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Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the question: “Are you ready to be un-settled?” Featuring stories by:
Norris Black • Amber Blaeser-Wardzala • Phoenix Boudreau • Cherie Dimaline • Carson Faust • Kelli Jo Ford • Kate Hart • Shane Hawk • Brandon Hobson • Darcie Little Badger • Conley Lyons • Nick Medina • Tiffany Morris • Tommy Orange • Mona Susan Power • Marcie R. Rendon • Waubgeshig Rice • Rebecca Roanhorse • Andrea L. Rogers • Morgan Talty • D.H. Trujillo • Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. • Richard Van Camp • David Heska Wanbli Weiden • Royce Young Wolf • Mathilda Zeller
Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home.
These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.
Norris Black • Amber Blaeser-Wardzala • Phoenix Boudreau • Cherie Dimaline • Carson Faust • Kelli Jo Ford • Kate Hart • Shane Hawk • Brandon Hobson • Darcie Little Badger • Conley Lyons • Nick Medina • Tiffany Morris • Tommy Orange • Mona Susan Power • Marcie R. Rendon • Waubgeshig Rice • Rebecca Roanhorse • Andrea L. Rogers • Morgan Talty • D.H. Trujillo • Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. • Richard Van Camp • David Heska Wanbli Weiden • Royce Young Wolf • Mathilda Zeller
Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home.
These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2023
About the author
Shane Hawk
11 books320 followersShane Hawk, a member of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, is a history teacher by day and a horror writer by night. Hawk’s literary contributions include his debut story collection, Anoka, as well as short fiction featured in numerous anthologies. He co-edited the Bram Stoker and Locus Award-nominated anthology Never Whistle at Night, which reached its tenth printing just one month after publication. He is currently co-writing an Indigenous Horror stage play with Andrea L. Rogers, titled The Land Still Bleeds, set to premiere in October 2024. Hawk resides in San Diego, California, with his beautiful wife. Learn more at shanehawk.com.
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August 18, 2024
Attention Dark Fiction fans: if you only read one anthology all year, it should be this one; an amazing collection!!
Never Whistle at Night is exactly what the subtitle says, an Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology. From the moment I heard about this release, I was stoked for it.
The synopsis sold me. I was also so excited to see the incredible group of authors contributing and that there would be an introduction by one of my all-time faves, Stephen Graham Jones!
I love all things Dark Fiction. It's definitely my comfort zone and I truly enjoy exploring Dark Fiction inspired by cultures other than my own. I just love learning about the different dark lore/stories that various cultures around the world tell, or incorporate into their broader fictional narrative.
I am no writer, so I'm probably failing miserably in explaining what I mean, but hopefully you get the gist of why I was so excited for this particular anthology.
After the introduction from Stephen Graham Jones, the deep storytelling vibes are set and it's time to dive in. I was immediately impressed with the variety and depth of the stories included. I had chills by the time I had finished the first story, always a good sign.
Anthologies and short-story collections are always a little hard to rate highly, as it's very rare to vibe with all the stories included in a 5-star way. You'll always have some you enjoy a lot and maybe a few that aren't to your taste.
While I would say that is also true here, overall, for me, this was definitely a 5-star reading experience. Even though not all the stories were tailored to my particular tastes, I could still appreciate just how well they were written, and how each author truly brought their heart and their A-game to this collection.
If you are curious, some of the stand-outs for me in this collection were: White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse, Quantum by Nick Medina, Snakes are Born in the Dark by D.H. Trujillo, Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp, The Prepper by Morgan Talty, Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden and Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala.
My favorite story of the collection was actually written by one of the editors, Shane Hawk. The story is titled Behind Colin's Eyes and follows a boy and his Dad embarking on what should be a regular day of hunting, but ends up being anything but that. This one creeped me the heck out. It gave me chills and the whole thing is seared in my brain now. I won't unsee this. Great work!
Overall, there is so much to love about this collection. There's definitely something for everyone in here. As mentioned before, the stories cover a wide-range of topics and you can tell that these authors took a lot of care with the stories they were sharing.
Never Whistle at Night is a must read for anyone who enjoys Dark Fiction. Available now!!!
Never Whistle at Night is exactly what the subtitle says, an Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology. From the moment I heard about this release, I was stoked for it.
The synopsis sold me. I was also so excited to see the incredible group of authors contributing and that there would be an introduction by one of my all-time faves, Stephen Graham Jones!
I love all things Dark Fiction. It's definitely my comfort zone and I truly enjoy exploring Dark Fiction inspired by cultures other than my own. I just love learning about the different dark lore/stories that various cultures around the world tell, or incorporate into their broader fictional narrative.
I am no writer, so I'm probably failing miserably in explaining what I mean, but hopefully you get the gist of why I was so excited for this particular anthology.
After the introduction from Stephen Graham Jones, the deep storytelling vibes are set and it's time to dive in. I was immediately impressed with the variety and depth of the stories included. I had chills by the time I had finished the first story, always a good sign.
Anthologies and short-story collections are always a little hard to rate highly, as it's very rare to vibe with all the stories included in a 5-star way. You'll always have some you enjoy a lot and maybe a few that aren't to your taste.
While I would say that is also true here, overall, for me, this was definitely a 5-star reading experience. Even though not all the stories were tailored to my particular tastes, I could still appreciate just how well they were written, and how each author truly brought their heart and their A-game to this collection.
If you are curious, some of the stand-outs for me in this collection were: White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse, Quantum by Nick Medina, Snakes are Born in the Dark by D.H. Trujillo, Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp, The Prepper by Morgan Talty, Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden and Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala.
My favorite story of the collection was actually written by one of the editors, Shane Hawk. The story is titled Behind Colin's Eyes and follows a boy and his Dad embarking on what should be a regular day of hunting, but ends up being anything but that. This one creeped me the heck out. It gave me chills and the whole thing is seared in my brain now. I won't unsee this. Great work!
Overall, there is so much to love about this collection. There's definitely something for everyone in here. As mentioned before, the stories cover a wide-range of topics and you can tell that these authors took a lot of care with the stories they were sharing.
Never Whistle at Night is a must read for anyone who enjoys Dark Fiction. Available now!!!
December 5, 2023
Never Whistle at Night :An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr features twenty-six stories written by indigenous authors. Surrealism and the supernatural, indigenous folklore, traditions, beliefs, racism, legacy and generational trauma are only a few of the themes that are explored in this collection of “dark” fiction. I wouldn’t describe the vibe of these stories as nightmare-inducing but more than a few will leave you feeling unsettled and pondering over what you just read. Do take your time with these stories as they are heavy reads despite the short length.
My ratings for the individual stories are as follows:
📓 Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller : 5⭐
📓 White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse: 4.5⭐
📓 Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons: 3⭐
📓 Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon: 3.5⭐
📓 Quantum by Nick Medina: 4.5⭐
📓 Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau: 4⭐
📓 Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline: 4⭐
📓 The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson: 4.5⭐
📓 Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D.H. Trujillo: 4⭐
📓 Before I Go by Norris Black: 3.5⭐
📓 Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris: 3.5⭐
📓 Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk: 3.5⭐
📓 Heart Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford: 3.5⭐
📓 Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp: 4⭐
📓 Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf:3.5⭐
📓 The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.: 3.5 ⭐
📓 Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power: 5⭐
📓 The Prepper by Morgan Talty: 3.5⭐
📓 Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart: 3⭐
📓 Sundays by David Heska Wenbli Weiden: 4⭐
📓 Eulogy for a Brother Resurrected by Carson Faust: 3.5⭐
📓 Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers: 3⭐
📓 Capgras by Tommy Orange: 3 ⭐
📓 The Scientist’s Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger: 3⭐
📓 Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala: 4.5⭐
📓 Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice: 4⭐
As with most anthologies, some of the stories were more impactful than others but overall, with strong writing, vivid imagery, and superb storytelling this is an impressive collection of stories that I would not hesitate to recommend to fans of indigenous fiction that tends towards darker themes. I also enjoyed the Foreword written by Stephen Graham Jones which gives us insight into the theme behind the collection.
Many of the authors whose works featured in this collection were new to me and I’m glad for the opportunity to have been introduced to their work. I look forward to reading more from these talented writers in the future.
Finally, I love the cover art!
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book was published on September 19, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
My ratings for the individual stories are as follows:
📓 Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller : 5⭐
📓 White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse: 4.5⭐
📓 Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons: 3⭐
📓 Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon: 3.5⭐
📓 Quantum by Nick Medina: 4.5⭐
📓 Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau: 4⭐
📓 Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline: 4⭐
📓 The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson: 4.5⭐
📓 Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D.H. Trujillo: 4⭐
📓 Before I Go by Norris Black: 3.5⭐
📓 Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris: 3.5⭐
📓 Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk: 3.5⭐
📓 Heart Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford: 3.5⭐
📓 Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp: 4⭐
📓 Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf:3.5⭐
📓 The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.: 3.5 ⭐
📓 Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power: 5⭐
📓 The Prepper by Morgan Talty: 3.5⭐
📓 Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart: 3⭐
📓 Sundays by David Heska Wenbli Weiden: 4⭐
📓 Eulogy for a Brother Resurrected by Carson Faust: 3.5⭐
📓 Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers: 3⭐
📓 Capgras by Tommy Orange: 3 ⭐
📓 The Scientist’s Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger: 3⭐
📓 Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala: 4.5⭐
📓 Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice: 4⭐
As with most anthologies, some of the stories were more impactful than others but overall, with strong writing, vivid imagery, and superb storytelling this is an impressive collection of stories that I would not hesitate to recommend to fans of indigenous fiction that tends towards darker themes. I also enjoyed the Foreword written by Stephen Graham Jones which gives us insight into the theme behind the collection.
Many of the authors whose works featured in this collection were new to me and I’m glad for the opportunity to have been introduced to their work. I look forward to reading more from these talented writers in the future.
Finally, I love the cover art!
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book was published on September 19, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Read
September 19, 2023NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT ANTHOLOGY
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Foreword by Stephen Graham Jones
Stories:
Kushtuka- Mathilda Zeller
White Hills- Rebecca Roanhorse
Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth- Conley Lyons
Wingless- Marcie R. Rendon
Quantum- Nick Medina
Hunger- Phoenix Boudreau
Tick Talk- Cherie Dimaline
The Ones Who Killed Us- Brandon Hobson
Snakes Are Born in the Dark- D. H. Trujillo
Before I Go- Norris Black
Night in the Chrysalis- Tiffany Morris
Behind Colin's Eyes- Shane Hawk
Heart-Shaped Clock- Kelli Jo Ford
Scariest. Story. Ever.- Richard Van Camp
Human Eaters- Royce K. Young Wolf
The Longest Street in the World- Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Dead Owls- Mona Susan Power
The Prepper- Morgan Talty
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning- Kate Hart
Sundays- David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected- Carson Faust
Night Moves- Andrea L. Rogers
Capgras- Tommy Orange
The Scientist's Horror Story- Darcie Little Badger
Collections- Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
Limbs- Waubgeshig Rice
Of course, Stephen Graham Jones kicks things off by telling us a story, but it’s not his story. It’s the framework of a tale told by Joeseph M. Marshall III with a Dr. Jones horror spin on it. Jones tells us,
“Generally speaking, Indians are pretty nervous about possession narratives, since those are more or less stories about a body being colonized, which we know a thing or two about…”
I never thought about demon possession from that perspective. Now that I know how Jones sees it–why possession horror is so terrifying for him and Indigenous peoples, it will stay with me for the rest of my life. That viewpoint. That context. Which is why anthologies like this one are so important. Horror is told collectively from voices different than my own. And at the end of his foreword is an invitation that I took seriously,
“So for these next pages, let these writers take you by the hand, lead you into the darkness at the heart of–let me put some quotation marks around it– “America”.”
And then a warning,
“Just don’t look back at your footprints,
Best to not look back at all, really.”
26 wildly varied tales from Indigenous North American authors dealing with a wide range of horror tropes and sociological themes. Colonization, gender roles, harmful stereotypes, and evolving generational perspectives are woven into modern stories of legend and lore, supernatural or paranormal activity, and plenty of creature features. There are triggers galore here so if you have a specific CW you want, just ask me.
I enjoyed that the TOC features storytellers I have read before, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Morgan Talty, Shane Hawk, Rebecca Roanhorse, and Nick Medina as well as new names–their stories serve as an introduction to their work. I found so many authors to add to my “to buy” list.
I’m not sure if the editors curated the order of the stories but my reading experience was affected by some of the more jarring transitions. The fluidity of tone was a bit of an issue. I developed reader fatigue jumping in and out of moods for each story. This can happen when the theme is very broad as opposed to a more specific theme, topic, or sub-genre.
At one point, there were three, heavy, emotionally taxing stories in a row and then a gory body horror tale. I remember thinking that was a rough transition. Emotionally, I wasn’t ready for that, so I did take a lot of breaks and picked up other books while reading one or two stories at a time. That’s my recommendation, just a few here and there.
Some of my favorite stories, Kushtuka- Mathilda Zeller, White Hills- Rebecca RoanhorseNavajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth- Conley Lyons, Wingless- Marcie R. Rendon, Quantum- Nick Medina, Hunger- Phoenix Boudreau, Tick Talk- Cherie Dimaline, Dead Owls- Mona Susan Power, Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning- Kate Hart, Sundays- David Heska Wanbli Weiden and Limbs- Waubgeshig Rice
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Foreword by Stephen Graham Jones
Stories:
Kushtuka- Mathilda Zeller
White Hills- Rebecca Roanhorse
Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth- Conley Lyons
Wingless- Marcie R. Rendon
Quantum- Nick Medina
Hunger- Phoenix Boudreau
Tick Talk- Cherie Dimaline
The Ones Who Killed Us- Brandon Hobson
Snakes Are Born in the Dark- D. H. Trujillo
Before I Go- Norris Black
Night in the Chrysalis- Tiffany Morris
Behind Colin's Eyes- Shane Hawk
Heart-Shaped Clock- Kelli Jo Ford
Scariest. Story. Ever.- Richard Van Camp
Human Eaters- Royce K. Young Wolf
The Longest Street in the World- Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Dead Owls- Mona Susan Power
The Prepper- Morgan Talty
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning- Kate Hart
Sundays- David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected- Carson Faust
Night Moves- Andrea L. Rogers
Capgras- Tommy Orange
The Scientist's Horror Story- Darcie Little Badger
Collections- Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
Limbs- Waubgeshig Rice
Of course, Stephen Graham Jones kicks things off by telling us a story, but it’s not his story. It’s the framework of a tale told by Joeseph M. Marshall III with a Dr. Jones horror spin on it. Jones tells us,
“Generally speaking, Indians are pretty nervous about possession narratives, since those are more or less stories about a body being colonized, which we know a thing or two about…”
I never thought about demon possession from that perspective. Now that I know how Jones sees it–why possession horror is so terrifying for him and Indigenous peoples, it will stay with me for the rest of my life. That viewpoint. That context. Which is why anthologies like this one are so important. Horror is told collectively from voices different than my own. And at the end of his foreword is an invitation that I took seriously,
“So for these next pages, let these writers take you by the hand, lead you into the darkness at the heart of–let me put some quotation marks around it– “America”.”
And then a warning,
“Just don’t look back at your footprints,
Best to not look back at all, really.”
26 wildly varied tales from Indigenous North American authors dealing with a wide range of horror tropes and sociological themes. Colonization, gender roles, harmful stereotypes, and evolving generational perspectives are woven into modern stories of legend and lore, supernatural or paranormal activity, and plenty of creature features. There are triggers galore here so if you have a specific CW you want, just ask me.
I enjoyed that the TOC features storytellers I have read before, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Morgan Talty, Shane Hawk, Rebecca Roanhorse, and Nick Medina as well as new names–their stories serve as an introduction to their work. I found so many authors to add to my “to buy” list.
I’m not sure if the editors curated the order of the stories but my reading experience was affected by some of the more jarring transitions. The fluidity of tone was a bit of an issue. I developed reader fatigue jumping in and out of moods for each story. This can happen when the theme is very broad as opposed to a more specific theme, topic, or sub-genre.
At one point, there were three, heavy, emotionally taxing stories in a row and then a gory body horror tale. I remember thinking that was a rough transition. Emotionally, I wasn’t ready for that, so I did take a lot of breaks and picked up other books while reading one or two stories at a time. That’s my recommendation, just a few here and there.
