Kristin's Bookshelf

Dead Weight
by Hildur Knútsdóttir
Narrated by Mary Robinette Kowal
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick listen at around three hours, but it still felt completely satisfying.

As different as the two FMCs were, I found both of them relatable, just in very different ways.

Unnur … I genuinely pitied that woman. My advice to her? Find a new job, a new man, and honestly just MOVE. Far away from your current life.

And Ásta? Same.

Both women are carrying an unbelievable amount of baggage. Some of it comes from their own choices, some from fear, and some from the world simply working against them at every turn.

I have not hated a character as much as Rocky (that is absolutely not how you spell his name, but audiobook life) in a very long time. He is pompous, cruel, and painfully condescending, which are some of my least favorite traits in a person.

One thing I love about shorter stories is that they keep moving, but what made this one stand out was the amount of depth packed into the characters. Their decisions felt believable because the emotional groundwork was there.

My favorite supporting character was easily the female police officer. Loved her. Absolutely loved her. She did the right thing.

I am really curious how Ásta moves forward after everything that happened. I hope she does not become dependent on Unnur, but there is definitely a slight Single White Female energy lingering there …

I kind of want a sequel already!