Krelløy: A Lovecraftian Horror Novel of Arctic Isolation and Cosmic Annihilation

by Michal Polgar

A remote Arctic island. A mysterious fog. A reality that refuses to stay fixed.

When a supply ship delivers its final cargo to the isolated fishing community of Krelløy, forty-seven souls find themselves cut off from the mainland - and from the world they once knew. What begins as an eerie weather anomaly soon reveals itself as something far more profound, as the very fabric of their reality begins to unravel.

Stefan, a Slovak expatriate working at the local fish processing plant, and his wife Linnet, a Kenyan nurse who crossed continents for love, must navigate not only their community's fracturing bonds but also the increasingly alien landscape of their Arctic home. As neighbors vanish into the fog and those who remain undergo disturbing transformations, the couple faces an impossible flee into treacherous waters or witness the complete metamorphosis of everything they hold dear.

From the first impossible sound that echoes across the island to the final moments of human connection, KRELLØY is a haunting exploration of love, isolation, and the boundaries of human comprehension. Blending cosmic horror with intimate human drama, this literary thriller asks what it truly means to remain yourself when the world itself is forgetting how to be.

For readers of Jeff VanderMeer's Annihilation, Caitlín R. Kiernan's The Drowning Girl, and those who appreciate the atmospheric dread of Scandinavian weird fiction.

"In the Arctic darkness, some transformations cannot be escaped, only embraced."

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2025

About the author

Michal Polgár is a Slovak-born author of literary, cosmic and psychological horror. Now based in Northern Norway, he is a registered Norwegian author.

His writing resists being confined to a single genre, seamlessly moving between atmosphere, mystery, and the uncanny. He delves deeply into stories that challenge perception, creating unsettling narratives that linger in the mind and evoke complex moods... Moods often more felt than logically explained.

Krelløy proudly marks his debut novel.

Reviews

[Billy Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Krelloy by Michal Polgar. Horrific implications, beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. As an avid Lovecraftian/Cosmic horror read this brings an elegance seldom seen in the genre. This book has set a higher standard for the genre, that I wish to read more of from Michal.

[ShannahBanana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish this was a novella. even as short of a book as it was, it just felt way too long.

I loved the setting of an isolated fishing village. I loved the love the author poured into the relationship and connection of the main character and his wife. Too much of this reminded me of Annihilation. It felt like an overuse of metaphors and constant repetition of the same things happening and continuing. Take a drink every time the author uses "chrystalline" to describe things. I feel if the author had a better plot, his writing could've been beautiful but it just felt very monotonous here.



***********spoiler************

I was really disappointed in the ending. I thought this was all leading to the main character describing this transformation to us but instead they do a joint suicide and I felt like it was all for nothing. Cute love story though.

[Mary Zuelke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undying love. The slow witness of doom.

Polgar paints with lush, intimate language, bringing us to the isolated island to meet the community. We live among them, learn their rituals, and feel their rhythms—until their world begins to unravel.

The narrative resonates with raw emotion: tender moments clash with commanding control, and fiery defiance drives choices that divide, each path terrifying. Stephan, our solemn guide, moves through the chaos, feeling the emotions of those around him. Science and technology lose their grip on reality, while the old habits we cling to offer only a false sense of stability, until it's too late.

Devotion and enduring love thread through this cosmic horror tale. It breaks your heart and makes you question your humanity. Thought-provoking and haunting, Krelloy lingers long after the last page- ancient, unstable, and deeply unsettling.

[maltida · Rating 5 out of 5]

KRELLØY is a haunting and beautifully written blend of cosmic horror and human drama. The eerie isolation of the Arctic setting creates an atmosphere that is both chilling and mesmerizing, while Stefan and Linnet’s journey grounds the story with raw emotion and depth. As reality unravels and neighbors transform in terrifying ways, the novel balances suspense with a poignant exploration of love and survival. Unforgettable, unsettling, and deeply thought provoking this is a literary thriller that lingers long after the final page.

[Charlie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a Lovecraftian horror story worth reading. The author has a vivid way of describing the scenes and emotions that borders on gorgeous poetry. The story is gripping, deeply disturbing and well worth the adventure. If you are looking for a late night page-turner that is psychologically mind-bending, then this book is for you.

[Isabella Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story grabbed me from the very first page and never let go. The island of Krelloy feels so vivid and unsettling that I could almost taste the cold air. The way the fog creeps into every corner of life is terrifying in a quiet and emotional way. Stefan and Linnet are unforgettable characters and their love makes the horror hit even harder. This book is chilling and beautiful at the same time.

[douglas d. faber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, moving, horrifyingly mythic epic.

The most beautiful, horrifying, intellectual Lovecraft story that hpl never wrote. No other mythos tale compares to this evocative landscape of a tale, none can better it. Brilliant job, sir, Brilliant.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put it down. The Arctic isolation. The events. The people. All woven together with enough detail to draw you into the story and keep me there. Lovecraftian for sure! Well done Mr. Polgar.

[Lauren Fitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

first cosmic horror book I've ever cried over. horrifying and beautiful at the same time

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would describe this as the mist meets annihilation in the arctic with a twist of a love story. I thought it was a beautiful horror story