The Woman in the Woods is a multi-author, multi-artist anthology of Native American fables, and I love that it starts with an explicitly trans pride/two-spirit story. Even though it's the only queer story in the anthology, it sets the tone and immediately shows the reader an aspect of modern Native culture.

Additional stories include a trickster tale, "monster" stories that encourage compassion for differences, and por quoi stories (why the rabbit has a short tail, how a real location got its name, etc.)

The stories are very short and often lack a resolution that will satisfy a white/European audience, but do get the reader to think about the story long after it ends. Oftentimes the story is framed by a modern storyteller + listener, which emphasizes that Native Americans live here and now and not just in the past. I admit that I was disappointed at first by the black-and-white artwork (young readers prefer bright colors), but the art itself is gorgeous and cohesive across the different artists.

I'm so glad I was able to get my hands on this anthology! This is a breathe of fresh air in a world saturated with different versions of the same stories. It's a treat to be able to read folklore from a new culture. The stories are tinged with hope, curiosity and sometimes a bit of darkness. While folklore is usually an oral tradition, this graphic novel is a great way to convey these rich stories to a wider audience.

Book 189 of 200 ~ 2023

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I have always been fascinated by other cultures and their folklore/fables/beliefs, etc.

This graphic novel was beautifully done - witty and an intriguing mix of stories.

Thoroughly enjoyed this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories by Kate Ashwin, Kel McDonald, and Alina Pete is a graphic novel and the fifth volume of the “Cautionary Fables and Fairytales” anthology series. I have not seen the previous volumes, but I will be on the lookout for them. Loup Garrou, trickster rabbits, and spirits with names that can’t be spoken — the plains and forests of North America are alive with characters like these, all waiting to meet you in this collection of folklore from tribes spanning the continent retold in comics.

The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories is a lovely collection of stories. I thought the artwork was a great pairing with the stories and did a wonderful job of telling the stories. I had heard or read a few legends that touched on the same ideas, but I had never seen these exact tales before, which always makes me happy. I thought that there was much respect and honor tied into the stories, which is not always the case in folklore or legend collections. I thought the variety of tales, and the skill they were told with were fantastic. My only complaint is that I wanted more, which I can partially solve by finding the other volumes of this series.

It was very entertaining and rich of culture. It's nice getting to know folklores from other place. The cover also looks appealing. Thank you Netgalley and Iron Circus Comics

Fables and Fairytales? Yes please.
Indigenous stories? Even better.
Beautiful color palette? Swoon.

This lovely book checks all the boxes.

While the art style changes, the heart of the story does not. Some folklore seems familiar, while others seem ery new.

This is my first time with this series, and would definitely be interested in checking out more from it.

THE WOMAN IN THE WOODS AND OTHER NORTH AMERICAN STORIES is a collection of re-imagined folklore by indigenous authors and illustrators. The nations represented include: Odawa, Chickasaw, Métis, Cree, Ojibwe, Taino, Navajo, S'Kallam.

As with any short story collection, there were some I really liked and others that weren't my favorite, but I always like hearing different voices and seeing such variety of art styles. I find that Native mythology isn't really taught here in the USA unless you seek it out specifically. This would be a great introduction for a younger reader. A quick and accessible read that will hopefully a jumping off point to seeking out more.

***Thank you to Letter Better Publishing Services and Iron Circus Comics for providing me with the ePub for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.

It was a cute bunch of stories. Some definitely drew me in more because they hooked me from the beginning, and some of the others definitely felt like they ended too early. But other than that, I liked it and the art was nice to see too!

These were beautiful stories and reminds me so much of my nanny telling stories of her people when I was young. I only wish they were in colour for the final release!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I flew right through this collection and was thoroughly entertained the whole time. The stories were informative, entertaining, representative, and interesting. Also being a reconnecting native, I enjoyed getting to read these stories and seeing this art by a collective of native people. There were even some tribes represented that I had not managed to read from yet, like Odawa, so that was nice. It’s a wonderful way for people to realize and recognize that tribes are all different and I think this collection shows that while still tying us all together.