Some of my favorite stories, Kushtuka- Mathilda Zeller, White Hills- Rebecca RoanhorseNavajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth- Conley Lyons, Wingless- Marcie R. Rendon, Quantum- Nick Medina, Hunger- Phoenix Boudreau, Tick Talk- Cherie Dimaline, Dead Owls- Mona Susan Power, Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning- Kate Hart, Sundays- David Heska Wanbli Weiden and Limbs- Waubgeshig Rice
November 12, 2023
Here we have a collection of 26 stories/anthologies by indigenous authors.
This collection was, in my opinion, underwhelming.
I expected a lot more, based on the synopsis.
There was nothing scary or something that could make me feel unsettled.
Some stories I found pointless.
But the writing of each story was very good.
Unfortunately there was nothing memorable (well, perhaps the story with the bag full of heads of white people).
ebook (Kobo): 393 pages (default), 121k words
This collection was, in my opinion, underwhelming.
I expected a lot more, based on the synopsis.
There was nothing scary or something that could make me feel unsettled.
Some stories I found pointless.
But the writing of each story was very good.
Unfortunately there was nothing memorable (well, perhaps the story with the bag full of heads of white people).
ebook (Kobo): 393 pages (default), 121k words
September 25, 2023
*Long Post Aler*
4 Stars
One Liner: A diverse collection
Do you think I could ignore a cover and title like that? Not a chance!
Never Whistle at Night is a collection of twenty-six short stories written by Indigenous authors from the US and Canada. It begins with a foreword setting great expectations about the content but also preparing the readers that the stories don’t have neat endings. This really helped because I’m not a fan of open or vague endings. However, knowing this in advance, I was prepared for it and enjoyed many stories.
Still, it’s hard to categorize this collection. I assumed the stories would deal with paranormal, supernatural, or horror. But around 40% of the stories don’t deal with any paranormal theme. They are dark but deal with human darkness. Some of these make a strong impact, while a few others don’t.
As with every anthology, there are hits and misses. Since I read one or two stories a day (it took me a month to finish), the review ended up detailed (longer than expected). I haven’t edited the individual reviews, as I wrote them soon after reading the story.
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller – 4 Stars
What happens when a young Native girl is hired to help and serve at a white man’s party in a remote lodge? Thrown in all types of domination the Natives have to deal with. Kushtuka has to take a stand and save her people, right? So what if there’s collateral damage? The story comes in the first-person POV of the young girl. It is fast-paced, crisp, and chilling.
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse – 3.5 Stars
A half-Native poor girl does what she should to get the riches and lifestyle she always dreamt of. Marriage to a rich guy sorts many things. But a simple mistake threatens to ruin it all. What will she decide? The story comes in Marissa’s third-person POV. It’s compact with flaws and a reflection of inhumanity.
Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons �� 3 Stars
What happens when Joey hooks up with Cam despite the red flags because he didn’t want to feel lonely? This is more of a psychopath story with an indigenous character (than a native mystery element) and is in Joey’s first-person POV.
Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon – 3.5 Stars
How much is too much when two native kids get abused by their foster ‘parents’? When ‘magic’ doesn’t help, will they take things into their hands? How will it end? The story comes from the first-person POV of an eight-year-old. It is raw, gritty, dark, and hard-hitting.
Quantum by Nick Medina – 4 Stars
This is like a reverse-case scenario where Native Indian blood is more ‘useful’ than the White man's. But is it really the blood? Blunt, emotionless, and ruthless. The story comes from the third-person POV of Amber.
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau – 5 Stars
‘It’ is ravenous for ‘food’ which has become scarce after Other People took over People’s land. However, It finds a vessel and zeros on a People girl who isn’t aware of Its existence. Or… This is fantastic. The story starts slowly but picks up momentum in the second half. The ending dips a little but seems intentional. This is what I wanted when I requested the book.
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline – 4 Stars
Bilson, aka Son, would rather not be ‘Son’ but goes by the name anyway. Years pass by doing this, that, and nothing. Does it take a tick bite to redefine his life? Of course, if he can live long enough. The story comes in Son’s third-person POV and reflects his character arc. It’s more of an introspective piece than anything else.
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson – 5 Stars
Atvdasdiha! Listen to the ghosts tell the story of the fateful night when those who killed them get their due (yet again). The story comes in first-person plural and is written in long-winded sentences (typically in a ghost’s stream-of-consciousness POV). The writing takes time to get used to, but the atmosphere is spot on.
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo – 4 Stars
Peter agrees to trek in Four Corners with his cousin Maddie and her boyfriend, Adam. However, things go as planned and turn even more bizarre through the night. Can they survive until the next dawn? The story comes from Peter’s third-person POV. It’s more of a horror story with some gore and weird scenes. Well-written.
Before I Go by Norris Black – 3.5 Stars
What does Keira find when she goes to visit the site of her fiancé’s death in the middle of nowhere? Told in the FMC’s third-person POV, the story is short, compact, and has the right amount of ‘horror’. I wish it was a little more atmospheric.
Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris – 3.5 Stars
How does Cece’s first night in the new house go? Will she survive to see daylight the next morning? Who is that strange singing woman? The story comes in Cece’s third-person POV. I like haunted house stories. This one delivers to an extent, though I wish it had more drama.
Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk – 4 Stars
A ten-year-old Colin and his dad go hunting. This time, they want to shoot the majestic elk. However, strange events occur, and Colin knows something is very wrong. But what can the poor kid do? The story comes in Colin’s first-person POV and is set in a winter forest. It is descriptive, atmospheric, and creepy (but not too much).
Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford – 3.5 Stars
Did he or did he not murder his brother? How much do you trust his version of the story? Written in Joseph’s first-person POV, this is a story of a broken family and a broken child who grew up as a broken man with unhealed issues. The writing has quality and pulls the reader. However, there are no otherworldly elements in this one.
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp – 4.5 Stars
The nameless narrator, Uncle Mike’s Nephew, needs the scariest story to win a storytelling competition. He asks Mike to tell him the scariest story shared by Aunt Irina. However, the narrator may get more than what he wanted. Sometimes, it’s a good thing too! This story has elements of dark though it tackles the subject differently. I love the twist and the message (and how it doesn’t sound preachy).
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf – 4.5 Stars
Narrated by grandma to her two young grandsons (String Bean and No Filter), the story alters between reminisces and present. The Human Eaters symbolize colonizers and boarding schools. The story is atmospheric and contains a recurring message to not forget one’s roots.
The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. – 4 Stars
Johnny Junior gets attacked when manning his father’s real estate office. He’s back in action after six weeks and is surprised and exasperated to find Louis bringing a bag of stinky items. The story comes in a relaxed third-person POV. It’s got sharp dark humor with what could possibly be little more than human character. By the way, the opening sentence is 103 words!
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power – 4.5 Stars
Amy, a preteen, visits her favorite Aunt Phyllis for the holidays. She loves being with her aunt but wonders if the house has ghosts. Of course, the ghosts decide to answer it themselves. The story comes in Amy’s first-person POV. The tone suits the character’s age. The story is rather heart-touching, with bits of dark on the edges.
The Prepper by Morgan Talty – 4 Stars (for the gripping narration)
Narrated in the first-person, this is the story of how a young boy prepares to save himself and his mother from the end of the world (2012) and Nὰka. It’s a story of undiagnosed mental illness and what it can do to a person. The story is set in the past, with the MC recounting it from his present perspective.
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart – 4.5 Stars
Told by a narrator in a sort of dispassionate tone, this is the story about the bonding between Robert and Gregory (uncle and nephew but brothers in friendship). It is real yet unreal, emotions barely there but fully present. There’s something in there, tugging the reader’s heart.
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden – 4 Stars (for the ending)
Narrated by a 50+ Tom (Thomas), we see how his wife’s death triggers his childhood trauma of being abused by Father R when he was being civilized in a church-run school. How Tom comes to terms forms the rest of the story. It’s amazing how one can do anything to heathen and kafirs with little to no consequences.
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust – 3.5 Stars
Callum is shot to death and leaves behind his grieving sister and half-brother. Told in the first-person, we learn about a dysfunctional family, a ‘god-fearing’ small town, and the sister’s desire to revive her dead brother. The beginning feels ordinary but ends on a different level. My only grouse is that the voice sounds like a man (in fact, I thought the narrator was Callum’s brother and not sister until she was addressed as Della).
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers – 3.5 Stars
Walt is an Indian boy stationed in Germany in 1968. What happens one night when Walt, Carl (half-German, half-Black), Christ, and JohnBoy miss their last train to the army base and have to walk through the woods? Told in Walt’s third-person POV, the story tries to blend the paranormal with the real. It succeeds to an extent.
Capgras by Tommy Orange – 3 Stars
Tom (Thomas Bline) and his family (wife and son) fly to Paris for his author interviews. Tom’s book has been translated into French, and he is supposed to be excited about it. Told in Tom’s first-person narration, the story blends his past, his drinking problem, and how translations tend to change the core contents by aligning it with the translators’ perspectives.
The Scientist’s Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger – 4 Stars
Three researchers, Bets, Anders, and Harmoni, spend their evenings telling scary campfire stories while attending a conference. Anders starts, and Bets tells the next one. However, ‘scary’ could mean a lot of things, including reality. This has two stories in story format and ends with a (helpless) reminder of how brutal real life can be.
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala – 4.5 Stars
Oh, boy! Megis is exhausted but has to attend the party hosted by Professor Smith to get into her good books for a recommendation letter. However, the decorations in the professor’s house freak her out. The story comes in Megis’ first-person POV. This is a strange tale, dark yet not too dark or gory. Scary but different. It could also be seen as a metaphor for the world’s obsession to play savior and demand undying gratitude.
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice – 4 Stars
Makwa is a guide to a white businessman who wants to destroy the land for business. What happens when Makwa protests? Told in Makwa’s third-person POV, the story has a sense of foreboding throughout. It gets quite graphic at one point, which seems intentional. However, the climax is over too soon to make the impact it should.
To summarize, Never Whistle at Night has strong indigenous themes and deals with colonization, displacement, supernatural, and human darkness in various forms. It cannot be read at once. Spread it over a few days to let each story register in the mind. Also, quite a lot of triggers in this one, so proceed with caution.
Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Vintage, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #NeverWhistleatNight
***
P.S.: Every story is followed by a short author’s bio. I added a whole bunch of books to my TBR, thanks to this anthology.
4 Stars
One Liner: A diverse collection
Do you think I could ignore a cover and title like that? Not a chance!
Never Whistle at Night is a collection of twenty-six short stories written by Indigenous authors from the US and Canada. It begins with a foreword setting great expectations about the content but also preparing the readers that the stories don’t have neat endings. This really helped because I’m not a fan of open or vague endings. However, knowing this in advance, I was prepared for it and enjoyed many stories.
Still, it’s hard to categorize this collection. I assumed the stories would deal with paranormal, supernatural, or horror. But around 40% of the stories don’t deal with any paranormal theme. They are dark but deal with human darkness. Some of these make a strong impact, while a few others don’t.
As with every anthology, there are hits and misses. Since I read one or two stories a day (it took me a month to finish), the review ended up detailed (longer than expected). I haven’t edited the individual reviews, as I wrote them soon after reading the story.
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller – 4 Stars
What happens when a young Native girl is hired to help and serve at a white man’s party in a remote lodge? Thrown in all types of domination the Natives have to deal with. Kushtuka has to take a stand and save her people, right? So what if there’s collateral damage? The story comes in the first-person POV of the young girl. It is fast-paced, crisp, and chilling.
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse – 3.5 Stars
A half-Native poor girl does what she should to get the riches and lifestyle she always dreamt of. Marriage to a rich guy sorts many things. But a simple mistake threatens to ruin it all. What will she decide? The story comes in Marissa’s third-person POV. It’s compact with flaws and a reflection of inhumanity.
Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons �� 3 Stars
What happens when Joey hooks up with Cam despite the red flags because he didn’t want to feel lonely? This is more of a psychopath story with an indigenous character (than a native mystery element) and is in Joey’s first-person POV.
Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon – 3.5 Stars
How much is too much when two native kids get abused by their foster ‘parents’? When ‘magic’ doesn’t help, will they take things into their hands? How will it end? The story comes from the first-person POV of an eight-year-old. It is raw, gritty, dark, and hard-hitting.
Quantum by Nick Medina – 4 Stars
This is like a reverse-case scenario where Native Indian blood is more ‘useful’ than the White man's. But is it really the blood? Blunt, emotionless, and ruthless. The story comes from the third-person POV of Amber.
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau – 5 Stars
‘It’ is ravenous for ‘food’ which has become scarce after Other People took over People’s land. However, It finds a vessel and zeros on a People girl who isn’t aware of Its existence. Or… This is fantastic. The story starts slowly but picks up momentum in the second half. The ending dips a little but seems intentional. This is what I wanted when I requested the book.
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline – 4 Stars
Bilson, aka Son, would rather not be ‘Son’ but goes by the name anyway. Years pass by doing this, that, and nothing. Does it take a tick bite to redefine his life? Of course, if he can live long enough. The story comes in Son’s third-person POV and reflects his character arc. It’s more of an introspective piece than anything else.
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson – 5 Stars
Atvdasdiha! Listen to the ghosts tell the story of the fateful night when those who killed them get their due (yet again). The story comes in first-person plural and is written in long-winded sentences (typically in a ghost’s stream-of-consciousness POV). The writing takes time to get used to, but the atmosphere is spot on.
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo – 4 Stars
Peter agrees to trek in Four Corners with his cousin Maddie and her boyfriend, Adam. However, things go as planned and turn even more bizarre through the night. Can they survive until the next dawn? The story comes from Peter’s third-person POV. It’s more of a horror story with some gore and weird scenes. Well-written.
Before I Go by Norris Black – 3.5 Stars
What does Keira find when she goes to visit the site of her fiancé’s death in the middle of nowhere? Told in the FMC’s third-person POV, the story is short, compact, and has the right amount of ‘horror’. I wish it was a little more atmospheric.
Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris – 3.5 Stars
How does Cece’s first night in the new house go? Will she survive to see daylight the next morning? Who is that strange singing woman? The story comes in Cece’s third-person POV. I like haunted house stories. This one delivers to an extent, though I wish it had more drama.
Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk – 4 Stars
A ten-year-old Colin and his dad go hunting. This time, they want to shoot the majestic elk. However, strange events occur, and Colin knows something is very wrong. But what can the poor kid do? The story comes in Colin’s first-person POV and is set in a winter forest. It is descriptive, atmospheric, and creepy (but not too much).
Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford – 3.5 Stars
Did he or did he not murder his brother? How much do you trust his version of the story? Written in Joseph’s first-person POV, this is a story of a broken family and a broken child who grew up as a broken man with unhealed issues. The writing has quality and pulls the reader. However, there are no otherworldly elements in this one.
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp – 4.5 Stars
The nameless narrator, Uncle Mike’s Nephew, needs the scariest story to win a storytelling competition. He asks Mike to tell him the scariest story shared by Aunt Irina. However, the narrator may get more than what he wanted. Sometimes, it’s a good thing too! This story has elements of dark though it tackles the subject differently. I love the twist and the message (and how it doesn’t sound preachy).
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf – 4.5 Stars
Narrated by grandma to her two young grandsons (String Bean and No Filter), the story alters between reminisces and present. The Human Eaters symbolize colonizers and boarding schools. The story is atmospheric and contains a recurring message to not forget one’s roots.
The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. – 4 Stars
Johnny Junior gets attacked when manning his father’s real estate office. He’s back in action after six weeks and is surprised and exasperated to find Louis bringing a bag of stinky items. The story comes in a relaxed third-person POV. It’s got sharp dark humor with what could possibly be little more than human character. By the way, the opening sentence is 103 words!
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power – 4.5 Stars
Amy, a preteen, visits her favorite Aunt Phyllis for the holidays. She loves being with her aunt but wonders if the house has ghosts. Of course, the ghosts decide to answer it themselves. The story comes in Amy’s first-person POV. The tone suits the character’s age. The story is rather heart-touching, with bits of dark on the edges.
The Prepper by Morgan Talty – 4 Stars (for the gripping narration)
Narrated in the first-person, this is the story of how a young boy prepares to save himself and his mother from the end of the world (2012) and Nὰka. It’s a story of undiagnosed mental illness and what it can do to a person. The story is set in the past, with the MC recounting it from his present perspective.
