As a reader, I found myself drawn into the pages of this novella, intrigued by its exploration of mental illness and health anxiety. The author adeptly navigated these complex issues, offering insights that resonated with me on a personal level. However, despite its strengths, I couldn't shake the feeling of predictability that lingered throughout the narrative.

While the storyline unfolded smoothly, I couldn't help but wish for more depth and complexity. The novella seemed to lack the layers that I crave in psychological horror, and the ending seemed predictable.

That said, for those new to the genre or seeking a light introduction to psychological horror, this novella serves as a suitable starting point. It is well-written and engaging, providing an enjoyable reading experience. Yet, it fails to leave a lasting impression, lacking the substance needed to linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.

In summary, while I appreciated the themes explored in this novella and found it to be a competent piece of writing, it ultimately falls short of making a significant impact. It's a worthwhile read for its insights into mental health, but don't expect it to stay with you for long.

The story starts when Iðunn visits the doctor for her sleeping problem. Despite falling asleep just fine, she wakes every morning heavy limbed and still tired.

I needed to pick my next read off my NetGalley TBR, and after reading the first sentence, I didn’t want to put it back down again, reading it in two sittings. This was one hell of a chilling read! Though the plot is simple, it is well executed and pulls you in from the get-go. I felt the ending/final quarter of the book lost a bit of its edge, but still enjoyed how the story wrapped up.

A tad gory, a tad horny, I loved reading this and would recommend any lover of weird, horror fiction.

The Night Guest is a creepy story that takes place in Reykjavík that will keep you guessing right until the end. Iounn has been waking up every morning exhausted and sometimes even injured. She can't figure out what is happening to her and neither can any of her doctors. But she knows that she cannot go on living like this. What happens next in this novella is both unexpected and unbelievable. Check out this unique story, it's a quick read and you'll be thinking about it long after you're done!

The protagonist in The Night Guest is tired all the time. She also awakens with muscle aches and even bruises some nights. When she accidentally leaves her fitness watch on one night, she discovers that she has done 40,000 steps while she was asleep. How can she stop this sleepwalking? Where she goes and what she does during the night is explored in this eerie novella.

The Night Guest is the perfect book to read in bed if you can’t sleep at night or wake up early before dawn. It is deliciously creepy, right up to its disappointing conclusion. I spent quite a few minutes thinking about how I would have finished the plot in a more ingenious manner, so it boosts creativity too, in a way. 4 stars!

Thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Iðunn finds herself waking up unrested and increasingly battered, despite being in good health according to her doctor. Determined to improve her well-being, she adopts healthier habits and even tracks her activity with a new watch,but she keeps seeing a weird increase in the steps and then all the cats in her neighbourhood disappear. The book is weird and creepy. I finished the book in one sitting as it was captivating and perplexing.
Although it was confusing and strange, the novella completely sucked me in the story. I cannot wait to read more from this writer. Highly recommended,

This was a bizarre, eerie, just plain creepy read! You really feel what the character feels from panic to anxiety to confusion. This was fast paced and masterfully done!

This book is beyond wild!

Iðunn wakes up every morning exhausted. She sees a doctor afraid there is something seriously wrong but when her tests come back fine, she feels unheard and is desperate to find answers. Her friends have lots of advice including getting some exercise. When she accidentally sleeps with her new pedometer watch on, she is shocked to see she has taken over 40,000 steps while sleeping. What is happening when she sleeps? Why is she waking up bloody and with bruises?

This story is so bizarre, and I am in love with it. I could not stop reading because I had to know what in the hell was happening to her. I could feel the helplessness and panic that Iðunn was feeling as she was desperately searched for answers. This book is very intense, creepy, and unsettling. The ending was truly satisfying. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group/Tor Nightfire and Hildur Knútsdóttir for the copy of this amazing book!