For the content of each story, I think each holds it’s own and have a place to shine equally. With a lot of collections there will be some that dramatically outshine the others and this one feels like a fairly level playing field, where people’s favorites might just be the one they can relate to the most rather than what’s most well written or entertaining because they each have those qualities.

Each story also stays fairly on theme by being a cautionary tale or fable. Maybe not so much the first one, but I can see it for plenty of the others. It is also rich with diversity from the authors, illustrators, etc which is very exciting. It might not be represented in each story or given highlight, but knowing who these stories came from gives them a whole new life.

This is aimed for middle grade readers and I think it would be the perfect book. Each are fairly simple to follow, and with it being a quick read, I can see it holding their attention. The illustrations are also beautiful and provide some added input for more visual readers. My one complaint is that in a few of the stories it was hard to tell the order of dialogue. It’s not a major issue to get back on track but it does take you out of the story. I found this most notable in the story “The Rougarou.”

What I also liked about this for middle grade readers was that even if it does get into cautionary tales, it does so without being too heavy or dark or with tons of triggers. That leaves the door wide open for most readers and can be something on the lighter side for them to consume while also providing context into indigenous cultures and entertainment. I can see kids really enjoying this collection, and even adults, like myself.

With a wide variety of stories, there is something for everyone.

TW: guns, hints at death, death, injured animal.
Rep: two-spirit, trans, non-binary authors.
Tribes: Odawa, Chickasaw, Metis/Cree, Ojibwe, Taino, Navajo, and S’kallam.

I read this book a few months ago and just didn't get around to writing a review on here until now, but this book still has stuck with me throughout that time. I absolutely loved all the different art styles and stories throughout this book. It was interesting to me seeing stories that I know and ones that are completely new to me portrayed in different voices.

I will say that I cannot speak on this book from an Indigenous point of view, as I am not, so I would still recommend seeking out own voices reviews if you would like better insight into that.

An interesting collection of folklore tales from North America. The stories are some of the unheard ones. But, all the stories are not so amazing. The first and the last story were a bit exciting. Graphics are not good enough. Although, the book is a short read and perfect for children. I would only give 3 stars to the book. Had high expectations from the publisher as I have read some other books by them. Stories are not at all creepy enough like they claim. So be ready for a very light read.

An absolutely beautiful anthology of Native/Indigenous stories told with a variety of styles. This is a book I would gladly recommend and add to my classroom book collection without hesitation.

So...when is the next Cautionary Fables & Fairytales book out? Because I'm now caught up, with this book, and I need more. Each one is a delight, focusing on the folklore and mythology of different geographic regions and ethnic groups, and this time, we focus in on North American Indigenous stories. There's 8 tales in this volume, with stories from the Odawa, Chickasaw, Métis, Cree, Ojibwe, Navajo, and S'kallam.

Stories are often cautionary tales, so a lot of these have a light horror bent. Not much death, but more just danger. The best done is "Into the Darkness," about two men who make the mistake of bringing up a creature best not discussed (and so much NOT to be discussed that it's name is censored in the text itself)...right before spending a night alone in a camper van.

For a not-scary pick, the first tale, "As It Was Told To Me," is the Odawa creation story, as told at a Two-Spirit circle!

All stories are done in greyscale, so if you've got a black-and-white e-reader, go right on ahead! You're all set!

Advanced review copy provided by the publisher.

Beautifully told stories and fantastic graphic novel artwork. Informative and culturally a very important contribution to young readers First Nation/Indigenous literature.

**Disclaimer: I received a free advanced readers copy of The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.

The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories is a graphic novel collection of short stories of First Nations myths and stories.  It was published on April 5th, 2022.  I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.