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart – 4.5 Stars
Told by a narrator in a sort of dispassionate tone, this is the story about the bonding between Robert and Gregory (uncle and nephew but brothers in friendship). It is real yet unreal, emotions barely there but fully present. There’s something in there, tugging the reader’s heart.
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden – 4 Stars (for the ending)
Narrated by a 50+ Tom (Thomas), we see how his wife’s death triggers his childhood trauma of being abused by Father R when he was being civilized in a church-run school. How Tom comes to terms forms the rest of the story. It’s amazing how one can do anything to heathen and kafirs with little to no consequences.
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust – 3.5 Stars
Callum is shot to death and leaves behind his grieving sister and half-brother. Told in the first-person, we learn about a dysfunctional family, a ‘god-fearing’ small town, and the sister’s desire to revive her dead brother. The beginning feels ordinary but ends on a different level. My only grouse is that the voice sounds like a man (in fact, I thought the narrator was Callum’s brother and not sister until she was addressed as Della).
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers – 3.5 Stars
Walt is an Indian boy stationed in Germany in 1968. What happens one night when Walt, Carl (half-German, half-Black), Christ, and JohnBoy miss their last train to the army base and have to walk through the woods? Told in Walt’s third-person POV, the story tries to blend the paranormal with the real. It succeeds to an extent.
Capgras by Tommy Orange – 3 Stars
Tom (Thomas Bline) and his family (wife and son) fly to Paris for his author interviews. Tom’s book has been translated into French, and he is supposed to be excited about it. Told in Tom’s first-person narration, the story blends his past, his drinking problem, and how translations tend to change the core contents by aligning it with the translators’ perspectives.
The Scientist’s Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger – 4 Stars
Three researchers, Bets, Anders, and Harmoni, spend their evenings telling scary campfire stories while attending a conference. Anders starts, and Bets tells the next one. However, ‘scary’ could mean a lot of things, including reality. This has two stories in story format and ends with a (helpless) reminder of how brutal real life can be.
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala – 4.5 Stars
Oh, boy! Megis is exhausted but has to attend the party hosted by Professor Smith to get into her good books for a recommendation letter. However, the decorations in the professor’s house freak her out. The story comes in Megis’ first-person POV. This is a strange tale, dark yet not too dark or gory. Scary but different. It could also be seen as a metaphor for the world’s obsession to play savior and demand undying gratitude.
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice – 4 Stars
Makwa is a guide to a white businessman who wants to destroy the land for business. What happens when Makwa protests? Told in Makwa’s third-person POV, the story has a sense of foreboding throughout. It gets quite graphic at one point, which seems intentional. However, the climax is over too soon to make the impact it should.
To summarize, Never Whistle at Night has strong indigenous themes and deals with colonization, displacement, supernatural, and human darkness in various forms. It cannot be read at once. Spread it over a few days to let each story register in the mind. Also, quite a lot of triggers in this one, so proceed with caution.
Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Vintage, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #NeverWhistleatNight
***
P.S.: Every story is followed by a short author’s bio. I added a whole bunch of books to my TBR, thanks to this anthology.
September 19, 2023
With this anthology featuring contributions by Cherie Dimaline, Darcie Little Badger, Tommy Orange, Rebecca Roanhorse, Morgan Talty and Waubgeshig Rice I couldn't help but have expectations that were absolutely sky high and still this collection managed to thoroughly impress me as well as introduce me to new (to me) literary voices to be excited about.
As you would expect from a multi-author anthology, Never Whistle at Night is a mixed bag of styles and approaches, but every story comes across a fully intentional in its structure and message, nothing seems half-baked even when the ending is abrupt. Each story demands that you sit with it and take your time to engage with it, which made for a surprisingly lengthy reading experience (at least it did so for me).
If you enjoy stories you have to sit with for a moment and stories without a clear ending, you'll find a lot to like here. There's some bizarre fiction and body horror elements in there too, a couple of the stories go into really, really, dark territory so don't let the beautiful cover fool you into thinking this is a mild collection.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title ahead of its release date.
As you would expect from a multi-author anthology, Never Whistle at Night is a mixed bag of styles and approaches, but every story comes across a fully intentional in its structure and message, nothing seems half-baked even when the ending is abrupt. Each story demands that you sit with it and take your time to engage with it, which made for a surprisingly lengthy reading experience (at least it did so for me).
If you enjoy stories you have to sit with for a moment and stories without a clear ending, you'll find a lot to like here. There's some bizarre fiction and body horror elements in there too, a couple of the stories go into really, really, dark territory so don't let the beautiful cover fool you into thinking this is a mild collection.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title ahead of its release date.
Read
July 12, 2023Happy to report that my first published adult story “Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning,” about the mysterious deaths of my uncles, debuts in such illustrious NDN company.
January 6, 2024
I knew it would happen one day… I would give an anthology five stars! Yes there are lessor stories in here; maybe three or four. However, the amazing stories more than make up for them. Especially when there are 28 stories included here!!
All kinds of horror are portrayed here. Clever concepts, folklore, myth, colonization, torture, gore, ghosts, monsters and so much more!
Normally I would have notes for each story in this collection but GR seems to be hiding them. So instead I’ll say, go buy this book!!! You will not be disappointed. :)
All kinds of horror are portrayed here. Clever concepts, folklore, myth, colonization, torture, gore, ghosts, monsters and so much more!
Normally I would have notes for each story in this collection but GR seems to be hiding them. So instead I’ll say, go buy this book!!! You will not be disappointed. :)
March 27, 2024
I just finished this last night and I'd definitely recommend this for readers who love dark stories! From horror to thriller to magical realism, this huge anthology will have something for everyone. Of course, not all stories were bangers, but I definitely enjoyed my time reading this and I've added some authors' longform stories to my TBR.
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I've had this on my TBR since it was released and since one of the March prompts for The Diverse Baseline Challenge is "B: Indigenous Author," this fits perfectly.
Also, I seem to struggle listening to anthologies on audio, so here's to reading them on my Kindle!
Oh, and I tried listening to and reading the foreword, and it still doesn't make a lot of sense to me. 😐😐 I get the idea that Stephen Graham Jones is going for, but that was incoherent lmao
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
4/5 stars
Tapeesa is sent by her mother to work a catering gig at Hank Ferryman's house.
I absolutely loved how this short story was brutal, bloody, and highly unapologetic. It's an intergenerational revenge story and a redemption story all at once. The author takes no prisoners, especially with the modern white male colonizer, and even the FMC at times.
I loved this line:
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
4/5 stars
Marissa and her husband live a picture perfect life in a gated community, until Marissa tells someone that she's part Native American.
Another banger! I loved how this is essentially a variation of Jordan Peele's film, Get Out. It's the kind of horror that hits hard with BIPOC and other marginalized people, and I'm a huge fan of that.
Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons
3/5 stars
Joe meets Cam, a summer fling who has a strange collection of various animal teeth.
Okay, this was definitely creepy. The despise that Joe holds in when Cam seemingly moves into his house and invades his space is a recognizable situation.
While the reveal was obvious, the creepy Get Out-esque vibes were definitely there.
Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon
4/5 stars
Punk, a child with sociopathic tendencies, and the MC are two foster children who live on a farm.
Damn! The vibes were vibing in this one! It was short to the point where it had no right to be as creepy as it was.
Kudos to the writer for being a pro at setting the mood and keeping it creepy throughout this very short story! That definitely takes a lot of skill.
Quantum by Nick Medina
4/5 stars
Amber and Dave's two sons, Sammy and Gray, are certified as 1/8 Indian and 5/16 Indian, respectively, which leads to unequal treatment for Sammy.
I won't lie, I love a creepy, feral child horror story and this definitely delivered!
There are so many layers within this, including the use of blood quantum to measure "Indian-ness," lifelong tribal benefits and support (or lack of) which depends on blood quantum, and what it means to be Indian in modern US society.
This is my favorite line:
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau
4/5 stars
An ancient monster decides to prey on Summer.
No lie, I thought this started out kinda cheesy, with the third person POV of an ancient monster that eats Indigenous people.
But the ending delivered! The Final Girl trope was written with a twist that I loved and the author really made this trope their own with the Indigenous plotline.
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline
3.5/5 stars
Son comes back home to his father's place and goes hunting.
I'm always a sucker for body horror and generational trauma. This had elements of both, but I wish the ending had more of an oomph. Still, it was a decent read.
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson
3/5 stars
The Indigenous in Oklahoma deal with white soldiers who massacred Indigenous women.
Damn, I wanted to like this. There were too many run-on sentences and long paragraphs that it read like incoherent rambling half the time.
I definitely understood what was happening, and I figured this is the author's writing style, but every sentence felt like a mouthful and I had a take a breath after reading just one sentence.
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by DH Trujillo
3.5/5 stars
Peter, his cousin, Maddie, and her white boyfriend, Adam, hike five miles to see Indigenous petroglyphs, but Adam disrespects this ancient art.
This was such a bizarre story that I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. I enjoyed reading it though. I'm just glad it has a beginning, middle, and end so it makes it easy to follow along.
Before I Go by Norris Black
4.5/5 stars
Keira visits the area where her fiance died.
I liked this one! This was more of a quiet horror story that deals with grief and its effects. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for something that's more dark magical realism instead of jumpscare horror.
Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris
3/5 stars
Cece moves into a new rental home with a creepy doll and dollhouse left behind by the previous owner.
I wanted to like this story, but it was really confusing. The lines between reality and the horror element/dimension were blurred so quickly that I didn't have time to refocus my attention from the real world to the horror world and back again.
Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk
3/5 stars
Colin goes on a hunting trip with his dad, hoping they'll finally take down Sergeant Rock, the biggest elk.
This was another bizarro short fiction that I didn't quite understand. A lot of body horror, but I'm not sure why the MC was suffering the consequences of whatever that was. At least it was very descriptive and unnerving.
Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford
3.5/5 stars
After returning to his mother's home, the MC is on trial for killing his younger brother.
I really liked this as a dark contemporary thriller. But this is one of those short stories where there isn't really a clear beginning, middle, and end. It feels like it's a chunk from a novel or novella, which is both good and bad. I have no context for what's going on, but I do want more.
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp
4/5 stars
The MC visits Uncle Mike to bribe him for Aunty Irena's scariest story.
Man, this one really got me! I won't spoil the ending, but I think this was a great lesson in respecting our elders and our roots. I'd definitely recommend.
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf
3.5/5 stars
The MC tells a scary myth to her grandchildren around the campfire.
This is the kind of scary story fit for telling children around a campfire, which is pretty much the story's premise. I wanted more creepy monsters, which is why this wasn't a 4 star read for me. I did like the human eaters/cannibals mythology though.
The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
1/5 stars
There's a burglary at Johnny Lee Junior's office, and Junior might know the burglar's identity.
I'm really sorry, but this ain't it. It's so incohesive and makes no sense. Even looking at it from the perspective of someone who really likes the Dada art movement and anything and everything weird, there wasn't an idea or lesson that I could grasp from this whole thing, other than desperate people are forced to do desperate things.
Idk.
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power
4.5/5 stars
Staying at Aunt Phyllis's house in North Dakota for the summer, the MC learns about her aunt's history and connection to the area.
I really liked how this story mixed in Indigenous history with more recent history about Japanese-American internment. This was such a great story that explores generational trauma. I'd definitely recommend.
The Prepper by Morgan Talty
4.5/5 stars
Growing more obsessed with zombie stories, the MC realizes that the end is near.
Maybe I'm just a huge fan of narratives where the MC spirals out of control, but I really liked this story! It would've been a perfect 5 stars for me if readers didn't know what was actually happening, but that's just a personal preference.
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart
2/5 stars
Even in death, Robert and Gregory make their mark in the world.
I wanted to like this, but it read as a summary of two characters' lives and that was about it. I think the author was going for a myth-like story, but it felt very rushed to the point where I didn't care for either characters or the story.
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
4.5/5 stars
Thomas seeks revenge on the priest who sexually assaulted him repeatedly as a child.
Whoa! This started out really intense (even for me)! This was a really great revenge story with a twist. Great characterization and it was easy to get into the MC's headspace. I'd definitely recommend this one for its emotional intensity. I'll definitely check out this writer's other works.
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust
3.5/5 stars
After Callum's death, the MC is desperate to bring him back.
This would've garnered a higher rating for me if the ending didn't end so abstractly. Everything else in the story made sense (if a human resurrection story even makes sense lol), but the ending kind of killed it for me. Maybe it's too deep for me and I'm just not understanding it.
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers
3.5/5 stars
After missing the train going back to base, four US soldiers trek five miles in the German countryside.
This was a typical creature feature horror story. I liked the inclusive characters, which provided a twist to a typical big creepy wolf attacking people horror genre. But other than that, nothing really stood out to me.
Capgras by Tommy Orange
3/5 stars
Tom's publisher sends him to France to celebrate the debut of the French translation of his work. Meanwhile, a knot in his back bothers him.
This is written really well, but unfortunately, it didn't really capture my attention. There was too much exposition for the ending to really mean anything. Maybe someone else will see a deeper meaning in this, but it just felt really blah to me.
The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger
3.5/5 stars
Drs. Bets and Anders trade scary stories over dinner.
This was a good story, but the beginning and middle felt very disconnected to the ending. I understood what the author was getting at (research in regards to smaller Indigenous communities face barriers in funding), but the story as a whole felt disjointed.
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
4/5 stars
Megis, one of two BIPOC students in Professor Smith's English class, is invited to her professor's home for a get-together.
This was a very in-your-face Indigenous version of Get Out. A part of me thinks that more subtlety would've worked better, but I still liked how the horror just screams at you. I'd definitely recommend just for the creep factor.
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice
5/5 stars
Makwa is an Indigenous guide who's hired to show Carter the land now known as Canada.
Dare I say it? They definitely saved the best for last! When it comes to horror, I'm not actually not a huge fan of gore, but this was sooo good. Talk about one of the most unsubtle white supremacy/colonial horror short stories I've ever read!
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I've had this on my TBR since it was released and since one of the March prompts for The Diverse Baseline Challenge is "B: Indigenous Author," this fits perfectly.
Also, I seem to struggle listening to anthologies on audio, so here's to reading them on my Kindle!
Oh, and I tried listening to and reading the foreword, and it still doesn't make a lot of sense to me. 😐😐 I get the idea that Stephen Graham Jones is going for, but that was incoherent lmao
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
4/5 stars
Tapeesa is sent by her mother to work a catering gig at Hank Ferryman's house.
I absolutely loved how this short story was brutal, bloody, and highly unapologetic. It's an intergenerational revenge story and a redemption story all at once. The author takes no prisoners, especially with the modern white male colonizer, and even the FMC at times.
I loved this line:
This was it, how we all ended. Defeated by their brutality, and a world that would choose them and forget about us.
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
4/5 stars
Marissa and her husband live a picture perfect life in a gated community, until Marissa tells someone that she's part Native American.
Another banger! I loved how this is essentially a variation of Jordan Peele's film, Get Out. It's the kind of horror that hits hard with BIPOC and other marginalized people, and I'm a huge fan of that.
Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons
3/5 stars
Joe meets Cam, a summer fling who has a strange collection of various animal teeth.
Okay, this was definitely creepy. The despise that Joe holds in when Cam seemingly moves into his house and invades his space is a recognizable situation.
While the reveal was obvious, the creepy Get Out-esque vibes were definitely there.
Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon
4/5 stars
Punk, a child with sociopathic tendencies, and the MC are two foster children who live on a farm.
Damn! The vibes were vibing in this one! It was short to the point where it had no right to be as creepy as it was.
Kudos to the writer for being a pro at setting the mood and keeping it creepy throughout this very short story! That definitely takes a lot of skill.
Quantum by Nick Medina
4/5 stars
Amber and Dave's two sons, Sammy and Gray, are certified as 1/8 Indian and 5/16 Indian, respectively, which leads to unequal treatment for Sammy.
I won't lie, I love a creepy, feral child horror story and this definitely delivered!
There are so many layers within this, including the use of blood quantum to measure "Indian-ness," lifelong tribal benefits and support (or lack of) which depends on blood quantum, and what it means to be Indian in modern US society.
This is my favorite line:
"Is it our blood that makes us who we are?"
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau
4/5 stars
An ancient monster decides to prey on Summer.
No lie, I thought this started out kinda cheesy, with the third person POV of an ancient monster that eats Indigenous people.
But the ending delivered! The Final Girl trope was written with a twist that I loved and the author really made this trope their own with the Indigenous plotline.
