| Title | : | Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0593468465 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780593468463 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 416 |
| Publication | : | Expected publication September 19, 2023 |
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.
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology Reviews
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ARC received!! How excited do you think I am about this?!
Yeah, I'm that excited. Thank you so much to the publisher, Penguin Random House, for my copy!!
Original:
Ahhhhh, this sounds amazing. An incredible group of authors contributing and an introduction by one of my all-time faves, Stephen Graham Jones!
Just read the synopsis. You'll definitely want to add this one to your TBR!! -
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 book 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. -
Happy 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.
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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 -
Buddy read with
Malli! 🖤 -
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. -
(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
I don't consider myself a horror person, but I found myself quickly and unexpectedly absorbed in "Never Whistle at Night." I appreciate how the anthology gave me such a wide-ranging exposure to this particular segment of the genre. The distinct indigenous perspectives through which these stories were all crafted made for an experience that was unlike any I've had. As it turns out, I do enjoy reading that has a little bit of darkness and scare mixed in. Or at least, it appears that I enjoy horror stories that deliver chills mixed in with themes of identity, colonization, and similar subject matters that I can mentally chew on for while.
I would love to read another collection if one where to be edited together. In the meantime, I have plans to revisit this anthology again when October rolls around. -
NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT is a collection of indigenous dark fiction and horror by a variety of indigenous authors—some known to me, like Rebecca Roanhorse and Tommy Orange, and others not. Some stories were funny at times, some were definitely scary, and some stories in the collection were hard to read. But I think that a short story collection that speaks to the wide range of indigenous experiences and can explore the darker aspects of their history, tales, and stories is important. My favorite from the collection was definitely Kushtuka, which Kirkus also pointed out as a stand out story.
If you enjoy horror and dark fiction this would be a good option to pick up this spooky season! NWAN releases Sept 19! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC. -
This was a great collection of short stories. All around, there was a lot of variety in the styles of writing and story telling, which I appreciated. A lot of the stories did have the similar themes of colonialism, tradition, and family. I did wonder if there was a prompt given to these authors ahead of time or if that is just coincidental as a recurring set of themes in Indigenous storytelling (at least from what I've read). Because many of the themes were so similar, this wasn't something I could sit down and read from end-to-end, but worked out a lot better when I read a story or two per day.
My favorite stories were from Rebecca Roanhorse and Cherie Dimaline. The only thing that I think could have made this better was if it was expanded to include Indigenous people from around the world, as I believe this was mainly focused on the Western Hemisphere (I believe).
Overall a great anthology, but a really hard one to rate considering I felt different about each and every story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy in exchange for an honest review. -
ARC received from Netgalley and I appreciate the chance to review this wonderful collection! Some descriptions may contain spoilers.
I would highly recommend this book, there’s a little something for everyone all of the stories are very well done.
Kushtuka- I love Sedna’s mythology, but it’s really just a back drop for this story of wealthy white men trying to take what they want from the land and the native people. And a creature who will stop that.
White Hill-a woman has to deal with racism after climbing through the social ladder and make a very hard choice. The mother in law is a complete monster.
Navajos don’t wear elk teeth-an LGBTQ story with a douse of the familial past. Joey meets a hot guy for a summer fling, but he has a strange collection of teeth..
Wingless-a boy who tore the wings from flies stands up to his foster parents to save the narrator.
Quantum-a mother neglects one of her children for the other child who has more of the Blood in them, going to great lengths to try and increase that percentage.
Hunger-a wehtigo invades one of the empty men at a party and spots one of the People it wants to feast on, she has other plans.
Tick talk-a man who left his family deals with the loss of both his parents by going hunting, something becomes attached to him.
The ones who killed us-this one was a little hard to read with the formatting, but looking back it did add to the story. The ending was wonderful.
Snakes are born in the dark-a native and his cousin go hiking with her disrespectful boyfriend and meet the consequences of disrespecting ancestors. I love these type of stories.
Before I go-a woman goes to the site of her fiancé’s death and encounters some otherworldly visits, not the least of those being the Night Mother.
Night in the chrysalis-cece inherits her family home, but there seem to be spirits still residing there.