"The Night Guest" by Hildur Knútsdóttir is a mesmerizing and captivating tale set in modern-day Reykjavík that delves into the depths of chronic fatigue, enigmatic nocturnal activities, and the chilling horror of being disbelieved. Our protagonist, Iðunn, grapples with unexplained exhaustion and unsettling injuries upon awakening. As she undertakes her quest for answers, she discovers that she unknowingly traverses over 40,000 steps during her sleep, unraveling a series of bone-chilling revelations about her nocturnal endeavors.

The narrative revolves around Iðunn's arduous journey to unravel the truths lurking behind her midnight wanderings, unveiling unnerving occurrences in the process. The story is propelled by an aura of intrigue and suspense that expertly maintains readers' engagement, as Iðunn navigates the eerie events that haunt her existence.

Hildur Knútsdóttir crafts her characters, particularly Iðunn, with profound depth and complexity. Iðunn's strife with her deteriorating health, coupled with the disbelief that surrounds her, and the emotional toll her experiences take, culminate in a profound and captivating narrative that explores themes of solitude, trepidation, and the enigmatic unknown.

The ambiance of the novel is chilling, isolating, and deeply unsettling. The contemporary setting of Reykjavík only amplifies the atmospheric tension, enhancing the sense of unease and suspense that permeate the entire narrative.

"The Night Guest" possesses an extraordinary ability to evoke a myriad of emotions, ranging from hopelessness to panic and anxiety. The book masterfully captures the true terror that ensnares the protagonist, effortlessly embodying the essence of a psychological thriller interwoven with haunting elements of horror.

In conclusion, "The Night Guest" by Hildur Knútsdóttir is an enthralling masterpiece that skilfully melds the realms of horror, mystery, and psychological suspense, forging a haunting narrative that candidly explores themes of skepticism, seclusion, and the chilling unknown.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of The Night Guest. I think if you like the movie The Voices with Ryan Reynolds and a particularly peculiar docu series that took the internet by storm on Netflix called Dont F With Cats, then you will devour this fast pasted novella in a few hours just as I have. Our main character has a very perplexing and jarring personality. Almost immediately I don’t like or trust her, but I’m also dying to know and understand her. At its heart, I think this is a story about the horror that is depression. I think the author did an amazing and surreal job at bringing the symptoms of depression into the physical world and making a mental health problems something real and tangible instead of just in our characters mind. I also really enjoyed the critique of the medical system, and I think many other readers will find the feelings of distrust and disappointment for doctors sadly all too relatable. There’s not much else I can say without spoiling the book, but this is one I definitely think is worth a fever dream of a read. It was compulsively readable and poetically deranged.

A short novel that takes place in Reykjavík, Iceland about a girl named Iðunn (pronounced E-then) who starts waking up with bruises on her body, blood on her face, and unsure of what happened the nights prior to waking up. Iðunn's doctors tell her that her fatigue is just stress and that her blood tests are normal. There's nothing to report. Her friends tell her to try some yoga, exercise and eat healthy. She's left alone, trying to battle her parasomnia - adult sleep walking alone and things get intense.

I was very creeped out during the first 2/3 of the story. Iðunn's paranoia, symptoms and behaviors are very much disturbing and our authors (translator included) definitely do not hold back on the descriptions and gory content. The last third of the book left me disappointed and confused. What we find out about Iðunn is strange.

Despite the meh ending, I'd recommend this story since it's so short (208 pages on Kindle) There was potential! Heavy trigger warnings for dead animal content.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. "The Night Guest" publishes September 03, 2024.

I received a digital review copy of this horror novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was an intense and spine-chilling ride! From the start, I was drawn into the fast-paced horror narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat. The unconventional storyline had me hooked, but I have to admit, the ending left me slightly disappointed, resulting in a slightly lower rating.

However, despite my qualms with the ending, the book was still a thrilling and smart piece of work. The translation was well-executed, capturing the dark and sarcastic tone of the characters perfectly. I devoured the book in less than two hours, completely engrossed in the story.

After finishing the book, I couldn't shake off the eerie feeling. It felt like the main character, Iðunn, was watching me with her vacant, sleepy eyes! The story, set in the starless nights of Reykjavik, painted a bleak and haunting picture of Iðunn's struggles with clinical fatigue and her dysfunctional family dynamics. The ending wasn't something I expected, given the story I expected much better. To me the ending seemed rushed.