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline
3.5/5 stars
Son comes back home to his father's place and goes hunting.
I'm always a sucker for body horror and generational trauma. This had elements of both, but I wish the ending had more of an oomph. Still, it was a decent read.
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson
3/5 stars
The Indigenous in Oklahoma deal with white soldiers who massacred Indigenous women.
Damn, I wanted to like this. There were too many run-on sentences and long paragraphs that it read like incoherent rambling half the time.
I definitely understood what was happening, and I figured this is the author's writing style, but every sentence felt like a mouthful and I had a take a breath after reading just one sentence.
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by DH Trujillo
3.5/5 stars
Peter, his cousin, Maddie, and her white boyfriend, Adam, hike five miles to see Indigenous petroglyphs, but Adam disrespects this ancient art.
This was such a bizarre story that I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. I enjoyed reading it though. I'm just glad it has a beginning, middle, and end so it makes it easy to follow along.
Before I Go by Norris Black
4.5/5 stars
Keira visits the area where her fiance died.
I liked this one! This was more of a quiet horror story that deals with grief and its effects. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for something that's more dark magical realism instead of jumpscare horror.
Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris
3/5 stars
Cece moves into a new rental home with a creepy doll and dollhouse left behind by the previous owner.
I wanted to like this story, but it was really confusing. The lines between reality and the horror element/dimension were blurred so quickly that I didn't have time to refocus my attention from the real world to the horror world and back again.
Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk
3/5 stars
Colin goes on a hunting trip with his dad, hoping they'll finally take down Sergeant Rock, the biggest elk.
This was another bizarro short fiction that I didn't quite understand. A lot of body horror, but I'm not sure why the MC was suffering the consequences of whatever that was. At least it was very descriptive and unnerving.
Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford
3.5/5 stars
After returning to his mother's home, the MC is on trial for killing his younger brother.
I really liked this as a dark contemporary thriller. But this is one of those short stories where there isn't really a clear beginning, middle, and end. It feels like it's a chunk from a novel or novella, which is both good and bad. I have no context for what's going on, but I do want more.
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp
4/5 stars
The MC visits Uncle Mike to bribe him for Aunty Irena's scariest story.
Man, this one really got me! I won't spoil the ending, but I think this was a great lesson in respecting our elders and our roots. I'd definitely recommend.
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf
3.5/5 stars
The MC tells a scary myth to her grandchildren around the campfire.
This is the kind of scary story fit for telling children around a campfire, which is pretty much the story's premise. I wanted more creepy monsters, which is why this wasn't a 4 star read for me. I did like the human eaters/cannibals mythology though.
The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
1/5 stars
There's a burglary at Johnny Lee Junior's office, and Junior might know the burglar's identity.
I'm really sorry, but this ain't it. It's so incohesive and makes no sense. Even looking at it from the perspective of someone who really likes the Dada art movement and anything and everything weird, there wasn't an idea or lesson that I could grasp from this whole thing, other than desperate people are forced to do desperate things.
Idk.
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power
4.5/5 stars
Staying at Aunt Phyllis's house in North Dakota for the summer, the MC learns about her aunt's history and connection to the area.
I really liked how this story mixed in Indigenous history with more recent history about Japanese-American internment. This was such a great story that explores generational trauma. I'd definitely recommend.
The Prepper by Morgan Talty
4.5/5 stars
Growing more obsessed with zombie stories, the MC realizes that the end is near.
Maybe I'm just a huge fan of narratives where the MC spirals out of control, but I really liked this story! It would've been a perfect 5 stars for me if readers didn't know what was actually happening, but that's just a personal preference.
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart
2/5 stars
Even in death, Robert and Gregory make their mark in the world.
I wanted to like this, but it read as a summary of two characters' lives and that was about it. I think the author was going for a myth-like story, but it felt very rushed to the point where I didn't care for either characters or the story.
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
4.5/5 stars
Thomas seeks revenge on the priest who sexually assaulted him repeatedly as a child.
Whoa! This started out really intense (even for me)! This was a really great revenge story with a twist. Great characterization and it was easy to get into the MC's headspace. I'd definitely recommend this one for its emotional intensity. I'll definitely check out this writer's other works.
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust
3.5/5 stars
After Callum's death, the MC is desperate to bring him back.
This would've garnered a higher rating for me if the ending didn't end so abstractly. Everything else in the story made sense (if a human resurrection story even makes sense lol), but the ending kind of killed it for me. Maybe it's too deep for me and I'm just not understanding it.
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers
3.5/5 stars
After missing the train going back to base, four US soldiers trek five miles in the German countryside.
This was a typical creature feature horror story. I liked the inclusive characters, which provided a twist to a typical big creepy wolf attacking people horror genre. But other than that, nothing really stood out to me.
Capgras by Tommy Orange
3/5 stars
Tom's publisher sends him to France to celebrate the debut of the French translation of his work. Meanwhile, a knot in his back bothers him.
This is written really well, but unfortunately, it didn't really capture my attention. There was too much exposition for the ending to really mean anything. Maybe someone else will see a deeper meaning in this, but it just felt really blah to me.
The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger
3.5/5 stars
Drs. Bets and Anders trade scary stories over dinner.
This was a good story, but the beginning and middle felt very disconnected to the ending. I understood what the author was getting at (research in regards to smaller Indigenous communities face barriers in funding), but the story as a whole felt disjointed.
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
4/5 stars
Megis, one of two BIPOC students in Professor Smith's English class, is invited to her professor's home for a get-together.
This was a very in-your-face Indigenous version of Get Out. A part of me thinks that more subtlety would've worked better, but I still liked how the horror just screams at you. I'd definitely recommend just for the creep factor.
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice
5/5 stars
Makwa is an Indigenous guide who's hired to show Carter the land now known as Canada.
Dare I say it? They definitely saved the best for last! When it comes to horror, I'm not actually not a huge fan of gore, but this was sooo good. Talk about one of the most unsubtle white supremacy/colonial horror short stories I've ever read!
September 20, 2023
Happiest of release weeks!
Thank you so much to Vintage at Penguin Random House via Netgalley for an ARC to review. This is one of my top books of the year, hands down, and will be out September 19th.
Never Whistle at Night is an incredible anthology on every level, from the contributor list to the diversity of settings, times, and tribes represented, to optimistic endings and not. These pages are steeped in the pain of generational trauma, injustices past and present, yes, but they also offer rich folklore, loving family bonds, unique perspectives, and all channel the magic of telling a good story. While I wish I could note every line, every syllable that struck me, that would make my review longer than the book, so I will highlight some of the most memorable tales.
Rebecca Roanhorse's offering, "White Hills", is a nightmarish examination of the cost of assimilation in a society of bleach-blonde influencers and pricy HOAs.
In Conley Lyons' "Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth", young, queer Native Joe resists his living space, body and his very identity being colonized all over again.
Body horror is at its most satisfyingly horrific in D.H. Trujillo's "Snakes Are Born in the Dark", warning those who disrespect sacred spaces.
One of my favorites was "Before I Go" by Norris Black, a melancholy, romantic and cautionary tale of maintaining order and letting the dead leave us properly.
"Dead Owls" by Mona Susan Power is my absolute favorite, though, a grim reminder of the harm othering can cause. A young girl is pulled into a dark dreamscape, an intersection of American atrocities where the past can hurt you in more ways than one. A bittersweet end to this one really tugged at my heart.
Amber Blaeser-Wardzala takes the term "dark academia" to the next level in the chilling "Collections".
A stunning conclusion, "Limbs" by Waubgeshig Rice, employs amazing imagery and ends this collection with a satisfying display of environmental vengeance.
Equal parts unsettling and satisfying, this anthology was everything I hoped it would be, and more. There is incredible writing in here, every story coming vividly to life in my reader's mind.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Stephen Graham Jones' introduction, the late night storytelling tone of which was perfect to lure readers into the dark.
The cover is also absolutely gorgeous.
I tried to keep track of TWs, but given the subject and its legacy, I think most readers will know what they're in for. There is (at least) violence by monsters (and monstrous humans), gore, dismemberment, forced miscarriage, racism (specifically talk of blood and race "purity" in one story), child abuse - physical and sexual, references to specific historical atrocities, botanical horror, parasitic horror, mental illness, cannibalism.
Thank you so much to Vintage at Penguin Random House via Netgalley for an ARC to review. This is one of my top books of the year, hands down, and will be out September 19th.
Never Whistle at Night is an incredible anthology on every level, from the contributor list to the diversity of settings, times, and tribes represented, to optimistic endings and not. These pages are steeped in the pain of generational trauma, injustices past and present, yes, but they also offer rich folklore, loving family bonds, unique perspectives, and all channel the magic of telling a good story. While I wish I could note every line, every syllable that struck me, that would make my review longer than the book, so I will highlight some of the most memorable tales.
Rebecca Roanhorse's offering, "White Hills", is a nightmarish examination of the cost of assimilation in a society of bleach-blonde influencers and pricy HOAs.
In Conley Lyons' "Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth", young, queer Native Joe resists his living space, body and his very identity being colonized all over again.
Body horror is at its most satisfyingly horrific in D.H. Trujillo's "Snakes Are Born in the Dark", warning those who disrespect sacred spaces.
One of my favorites was "Before I Go" by Norris Black, a melancholy, romantic and cautionary tale of maintaining order and letting the dead leave us properly.
"Dead Owls" by Mona Susan Power is my absolute favorite, though, a grim reminder of the harm othering can cause. A young girl is pulled into a dark dreamscape, an intersection of American atrocities where the past can hurt you in more ways than one. A bittersweet end to this one really tugged at my heart.
Amber Blaeser-Wardzala takes the term "dark academia" to the next level in the chilling "Collections".
A stunning conclusion, "Limbs" by Waubgeshig Rice, employs amazing imagery and ends this collection with a satisfying display of environmental vengeance.
Equal parts unsettling and satisfying, this anthology was everything I hoped it would be, and more. There is incredible writing in here, every story coming vividly to life in my reader's mind.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Stephen Graham Jones' introduction, the late night storytelling tone of which was perfect to lure readers into the dark.
The cover is also absolutely gorgeous.
I tried to keep track of TWs, but given the subject and its legacy, I think most readers will know what they're in for. There is (at least) violence by monsters (and monstrous humans), gore, dismemberment, forced miscarriage, racism (specifically talk of blood and race "purity" in one story), child abuse - physical and sexual, references to specific historical atrocities, botanical horror, parasitic horror, mental illness, cannibalism.
July 4, 2024
Wow, these are crazy good! There were only a couple that didn't really speak to me. I was constantly thinking this is the best one I've read and them the next dark tale would be just as enthralling. These short stories are violent and bloody, but are sometimes surprisingly uplifting, when things don't turn out as planned by the evil spirit or racist jerk.
September 24, 2023
There are 26 stories in this and I really liked the overall mood of the collection.
Where I struggled was that a large amount of the stories just didn’t pack any punch for me. Some I felt were too long and didn’t get to the point and others left me feeling unsatisfied.
My favourites were:
Kushtuka
Night in the Chrysalis
Collections
Was glad to get to the end of it and will keep an eye out for the authors of the three that I liked.
Where I struggled was that a large amount of the stories just didn’t pack any punch for me. Some I felt were too long and didn’t get to the point and others left me feeling unsatisfied.
My favourites were:
Kushtuka
Night in the Chrysalis
Collections
Was glad to get to the end of it and will keep an eye out for the authors of the three that I liked.
October 11, 2023
This book is so good that at 4.32 stars, it’s underrated on GoodReads.
This book is so good that out of the 150 or so books I’ve read this year, this is easily in the top 3.
This book is so good it is absolutely one of my favorite story collections of all time.
This book is so good that if it ever gets the hardcover release it deserves I will buy it again.
It is that good.
Every single story swept me away. I don’t think I’ve been so fully immersed in a book all year. Every author delivered. I don’t care that they were short stories. It didn’t matter. It delivered on the horror, the story telling, the writing, the social commentary… all of it, even the introduction.
I have read full length novels from some of these authors already, have added a couple more novels to my TBR, and am eagerly awaiting books from those that haven’t delivered their debuts yet.
It would be hard for me to pick a favorite, because they all delivered what they intended to, but here were a few standouts:
Snakes Are Born In The Dark by D.H. Trujillo- I was actually disappointed to learn her other book was a romance, because I was certain reading this the author had been telling horror stories for a long time. The ending was the cherry on top.
The Prepper by Morgan Talty - The symbolism and the meaning in this story, delivered alongside the horror, were so very well done. SGJ talks about the metaphor of possession stories for colonialism, but Talty uses the threat of a zombie apocalypse as the metaphor instead and cements it by never utilizing any fantasy/supernatural elements at all. Outstanding.
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart - Made me cry. Both because it’s heartbreaking but also for its portrayal of friendship and family.
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala - This author hasn’t even graduated yet and I’ll happily read anything she writes. Not only was the story horrifying and creepy, but the commentary on privilege and to some degree white saviorism delivered another quick but high impact story.
These stories covered a wide range of topics and styles. Each one felt unique. There were ghost stories and creature features, more literary stories begging to be dissected and analyzed and read again, cathartic stories about life and grief. I just don’t have the words that can do it justice.
The only other thing I want to comment on is the trigger warnings, and it’s only because one of the stories deals with something pretty specific and it’s right on the first page of the story.
The story Sundays deals with: The first page of this is very graphic. The rest of the story is less so and the bulk of the story is more about the aftermath than the act itself, but I did want to put the content warning here so readers can avoid that if they need to. It’s not that the rest of the book is devoid of triggers, it’s that most of them were the fairly standard kind you find in most horror (body horror is a big one in this book). I also think it’s important for the awareness it brings to the history of Indian Boarding Schools in America and Canada.
So that’s it, that’s my review. If you love horror, if you have this on your TBR, it’s well worth picking up. I will probably even read this again in a year or two. October is definitely the month for it.
This book is so good that out of the 150 or so books I’ve read this year, this is easily in the top 3.
This book is so good it is absolutely one of my favorite story collections of all time.
This book is so good that if it ever gets the hardcover release it deserves I will buy it again.
It is that good.
Every single story swept me away. I don’t think I’ve been so fully immersed in a book all year. Every author delivered. I don’t care that they were short stories. It didn’t matter. It delivered on the horror, the story telling, the writing, the social commentary… all of it, even the introduction.
I have read full length novels from some of these authors already, have added a couple more novels to my TBR, and am eagerly awaiting books from those that haven’t delivered their debuts yet.
It would be hard for me to pick a favorite, because they all delivered what they intended to, but here were a few standouts:
Snakes Are Born In The Dark by D.H. Trujillo- I was actually disappointed to learn her other book was a romance, because I was certain reading this the author had been telling horror stories for a long time. The ending was the cherry on top.
The Prepper by Morgan Talty - The symbolism and the meaning in this story, delivered alongside the horror, were so very well done. SGJ talks about the metaphor of possession stories for colonialism, but Talty uses the threat of a zombie apocalypse as the metaphor instead and cements it by never utilizing any fantasy/supernatural elements at all. Outstanding.
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart - Made me cry. Both because it’s heartbreaking but also for its portrayal of friendship and family.
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala - This author hasn’t even graduated yet and I’ll happily read anything she writes. Not only was the story horrifying and creepy, but the commentary on privilege and to some degree white saviorism delivered another quick but high impact story.
These stories covered a wide range of topics and styles. Each one felt unique. There were ghost stories and creature features, more literary stories begging to be dissected and analyzed and read again, cathartic stories about life and grief. I just don’t have the words that can do it justice.
The only other thing I want to comment on is the trigger warnings, and it’s only because one of the stories deals with something pretty specific and it’s right on the first page of the story.
The story Sundays deals with: The first page of this is very graphic. The rest of the story is less so and the bulk of the story is more about the aftermath than the act itself, but I did want to put the content warning here so readers can avoid that if they need to. It’s not that the rest of the book is devoid of triggers, it’s that most of them were the fairly standard kind you find in most horror (body horror is a big one in this book). I also think it’s important for the awareness it brings to the history of Indian Boarding Schools in America and Canada.
So that’s it, that’s my review. If you love horror, if you have this on your TBR, it’s well worth picking up. I will probably even read this again in a year or two. October is definitely the month for it.
October 11, 2023
“…telling ourselves stories about the world being bigger than we thought, big enough for bigfoot and little people, that’s really kind of saying to the so-called settlers that, hey, yeah, so you took all that land you could see. But what about all this other territory you don’t even know about, man?”