Behind Colin’s eyes- a great father and son hunting story with a touch of “possession” and the familial connections revealed through the story added a nice touch. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time for Tiny!
Heart-shaped clock-brothers connected after a life time being raised by other parents. The subtle jealousies come out and one brother has a bad reaction after a robbery at their mothers store.
Scariest. Story. Ever.-a story teller taking his stories from his people. His uncle starts to tell him the scariest story ever and it takes a heart warming/stopping turn.
Human eaters-a tale told around the fire while a family prepares some steaks and drinks in their familial lore.
The longest street in the world-Louis and Junior deal with a robbery at Louis’s family store. Only Louis isn’t just a person and the poor their finds that out the hard way.
Dead owls-this was pretty creepy and lovely at the same time. The main character’s relationship with his aunt is super sweet, but the “plague of owls” was very creepy!
The prepper-the way that a caring grandfather accepts his grandchild’s love of zombie films and then their idea of the coming apocalypse is sweet. The way the narrator comes to terms with their mental illness from different time periods is interesting too.
Uncle Robert rides the lightning- This is a heart-wrenching history of family that became something more, friends. The riding the lightning and Greg helping those along their path at the end really gets you.
Sundays-a terrible transgression by a priest in an Indian boarding school comes back to haunt and consume Thomas, one of his victims who grew up. The death of Thomas’s wife brings back this old pain and he goes to confront his abuser 50 years later.
Eulogy for a brother, resurrected- The death of a brother and working with her rootworker Aunt, brings about a great act. Showed how an LGBTQ+ person may feel in the small town, and still live authentically.
Night moves-A German wartime werewolf story with a group of American soldiers trying to escape with their lives. I love a good werewolf story.
Capgras-while in Paris, Tom is doing a series of interviews about his new book, but it seems like something was lost/changed in the translation.
The scientists horror story-Anders tells a horror story while at dinner with some of his colleagues, is it true like he claims?
Collections-Megiddo goes to a party held by her professor and discovers her collection of heads, all from students she has helped succeed.
Limbs-Makwa must survive being captured by Carter and deal with Carter’s hate. Makwa is brutally disfigured before being saved. -
Never Whistle at Night is an indigenous dark fiction anthology that hits hard. I haven’t had nightmares from reading horror in a while but this one did it for me. It’s a collection with a broad variety of stories ranging from acts of desperation and revenge as well as complex family histories and legacies, to the fantastical with hauntings, curses and creatures.
There is a really good variety here. White Hills and Quantum were really interesting to me because they tackle a similar idea of enthnic purity from different angles and were both incredibly chilling and unsettling. Limbs, you can guess what it involves from the title, was the one that gave me a nightmare, it was one that stayed with me. Scariest. Story. Ever., is about a scary story finalist gathering the scariest stories from their community and was really enjoyable and heartfelt. Then there’s the darkly humorous story, The Longest Street in the World, about a protective entity. It’s overall a really solid collection. I would kind of love a follow up with indigenous stories from around the world.
This anthology is for people looking for an unsettling, chilling read along with stories that have dark humor and stories that are poignant and reflective. If you enjoy diverse reads and own voices stories with these elements you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
What a great collection. Many new authors that I was not aware of (listed below). As expected, not anything can be assumed. Some stories end abruptly, some are so scary or funny or sad that I needed to take a break. This is a book that you will revisit and share with others - basically exactly what an Anthology should be !
As the writers are all indigenous there is a theme of colonialism, racism, and violence. Identity is always addressed in some way.
This is truly an example of an excellent work of art that you never knew you needed! Get this immediately and share widely.
Stories come from:
#NorrisBlack #AmberBlaeserWardzala #PhoenixBoudreau #CherieDimaline #CarsonFaust #KelliJoFord #KateHart #ShaneHawk #BrandonHobson #DarcieLittleBadger #ConleyLyons #NickMedina #TiffanyMorris #TommyOrange #MonaSusanPower #MarcieRRendon #WaubgeshigRice #RebeccaRoanhorse #AndreaLRogers #MorganTalty #DHTrujillo #TheodoreCVanAlstJr. #RichardVanCamp #DavidHeskaWanbliWeiden #RoyceYoungWolf #MathildaZeller. #PenguinRandomHouse #Penguinbooks #Vintage -
*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.