As I followed Iðunn's journey, trying to uncover the mystery behind her disturbing sleepwalking episodes, I found myself engrossed in the eerie atmosphere and unsettling events. Without revealing too much, I'll just say that if you're a fan of ultra-bizarre horror that sends shivers down your spine, this book is worth diving into.

Incredibly fast, incredibly eerie, incredibly worth your time. The Night Guest reads almost like the layout of a short horror film- there are pages with only a few words to show the gaps in our main characters memory, there are phone recordings showing an empty bed for hours at a time, there are cats who suddenly become terrified of someone they previously loved. The ending is quick and slightly ambiguous, though if you've been paying attention you'll know what's happening after the story ends. If this were a longer novel I'd be somewhat disappointed by that sort of ending, but the length and pace makes it an absolute perfect fit. I'd recommend this to any horror reader and even infrequent readers who enjoy horror films/shorts.

CW (no spoilers) for some animal death mentioned, non-graphic. I requested this ARC and was incredibly happy to receive it, and look forward to purchasing my own hard copy once it's published.

This was a fast-paced interesting read that held my interest while trying to figure out what was going on during the night with the main character. I would have loved to have seen this book more fleshed out, with a more satisfying ending. I did like the author’s writing style and would definitely try more of their work in the future. I would also love to read this book again as a full length novel with more detail. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

This book was very interesting and odd. You spend the whole book trying to figure out what is wrong. The main character is waking up feeling worn out and is going to the doctor trying to figure out why. Weird things happen whenever she goes to sleep.
The short chapters made for this to be a quick read and easy page turner. Right when the story started to get really interesting and good it just ended. The ending felt so abrupt and quick that it left more questions than answers.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The writing was captivating and the short chapters definitely kept me enthralled, however the ending definitely fell flat for me? I don’t mind “open ended” endings but I feel like this left you with more questions than answers…??? but!!! the writing was atmospheric and definitely chilling….

This novella was a quick and spooky read but it ended pretty abruptly. Overall I didn't mind the ending, but I wish there was a little more connection between details earlier in the story to help make it more coherent.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this novella. I had no idea what to expect, and appreciated the story. It started off with a FMC and mysterious health problems. As she starts to figure things out the tension really grows and I found myself flipping pages so quickly to figure out what was happening.
The ending is a bit ambiguous which I normally love. I am still a little confused as to who the night guest was, but that’s no problem for me. I loved the ride.

I would love to check out more from this author. The writing was amazing.

A quick engrossing read that I just couldn't put down- easy to read in one or two sittings. Despite all the bizarre things that happen, I actually liked the main character and loved her inner monologue- apart from the last few chapters which I'd advise to read trigger warnings for.
I don't think the book was that unique unfortunately, it reminded me of a couple of other books that I read last year.
The ending fell flat for me which I was so sad about. It ended abruptly and I wish it was longer! I wanted more of an explanation.
But the first 80% held my attention and the short chapters are always a winner.
I didn't find it that creepy but it would be a great start for beginners to the horror genre.
4 stars!

Thank you to Net Galley for my ARC copy!

I devoured this book. Easy. Quick. Kept me on my toes.

I loved the writing style, I was never bored and did not want to put this book down. I read it in a day!

I also just loved the premise of the book weird but interesting. Will defiantly be looking to read more from this author.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Hildur Knutsdottir for this ARC of The Night Guest.

3.5/5 stars. This is more of a novella. Very quick read which can result in not much character development and plot holes. I felt the main character was decently developed with how short the book was, but the story felt rushed. The first 2/3 of the book was attention catching but the ending was disappointing. I kept waiting for a some big twist or shocking ending, but this just fell short for me.. What I did love was the setting of this story. Set in Iceland, the mood this author was able to set was fantastic and spooky.

The main character is suffering with unexplained fatigue regardless of how much sleep she gets. Things begin to escalate and she starts to investigate just what is happening after her eyes close at night.....