Review: Dead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir
★★★★☆
Review:
First, I would like to thank Macmillan Audio for providing me with a free advanced listener copy of this audiobook. This is my honest review.
Feminine rage and retribution
Having read and enjoyed The Night Guest, I was eager to get a copy of Hildur Knútsdóttir's latest English translation!
Unnur lives alone until the Cat Distribution System deposits a black cat in her home. Despite finding the cat's owner, the cat keeps returning, and now Unnur must begrudgingly accept that Ásta and her cat will be a regular installment in her home. Getting to know Ásta on a deeper level, she quickly realizes that her new friend is in a dangerous situation and that if she doesn't intervene, no one will.
Dead Weight is marketed as horror, but unlike The Night Guest, there are no horror elements. I still really enjoyed it as a fast-paced domestic thriller novella. If you are looking for feminine rage and retribution and a book you can read in a single sitting, this book will satisfy that need!
Mary Robinette Kowal returns as both translator and narrator. Having the same person narrate who translated from the original text is such a rare treat. Her narration is clear, and I appreciated hearing Icelandic names and locations from a fluent speaker. I hope more collaborations between Hildur and Mary are in the works!
Audience: adult
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, toxic relationship, grooming, murder
Recommended for fans of: domestic thrillers, novellas
Review:
First, I would like to thank Macmillan Audio for providing me with a free advanced listener copy of this audiobook. This is my honest review.
Feminine rage and retribution
Having read and enjoyed The Night Guest, I was eager to get a copy of Hildur Knútsdóttir's latest English translation!
Unnur lives alone until the Cat Distribution System deposits a black cat in her home. Despite finding the cat's owner, the cat keeps returning, and now Unnur must begrudgingly accept that Ásta and her cat will be a regular installment in her home. Getting to know Ásta on a deeper level, she quickly realizes that her new friend is in a dangerous situation and that if she doesn't intervene, no one will.
Dead Weight is marketed as horror, but unlike The Night Guest, there are no horror elements. I still really enjoyed it as a fast-paced domestic thriller novella. If you are looking for feminine rage and retribution and a book you can read in a single sitting, this book will satisfy that need!
Mary Robinette Kowal returns as both translator and narrator. Having the same person narrate who translated from the original text is such a rare treat. Her narration is clear, and I appreciated hearing Icelandic names and locations from a fluent speaker. I hope more collaborations between Hildur and Mary are in the works!
Audience: adult
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, toxic relationship, grooming, murder
Recommended for fans of: domestic thrillers, novellas
Publisher's Synopsis:
An Icelandic night may hide secrets and affairs – or even bodies – in this gruesomely cathartic horror thriller from the author of The Night Guest.
Unnur was living a normal, if lonely, life until a black cat showed up at her door.
When she tracks down the cat’s wayward owner, she finds a young woman just as lost and in need of help. Like a gust of cold air in a Reykjavík night, Ásta and her pet slip into Unnur’s life.
It’s unexpected, but welcome. Unnur likes the company, and she begins to rely on Ásta in turn. But like a black cat, trouble has been tailing her new friend, and Unnur is the only one there for Ásta when things take a violent turn.
The two women quickly learn: nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands.
Source:
NetGalley
©Macmillan Audio: May 26, 2026
Edition: ALC
3 hours, 11 minutes
Preorder Dead Weight on Amazon! https://amzn.to/4v7fYKS
Disclaimer: By clicking the link above, you will be directed to Amazon.com through my affiliate link. Should you decide to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This commission helps to cover costs associated with running this blog.
An Icelandic night may hide secrets and affairs – or even bodies – in this gruesomely cathartic horror thriller from the author of The Night Guest.
Unnur was living a normal, if lonely, life until a black cat showed up at her door.
When she tracks down the cat’s wayward owner, she finds a young woman just as lost and in need of help. Like a gust of cold air in a Reykjavík night, Ásta and her pet slip into Unnur’s life.
It’s unexpected, but welcome. Unnur likes the company, and she begins to rely on Ásta in turn. But like a black cat, trouble has been tailing her new friend, and Unnur is the only one there for Ásta when things take a violent turn.
The two women quickly learn: nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands.
Source:
NetGalley
©Macmillan Audio: May 26, 2026
Edition: ALC
3 hours, 11 minutes
Preorder Dead Weight on Amazon! https://amzn.to/4v7fYKS
Disclaimer: By clicking the link above, you will be directed to Amazon.com through my affiliate link. Should you decide to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This commission helps to cover costs associated with running this blog.
Hey Jennifer! Hope you’re doing well.
ReplyDeleteI’ve just finished a psychological horror short story called The Black Cup (about 7,600 words), and I’m putting together a small ARC team before launch.
I thought of you because you seem to enjoy psychological stories. If you’re interested, I’d love to send you a free advance ePUB copy in exchange for an honest review before release. No pressure at all if it’s not your thing!
You can read more about it, check out Chapter 1, and sign up here:
🔗 bio.site/Shawnwalrus
Thank you.
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