I don't generally read anthologies, short stories aren't really my thing. But the premise of this one was too good to not take a look at. Indigenous authors, writing dark fiction (which I kinda also see some crossover with horror but I don't think all stories in this quite fit that), showing me different perspectives and fears that may be out there that I would have never imagined from my lived experiences. And that's the best part about books, learning about people with different experiences than you.
This collection was carefully curated and I can say that I enjoyed nearly all of them. From the sense of the "other" or "replaced", to those that were supernatural in theme, to those that were the everyday horror and abuse that we inflict on each other without the need of monsters. Some were unexpected, with elements pulled from the people rather than the place being the catalyst of the darkness. Others embraced the dark and used it to help restore order or justice. Or they have recognized the dark in one's own self (Kushtuka). One that really stuck with me was Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth, mainly because of how quickly relationships can turn sour or power dynamics instituted. Before I Go was another, with it's heavy notes around loss. Quantum was just depressing (side note, these stories can contain strong themes like child abuse, neglect, abuse, etc.).
Some were somewhat unresolved, which isn't my favorite but can appreciate others enjoy the chance to leave up to interpretation. But overall, this is a collection that has a lot of powerful themes, one of them being a sense of protecting community. I enjoyed getting to see these different perspectives, mythology, and shared experiences.
Review by M. Reynard 2023 -
First time reading an anthology and first time reading indigenous dark fiction… loved every minute of it.
Never Whistle at Night is a collection of different style stories- some horror and some are sad and unsettling. The first story- Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller was a great start to the book. It really captivated you and made you want to read more and more… even if you knew you would probably not be able to sleep with the light off.
The best part of this being an anthology is you can put the book down after a story and start back up later without skipping a beat. I am excited to re-read this during spooky season. The curses, creatures, spirits were very scary. The way indigenous people were and are treated .. even scarier.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date is September 19, 2023. -
Never Whistle at Night is a phenomenal collection of short stories by Indigenous people. I thoroughly enjoyed each story (some more than others). While not all of them really scratched the HORROR itch I have, I still enjoyed every story.
Absolutely a collection worth checking out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. -
An amazing selection of short stories ranging from absolutely terrifying to really sad reflective tales. Some of the stories are particularly haunting and had a lasting impact on me. I took my time to read this over several weeks rather than reading them back to back. Definitely recommend this collection, i loved how unique each writer is and how different the stories were in subject and tone.
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AHHHHHHHHHHH! When I tell you I choked on my water when this Netgalley approval came through, I'm not exaggerating. This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year, and it did NOT disappoint! Never Whistle at Night is set to hit shelves on September 19, 2023, and it's a collection of stories featuring indigenous stories and narratives penned by Tiffany Morris, Morgan Talty, Andrea L. Rogers, Rebecca Roanhorse, Shane Hawk, Kelli Jo Ford, Tommy Orange, and so many other fantastic native authors. Their writing invoked a level of fear and horror that I'll be thinking about from now until forever, and I can't wait for spooky season so I can pick this baby up again for the ultimate scare!
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*I received an ARC copy from Netgalley*
This collection of dark indigenous tales beautifully married the horrors of reality and in fiction throughout each tale. I enjoyed every story in this collection, but some of my favorites were; Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala, The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger, The Prepper by Morgan Talty, Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power, Scariest. Story. Ever by Richard Van Camp, and Before I Go by Norris Black. This book took me a bit longer to read than other books only due to it being a short story collection. With each story being its each individual complete tale, it took me a minute to switch from one story to the next as I wanted to make sure I thoroughly enjoyed each story on its own. -
I'm not the biggest fan of collections of stories but this was super good. Spooky, atmospheric, and some were downright terrifying. I loved the use of indigenous culture for these as well. Every story was beautifully written and had it's own unique touch.
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"Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms...But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause spirits to appear-and even follow you home."
-Shane Hawk
"Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology" edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., with an excellent forward by Stephen Graham Jones, consists of 26 short stories covering themes of tradition, colonization, family, ghosts, curses and hauntings. Many stories are spine tingling and unsettling. Some are conclusive, others open-ended. They are diverse in nature, heartfelt, sometimes sad.
