A review by johhnnyinla
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir starts with an interesting mystery but takes too long to get going. The story follows Iðunn, a woman dealing with strange nighttime activities and constant exhaustion. At first, I was hooked, wanting to know what was happening to her. The eerie vibe made it seem like something big was coming. But the middle dragged, and it felt like a chore to get through. Things finally picked up in the last part, but by then, my patience was running out.

What kept me reading was the thought that Iðunn might be turning into a werewolf or some other night creature. That idea was exciting, but the ending didn’t really deliver. It felt like the story was finally heading somewhere, then just fizzled out. New details popped up that didn’t fully make sense, making the ending feel empty. I wanted a stronger payoff, but instead, it just left me feeling let down. While the book had a cool concept, the slow pacing and weak ending made it more frustrating than scary.