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Indigenous People's Day then by spreading the word about this fantastic anthology authored by an all-star list of Indigenous writers both well known and new-to-me. Never Whistle at Night is a collection of twenty-six indigenous dark fiction short stories ranging from supernatural to dark contemporary.
These stories carry a lot of emotional and psychological weight as they lead readers into the shadows and reveal hidden monsters. Monsters with teeth, yes, but also a human evil that leaves behind a lasting destruction in the forms of generational trauma, colonization, violence, and displacement. We’re given stories about vengeance and retribution, hauntings and curses. Stories both eerily paranormal and painfully real from the lens of the indigenous perspective, and once you’re further enough down this dark path of literature, it’s best not to “look back at your footprints” as author Stephen Graham Jones so brilliantly put in the book’s compelling foreword.
Some of my favorite stories in this anthology included:
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons
Snakes are Born in the Dark D.H. Trujillo
Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk
The Prepper by Morgan Talty
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Indigenous People's Day then by spreading the word about this fantastic anthology authored by an all-star list of Indigenous writers both well known and new-to-me. Never Whistle at Night is a collection of twenty-six indigenous dark fiction short stories ranging from supernatural to dark contemporary.
These stories carry a lot of emotional and psychological weight as they lead readers into the shadows and reveal hidden monsters. Monsters with teeth, yes, but also a human evil that leaves behind a lasting destruction in the forms of generational trauma, colonization, violence, and displacement. We’re given stories about vengeance and retribution, hauntings and curses. Stories both eerily paranormal and painfully real from the lens of the indigenous perspective, and once you’re further enough down this dark path of literature, it’s best not to “look back at your footprints” as author Stephen Graham Jones so brilliantly put in the book’s compelling foreword.
Some of my favorite stories in this anthology included:
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons
Snakes are Born in the Dark D.H. Trujillo
Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk
The Prepper by Morgan Talty
December 31, 2023
Unsurprisingly, loved the Rebecca Roanhorse story best, but I really enjoyed the collection as a whole. Highs and lows, but well worth picking up for lovers of short stories with a dark edge
March 22, 2024
Updated Review: 3/21/24
This anthology just fills me with so much love, warmth, and just lives rent free in my brain. To see so many Indigenous storytellers together in one book just makes me so happy and always reminds me how proud I am to be Mescalero Apache! ♥
First Read: 8/14/23
ARC was given by NetGalley & Penguin Random House.
Release Date: Sep. 19th, 2023
As a Mescalero Apache reader, I have been hoping we'd finally get an anthology of many Native/Indigenous authors coming together to share stories with all of us and this was such a great anthology! Take this at face value because this is more dark fiction laced with real world horrors Native/Indigenous communities deal with constantly. I say multiple times throughout this review, we need a round table discussion with various Native/Indigenous voices, both authors and readers, to discuss this book because there's so much to talk about and unpack in a larger discussion. The way Stephen Graham Jones open this anthology couldn't have been phrased any better. Snakes Are Born in the Dark, Hunger, Sundays, and The Scientist's Horror Story are just a few of the stories I loved from this anthology. There aren't enough words to say how much this anthology means to me, how many tears I've shed over this book, and the way this book just completely consumed me for the entire time reading this. I loved this book with my whole chest! I don't think everyone will enjoy this anthology, but I will say is many Native/Indigenous readers like myself will probably fall madly in love with this book, and it deserves to be uplifted. Thank you Never Whistle at Night for making my year more memorable! ♥
✨ Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Manipulation, blood, mentions graphic injuries, racism to Native/Indigenous people, gore, scene of emesis, death, murder, gun use
There was a lot about this story that had me in a choke hold especially when it came to the few parts where there's conversation about how non-Natives/non-Indigenous people constantly take from those who are Native/Indigenous. There's also a scene about how white-passing Natives are constantly white washed and invalidated over their Nativeness by those who are non-Native/non-Indigenous. So it really hit an emotional cord for me as a white-passing Native. The story itself had me captivated especially as we came to the end of the story where we had no idea how things were going to play out. I really enjoyed this story!
✨ White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse 2.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief talk of cosmetic surgery, talk of poverty, alcohol consumption, pregnancy themes, racism towards Native/Indigenous people, blood, scene of emesis, implied forced miscarriage, manipulation, brief implied disfiguration
There's a lot of great Native/Indigenous social commentary in this story like harmful mascots and how there's a problem with a lot of non-Native/non-Indigenous people claiming to be Native/Indigenous when they're not and how it can be harmful in more ways than one. Definitely a story for a big round-table discussion. However, despite some of the strong themes, this will probably be my least favorite story of the whole anthology. This story revolves around pregnancy and there's even an entire thing of forced miscarriage. I just wasn't here for this as someone who has fertility hardships and if these themes are triggering/upsetting for you, I would avoid this one.
✨ Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Sexually explicit scenes, brief mentions of home break-in, mentions loss of loved ones, implied stalking, toxic relationship, physical violence, blood, murder
This was a wild ride of a story! I knew the minute we were first introduced to Cam's character, we, as the readers, were going to despise him or not trust him, and get a wild story that came along with it. This was so good and there's just something about a story when it involves teeth that will leave you wondering what's about to go down. I also loved how our main character isn't a fighter, more of a lover, but how we also get to see him do what's necessary to protect himself from any potential harm. This was a suspenseful good time and I'll definitely be looking into more works by this author!
✨ Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abuse, violence, mentions of emesis, animal death, blood
In this story we follow two boys who are growing up in a foster home that's incredibly abusive. It definitely reminds you of the stories from survivors of Residential Boarding Schools, the stories of those who were adopted. Still, I think the biggest thing for this story is 'hope'. Hope these two will get out of this situation and be in a much better environment.
✨ Quantum by Nick Medina ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Discussions of blood quantum, alcohol, child neglect, brief scene of needle, blood depictions
This is another story that hits a bit close to home especially as a white-passing Native and one I don't really know how to talk about. This story focuses a lot on blood quantum and how it can be easy to get obsessed over it. This is another story that would be really good for a round-table discussion because there's so many different opinions and experiences when it comes to blood quantum. I really enjoyed this story, it made me emotional on Sammy's behalf, but I think many readers won't really connect with this story or see the underlying horrors laced throughout.
✨ Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Mentions alcohol, mentions drugs, smoking
This was so freaking good! I knew this story was going to involve the Wehtigo and if it wasn't going to be that then it was going to be an SW/Mimic. I've really been enjoying stories surrounding the Wehtigo lately and this was just every thing I wanted. It's plays to more modern life than time before colonization and really loved Summer's character, but I just really loved everything the author did with this story. Plus, there's a nod to Reservation Dogs and the screech that escaped my body, and the excitement for the last season of that show - this story is just everything!
✨ Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Loss of parents, mentions of war and colonization, abandonment, depictions of anxiety & panic, blood, graphic injury, grief
I love Cherie Dimaline's writing and the stories she weaves together. I think this is such a powerful story of a disconnected reconnecting Native and finding one's way back home especially after loss. I will say, if insects especially ticks are bothersome for you then you probably won't enjoy this story, but I thought the role it played in this story was very unique and well-done. Plus, the ending got me a little up in my feels, getting teary eyed, and just reflecting on so many things.
✨ The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: War themes & colonization, themes of MMIWG2S, grief, alcohol, brief mentions of emesis, death
This is such a powerful, raw story and has me all up in my feels. Even more up in my feels at the brief mentions of owls and what they represent and it just made me miss my auntie so much. You can feel the author's emotions being poured into this story. I think every Native/Indigenous reader is going to feel the full weight of this story, the emotions it'll pull. This was just so beautifully written.
✨ Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Native/Indigenous racism, violence, blood depictions, scene of emesis, graphic wounds, gore, snake scenes, dead animal
This was so good and has me excited to pick up Dani's book Lizards Hold the Sun! As a Mescalero Apache, I was raised/taught that snakes are a creature you avoid, steer clear of and it was so cool to see the author take that and turn it into something ominous looming over our three characters. The ending really surprised me, too! I just had a really great time reading this and this might just be one of my favorites for this anthology!
✨ Before I Go by Norris Black 3.5 ⭐
C/T Warnings: Loss of a loved one, grief, blood, alcoholic parent, body horror, on page death, loss of a parent (of cancer, in the past), brief mentions death of a pet
This is definitely a full-circle kind of story; one where grief and loss weight us down, and how sometimes we don't always move on from that. I think this is a well-written story, but once the theme of this story was made clear, I was hoping for a little more emotional pull. Still enjoyable, but I just wanted a little more from it.
✨ Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Talk of gentrification, brief mentions of a miscarriage, grief, implied depression, mentions financial hardships, blood, maggots/insect horror
I really loved how the author made the house seem alive, living and breathing while also adding in a bit of doll horror. Tie that doll horror to the main character's childhood with doll making and mix in some sleep paralysis, and this is a creepy, suspenseful story. I really enjoyed the ending the most, though, especially since our mc has gone through so many hardships that made her feel so empty.
✨ Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Gun use, blood, gore, smoking, scene of spiders, scene of emesis, possession
This is wild, so wild that I don't want to say anything other than it's a son and father on a hunting trip, and things go... wrong. I'm in shock and still trying to process what I just read. The steady build to the climax and sense of dread was everything. I think this story is going to live rent free in my brain because of how good this was. I'll definitely be looking into more books by this author.
✨ Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Abandonment, brief mentions of financial hardship, brief mentions loss of a loved one, brief mentions of domestic abuse, alcohol, drug use & addiction, very brief mention of suicidal thoughts, physical violence, scene of emesis, blood, death
I really enjoyed how this story turned out. It's a slow and steady build with themes of addiction, wanting to be a better person, and the desire to be loved by your loved ones no matter how hard/bad things are, laced throughout the story. I will say, the puppies got me. I'm just saying it now, those puppies got me and made me all soft and squishy.
✨ Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Graphic animal death, blood, loneliness
Wow, not this story ending with me being teary eyed. There's so much love, a lot of wisdom, and a lot of talk of how important it is to honor our stories, to keep them alive, and listen to our elders to preserve our culture, our knowledge. I loved this, I loved this so much!
✨ Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf
C/T Warnings: Talk of Native residential boarding schools, talk of colonization, brief gore
Stories like this always send chills down my spine. For many Native/Indigenous readers, this story will sound all too familiar of details to the Wehtigo, but told through a different perspective. Again, I love hearing about these stories, but this one in particular gave me goosebumps.
✨ The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, smoking, murder, disembodiment, talk of assault, gun use
This was a wild ride of a story. I can't tell if I'm still trying to figure out what I just read or trying not to giggle at some of the parts. This was fun, though and I enjoyed the themes of loyalty and community.
✨ Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Brief mentions of Native/Indigenous racism, blood, brief mentions of Battl of Little Bighorn
Another story I have absolutely chills over. If you're not familiar of the Battle of Little Bighorn then there might be some references in this story you may not understand. Still an incredibly powerful, spine chilling story that's going to live in my brain rent free. Also, I do love this author's work especially A Council of Dolls.
✨ The Prepper by Morgan Talty ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Detailed talk of mental health/illness, brief mentions of self-harm, loss of a parent (heart attack), brief mentions of financial struggles, brief mentions of cancer, detailed medical talk, loss of loved ones recounted, brief mentions of smoking, drug addiction, blood, death, gun use
This was a wild ride. Wow, I'm a little shocked of how this all played out. Talty has such a powerful way of writing themes especially when it comes to themes of mental health/illness and this story is no exception. Fantastically done!
✨ Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart 3.5 ⭐
C/T Warnings: Electrocution recounted, brief mentions abandonment, death (accidental drowning), very brief mentions of divorce, very brief mentions of suicidal ideation, alcohol
I really loved the way love, solidarity between Robert and Gregory, and grief were woven into this story. It was powerful and sad, but beautifully written. Not my favorite story, but still enjoyable.
✨ Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Graphic rape scene of a minor, pedophilia, night terrors, trauma/PTSD, Native residential boarding schools themes, loss of a spouse (pancreatic cancer), grief, loneliness, death, brief mentions suicide (hanging), alcohol, brief mentions automotive accident (in the past), gun use, graphic assault
There are no words to express how many emotions were poured into this story. The anger, the sadness and grief, and what it means to carry the weight of the past on our shoulders. I'm still sobbing. I do recommend looking up content/trigger warnings and definitely be in the right headspace for this story.
✨ Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Death, loss of a sibling, mentions of gun violence, brief talk of lgbtq+ hate crimes, grief, blood
This is such a beautiful yet emotional provoking story on the loss of a sibling, the way grief consumes us, and how healing from that loss and grief full of complexities. This hits a little close to home for me as the oldest sibling of four and the oldest cousin, I'm always ride or die for them and this just hits in some of the softest parts of my soul.
✨ Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers ⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, brief mentions loss of a sibling (died in the war), Native/Indigenous racism, emesis, blood, violence, death
I love a good werewolf story. I'm a sucker for them and I found it interesting that this story takes place in Germany. However, I just didn't love this as much as I wanted or was hoping to. This story feels very different from all the other stories in this anthology and I think I just expected more especially when there were a few things that were predictable.
✨ Capgras by Tommy Orange 3.5 ⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, Native/Indigenous racism
I really enjoyed the premise of this short story! This was my first story that ever really talked or played to Capgras delusion. It was interesting to say the least. It also feels like a piece of the author went into this book, potentially their experiences with interviews. Overall, this was an enjoyable, wild ride.
✨ The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, medical talk, depictions of anxiety
Darcie Little Badger can do know wrong in my eyes. This was so well written, you can tell Darcie played to her strengths in knowledge with this story, and slams the reader in the face with a harsh reality that Native/Indigenous communities face every single day. I loved this an you already know it's probably one of my favorites!
✨ Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Death & murder
This one gave me chills and made me so incredibly uncomfortable. I thought taxidermy animals made me uncomfortable, but this story really tops takes top tier for nightmare fuel. It's also a very unique take on the Wehtigo. Yup, this by far is the story that creeped me out the most and now it'll probably live in my brain rent free.
✨ Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, Native/Indigenous racism, violence, blood, body mutilation, scene of impaling, death
What an incredibly powerful, wild story to end this anthology with! Moon of the Crusted Snow has been on my tbr for so long now and after reading this story, I need to pick it up soon. I loved this story so much and I think it really shows that Native/Indigenous communities still deal with a lot of hatred especially when it comes to those who are seeking to take more from Native/Indigenous communities.
Buddy read with Destiny ♥
The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
This anthology just fills me with so much love, warmth, and just lives rent free in my brain. To see so many Indigenous storytellers together in one book just makes me so happy and always reminds me how proud I am to be Mescalero Apache! ♥
First Read: 8/14/23
ARC was given by NetGalley & Penguin Random House.
Release Date: Sep. 19th, 2023
As a Mescalero Apache reader, I have been hoping we'd finally get an anthology of many Native/Indigenous authors coming together to share stories with all of us and this was such a great anthology! Take this at face value because this is more dark fiction laced with real world horrors Native/Indigenous communities deal with constantly. I say multiple times throughout this review, we need a round table discussion with various Native/Indigenous voices, both authors and readers, to discuss this book because there's so much to talk about and unpack in a larger discussion. The way Stephen Graham Jones open this anthology couldn't have been phrased any better. Snakes Are Born in the Dark, Hunger, Sundays, and The Scientist's Horror Story are just a few of the stories I loved from this anthology. There aren't enough words to say how much this anthology means to me, how many tears I've shed over this book, and the way this book just completely consumed me for the entire time reading this. I loved this book with my whole chest! I don't think everyone will enjoy this anthology, but I will say is many Native/Indigenous readers like myself will probably fall madly in love with this book, and it deserves to be uplifted. Thank you Never Whistle at Night for making my year more memorable! ♥
✨ Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Manipulation, blood, mentions graphic injuries, racism to Native/Indigenous people, gore, scene of emesis, death, murder, gun use
There was a lot about this story that had me in a choke hold especially when it came to the few parts where there's conversation about how non-Natives/non-Indigenous people constantly take from those who are Native/Indigenous. There's also a scene about how white-passing Natives are constantly white washed and invalidated over their Nativeness by those who are non-Native/non-Indigenous. So it really hit an emotional cord for me as a white-passing Native. The story itself had me captivated especially as we came to the end of the story where we had no idea how things were going to play out. I really enjoyed this story!