Here's the summary from Goodreads:

Loup Garrou, trickster rabbits, and spirits with names that can’t be spoken -- the plains and forests of North America are alive with characters like these, all waiting to meet you in this collection of folklore retold in comics!
This fifth volume of the “Cautionary Fables and Fairytales” anthology series features updated takes on ancient stories from tribes spanning the continent, bursting with bedside tales that are thrilling, chilling, and most of all inspiring. Featuring the work of JORDAAN ARLEDGE, MAIJA AMBROSE PLAMONDON, MILO APPLEJOHN, and more!

I had a lot of fun reading this collection.  I really enjoyed learning about different stories from different First Nations groups.  I also liked that all of the stories were written and illustrated by Indigenous people.  That was important to me when I started to read this collection.

Each of the stories had a compelling aspect to it.  I liked that they each had different art stles and a title page to separate them.  It was very interesting to see how the stories each played out.  They were all very well done and unique.

I liked that each story had a unique approach to how the story was told.  Some were more narrated, while others made you more a part of the action through lots of dialogue.  I felt like i learned a lot about different groups, and it all felt very educational.

Overall, I highly recommend that you check out this collection!

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Created by Native American authors and artists, this anthology explores legends and folktales from the First Nation. I was deeply touched by all these stories. They are all beautifully written and illustrated, sharing mysterious, funny and emotional past and contemporary fictions.

The anthology opens with As It Was Told To Me, an Odawa creationist legend, and ends with By The Light Of The Moon, a S’Kallam love story between the Moon and the Octopus Queen. In total, this anthology contains 8 stories, all very different from one another’s, but all rooted in old beliefs : tricksters, monsters that were once humans and forbidden loves are among the things you will discover in this great collection.

This graphic novel is part of the Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales series and the quality of this book amazed me so much that I want to discover the other anthologies previously published !

4 stars - It was really good

This was a wonderful anthology of Native folklore. The authors and illustrators are all from the First Nation and the stories cover a wide variety of nations. Each story was beautifully told, especially for how short they were. I really enjoyed this collection.

ARC was given by NetGalley & Iron Circus Comics in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published after the release date (April 5th, 2022)



My heart, my freaking heart is so damn full right now! There aren’t enough words to convey how happy I am to have an arc of this graphic novel anthology right now. I ended up missing out on requesting an arc for this anthology and had it wish-listed, and as fate would have it, while on vacation I was surprised with this sliding into my library. If you haven’t heard me talk about how emotional I get every time I get a book by a Native/Indigenous author/s then here it is right here. I’m so emotional, so so grateful, and very privileged to have this right now.

As an Apache reader, book blogger, this anthology means the world to me just as all literature I receive by Native/Indigenous authors. If you would have told a very young, child Malli that I would be able to see more Indigenous people in literature that isn’t from a stereotypical lens and actually by Indigenous authors, I probably would have laughed and then broke down into sobs. Growing up as an urban Native and as someone who has spent years reconnecting with one’s heritage; you end up missing a lot of things, you can’t always go to PowWow, your elders aren’t always available to teach you, you have to devote large portions of time to learning your dialect (in my case, Eastern and Western Apache), and so on. So receiving this anthology, seeing stories I recognize, having heard these stories from my elders or others of my own age, it just means everything to me. It is everything.

As always for my anthology reviews, I have mini reviews for all the short stories where I talk about my thoughts, feelings, and include content/trigger warnings.


➸ As It Was Told To Me by Elijah Forbes (Odawa) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a story about creation and The Creator, and about life. This story had me super emotional because I couldn’t help thinking about a similar story I was told from my Auntie. It got me really emotional and soft thinking about her and when she told me about how creation was a sort of awakening, how Creator created other gods/deities, and the way everything came into being. Reading this story, I just felt instant connection and just reminded that even if the story is slightly different, all tribes are connected to each other because of a story like this one.

“They were the most sacred being, feminine and masculine. Not in parts, but both at the same time.”

➸ Chokfi by Jordaan Arledge & Mekala Nava (Chickasaw) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is about how animals became vain because of their coats. Chokfi being a very proud rabbit, became curious after hearing about Otter’s coat being the most beautiful and his plot to make Otter’s coat his. I think the Trickster stories are always my favorite stories to hear from my elders because each story is different depending on the tribe. For example, a lot of Apache trickster stories revolve around coyote (which I feel in modern day is used, along with foxes, as trickster icons). Look, I’m not saying I’m biased, but this was one of my favorite stories from this anthology.