My favorite short stories in this collection are:
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice
"In the late 19th Century land was encroached upon by settlers empowered and encouraged by the newly confederated country called Canada, at the expense of people like Makwa, his community and the land they called home." Makwa as an Anishinaabe guide, would lead Carter, a surveyor, to try to discover land to build an all-purpose outpost for logging, fishing, and fur trading, a place to "dig gold outta the ground or turn the trees into money." Makwa worried, "if the trees are cut down, you won't see moose no more...you've got no respect for this place." A scuffle...Makwa restrained...a polished dagger. "A strong gust blew across, broaching the enclave of evergreen trees that surrounded the cabin."
Night of the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris
"A new life: So came this first night in the chrysalis of the empty house. Each room contained the ghosts of future memories." A doll was found on the floor, left behind by a child. A singsong voice entered the new owner's thoughts. "A woman stared...two void black eyes, screaming sockets howling...this has always been my house. The house is living. The house is watching. The house desires."
Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk
An eleven year old, hunting with his dad is on a mission to snag Sargent Rock, the all-powerful elk that always flees." A whistle rings out...probably just the harsh wind." "The vague outline of a figure walking between the trees...we've still got to be the hunter if we can avoid being hunted." "I'm certain something evil is in these woods...the air tastes metallic-the pain hits me...I look at my left hand....there are nails, sort of. They're white and curve like mini-elk horns."
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power
A sensitive preteen girl visits her Aunt Phyllis in South Dakota during summer vacation. They go to see Stephen King's "The Shining". Aunt Phyllis wraps herself in a heavy green blanket in the theatre. "When you've seen a good horror film, your senses open up, like you're a bug with a thousand feelers. I can't shake the feeling that someone's watching me...a chilling sensation." I sleep and dream, covered with the green blanket. Aunt Phyllis lives in the United Tribes housing which used to be Fort Lincoln, an internment camp for "enemy aliens" during WWII...we were considered "enemy aliens" in our own territory not long ago. In my dream, "I see the fort up close, columns of men on horseback-I'm being pulled along by Libby, General Custer's widow. I want 'out' of this dream".
The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger
At the Annual Oceanographic, Environmental and Planetary Conference, three scientists discuss the escapism created by horror stories. "Being a grown-up horror fan is rough. I can't suspend disbelief anymore." Dr. Anders Lilley, geologist, indicates that he experienced "true horror" that really happened. But did it? A friend from the past called Anders with a public health dilemma. Five patients at St. Mary's Hospital in New Mexico had succumbed to the destruction of their DNA, soon after visiting the stables in the ghost town of Pinot, a town abandoned in the mid-twentieth century. Anders wearing protective gear and with geiger counter in hand, goes to Pinot to evaluate the possibility of radioactivity in the stables. The interior walls were spray-painted. "A flock of stenciled-precise crows spiraled around a jagged plank size hole...as if being sucked into the darkness. A portrait of a missing girl, adjacent to the crows, adorned the stable wall.
It is hoped that these five highlighted stories will intrigue readers to check out this beautifully written anthology, one to be savored slowly! Highly recommended.
Thank you Penguin Random House/Vintage and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller - 3.5 stars
A group of white men hire some natives to take them on a hunting trip in the tundra, while the main character must go to their lodge to cook, clean, tell “native stories” and brush off unwanted advances from the old white men. One of the stories she tells them comes for blood.
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse - 5 stars
A mixed race woman marries into the wrong kind of money and doesn’t realize until she falls pregnant.
Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons - 4 stars
A man is approached by a mysterious out of towner as he stares down the barrel of a lonely summer. They begin an immediately toxic relationship.
Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon - 4 stars
A sadistic child copes with abuse at the hands of his foster parents by pulling the wings off of flies.
Quantum by Nick Medina - 4 stars
A woman favours her younger son with a high blood quantum and neglects the elder son to the point that she doesn’t realize what he really is.
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau - 5 stars
In which a woman greets the predator stalking her with “Hey, big ugly.”
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline - 3.5 stars
A man returns home after the death of his mother. When his father passes, he honours his memory with a final hunt.
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson - 3 stars
The spirits of slain women come back to seek vengeance on the colonizers.