✨ White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse 2.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief talk of cosmetic surgery, talk of poverty, alcohol consumption, pregnancy themes, racism towards Native/Indigenous people, blood, scene of emesis, implied forced miscarriage, manipulation, brief implied disfiguration
There's a lot of great Native/Indigenous social commentary in this story like harmful mascots and how there's a problem with a lot of non-Native/non-Indigenous people claiming to be Native/Indigenous when they're not and how it can be harmful in more ways than one. Definitely a story for a big round-table discussion. However, despite some of the strong themes, this will probably be my least favorite story of the whole anthology. This story revolves around pregnancy and there's even an entire thing of forced miscarriage. I just wasn't here for this as someone who has fertility hardships and if these themes are triggering/upsetting for you, I would avoid this one.
✨ Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Sexually explicit scenes, brief mentions of home break-in, mentions loss of loved ones, implied stalking, toxic relationship, physical violence, blood, murder
"Just stay calm, and don’t let yourself get cornered." "Why not?" Grandpa gave a sharp, ugly laugh. "’Cause if you’re cornered, you’re desperate. And desperate men do things they might regret down the road."
This was a wild ride of a story! I knew the minute we were first introduced to Cam's character, we, as the readers, were going to despise him or not trust him, and get a wild story that came along with it. This was so good and there's just something about a story when it involves teeth that will leave you wondering what's about to go down. I also loved how our main character isn't a fighter, more of a lover, but how we also get to see him do what's necessary to protect himself from any potential harm. This was a suspenseful good time and I'll definitely be looking into more works by this author!
✨ Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon ⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abuse, violence, mentions of emesis, animal death, blood
In this story we follow two boys who are growing up in a foster home that's incredibly abusive. It definitely reminds you of the stories from survivors of Residential Boarding Schools, the stories of those who were adopted. Still, I think the biggest thing for this story is 'hope'. Hope these two will get out of this situation and be in a much better environment.
✨ Quantum by Nick Medina ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Discussions of blood quantum, alcohol, child neglect, brief scene of needle, blood depictions
This is another story that hits a bit close to home especially as a white-passing Native and one I don't really know how to talk about. This story focuses a lot on blood quantum and how it can be easy to get obsessed over it. This is another story that would be really good for a round-table discussion because there's so many different opinions and experiences when it comes to blood quantum. I really enjoyed this story, it made me emotional on Sammy's behalf, but I think many readers won't really connect with this story or see the underlying horrors laced throughout.
✨ Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Mentions alcohol, mentions drugs, smoking
"The modern People have forgotten; Other People came and erased its stories, tried to pretend it didn’t exist. But it has always been here and always will be. It is as inevitable as the Land itself. The People forget, but it does not."
This was so freaking good! I knew this story was going to involve the Wehtigo and if it wasn't going to be that then it was going to be an SW/Mimic. I've really been enjoying stories surrounding the Wehtigo lately and this was just every thing I wanted. It's plays to more modern life than time before colonization and really loved Summer's character, but I just really loved everything the author did with this story. Plus, there's a nod to Reservation Dogs and the screech that escaped my body, and the excitement for the last season of that show - this story is just everything!
✨ Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Loss of parents, mentions of war and colonization, abandonment, depictions of anxiety & panic, blood, graphic injury, grief
I love Cherie Dimaline's writing and the stories she weaves together. I think this is such a powerful story of a disconnected reconnecting Native and finding one's way back home especially after loss. I will say, if insects especially ticks are bothersome for you then you probably won't enjoy this story, but I thought the role it played in this story was very unique and well-done. Plus, the ending got me a little up in my feels, getting teary eyed, and just reflecting on so many things.
✨ The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: War themes & colonization, themes of MMIWG2S, grief, alcohol, brief mentions of emesis, death
This is such a powerful, raw story and has me all up in my feels. Even more up in my feels at the brief mentions of owls and what they represent and it just made me miss my auntie so much. You can feel the author's emotions being poured into this story. I think every Native/Indigenous reader is going to feel the full weight of this story, the emotions it'll pull. This was just so beautifully written.
✨ Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Native/Indigenous racism, violence, blood depictions, scene of emesis, graphic wounds, gore, snake scenes, dead animal
This was so good and has me excited to pick up Dani's book Lizards Hold the Sun! As a Mescalero Apache, I was raised/taught that snakes are a creature you avoid, steer clear of and it was so cool to see the author take that and turn it into something ominous looming over our three characters. The ending really surprised me, too! I just had a really great time reading this and this might just be one of my favorites for this anthology!
✨ Before I Go by Norris Black 3.5 ⭐
C/T Warnings: Loss of a loved one, grief, blood, alcoholic parent, body horror, on page death, loss of a parent (of cancer, in the past), brief mentions death of a pet
"Why did you come here?"
This is definitely a full-circle kind of story; one where grief and loss weight us down, and how sometimes we don't always move on from that. I think this is a well-written story, but once the theme of this story was made clear, I was hoping for a little more emotional pull. Still enjoyable, but I just wanted a little more from it.
✨ Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Talk of gentrification, brief mentions of a miscarriage, grief, implied depression, mentions financial hardships, blood, maggots/insect horror
I really loved how the author made the house seem alive, living and breathing while also adding in a bit of doll horror. Tie that doll horror to the main character's childhood with doll making and mix in some sleep paralysis, and this is a creepy, suspenseful story. I really enjoyed the ending the most, though, especially since our mc has gone through so many hardships that made her feel so empty.
✨ Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Gun use, blood, gore, smoking, scene of spiders, scene of emesis, possession
This is wild, so wild that I don't want to say anything other than it's a son and father on a hunting trip, and things go... wrong. I'm in shock and still trying to process what I just read. The steady build to the climax and sense of dread was everything. I think this story is going to live rent free in my brain because of how good this was. I'll definitely be looking into more books by this author.
✨ Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Abandonment, brief mentions of financial hardship, brief mentions loss of a loved one, brief mentions of domestic abuse, alcohol, drug use & addiction, very brief mention of suicidal thoughts, physical violence, scene of emesis, blood, death
I really enjoyed how this story turned out. It's a slow and steady build with themes of addiction, wanting to be a better person, and the desire to be loved by your loved ones no matter how hard/bad things are, laced throughout the story. I will say, the puppies got me. I'm just saying it now, those puppies got me and made me all soft and squishy.
✨ Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Graphic animal death, blood, loneliness
Wow, not this story ending with me being teary eyed. There's so much love, a lot of wisdom, and a lot of talk of how important it is to honor our stories, to keep them alive, and listen to our elders to preserve our culture, our knowledge. I loved this, I loved this so much!
✨ Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf
C/T Warnings: Talk of Native residential boarding schools, talk of colonization, brief gore
"But we will be here. Always. And when you break your vows. When you live wrong. We will be there to eat away at you."
Stories like this always send chills down my spine. For many Native/Indigenous readers, this story will sound all too familiar of details to the Wehtigo, but told through a different perspective. Again, I love hearing about these stories, but this one in particular gave me goosebumps.
✨ The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, smoking, murder, disembodiment, talk of assault, gun use
This was a wild ride of a story. I can't tell if I'm still trying to figure out what I just read or trying not to giggle at some of the parts. This was fun, though and I enjoyed the themes of loyalty and community.
✨ Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Brief mentions of Native/Indigenous racism, blood, brief mentions of Battl of Little Bighorn
Another story I have absolutely chills over. If you're not familiar of the Battle of Little Bighorn then there might be some references in this story you may not understand. Still an incredibly powerful, spine chilling story that's going to live in my brain rent free. Also, I do love this author's work especially A Council of Dolls.
✨ The Prepper by Morgan Talty ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Detailed talk of mental health/illness, brief mentions of self-harm, loss of a parent (heart attack), brief mentions of financial struggles, brief mentions of cancer, detailed medical talk, loss of loved ones recounted, brief mentions of smoking, drug addiction, blood, death, gun use
This was a wild ride. Wow, I'm a little shocked of how this all played out. Talty has such a powerful way of writing themes especially when it comes to themes of mental health/illness and this story is no exception. Fantastically done!
✨ Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart 3.5 ⭐
C/T Warnings: Electrocution recounted, brief mentions abandonment, death (accidental drowning), very brief mentions of divorce, very brief mentions of suicidal ideation, alcohol
I really loved the way love, solidarity between Robert and Gregory, and grief were woven into this story. It was powerful and sad, but beautifully written. Not my favorite story, but still enjoyable.
✨ Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Graphic rape scene of a minor, pedophilia, night terrors, trauma/PTSD, Native residential boarding schools themes, loss of a spouse (pancreatic cancer), grief, loneliness, death, brief mentions suicide (hanging), alcohol, brief mentions automotive accident (in the past), gun use, graphic assault
There are no words to express how many emotions were poured into this story. The anger, the sadness and grief, and what it means to carry the weight of the past on our shoulders. I'm still sobbing. I do recommend looking up content/trigger warnings and definitely be in the right headspace for this story.
✨ Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Death, loss of a sibling, mentions of gun violence, brief talk of lgbtq+ hate crimes, grief, blood
This is such a beautiful yet emotional provoking story on the loss of a sibling, the way grief consumes us, and how healing from that loss and grief full of complexities. This hits a little close to home for me as the oldest sibling of four and the oldest cousin, I'm always ride or die for them and this just hits in some of the softest parts of my soul.
✨ Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers ⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, brief mentions loss of a sibling (died in the war), Native/Indigenous racism, emesis, blood, violence, death
I love a good werewolf story. I'm a sucker for them and I found it interesting that this story takes place in Germany. However, I just didn't love this as much as I wanted or was hoping to. This story feels very different from all the other stories in this anthology and I think I just expected more especially when there were a few things that were predictable.
✨ Capgras by Tommy Orange 3.5 ⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, Native/Indigenous racism
I really enjoyed the premise of this short story! This was my first story that ever really talked or played to Capgras delusion. It was interesting to say the least. It also feels like a piece of the author went into this book, potentially their experiences with interviews. Overall, this was an enjoyable, wild ride.
✨ The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, medical talk, depictions of anxiety
Darcie Little Badger can do know wrong in my eyes. This was so well written, you can tell Darcie played to her strengths in knowledge with this story, and slams the reader in the face with a harsh reality that Native/Indigenous communities face every single day. I loved this an you already know it's probably one of my favorites!
✨ Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala ⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Death & murder
This one gave me chills and made me so incredibly uncomfortable. I thought taxidermy animals made me uncomfortable, but this story really tops takes top tier for nightmare fuel. It's also a very unique take on the Wehtigo. Yup, this by far is the story that creeped me out the most and now it'll probably live in my brain rent free.
✨ Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C/T Warnings: Alcohol, Native/Indigenous racism, violence, blood, body mutilation, scene of impaling, death
What an incredibly powerful, wild story to end this anthology with! Moon of the Crusted Snow has been on my tbr for so long now and after reading this story, I need to pick it up soon. I loved this story so much and I think it really shows that Native/Indigenous communities still deal with a lot of hatred especially when it comes to those who are seeking to take more from Native/Indigenous communities.
Buddy read with Destiny ♥
The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
Want to read
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A frighteningly fun anthology of indigenous horror fiction. From darkly humorous to deeply disturbing, Never Whistle at Night discusses monsters of every making, from ancient spirits to the men who walk among us. Complex and nuanced, each story highlights the doubled edged swords of revenge, the ever shifting sands familial ties, the elusive grasp of legacy, the ways in which identity is discovered, preserved. A dynamic collection that encases the hard truths of American history in incredibly impactful stories that shimmer with the unknown, the voices of those lost, those waiting to be found.
A frighteningly fun anthology of indigenous horror fiction. From darkly humorous to deeply disturbing, Never Whistle at Night discusses monsters of every making, from ancient spirits to the men who walk among us. Complex and nuanced, each story highlights the doubled edged swords of revenge, the ever shifting sands familial ties, the elusive grasp of legacy, the ways in which identity is discovered, preserved. A dynamic collection that encases the hard truths of American history in incredibly impactful stories that shimmer with the unknown, the voices of those lost, those waiting to be found.
February 4, 2024
Really enjoyed this anthology. Most of the stories was really good.
March 24, 2024
26 Indigenous authored short stories come together to form this sharp and unsettling horror anthology which was edited by Shane Hawk (Cheyenne/Arapaho) and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (Chippewa/Ottawa) and features an incredible foreword by Stephen Graham Jones (Blackfoot.)
It’s no surprise that Never Whistle at Night continues to chart as each story is visceral in it’s own unique way and pulsating with energy. There were a plethora of stories written by my favourite authors and a lot of new-to-me writers as well.
Many genres have misrepresented Indigenous people, dark fiction/horror included, but what happens when Indigenous folks write the stories? The result is magnificent. Told with passion and alive with tradition and storytelling across various tribes.
We witness the importance of oral storytelling, how our Elders, family and communities shape who we are, the choices we make and the stories we tell, how the cautionary tales we’re told as children follow us for the rest of our lives and are passed on & on & on, how many people may simply see fiction but niijiis see a story that reminds us about Little People and a tale our cousin told us when we were five and how two weeks later four of our socks were missing and there were tiny foot prints all over the inside of our closet walls.
(side note: my mom left out candy with some tobacco every month if too many socks we’re going missing lol.)
A strong recommendation from myself. Miigwech to Shane and @vintageanchorbooks for making sure I received an e-copy to review!
It’s no surprise that Never Whistle at Night continues to chart as each story is visceral in it’s own unique way and pulsating with energy. There were a plethora of stories written by my favourite authors and a lot of new-to-me writers as well.
Many genres have misrepresented Indigenous people, dark fiction/horror included, but what happens when Indigenous folks write the stories? The result is magnificent. Told with passion and alive with tradition and storytelling across various tribes.
We witness the importance of oral storytelling, how our Elders, family and communities shape who we are, the choices we make and the stories we tell, how the cautionary tales we’re told as children follow us for the rest of our lives and are passed on & on & on, how many people may simply see fiction but niijiis see a story that reminds us about Little People and a tale our cousin told us when we were five and how two weeks later four of our socks were missing and there were tiny foot prints all over the inside of our closet walls.
(side note: my mom left out candy with some tobacco every month if too many socks we’re going missing lol.)
A strong recommendation from myself. Miigwech to Shane and @vintageanchorbooks for making sure I received an e-copy to review!
January 16, 2024
The problem with anthologies is they really highlight the bad writing.
I really had to force myself to finish this, it was just mostly not that great. Not like, painfully bad or anything, just honestly mostly felt like trauma porn while being kinda boring somehow. Certainly more "dark fiction" than horror. I would say most of the stories felt a bit amateur, and maybe that's fine. Giving some lesser known authors a chance, while drawing everyone in with the bigger names in this collection, but it really just ended up being mostly disappointing.
I liked very few stories, actually i wouldn't say I really LIKED any of them, but I at least thought a few were good in some ways:
White Hills: This felt really silly, like way over the top, but the final hit was pretty good. The amount of cheese works in a short story.
Tick Talk: This was well written and drags you along through this drawn out process, but I felt like the author did a good job creating the atmosphere and pace of the story.
Behind Colin's eyes: I didn't really like this story, but it did have some good creepy parts, really the only story to have anything even remotely scary in it.
Scariest story ever told: This one actually got me, had a great opening and delivered. Wasn't scary, but probably the only story I actually liked.
Best part of this collection: The cover. Absolutely gorgeous.
Okay all that said, I am just not a fan of trauma porn or this kind of dark emotional story. I was looking for more horror and plot driven storytelling.
I really had to force myself to finish this, it was just mostly not that great. Not like, painfully bad or anything, just honestly mostly felt like trauma porn while being kinda boring somehow. Certainly more "dark fiction" than horror. I would say most of the stories felt a bit amateur, and maybe that's fine. Giving some lesser known authors a chance, while drawing everyone in with the bigger names in this collection, but it really just ended up being mostly disappointing.
I liked very few stories, actually i wouldn't say I really LIKED any of them, but I at least thought a few were good in some ways:
White Hills: This felt really silly, like way over the top, but the final hit was pretty good. The amount of cheese works in a short story.
Tick Talk: This was well written and drags you along through this drawn out process, but I felt like the author did a good job creating the atmosphere and pace of the story.
Behind Colin's eyes: I didn't really like this story, but it did have some good creepy parts, really the only story to have anything even remotely scary in it.
Scariest story ever told: This one actually got me, had a great opening and delivered. Wasn't scary, but probably the only story I actually liked.
Best part of this collection: The cover. Absolutely gorgeous.
