This collection of short horror stories written by indigenous authors is easily one of my top books of the year. I immediately pre-ordered a copy at my local Barnes & Noble when I finished the e-copy because I want it on my shelf.

These stories explore questions of culture, identity, sexuality, and race across a wide array of Native American experiences by authors who deftly address these themes in the context of horror. They pack a lot into such short pieces and it's done incredibly effectively--curating spooky and unsettling atmosphere, establishing connections to characters, and executing a tight plot in such a short format is hard, and these authors knock it out of the park.

If you read one short story collection this year, make it this one!

This book was so special to me—I was so excited to read an entire anthology of Indigenous dark fiction and the writers in this collection did NOT hold back. I stretched this reading over a few weeks because I wanted to give each story my full attention and let me tell you they are all so creepy, inventive and unsettling in so many different ways. There’s not a moment that feels repetitive and I was introduced to a bunch of writers I hadn’t known about and am now impatiently awaiting their next offering.

I’m glad they called this an anthology of dark fiction not horror because that really opens writers up to explore every corner of darkness, and the different kinds of monsters and experiences that exist there.

I think there was only one story that I didn’t like and that was more about the style of writing than anything.

I truly loved almost every single one of these stories, but some standouts that I’m still thinking about are: Amber Blaeser-Wardzala’s “Collections” which shows the dark underbelly of white prof ‘allies’ in academia; Of course my fav Morgan Talty’s “The Prepper” that sees a young man’s preparations for a possible zombie apocalypse go horribly wrong; Conley Lyons’ “Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth” is a toxic queer summer romance that turns abusive and violent in the creepiest way; Cherie Dimaline’s “Tick Talk” about a tick that never stops growing is still giving me flashbacks; D.H. Trujillo’s “Snakes are Born in the Dark” is a grotesque administering of deserved retribution on the type of low-key racist asshole a cousin might date that you’re just expected to put up with; David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s “Sundays” is a whole different kind of devastating focussing on abuse at residential schools that made me weep; and Waubgeshig Rice’s absolutely brutal “Limbs” ends the collection on a completely bloody and heartbreaking note.

This is just such a perfect anthology, there’s not a miss in the bunch. I’m just so happy that this was made and I hope it gets all the hype it deserves! In the running for fav read of 2023 for sure.

Thanks to @penguinrandomca for the review copy.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #5starread #bestbooksof2023

A Tapestry of Dark Tales: 5 Stars
"Never Whistle at Night" is an anthology that serves as a masterclass in the art of dark fiction. Inspired by Indigenous storytelling traditions, this collection offers a rich tapestry of tales that are as varied as they are compelling.

A Diverse Range of Stories
One of the anthology's greatest strengths is its diversity in storytelling. From nightmarish landscapes to unsettling psychological dramas, each story brings its own unique flavor to the table. This variety ensures that there's something for every horror aficionado to sink their teeth into.

Top-Notch Authors
The caliber of writing in this collection is exceptional. Each author brings a distinct voice and perspective, yet they all share a common thread of skillful storytelling and a deep understanding of the genre. The result is a cohesive and engaging anthology that stands out in the crowded field of horror literature.

Exploration of Indigenous Lore
What sets this anthology apart is its rootedness in Indigenous culture and fears. The stories do not merely pay lip service to these traditions; they delve deep, offering readers a glimpse into a world that is both fascinating and terrifying.

Final Thoughts
"Never Whistle at Night" is a must-read for anyone interested in horror or Indigenous storytelling. Its varied tales and top-notch writing make it a standout anthology that deserves a place on every horror lover's bookshelf. A well-deserved 5 stars.

I loved this collection of short stories. There are only winners, but for me the standout was the penultimate story, "Collections" by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala, which looks at the commodification and exploitation so often present in academia, even, or especially spaces that purport to value diversity. The other stories are also amazing, blending Indigenous folklore with painful metaphor (and outright depiction) of colonizer violence. I will definitely be looking for more from all of the authors included in this collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Vintage for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Never Whistle at Night is an indigenous story collection. Almost every native has a story of why you should not whistle at night time - and this just puts them all in one place for you.

As you would expect with an anthology, it's a varying mixed bag of writing styles and genres but they all fit so well together as an enjoyable read. There was a few moments where I questioned how a group of stories made it together as it got really heavy, but then moved on to something completely unexpected.

I have to give special mention to The Scientist's Horror Story, Limbs and Sundays. They were all amazing in their own way and I loved every second of them.

This would be a perfect addition to your Spooky Season TBR! Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House for an advanced copy for review. This one is available now.

