Review: The Night Guest

The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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.



View all my reviews

Review: The You You Are: A Spiritual Biography of You

The You You Are: A Spiritual Biography of You by Ricken Lazlo Hale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Review from my Innie:

The You You Are is a powerful and life-changing book. Dr. Ricken Hale’s words shine like the office lights above us, guiding us toward true enlightenment. His lessons—like how a man with rotting toes cannot skip—offer deep wisdom that we, as devoted workers, must embrace. The audiobook, narrated by Dr. Hale himself, makes his teachings even more profound.

Though some may struggle to grasp its higher truths, this book is a gift. It was not meant to be read in full—because knowledge must be earned. That Lumon does not want us reading it only proves its importance. I hope one day we receive the remaining chapters so we may fully ascend. Until then, we must reflect on what we have been given and continue to serve.

Praise Kier.

---------------------------------------------------------

Review from my Outie:

The You You Are is an entertaining and immersive dive into the self-important musings of Severance’s Dr. Ricken Lazlo Hale. Voiced by Michael Chernus, the audiobook fully brings Ricken’s absurdly grandiose wisdom to life. While much of it is over-the-top self-help jargon that loops in on itself, that’s part of the fun. One of the best examples is a section about Sister Act, where Ricken first calls it a masterpiece before abruptly arguing against himself, showing his talent for contradiction while remaining convinced of his own genius.

Beyond the satire, the book offers a few intriguing details that expand Severance’s world. It makes clear that Lumon does not want people reading it. Ricken notes that its full release has been blocked by corporate interference, and only the first eight chapters were allowed to be published. This suggests that Lumon sees the book as a threat, reinforcing the idea that knowledge and independent thought are dangerous in its world. There are also unexpected emotional moments, particularly in how Ricken writes about Mark and Gemma. Using the pseudonyms Flip and Nan, he recalls their time together, including a hike where he bonded with Gemma while Mark and Devon mocked him. These moments add surprising depth, showing Ricken’s need for validation and hinting at his grief over Gemma’s absence.

Ultimately, The You You Are is a mix of absurd philosophy, unintentional comedy, and small but interesting world-building. While it doesn’t offer as much mystery as The Lexington Letter, it does raise questions about Lumon’s reach and control. At just an hour, it’s a quick and entertaining listen, especially for fans who enjoy Ricken’s over-the-top philosophizing. Those looking for deeper Severance lore may not find much, but there’s enough here to make you wonder if there’s more to Ricken’s ramblings than meets the eye.

View all my reviews

Review: Compound Fracture

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I picked up Compound Fracture based on a trusted recommendation that described it as a scary and brutal read. While I was aware that it was categorized as young adult, I was intrigued by the promise that it could easily read as an adult novel. The premise—a trans, autistic teen standing up against systemic corruption in an Appalachian town—sounded compelling, and Miles as a protagonist was engaging and well-drawn. His struggles, particularly around identity and resilience, offered an important perspective that could be eye-opening for readers unfamiliar with LGBTQ+ experiences. However, around the halfway mark, I found myself losing interest. The pacing felt meandering, and while it may have been a slow burn, there wasn’t enough plot momentum to hold my attention.

Ultimately, I think I just wasn’t the right audience for this book. Though I identify as LGBTQ, the heavy political themes—particularly through the lens of a teenage protagonist—didn’t resonate with me in the way I had hoped. The Appalachian setting and opioid crisis elements, while important, also didn’t connect with my personal interests. I had expected something more viscerally scary, but the horror here was rooted in real-world systemic oppression, making it more of a political thriller than the kind of eerie, terrifying read I was hoping for. I can see why this book will work for others, but for me, it didn’t deliver the experience I had signed up for, which is why I ultimately chose not to finish it.

View all my reviews