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo
Body horror. A man gives birth to a rattlesnake.
There are 16 other stories I did not get the chance to read, but will if I ever get the chance. -
**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**
Actual rating: 3.5
Editors Shane Hawk and Theodore C Van Alst Jr compile 26 tales of dark Indigenous fiction in their anthology, Never Whistle at Night. Some of the stories lean toward horror or more spooky where all of the stories have a darker tone and content. Some stories do feature gore or other sensitive content, and readers should consider that this is a collection intended for adult audiences.
As with all anthologies, the stories tend to come as a mixed bag. I will say that none of the stories here fell below 3 star rating individually for me, but likewise none exceeded 4 star. Highlight stories for me includes the stories by: Conley Lyons, Richard Van Camp, Mona Susan Power, Morgan Talty, Carson Faust, and Darcie Little Badger. I was especially pleased with this turnout as most of my favored stories came from new-to-me authors and I will have to delve deeper into their other works.
Hawk and Van Alst did a lovely job balancing the different types of dark fiction between a more social inclined horror to supernatural to gore and all over in between. I was also grateful to have representation from a wide variety of Native contributors both in Tribal affiliation and in "big name" versus less well known writers.
I would absolutely recommend this book to horror or dark literary readers who enjoy these sorts of stories or who hope to be introduced to more Indigenous writers this upcoming spooky season. -
Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Vintage for providing me with an eARC of this book, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The foreword by Stephen Graham Jones for this is great. It is the perfect introduction for a collection such as this one and I think the quote above sums it up pretty well. It needs to be stated that this is technically a “dark fiction” collection. So, if you read a story and you wouldn’t generally classify it as horror, it’s because it is slotted some other way into the theme of dark fiction. I appreciate this because I know I like dark fiction, but I am still trying to sort out what I like in the horror genre. So, if you’re looking for a purely horror collection, this is not that.
There are a variety of themes in here ranging from colonization and identity, to the darkness withing ourselves and others. It speaks to community and nature, vengeance and brotherhood. Basically, there is a lot in here to chew on for awhile. I wouldn’t recommend just reading through this. I would say read one or two a day over the course of a month or so. Some of these stories demand to be considered for more than just a fleeting moment after you finish it.
My favorites were from Mathilda Zeller, D. H. Trujillo, Norris Black, and Carson Faust. There were a lot of really solid stories in here though and I think that it is an excellent book to pick up for the upcoming spooky season. -
First off - Is this not the best cover!? When I saw there was an "Indigenous dark fiction anthology" I knew I needed to read it. I grew up with my grandmother always reading Indigenous stories to me, so I've always enjoyed the lore surrounding different tribes and their mythology. This book is SO good! 26 stories to keep you entertained and just in time to get in the mood for spooky season. I truly enjoyed each story. Each story was really different and there were so many different dark themes covered. The diversity in the storytelling makes the book appeal to everyone. You cannot go in expecting iterations of the same tale. Some are more traditional horror, but some really provoke a visceral reaction. I also liked the variety in story length. Some were shorter (10 minute read), some were longer (30 min read), but they all came together in a nice way.
This is hands down my favorite anthology book I've read and I think it's a perfect book to get you in the mood for spooky season! My favorite stories included Kushtuka, Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth, Snakes Are Born in the Dark (hiking will never be the same), Sundays (wow, was this emotionally intense!), and Collections. I will not be forgetting these stories any time soon.
I would love to see another anthology of Indigenous stories like this in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC! This is my first ever review for NetGalley and it set the bar really high! -
Do you like ghost stories that can easily be told around a campfire? This is precisely that vibe. Stories passed down for generations like the Boogeyman or Big Foot all had to come from somewhere, right? The Irish have leprechauns. The Scottish have the Loch Ness Monster. But did you ever think about what monsters lurk in Indigenous people's stories?
Never Whistle at Night is a collection of stories, all written by Indigenous authors, that weave fact and fiction. And yes, I am sticking to my saying there is fact in these stories; historical facts that way too often are ignored. It took me a lot longer than usual to finish this book. Quite often I’d stop to Google certain words or monsters because I was so curious about their origins.