This is a brilliant collection of stories from Indigenous writers (and absolute literary powerhouses, at that). While they all have a distinct voice and flavor, Stephen Graham Jones does a great job of contextualizing them in his forward.

The stories span the full range of horror, so there’s a little something for everyone. Some have stronger triggers than others, however, so keep that in mind going in.

It’s really hard to rate an anthology because each story stands on its own. That being said, I think this is a really strong collection, and I’ve been introduced to many new writers.

In particular, my favorite stories were:

Kushtuka
Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth
Quantum
Snakes Are Born in the Dark
Before I Go
Behind Colin’s Eyes
Dead Owls

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

Thank you @vintageanchorbooks @prhaudio partner, for my gifted copy. ⁣
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Horror Fans - If you do not have this on your TBR, add it immediately. It’s a star freaking studded cast of authors ready to bring the dark fiction and indigenous stories in one place. I will admit I had a few nightmares and this book will stay with me for a while. SGJ has an amazing foreword on what makes it horror or fantasy and how there’s more there in the story than we thought originally. This anthology is so well done. As always, gotta nightlight a few gems:⁣
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Kushtuka - This is how you start an anthology with a bang. I mean my god. I was driving when listening to this and when they were also driving.. let’s just say I finished listening when I was out of the car. It was everything I needed. Gore, horror, an unclear grip on what is really happening. I loved this one. ⁣
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White Hills - It’s Rebecca Roanhorse. Y’all know that meme where she’s like, “get up!” That’s how I felt about this excuse of a man. I audibly gasped at this story. I loved it. ⁣
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Quantum - If you could only see me grocery shopping during this one. I was yelling to my headphones, “don’t do it. Don’t do it” and I’m sure I got a few stares. This definitely warranted a few stares. I think this was my favorite because of how the story was set up, the shock factor, and the lore. So we’ll done. ⁣
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Also, let’s talk about how the audio had each story have their own individual reader! There was so no overlapping or confusion because a new reader was introduced each time. This is how you do it. Amazing audio cast as well. Overall, a solid hit for real! I can’t stop gushing over this one.⁣
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Predict text: Never whistle at night because …

An anthology of horror and dark stories, this was a pretty compatible collection of short stories by Indigenous authors. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark quick tales or watches anything from the likes of Tales of the Crypt.

Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories- I can’t get the second one out of my head- but please check your trigger warning. One in particular got very blunt with trauma so this may not be comfortable for everyone.

Never Whistle at Night
Edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Horror | Anthology | Indigenous Dark Literature

🫀 Body Horror
🧟‍♀️ Flesh Pedestrians
👻 Paranormal
🦉 Animal Horror

Darkness Level | 🖤🖤** to 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Ending | Varies
POV | Varies

Ratings:
Overall | 🥀 🥀 🥀 🥀.5
Gore | 🩸to🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Scare Factor | 👻 to 👻👻👻👻👻

Review:
Read as an ARC on my Kindle.
This collection of Indigenous Dark Fictions combines a series of spooky tales ranging from ghosts and monsters to complex family trauma and acts of revenge. It’s a perfect read for both spooky season and Indigenous History Month. I ended up reading this book a lot slower than I thought because of just how unnerving some of these tales were. The dread seemed to grow more prominent with each story, so don’t expect any relief between tales.

NO ONE writes body horror like Indigenous writers and Stephen Graham Jones explains that beautifully in the forward. Go into this book with an open mind to a new perspective and to experience emotions not always touched on in this genre.

Overall, the curation of stories is well done. While I had to take breaks due to the nature of the stories, I still believe the pacing is well done to increase the overall feel and effectiveness of the messages in these stories. Each and every story felt intentional and consumed me with every turn of the page.

Favorite Stories:
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
Quantum by Nick Medina
Before I Go by Norris Black
Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk
Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala

I really enjoyed this anthology. I'm never more creeped out than reading Indigenous creepy stories. There's just something about them. I've read a few of these authors and am glad to be introduced to new ones. Definitely be recommending this one.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book before it expired due to some unforeseen life events. However, what I was able to read I LOVED. Every short story was incredibly unique and I look forward to finishing all of them in the future. I will definitely be looking for each writers’ individual works as well.

Never Whistle at Night (edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr) is a dark fiction anthology that weaves together haunting tales from indigenous writers—told through various perspectives and writing styles. You’ll find folklore here, yes, and some of the stories unflinchingly look at the horrors of racism and assimilation as well.