➸ White Horse Plains by Rhael McGregor (Métis/Cree) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions of starvation, brief scenes/mentions of violence, and brief scene of implied death

Honestly, this was the story that held my attention the most. This story revolves around the growing conflict between the Sioux & Assiniboine and the Cree. I find that so many stories in literature (in general) constantly revolve around the colonization and the wars that constantly broke out during that whole time period, but we never see the struggles and conflicts between different tribes very often. And for me, this story was the main reason this anthology caught my attention in the first place. I had only heard faint whispers about the White Horse Plains, but never had a chance to ask anyone about it or get the chance to research into the story itself to learn more. And this was both sad, tragic, but understandable and beautiful in some ways.

“It’s believed the spirit of the bride resides within him, helping steer those who are lost or misguided onto the right path so that they do not fall into a tragic fate.”

➸ The Rougarou Maija Ambrose Plamondon & Milo Applejohn (Métis) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content/Trigger Warnings: Mentions of killing animals, mentions loss of loved one (in the past), grief

I think this one surprised me the most out of all these stories. The stories of the Rougarou are something that I’m very partial too and I guess in a way, I connected with this particular story on a very deep, emotional and personal level. This story is about a young child to encounters a Rougarou and befriends the Rougarou, and the story behind this child’s Rougarou friend. This story, though short, has beautiful themes and I cried reading this whole story. I think this is going to be my most loved and preferred story of the Rougarou thus far.

“You put yourself in potential danger because you could sense help was needed. Facing your fear is a great sign of bravery.”

➸ Agonjin In The Water by Alice RL (Ojibwe) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If there was ever a story to remind you of how sacred water is, let this one story be it. If you don’t know, water is very sacred to Native/Indigenous people especially the plains tribes because droughts can be intensely rough to get through. This story does a fantastic job of emphasizing the importance of water and also the importance of story telling. And the artwork really helped paint a vivid picture for the reader.

“I cherished these stories and would love to share them with others as I grew older. And as I grew older, the water, our source of life, began to change.”

➸ The Woman In The Woods by Mercedes Acosta (Taino) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Honestly, my breath hitched reading this story. For starters, this was my first time reading any story from the Indigenous people of the Caribbean. However, everything about this story was just so beautiful and the artwork really added to the beauty of this story. I wanted a few more pages of this story because I was just fully enthralled by everything, but I’ll settle for the few in this anthology. It was just so good and so breath-taking.

“Be careful of what you accept from spirits. Accepting their gifts binds you to them. Though some of us were never meant to be with anyone else.”

➸ Into The Darkness by Izzy Roberts & Aubrie Warner (Navajo) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If there was one story I wasn’t expecting to encounter, it was this short story right here. And I should have known from the synopsis of the book, too! However, I ignored my gut feeling and thought, “No, it wouldn’t possibly be…” and then it was. I bamboozled myself! But in all honesty, just the fact that I know what this story is about and how vividly remember my aunties and uncle telling me about this… Shivers and chills, down my spine. If you know, you know, and if you don’t then count your blessings.

➸ By The Light Of The Moon by Jeffrey Veregge & Alina Pete (S’Kallam) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Again, this seems like an obvious story I’d love, but any stories that revolve around the moon and I just immediately swoon. This story is about how the Moon fell in love with the Octopus Queen, and how some marine life became bioluminescence. I loved this story, from start to finish. I think starting the story from the perspective of two divers and concluding the way it did was chef’s kiss. This is definitely another favorite that now lives in my brain, rent free.

“Her movements were a ballet that spoke directly to the Moon’s soul.”


I gave The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories five stars overall, because out of the possible 40 stars (5 stars being possible for all 8 stories) this anthology accumulated 40 stars (100%)!


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.