Often the uncomfortableness in a story wasn’t even the monster at all. It was humans themselves. This is why I believe this book is an important and influential voice that a lot of us need to pay more attention to.
Trigger warnings? Absolutely. Take your pick. They’re all there...
I recommend this book to everyone! But primarily to people who like to gasp, eyes wide open, mouth agape, appalled by the horror of monsters and humanity.
Thank you to @NetGalley , @vintageanchorbooks, an imprint of @penguinrandomhouse for this free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review -
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House - Vintage for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I loved this anthology. This is the first time I've dipped my toe in a short story anthology and I was engulfed by these stories. I will add a trigger warning that a lot of these stories deal with themes of abuse (child, sexual, emotional, physical, etc.). This abuse is often directly related to the absolute horror of residential schools.
Honestly, this story had me writing down the name of every author so I could follow their careers and read the novels they've written. I loved that these stories ranged from all over the US and Canada. There was so much rich culture and history within these pages, that I already know I'm buying a copy for my husband for Christmas.
If you're a fan of spooky thrillers and stories that make you think, then this is the book for you. An anthology like this reminds me of why I love reading so much. I love a book or a story that makes me uncomfortable and makes me want to learn more. These stories are great gateways into indigenous work and history. -
Horror Heauxs!
Back with another book review, and this one is a must-read.
5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am not always fond of anthologies. They can feel disjointed, and as someone with ADHD, I find myself struggling to slip from one story into another.
However, when I saw the cover for this, I knew immediately that I had to read it. I am so glad I was granted an advance copy.
Firstly- this *is* horror. In the truest and purest form, the horrors that have haunted our bones and this land long before we knew what name to call them. Each of these stories is different, proving again that Indigenous people are not a monolith, and that there is so much diversity, even within the horror community. I had to stop reading this at night, truth be told. Each story made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and made the howl of the coyotes sound far more ominous than I'm used to. I have gotten up to double lock my doors three nights in a row, knowing that which I fear wouldn't be deterred by locks.
Pre-order this. And while you're at it, consider purchasing some Indigenous-sourced sage or cedar- because you're going to want it. Trust me, on both counts. -
I read an eARC Never Whistle at Night a short story anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House.
This short story collection is amazing! My favorites are everything from the teenaged guy who gives birth to a rattlesnake, to a chorus of indigenous ghosts who follow the white men who murdered them with a great ending, Scariest. Story. Ever. Which is just perfect, and the one with the professor who has human heads, instead of animal heads, mounted on her wall.
These stories by indigenous authors range from darkly humorous, to thought-provoking, to gut-wrenching. In a world where I feel like a lot of horror is bent on certain motifs with new coats of paint, this short story collection breathed life into horror again. Even if parts of the stories might feel familiar, certain anxieties the stories dredged up, and the overall paths the stories told often felt fresh and exciting and all the more horrific.
I am very glad I read this. -
I saw this on NetGalley and had to request it! I was so excited when I was approved and I wasn’t disappointed. I have never read an anthology before but I loved this! I mean, look at that cover! I definitely judge books by their covers (I’m sorry but I do) and that is what grabbed my attention.
This is a book full of Indigenous dark fiction stories. It is perfect for spooky season coming up! 👻 I have heard a lot of Appalachian folklore stories and they are usually spooky and make me run into my house super fast if I’m out after dark. 😅
These stories are definitely creepy and made me a little scared at night. Some of my favorites were Kushtuka, White Hills, Snakes are Born in the Dark, and Heart-Shaped Clock.
From Shane Hawk’s website, “A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the question: “Are you ready to be un-settled?””
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for a honest review. -
4.5 stars
I LOVED this native horror anthology!!! Right off the bat - I love horror, and I love native storytelling - so I was already excited when I was approved for an ARC and but I was thrilled after reading the first story - Kushtuka - which I am going to be thinking about for a long time. Honestly, I'm going to be re-reading and mulling.over all these tales for a long time. It took me a while to get through because I wanted to take the time to digest each one before moving onto the next. I'm honored to read such haunting and well-crafted tales from incredibly talented Native writers from all across the continent. Their passion for their peoples comes through in each of the stories, making me feel it too. Many of their other writings have been added to my TBR, if they weren't there already. Crossing my fingers for a second anthology please!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