Okay all that said, I am just not a fan of trauma porn or this kind of dark emotional story. I was looking for more horror and plot driven storytelling.
Read
November 12, 2023Overall, a really wonderful anthology featuring a variety of indigenous horror and dark fiction. From gothic haunted houses to pregnant body horror to resurrection, this collection has it all. In the foreword, Stephen Graham Jones paints this image of Native writers sitting around at the end of a dark and cold evening, telling each other scary stories, and I think that's exactly what this evokes. It felt like being serenaded with ghost stories and urban legends around an ancient campfire
Mini reviews for each story:
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
I read this first thing in the morning in full daylight and it still had me shivering and cowering into myself. I don't know what was scarier, the "monster" or the creepy white man who thinks the world is his toy box. I also already found myself referencing this story within a day or two after reading it, which is when you know a story has left a good impact.
CW: violence, body horror, blood & gore, colonization, dismemberment (mention), gun violence, murder, emesis
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
A new kind of horror: assimilation. I think this one was straight and to the point, but still creepy.
CW: racism, eugenics, blood, forced abortion, emesis, dismemberment (implied)
Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons
Honestly white gay men are fucking terrifying to me so this story was already filling me with dread from the first page.
CW: sexual content, rape, tooth horror (not graphic)
Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon
This one was honestly a bit forgettable to me. There was nothing about it that left me with a lingering fear, nothing that extended its claws beyond its pages. But I liked the writing.
CW: insects, abusive parent (physical), child abuse, emesis, animal death, dismemberment
Quantum by Nick Medina
At this point in the anthology, this one was my favorite read so far. The horror of this was one that was developed out of chosen and deliberate choices built out of delusion and it created such a wonderful tension in its reading experience.
CW: dead body, child neglect, needles, alcohol consumption (mention)
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau
Absolutely a standout in the collection. Such bold storytelling choices and such a unique voice. I loved Boudreau's way of creating an oddly happy horror by placing us in the mind of the monster, and asking what their horrors would look like.
CW: violent thoughts
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline
For some reason, I irrationally do not get along with Cherie Dimaline's writing style. The rhythm of it grates my brain and it genuinely gives me a headache every time I try to read one of her works. But the story itself was really really cool and there's much to analyze if you're a fan of her writing.
CW: blood & gore, insects, body/medical horror, death of parents
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson
I actually skipped this one. It tried to be experimental in its writing style but felt like it lacked deliberate choices. Rather than using the experimental writing to guide its readers through an unexpected terrain, its sentences were just meandering. They weren't run-ons but rather runaways, and it felt like the words were swimming on the page in front of me. I was just completely unable to track the train of thought or process what was being said and so I skipped it.
CW: did not read
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo
Oh my god. That was one of the most horrifying and fucked up thing I've ever read. It was just so gross and I had started the story with a hot chocolate in hand that was left unfinished. But it was really good and really intriguing and well written. Though I did notice a few important threads left open in an unsatisfying way at the end.
CW: racism, anti-indigenous slur, injury detail, body horror, illness, pregnancy, birth (on-page), animal death, blood & gore, emesis
Before I Go by Norris Black
I honestly keep forgetting about this one? It was good and haunting but was a little too direct. It's just not sticking with me.
CW: loss of spouse, death of mother, grief, body horror, death, animal death, blood & gore, dead body, cancer, alcohol consumption
Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris
My favorite in the whole anthology, hands down. I immediately fell in love with Morris's poetic prose and wonderful delicate writing style. Her poetry background was very apparent in how it helped create such specificity and tact in her craft. It reminded me of lacework somehow. In regards to the story: gothic haunted houses with the house as a character/metaphor is my literary bread and butter and this living chrysalis was such a brilliant use of that house trope. I wanted it to go on forever. I ate this one UP and I'll be returning to feast on its words time and again.
CW: insects, blood, emesis, miscarriage (mention)
Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk
A very traditional horror story (complimentary). It was horrifying and haunting, yet felt familiar and expected. I feel like if I imagined a horror story on a hunting trip it would be exactly this. But truly well-written nonetheless.
CW: animal death, blood & gore, body horror, tooth horror, insects, emesis, war (mention), colonization (mention)
Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford
I'm having a hard time placing my thoughts on this one. I think I liked what it was doing but the taste it left in my mouth was a little too helpless for me.
CW: murder, drugs, alcohol consumption, animal abandonment, imprisonment, suicidal thoughts, animal death, domestic abuse (mention), death of grandparent (past)
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp
This one keeps growing on me the more I think back on it. In the foreword, Stephen Graham Jones explains the impact of ambiguity in horror, especially indigenous horror, and I think Van Camp perfectly illustrated ambiguity and negative space as a tool of horror. I do wish its final note was a little more sour or off-putting rather than just being hopeful, but this really was a cool story.
CW: violence, imprisonment (mention), drugs (mention)
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf
Though it faded into the background for me, I thought this short story was a lovely ode to oral storytelling, the importance of generational memory, and the tradition of folklore as a way to pass on lessons and cautionary tales.
CW: colonization (mention), dismemberment (mention)
The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Really good. Really fucking weird. Certainly left an impression on me. I liked the writing style quite a bit, it was unique.
CW: decapitation, violence, gun violence, emesis
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power
Really emotionally evocative, haunting, and precious. I did really enjoy this one. It felt like it stood out tonally from a lot of the other stories.
CW: war (past), blood, violence, suicide (past), rape (mention), anti-indigenous racism
The Prepper by Morgan Talty
Not so much for me. I thought it had really nice writing and nice storytelling but I just don't find interest in doomsday prepper horror or zombie horror unless it's really spinning it on its head and this didn't. I also feel like I wasn't quite sure what it was saying about many of its topics (mental illness leading to violence, assisted suicide, etc.) and thought it needed further clarity on its point.
CW: assisted suicide, suicidal thoughts, imprisonment, self harm, illness, mental illness, death of grandparent, ableism, bullying, murder, animal death, violence, gun violence, rape (mention), death
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart
More mythological than horror, and honestly not sure I feel like it fits in well with the rest of the anthology. Surrounded by so many monsters and horrors, I kept waiting for something scary or unnerving to happen, but it really just felt like a little mythological tale. (I know this sounds weird with the content warnings below being what they are but I promise this makes sense.) I liked it though.
CW: electrocution, drowning, suicide (offscreen), alcohol consumption, death
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
I think this was one of the most jarring stories. I had my jaw dropped and my fists clenched for much of its reading. Powerful and clear. A lot but really good.
CW: child rape (graphic), trauma, grooming, alcohol consumption, car accident (mention), suicide (mention), racism, parental death (past), loss of spouse (past), cancer
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust
One of my favorites! I keep returning to this one in my mind. Its storytelling is very much my jam (I mean, anything sort of golem-core or death-core in this particular vibe is my jam.) I especially loved the poetic ambiguity of the ending and the shift in writing style in which to portray that ambiguity. It was emotionally and artistically charged in the right places and I just really enjoyed it.
CW: loss of sibling, grief, blood, death, homophobia, murder, gun violence, death
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rodgers
Wonderfully classic. It won't stick with me but mostly because it just felt like many old black-and-white horror movies.
CW: blood and gore, war, alcohol consumption, death of sibling (past), death, colonization, emesis, violence
Capgras by Tommy Orange
Another favorite of mine in the collection. There was something in its storytelling structure and style that reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe despite its decidedly un-gothic atmosphere. I definitely need to revisit and analyze this one because I felt like it was Doing and Saying a lot that I missed just due to my headspace when reading it. My critical thinking brain cells were not functioning properly, but I could tell this one was incredibly smart and cool and I'm certain I'm missing a lot of what makes it so smart and cool.
CW: alcohol consumption, hallucinations, blood, dead body
The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger
I've been so excited to read more of Darcie Little Badger's work since I encountered her writing in The Grimoire of Grave Fates earlier this year, and this story did not disappoint. Featuring a call to action and poignant reflection upon the horrors of the real world, this full-circle story was haunting and satisfying.
CW: death
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
Whereas some of these other stories created horror via an omission of knowledge, or with a journey into the unknown, this story freaked me out precisely because as soon as you pick it up, you know exactly where its headed. It felt like being on a high-speed train to hell, as you spend the story pleading for it to hit the brakes or veer off-course. Praying for some twist to arrive to save you from the dreaded destination, while knowing there's no way to avoid the inevitable.
CW: decapitation, dead bodies, murder (implied)
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice
What a great note to end this story on. Though I had to skim some parts due to its gore, this story was grotesquely powerful. In featuring a depiction of the land rising up to protect itself and those who care for it properly, this story properly sums up the exact reason why so many marginalized communities find comfort in horror. Because often times, as our horror is our every day lives, there's a comfort in aligning ourselves with the "monster". In using horror to face "othering" head on.
CW: torture, dismemberment, blood & gore, cannibalism, violence, colonization, alcohol consumption
Mini reviews for each story:
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
I read this first thing in the morning in full daylight and it still had me shivering and cowering into myself. I don't know what was scarier, the "monster" or the creepy white man who thinks the world is his toy box. I also already found myself referencing this story within a day or two after reading it, which is when you know a story has left a good impact.
CW: violence, body horror, blood & gore, colonization, dismemberment (mention), gun violence, murder, emesis
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
A new kind of horror: assimilation. I think this one was straight and to the point, but still creepy.
CW: racism, eugenics, blood, forced abortion, emesis, dismemberment (implied)
Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons
Honestly white gay men are fucking terrifying to me so this story was already filling me with dread from the first page.
CW: sexual content, rape, tooth horror (not graphic)
Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon
This one was honestly a bit forgettable to me. There was nothing about it that left me with a lingering fear, nothing that extended its claws beyond its pages. But I liked the writing.
CW: insects, abusive parent (physical), child abuse, emesis, animal death, dismemberment
Quantum by Nick Medina
At this point in the anthology, this one was my favorite read so far. The horror of this was one that was developed out of chosen and deliberate choices built out of delusion and it created such a wonderful tension in its reading experience.
CW: dead body, child neglect, needles, alcohol consumption (mention)
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau
Absolutely a standout in the collection. Such bold storytelling choices and such a unique voice. I loved Boudreau's way of creating an oddly happy horror by placing us in the mind of the monster, and asking what their horrors would look like.
CW: violent thoughts
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline
For some reason, I irrationally do not get along with Cherie Dimaline's writing style. The rhythm of it grates my brain and it genuinely gives me a headache every time I try to read one of her works. But the story itself was really really cool and there's much to analyze if you're a fan of her writing.
CW: blood & gore, insects, body/medical horror, death of parents
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson
I actually skipped this one. It tried to be experimental in its writing style but felt like it lacked deliberate choices. Rather than using the experimental writing to guide its readers through an unexpected terrain, its sentences were just meandering. They weren't run-ons but rather runaways, and it felt like the words were swimming on the page in front of me. I was just completely unable to track the train of thought or process what was being said and so I skipped it.
CW: did not read
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo
Oh my god. That was one of the most horrifying and fucked up thing I've ever read. It was just so gross and I had started the story with a hot chocolate in hand that was left unfinished. But it was really good and really intriguing and well written. Though I did notice a few important threads left open in an unsatisfying way at the end.
CW: racism, anti-indigenous slur, injury detail, body horror, illness, pregnancy, birth (on-page), animal death, blood & gore, emesis
Before I Go by Norris Black
I honestly keep forgetting about this one? It was good and haunting but was a little too direct. It's just not sticking with me.
CW: loss of spouse, death of mother, grief, body horror, death, animal death, blood & gore, dead body, cancer, alcohol consumption
Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris
My favorite in the whole anthology, hands down. I immediately fell in love with Morris's poetic prose and wonderful delicate writing style. Her poetry background was very apparent in how it helped create such specificity and tact in her craft. It reminded me of lacework somehow. In regards to the story: gothic haunted houses with the house as a character/metaphor is my literary bread and butter and this living chrysalis was such a brilliant use of that house trope. I wanted it to go on forever. I ate this one UP and I'll be returning to feast on its words time and again.
CW: insects, blood, emesis, miscarriage (mention)
Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk
A very traditional horror story (complimentary). It was horrifying and haunting, yet felt familiar and expected. I feel like if I imagined a horror story on a hunting trip it would be exactly this. But truly well-written nonetheless.
CW: animal death, blood & gore, body horror, tooth horror, insects, emesis, war (mention), colonization (mention)
Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford
I'm having a hard time placing my thoughts on this one. I think I liked what it was doing but the taste it left in my mouth was a little too helpless for me.
CW: murder, drugs, alcohol consumption, animal abandonment, imprisonment, suicidal thoughts, animal death, domestic abuse (mention), death of grandparent (past)
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp
This one keeps growing on me the more I think back on it. In the foreword, Stephen Graham Jones explains the impact of ambiguity in horror, especially indigenous horror, and I think Van Camp perfectly illustrated ambiguity and negative space as a tool of horror. I do wish its final note was a little more sour or off-putting rather than just being hopeful, but this really was a cool story.
CW: violence, imprisonment (mention), drugs (mention)
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf
Though it faded into the background for me, I thought this short story was a lovely ode to oral storytelling, the importance of generational memory, and the tradition of folklore as a way to pass on lessons and cautionary tales.
CW: colonization (mention), dismemberment (mention)
The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Really good. Really fucking weird. Certainly left an impression on me. I liked the writing style quite a bit, it was unique.
CW: decapitation, violence, gun violence, emesis
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power
Really emotionally evocative, haunting, and precious. I did really enjoy this one. It felt like it stood out tonally from a lot of the other stories.
CW: war (past), blood, violence, suicide (past), rape (mention), anti-indigenous racism
The Prepper by Morgan Talty
Not so much for me. I thought it had really nice writing and nice storytelling but I just don't find interest in doomsday prepper horror or zombie horror unless it's really spinning it on its head and this didn't. I also feel like I wasn't quite sure what it was saying about many of its topics (mental illness leading to violence, assisted suicide, etc.) and thought it needed further clarity on its point.
CW: assisted suicide, suicidal thoughts, imprisonment, self harm, illness, mental illness, death of grandparent, ableism, bullying, murder, animal death, violence, gun violence, rape (mention), death
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart
More mythological than horror, and honestly not sure I feel like it fits in well with the rest of the anthology. Surrounded by so many monsters and horrors, I kept waiting for something scary or unnerving to happen, but it really just felt like a little mythological tale. (I know this sounds weird with the content warnings below being what they are but I promise this makes sense.) I liked it though.
CW: electrocution, drowning, suicide (offscreen), alcohol consumption, death
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
I think this was one of the most jarring stories. I had my jaw dropped and my fists clenched for much of its reading. Powerful and clear. A lot but really good.
CW: child rape (graphic), trauma, grooming, alcohol consumption, car accident (mention), suicide (mention), racism, parental death (past), loss of spouse (past), cancer
Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust
One of my favorites! I keep returning to this one in my mind. Its storytelling is very much my jam (I mean, anything sort of golem-core or death-core in this particular vibe is my jam.) I especially loved the poetic ambiguity of the ending and the shift in writing style in which to portray that ambiguity. It was emotionally and artistically charged in the right places and I just really enjoyed it.
CW: loss of sibling, grief, blood, death, homophobia, murder, gun violence, death
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rodgers
Wonderfully classic. It won't stick with me but mostly because it just felt like many old black-and-white horror movies.
CW: blood and gore, war, alcohol consumption, death of sibling (past), death, colonization, emesis, violence
Capgras by Tommy Orange
Another favorite of mine in the collection. There was something in its storytelling structure and style that reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe despite its decidedly un-gothic atmosphere. I definitely need to revisit and analyze this one because I felt like it was Doing and Saying a lot that I missed just due to my headspace when reading it. My critical thinking brain cells were not functioning properly, but I could tell this one was incredibly smart and cool and I'm certain I'm missing a lot of what makes it so smart and cool.
CW: alcohol consumption, hallucinations, blood, dead body
The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger
I've been so excited to read more of Darcie Little Badger's work since I encountered her writing in The Grimoire of Grave Fates earlier this year, and this story did not disappoint. Featuring a call to action and poignant reflection upon the horrors of the real world, this full-circle story was haunting and satisfying.
CW: death
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
Whereas some of these other stories created horror via an omission of knowledge, or with a journey into the unknown, this story freaked me out precisely because as soon as you pick it up, you know exactly where its headed. It felt like being on a high-speed train to hell, as you spend the story pleading for it to hit the brakes or veer off-course. Praying for some twist to arrive to save you from the dreaded destination, while knowing there's no way to avoid the inevitable.
