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The Näck: A Swedish Folk Horror Novel
Four friends. One abandoned island. No way back.
The locals warned them never to go.
Skarnholm should have been the perfect escape: white beaches, deep forests, and an abandoned fishing village hidden off Sweden’s coast.
By morning, their boat is gone.
At night, music drifts across the water.
Something ancient has awakened beneath the island.
Inspired by the Swedish legend of the Näck—the water spirit said to lure the living with its haunting song—The Näck is an atmospheric folk horror novel about isolation, loneliness, and the terrifying things that still wait beneath dark water.
Some islands won’t let you leave.
The locals warned them never to go.
Skarnholm should have been the perfect escape: white beaches, deep forests, and an abandoned fishing village hidden off Sweden’s coast.
By morning, their boat is gone.
At night, music drifts across the water.
Something ancient has awakened beneath the island.
Inspired by the Swedish legend of the Näck—the water spirit said to lure the living with its haunting song—The Näck is an atmospheric folk horror novel about isolation, loneliness, and the terrifying things that still wait beneath dark water.
Some islands won’t let you leave.
- GenresHorror
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 22, 2026
A Surprisingly Good Story
What a story; written with passion and vigor, it’s a tale of two worlds; the modern one colliding with a strange and revolting one. Revolving around vacationers from the US who embark on a hiking adventure to a remote island in Sweden, the group quickly encounters strange events in a deserted village; and this is only part of why we are interested in the narrative. The author wastes no time in flinging the reader into the midst of the surreal, showing us the depravity these newbies face when they encounter people from a very old world domain. Each of the group’s individuals faces a trauma from which there (seemingly) is no escape, brought about by villagers intent on carrying out sometimes gruesome rituals.
Reminiscent of Scott Smith’s “The Ruins” or Adam Nevil’s “The Ritual” (and just as compelling as these two works) The Nack takes us on a macabre journey through the ideas of the modern mind, clashing with the superstitious ones of the Old World. And, like the other books mentioned above, the protagonists must go through such trauma never knowing if they will come out of this world alive. And this is all told at a breakneck pace; survival is never assured by the superstitious ones bent on placating a sea beast which has haunted them for years; and Thorin never lets go of the climate of fear generated by the dichotomy that exists between the leviathan and the villagers. Apart from the ending, where a new (needless) character is introduced, this is an engaging and exciting story.
What a story; written with passion and vigor, it’s a tale of two worlds; the modern one colliding with a strange and revolting one. Revolving around vacationers from the US who embark on a hiking adventure to a remote island in Sweden, the group quickly encounters strange events in a deserted village; and this is only part of why we are interested in the narrative. The author wastes no time in flinging the reader into the midst of the surreal, showing us the depravity these newbies face when they encounter people from a very old world domain. Each of the group’s individuals faces a trauma from which there (seemingly) is no escape, brought about by villagers intent on carrying out sometimes gruesome rituals.
Reminiscent of Scott Smith’s “The Ruins” or Adam Nevil’s “The Ritual” (and just as compelling as these two works) The Nack takes us on a macabre journey through the ideas of the modern mind, clashing with the superstitious ones of the Old World. And, like the other books mentioned above, the protagonists must go through such trauma never knowing if they will come out of this world alive. And this is all told at a breakneck pace; survival is never assured by the superstitious ones bent on placating a sea beast which has haunted them for years; and Thorin never lets go of the climate of fear generated by the dichotomy that exists between the leviathan and the villagers. Apart from the ending, where a new (needless) character is introduced, this is an engaging and exciting story.
August 17, 2026
First read of this writer and I was impressed. Really enjoyed the story. The characters, the lore of the island, the horror- all very well done. Quite creepy in parts, claustrophobic in another, tense in several parts, this book seemed to have it all. Plus bonus points for short chapters! A personal favorite of mine 😂.
Would recommend to any horror fans.
Would recommend to any horror fans.
June 16, 2026
I found this book by chance and thought it sounded good. Swedish folklore are something that has always fascinated me so I just needed to read this one.
I can best describe it as a cozy supernatural horror that leaves a little shiver down my spine during the book. I don't get scared through the story but it's still leaves an unpleasant feeling. The description of Swedish summer is spot on and I can clearly see what it looks like in the environments and the book has a good pace and flow so it's easy to read even if I find it a little slow here and there.
The Näck himself is not The näck I grew up with. Or yes, he still lures people to their deaths and it turns out that violin music is played at certain moments, but otherwise the author has made The Näck his own grotesque creature and that itself makes this book more frightening than if it were the be a beautiful man who sits by the stream and bewitches people into going into the water with his music.
No, this Näck is (in my head) a grotesque creation that is a mix of the slender man and Samara Morgan from the ring.
A completely okay cozy horror, in other words.
I can best describe it as a cozy supernatural horror that leaves a little shiver down my spine during the book. I don't get scared through the story but it's still leaves an unpleasant feeling. The description of Swedish summer is spot on and I can clearly see what it looks like in the environments and the book has a good pace and flow so it's easy to read even if I find it a little slow here and there.
The Näck himself is not The näck I grew up with. Or yes, he still lures people to their deaths and it turns out that violin music is played at certain moments, but otherwise the author has made The Näck his own grotesque creature and that itself makes this book more frightening than if it were the be a beautiful man who sits by the stream and bewitches people into going into the water with his music.
No, this Näck is (in my head) a grotesque creation that is a mix of the slender man and Samara Morgan from the ring.
A completely okay cozy horror, in other words.
June 27, 2026
If you liked the movie Midsommar you'll love this book. Spectacular!
August 2, 2026
Great read.
Fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. Easy to read with a nice flow. Look forward to reading more from Magnus Thorin
Fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. Easy to read with a nice flow. Look forward to reading more from Magnus Thorin
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews