly unique or absolutely terrifying…it won’t keep me up tonight. BUT…the end kind of ruined the high for me. It ended so abruptly (on my kindle I had 10% left…I was expecting atleast another chapter) and confusingly. I still can’t quite figure out what happened and I can’t even really talk about it without giving too much away. If you want a quick creepy read, this may be for you…just know the ending is quite disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!!

This was a deeply unsettling little horror novel that I simply flew through. I'm currently re-reading Ottessa Moshfegh's "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" and it's funny because I kept thinking her character was going to do something horrific but was just mixing the two storylines. My only complaint is the murdering of cats - not a fan. I actually really hate animal murder in horror books and don't understand that aspect some horror writers feel like they need to include. As the cat stuff came up just for a few pages, I flipped past them. It didn't add anything to the book except yuck.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This is an easy, fast paced read with a relatable MC. I also enjoyed the formatting.
Check trigger warnings, but there is no "on screen" violence.
The ending did confuse me. I'm thinking she should've listened to the doctor who tried to call her a taxi.

This was not my usual genre but WOW. This novella packed a punch. Reading it was like watching a horror movie but better. I wish the ending had offered a little more clarity but I’m able to piece together an idea of what I *think* the conclusion is. Really excellent.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for an eARC of The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir. I enjoyed this small novel that dealt with a very intriguing plot involving a woman trying to figure out what's happening while she's sleeping. The novel is a slowburner, as Iðunn's life slowly gets upended as she gets closer to discovering or trying to control the cause of her fatigue. Iðunn is a wonderful narrator, and you come to love her quirky observations about the life she is trying to keep in check.

First- know your triggers, there’s pet deaths in this one and it definitely made me sad to read about.
But.. Whoa, I’m still processing but I think I understand that ending. This was a really great novella read, from start to finish I was trying to figure out what was happening. I actually thought the short chapters were a good addition building up the story. At first I thought I was missing some pages but then I realized it was meant to be like that & it grew on me. Gave that suspense vibe for sure. I enjoyed this story, I could have used maybe another chapter to fully understand that ending but all in all this was a page turner.

Thank you, NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for this fun little horror Arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I’m not sure what I just read but I binged it in a little over an hour. I couldn’t put it down.

This horror novella is creepy, chilling, with a plot that moves quickly and an ending that will leave you confused but in a good way. In a way that leaves it up to the reader to decide what happened. If you like horror and are looking for a quick read I highly recommend picking this one up.

It will have you scared to fall asleep.

This sparsely but effectively written horror-mystery novella will frustrate many readers with its abrupt ending. After sitting with the ending for a bit, I’m a fan. Would I have liked this to be twice as long? Yes - because I was deeply drawn into the story. Did it need to be twice as long? No… I think the novel did what it wanted to do.
I loved the creeping tension of this novella - the uncertainty, the eerie atmosphere, the hints at something ELSE beyond what we (think we) know is going on. It was short, but the effect lingers.

Review of an ARC provided by NetGalley.

3.5 stars

Well this was a quick and pleasant surprise. I enjoyed every minute of this book, and the ending was not what I was expecting. I for sure want to check out more by this author.

This book follows Iðunn who has been waking up mysteriously, tired, and sore every morning with no reason to why it’s happening to her. This was a short and fun read. This book kept me entertained from the beginning to end, I would definitely recommend it to others. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC.

Read this in one sitting - it was intriguing and felt so realistic and eery that I couldn’t put it down until I knew what was going on. A very quick, easy read that will keep ya hooked - I give it 3 stars just because I was entertained but not blown away.

The most perfect, eery novella. I read this book in one sitting, eager to find out what happens next. The book gave me chills. Will be recommending.

Engaging, gory, and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where horror is popular. (Definite trigger warning for animal death though)

Okay, that ending shocked me. When I first started reading, I’m sat there thinking okay an older woman who sleep walks and weird things happen.. nothing new but then the ending. Literally loved it.

The short chapters made it such an easy quick read which I personally enjoy.

I will make a note about a possible trigger warning as it talks about the death of some cats. It’s not descriptive or anything but it is implied there are some cats killed.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

wow! this was really something. i deeply enjoyed the atmosphere and the sense of dread the author was able to establish. the ending left me disappointed a bit, even though it was amazingly written and interesting. not sure … definitely want to read more of this author because of it that’s for sure.
tw animal death / gore

Thank you so much Netgalley for this ARC. I really liked this book and I plan on pre ordering it soon.

Really fab horror novella
I couldn't put this one down.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book

Hildur Knutsdótir's novella, 'The Night Guest,' is an absolute blast of a story, a wild ride in deceptively plain prose and weird imagery. Dressed as a mystery of sorts (Iðunn cannot understand why she's waking up more and more tired, when there's nothing pathologically wrong with her), it soon develops into horror, a bizarre melange of a ghost and possession story. Though taking place in Reykjavík, the setting is not really a factor in the story; nor the characters themselves (I could not really relate to anyone). The story itself is the protagonist, the unfolding of a promising premise into the uncanny, the bizarre and the weird; it seemed to me that the intention is to make a point about the loss of identity and the cost of its restoration - at least that's how I read the ending, which is bound to be very divisive and controversial due to its huge ambiguity. Nevertheless, this is a must-read for horror fans, a story full of suspense and creepy horror!

Idunn is exhausted. She sleeps at night and wakes in the morning in pain with bruises she can't recall.

This thriller/ horror novella will absolutely stay with me - the only reason I can't do 5 stars is because I wish the ending had given more. I read this book in two hours and was absolutely riveted. The story is fast-paced and just creepy enough to be unnerving. The reader is given just enough clues about the 'monster' to build tension.

💭eARC review: the night guest by hildur knútsdótir
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

set in Reykjavík, main character Iðunn is constantly tired, waking up with sore muscles and an uneasy feelinh that something in her body feels off. after waking up one morning with over 45,000 steps tracked on her watch, Iðunn has to figure out what and where she’s going at night—and why.

first off, this is a quick quick quick read (less than 200 pages!) which is found to be the perfect length. i was pretty hooked from the start and tore through this in a couple hours. from the characters to the writing style and the eery, weird journey we’re on with the main character, knútsdótir’s book checked all the boxes for me. knocking it down to 4 stars only because of the ending, which i found maddening (but i think that was its intended effect?). definitely check this one out, on sale sept 3, 2024!

cw: bl00d, de*d pets, kn*ves