CW: decapitation, dead bodies, murder (implied)
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice
What a great note to end this story on. Though I had to skim some parts due to its gore, this story was grotesquely powerful. In featuring a depiction of the land rising up to protect itself and those who care for it properly, this story properly sums up the exact reason why so many marginalized communities find comfort in horror. Because often times, as our horror is our every day lives, there's a comfort in aligning ourselves with the "monster". In using horror to face "othering" head on.
CW: torture, dismemberment, blood & gore, cannibalism, violence, colonization, alcohol consumption
November 24, 2023
Wildly uneven collection:
1) Kushtuka, by Mathilda Zeller. Racist white guys slaughtered in a gore-fest by the mythological double of part-native Alaskan young woman… or by her? 3.0
2) White Hills, by Rebecca Roanhorse. To be part of elite white culture a woman will have to literally cut off part of her body that represents her part-Native ancestry… or does she use the knife for something else? 4.0
3) Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth, by Conley Lyons. A queer native young man gets into an abusive relationship with a domineering young white man who ultimately wants to literally extract something from the native body. 2.5
4) Wingless, by Marcie Rendon. Violently abusive foster mother gets violence returned by one of her fosters. 2.0
5) Quantum, by Nick Medina. A young mother dotes on her infant who meets the threshold of blood quantum to be enrolled in her tribe while neglecting her child whose blood quantum falls short and thus cannot be a tribal member; as a result this child transforms into something non-human. 4.0
6) Hunger, by Phoenix Boudreau. Mythological evil spirit possesses racist white frat boy, and two native young women defeat it. 2.0
7) Tick Talk, by Cherie Dimaline. Alienated young man returns home to stay with his father, after whose death the young man finally goes out on a traditional hunt as the father wanted, young man gets bitten by a surreally growing tick. 3.5
8) The Ones Who Killed Us, by Brandon Hobson. Surreal fever dream of prose and story, the ghosts of Cherokee take their vengeance on the ghosts of soldiers in the lands of the Cherokee reservation in an ever repeating cycle of anger and despair. 5.0
9) Snakes Are Born in the Dark, by D.H. Trujillo. Racist white guy disrespects ancient Indian rock carvings on a hike, he and his girlfriend are tortured all night as they walk back. 1.0
10) Before I Go, by Norris Black. Woman hikes to the cliff her fiancé fell to his death from, camps, and is visited at night by his phantom… and by Mother Night. 3.0
11) Night in the Chrysalis, by Tiffany Morris. Woman moves into new house. It doesn’t want her there. 2.0
12) Behind Colin’s Eyes, by Shane Hawk. A boy and his father go hunting a large elk, and the elk’s spirit takes possession of his body, leaving him only able to observe, imprisoned behind his eyes. 4.0
13) Heart-Shaped Clock, by Kelli Jo Ford. A family drama about abuse, neglect, a burning desire for a sense of belonging, that erupts into violence. 5.0
14) Scariest. Story. Ever., by Richard van Camp. Wanting a scary story to tell for a contest, a young man visits an elder and gets half of a scary story followed by a didactic lesson on honoring the community and its stories. 3.0
15) Human Eaters, by Royce K. Young Wolf. Grandma tells kids about seeing spirits, which most people can’t anymore “after all these white people and other ones who are backward without culture arrived here”. 1.5
16) The Longest Street in the World, by Theodore G. Van Alst Jr. Somewhat Tarantino-influenced urban crime story involving a demon-like figure who assists the tribal community. 2.5
17) Dead Owls, by Mona Susan Power. Teenage Dakota girl is attacked through her dreams by the vengeful ghost of Custer’s widow, and is rescued by the ghost of her gmom’s Japanese-American love interest during WWII internment. “Sometimes it’s convenient being Native - we’ve got a pretty high tolerance for weirdness.” 3.0
18) The Prepper, by Morgan Talty. On an island reservation which previously was the tribe’s burial ground, a young man becomes convinced the dead are about to return as zombies, as his grandfather simultaneously hovers near death from cancer. 4.0
19) Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning, by Kate Hart. A man is killed and his ghost hunts for the biker who killed him, while his friend’s ghost searches for him. 2.5
20) Sundays, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden. Fifty years after being abused at an Indian boarding school as a child, a man angrily confronts the retired priest who assaulted him. 4.5
21) Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected, by Carson Faust. After a woman’s brother is murdered, she and her medicine woman aunt reanimate him using mud and his ashes, with one eye on Christian mythos. 3.5
22) Night Moves, by Andrea L. Rogers. Werewolf tale set among American soldiers stationed in Germany. 2.0
23) Capgras, by Tommy Orange. In France to promote his new novel, a horrific buried memory starts to affect the author’s body and mind. 3.5
24) The Scientist’s Horror Story, by Darcie Little Badger. In a small group of scientists sharing horror stories, one woman’s story is about not winning a grant that would have helped a small native community, and asks if they have a future. 3.5
25) Collections, by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala. Native college student goes to party at house of her English professor and finds the professor has a collection of human heads on her walls, and wants to add to their diversity. 1.0
26) Limbs, by Waubgeshig Rice. Late 19th century Canada, a white businessman amputates and eats the toes of the native man he’d hired to show him around the woods; before he can continue, the woods come alive to kill him and drag his body into the earth. 1.5
1) Kushtuka, by Mathilda Zeller. Racist white guys slaughtered in a gore-fest by the mythological double of part-native Alaskan young woman… or by her? 3.0
2) White Hills, by Rebecca Roanhorse. To be part of elite white culture a woman will have to literally cut off part of her body that represents her part-Native ancestry… or does she use the knife for something else? 4.0
3) Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth, by Conley Lyons. A queer native young man gets into an abusive relationship with a domineering young white man who ultimately wants to literally extract something from the native body. 2.5
4) Wingless, by Marcie Rendon. Violently abusive foster mother gets violence returned by one of her fosters. 2.0
5) Quantum, by Nick Medina. A young mother dotes on her infant who meets the threshold of blood quantum to be enrolled in her tribe while neglecting her child whose blood quantum falls short and thus cannot be a tribal member; as a result this child transforms into something non-human. 4.0
6) Hunger, by Phoenix Boudreau. Mythological evil spirit possesses racist white frat boy, and two native young women defeat it. 2.0
7) Tick Talk, by Cherie Dimaline. Alienated young man returns home to stay with his father, after whose death the young man finally goes out on a traditional hunt as the father wanted, young man gets bitten by a surreally growing tick. 3.5
8) The Ones Who Killed Us, by Brandon Hobson. Surreal fever dream of prose and story, the ghosts of Cherokee take their vengeance on the ghosts of soldiers in the lands of the Cherokee reservation in an ever repeating cycle of anger and despair. 5.0
9) Snakes Are Born in the Dark, by D.H. Trujillo. Racist white guy disrespects ancient Indian rock carvings on a hike, he and his girlfriend are tortured all night as they walk back. 1.0
10) Before I Go, by Norris Black. Woman hikes to the cliff her fiancé fell to his death from, camps, and is visited at night by his phantom… and by Mother Night. 3.0
11) Night in the Chrysalis, by Tiffany Morris. Woman moves into new house. It doesn’t want her there. 2.0
12) Behind Colin’s Eyes, by Shane Hawk. A boy and his father go hunting a large elk, and the elk’s spirit takes possession of his body, leaving him only able to observe, imprisoned behind his eyes. 4.0
13) Heart-Shaped Clock, by Kelli Jo Ford. A family drama about abuse, neglect, a burning desire for a sense of belonging, that erupts into violence. 5.0
14) Scariest. Story. Ever., by Richard van Camp. Wanting a scary story to tell for a contest, a young man visits an elder and gets half of a scary story followed by a didactic lesson on honoring the community and its stories. 3.0
15) Human Eaters, by Royce K. Young Wolf. Grandma tells kids about seeing spirits, which most people can’t anymore “after all these white people and other ones who are backward without culture arrived here”. 1.5
16) The Longest Street in the World, by Theodore G. Van Alst Jr. Somewhat Tarantino-influenced urban crime story involving a demon-like figure who assists the tribal community. 2.5
17) Dead Owls, by Mona Susan Power. Teenage Dakota girl is attacked through her dreams by the vengeful ghost of Custer’s widow, and is rescued by the ghost of her gmom’s Japanese-American love interest during WWII internment. “Sometimes it’s convenient being Native - we’ve got a pretty high tolerance for weirdness.” 3.0
18) The Prepper, by Morgan Talty. On an island reservation which previously was the tribe’s burial ground, a young man becomes convinced the dead are about to return as zombies, as his grandfather simultaneously hovers near death from cancer. 4.0
19) Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning, by Kate Hart. A man is killed and his ghost hunts for the biker who killed him, while his friend’s ghost searches for him. 2.5
20) Sundays, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden. Fifty years after being abused at an Indian boarding school as a child, a man angrily confronts the retired priest who assaulted him. 4.5
21) Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected, by Carson Faust. After a woman’s brother is murdered, she and her medicine woman aunt reanimate him using mud and his ashes, with one eye on Christian mythos. 3.5
22) Night Moves, by Andrea L. Rogers. Werewolf tale set among American soldiers stationed in Germany. 2.0
23) Capgras, by Tommy Orange. In France to promote his new novel, a horrific buried memory starts to affect the author’s body and mind. 3.5
24) The Scientist’s Horror Story, by Darcie Little Badger. In a small group of scientists sharing horror stories, one woman’s story is about not winning a grant that would have helped a small native community, and asks if they have a future. 3.5
25) Collections, by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala. Native college student goes to party at house of her English professor and finds the professor has a collection of human heads on her walls, and wants to add to their diversity. 1.0
26) Limbs, by Waubgeshig Rice. Late 19th century Canada, a white businessman amputates and eats the toes of the native man he’d hired to show him around the woods; before he can continue, the woods come alive to kill him and drag his body into the earth. 1.5
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June 26, 2024My favorites were Morgan Talty’s and Tommy Orange’s but there was a lot of range!
September 22, 2023
BEST. ANTHOLOGY. EVER.
I didn’t want it to end so I forced myself to pace it out over days. God this was perfection
I didn’t want it to end so I forced myself to pace it out over days. God this was perfection
November 28, 2023
An absolute tragic mistake. I expected to be scared. I grew up on scary don’t do this at night or ever type of tradition. Very disappointing. Don’t cut your hair at night. Don’t whistle at night etc…..
It didn’t translate like I wanted it to. I’m Navajo and grew up with those stories with my uncle and I wanted that creepy scare factor and it didn’t deliver. It’s an urban Indians view on possibly a real story. Who knows.
I was not impressed
It didn’t translate like I wanted it to. I’m Navajo and grew up with those stories with my uncle and I wanted that creepy scare factor and it didn’t deliver. It’s an urban Indians view on possibly a real story. Who knows.
I was not impressed
January 6, 2024
This was the best horror anthology I read in 2023.
If you love horror and anthologies, this is for you! Each story was so unique and interesting and creepy, each reflecting a different aspect of the indigenous culture throughout. I personally loved this the most! It's not something I've seen done in other horror anthologies and really made this book standout even more amongst the rest!
I purchased this book with my cold hard cash and it's a favorite in my collection.
No spoilers here but one of my favorite stories involves a bully of a young man who eventually gives birth to a snake. Because YEAH!! Gnarly!!! Read it and love it!!
If you love horror and anthologies, this is for you! Each story was so unique and interesting and creepy, each reflecting a different aspect of the indigenous culture throughout. I personally loved this the most! It's not something I've seen done in other horror anthologies and really made this book standout even more amongst the rest!
I purchased this book with my cold hard cash and it's a favorite in my collection.
No spoilers here but one of my favorite stories involves a bully of a young man who eventually gives birth to a snake. Because YEAH!! Gnarly!!! Read it and love it!!
March 8, 2024
This was excellent. I am not always into short story collections, but every single story in this book was good. I listened to the audiobook which had a number of voice actors, all were excellent. I'm glad I have a physical copy for re-reading. I think the title "dark fiction" is a great description, the stories were spooky, eerie, unsettling, mysterious, and always interesting. I definitely found some new to me authors that I'd like to read more of their work. All around worth all the praise it's gotten, definitely pick this one up.
Check out some of the other reviews for more trigger warnings, but I did almost skip the story Sundays as it was about child rape/grooming/pedophilia and had some graphic moments. But the overall story arc was interesting and it was a powerful story.
Check out some of the other reviews for more trigger warnings, but I did almost skip the story Sundays as it was about child rape/grooming/pedophilia and had some graphic moments. But the overall story arc was interesting and it was a powerful story.
July 17, 2023
Normally a short story collection is a fast read. This was not. From the foreword, you're told to sort of suspend your expectations, how the stories can end inconclusively and are handed off like 'Have this.' You really have to remember that throughout because some of the stories here end abruptly and yeah, now it's yours and enjoy. That can be hard to resolve when you're used to things that end with a clear finish.
The other thing I found with this book was the difference in stories. It's a "Dark Fiction Anthology" but some of these are edge of your seat spooky then sad, some are just generally sad, some are unsettling, some even have funny moments mixed in with the tension (The Longest Street in the World, for example. I just found the idea of the Junior arguing with this murderous entity laughable, despite the context of the story.). There is such a breadth of difference that you just find all the emotions and the ones in between while navigating this book.
The Prepper and Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning for example, both were beautiful stories in different ways and both broke my heart. Collections, Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth and Tick Talk set my heart racing and we so unsettling. Dead Owls straddled both, being so unsettling then finishing with a kick in the emotions.
The one that is really living rent free in my head is Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller. I've been revisiting the story, wrapping my head around Tapeesa's experience and that ending. Sometimes I can resolve it with the 'It just be like that sometimes' meme and other times I'm still staring down this story like 'ok but how?!' This was also the first story in the book. It just started with a winner.
I also have to give special mention to Stephen Graham Jones' foreword. It is arguably one of the best forewords I've read. It felt so like a conversation and invitation to this suspended belief world. Like a written version of the start of a Twilight Zone episode. It was funny, casual, bursting with language that set this almost campfire, holding a light under your chin tone. It opened up in a brilliant way for an excellent set of stories.
There's a bit in Dead Owls where the narrator says "Sometimes it's convenient being Native -- we've got a pretty high tolerance for weirdness" and that sums it up really. Just embrace the unended stories and expect weirdness and a bombardment of emotions.
The other thing I found with this book was the difference in stories. It's a "Dark Fiction Anthology" but some of these are edge of your seat spooky then sad, some are just generally sad, some are unsettling, some even have funny moments mixed in with the tension (The Longest Street in the World, for example. I just found the idea of the Junior arguing with this murderous entity laughable, despite the context of the story.). There is such a breadth of difference that you just find all the emotions and the ones in between while navigating this book.
The Prepper and Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning for example, both were beautiful stories in different ways and both broke my heart. Collections, Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth and Tick Talk set my heart racing and we so unsettling. Dead Owls straddled both, being so unsettling then finishing with a kick in the emotions.
The one that is really living rent free in my head is Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller. I've been revisiting the story, wrapping my head around Tapeesa's experience and that ending. Sometimes I can resolve it with the 'It just be like that sometimes' meme and other times I'm still staring down this story like 'ok but how?!' This was also the first story in the book. It just started with a winner.
I also have to give special mention to Stephen Graham Jones' foreword. It is arguably one of the best forewords I've read. It felt so like a conversation and invitation to this suspended belief world. Like a written version of the start of a Twilight Zone episode. It was funny, casual, bursting with language that set this almost campfire, holding a light under your chin tone. It opened up in a brilliant way for an excellent set of stories.
There's a bit in Dead Owls where the narrator says "Sometimes it's convenient being Native -- we've got a pretty high tolerance for weirdness" and that sums it up really. Just embrace the unended stories and expect weirdness and a bombardment of emotions.
September 8, 2023
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology was ridiculously addictive. Most of the stories in here are wild and horrific. There are so many triggers, but the best books usually have trigger warnings. These short stories have you feeling all of the feelings, some are creepy, most are sad, and not every story will have a clear ending. Each story had so much heart and soul put into it. This is a book that I want to get a physical copy of to keep on my shelves for years to come. You need to get your hands on this one! It's out 9/19/23.
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC and giving me the chance to read and review it honestly.
Happy reading!
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC and giving me the chance to read and review it honestly.
Happy reading!
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