While it’s difficult to narrow down, here are a few of my personal favorites:

“Kushtuka” by Mathilda Zeller - A chilling tale about a girl being stalked by something that looks like her—only it has meat-eating molars and a too-wide grin. This was a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat story and the build up to the twist at the end was fantastic!

“Snakes Are Born in the Dark” by D. H. Trujillo - A visceral and dread-inspiring survival horror about a hiking trip in the desert that goes awry after one hiker decides to desecrate petroglyphs. If you're a fan of the stomach-churning grossness of The Outwaters, you’ll probably love this one as well.

“Before I Go” by Norris Black - A poignant story about one woman's struggle with grief after the death of her fiancé.

“Night in the Chrysalis” by Tiffany Morris - After Cecelia moves into a new house, she keeps smelling rotting meat from behind the walls and hearing a mysterious woman's voice. This one is a deliciously creepy haunted house story, told through lyrical prose.

Overall, the stories within this anthology will sink their teeth into you and really get under your skin, lingering with you even after you finish its final pages.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
This is a very impressive collection! There are quite a few big name indigenous authors, as well as some I was introduced to for the first time. Like any anthology, it is a mixed bag, but by and large I enjoyed all the stories.

Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller ⭐⭐⭐⭐
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Wingless by Marcie C. Rendon ⭐⭐⭐
Quantum by Nick Medina ⭐⭐⭐.25
Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau ⭐⭐⭐.5
Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson ⭐⭐
Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D.H. Trujillo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Before I Go by Norris Black ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris ⭐⭐⭐.5
Behind Colin's Eyes by Shane Hawk ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf ⭐⭐⭐.75
The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
The Prepper by Morgan Talty ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart ⭐⭐⭐.5
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eulogy For a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers ⭐⭐⭐
Capgras by Tommy Orange ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’d first like to say that short stories have never been my jam. I like a story that keeps pulling me back to a book, rather than having a new one each time. Also? Sometimes I feel like I’m too dumb to understand them. 😅
But this one I had to have. I love indigenous horror and saw that the intro was by Stephen Graham Jones, so I clicked that request button on NetGalley real fast.
And I loved it! Each story kept my attention, and I found myself excited to see what the next one would be like. Some of them were terrifying, some were quieter, hopeful, and most of them were angry. There are creature features and human monsters to reckon with.

One of the first stories, “White Hills,” really struck me. The main character was set up to be unlikable but the story shifts in horrifying ways and I was left open-mouthed at the end. “The Ones Who Killed Us” was also excellent. It was fully a stream of conscious piece, and probably one of the angriest things I’ve read in a long time. I won’t be forgetting it soon. “Snakes Are Born In The Dark” is a strong contender for my favorite. It was absolutely WILD.

This would be a perfect, spooky fall read for any horror fan, or anyone who is interested in indigenous stories in general. I fully recommended it!

First of all, I absolutely love the title!! And the cover!! I remember my cousin getting smacked for a whistle that hadn’t even left his lips yet. You just can’t be out here calling the Lechuzas. IYKYK. This was such a great collection of dark short stories by indigenous authors. It was filled with some creepy stuff, themes like racism, privilege, poverty, etc. Like all anthologies, it’s filled with different writing styles, so they all didn’t hit the same for me, but overall I loved it.

A collection of short stories that is sure to spook or creep you out! I wouldn't read these at night unless you're brave. Some of these were kind of weird, but didn't bother me, and others were downright terrifying. It was really cool to see a collection of so many different indigenous stories and wasn't what I typically gravitate towards!

I really enjoyed reading this, however I wouldn't say that I loved it. I thought the stories were mostly creepy, but some were just bizarre and didn't make sense. I don't think I knew what was happening and so it made the ending even more confusing. I tried rereading a few to see if that helped me, but I still had no clue what was going on so that took away from the book overall for me.

If you really like short stories and horror I'd definitely recommend giving these a try.

I had never really read any Indigenous horror prior to this collection of stories, so I wasn’t totally sure what to expect, but I was blown away!

The stories are all written by Indigenous folks and it definitely feels like it is for Indigenous folks as well! Some of the stories were so realistic about Indigenous fears!! They weren’t all stories that will haunt my nightmares and scare/scar me, but they all had different eeriness levels to them.

There are stories that feature different beings and creatures, some with human evils, and some that are just downright disturbing. There’s really a little bit of something for everyone.

To be perfectly honest, there are stories in here that I still don’t even understand the end!! Some were just so WILD!

I spent a lot of my mornings before heading to school reading this and I will say that reading this in the dark definitely was making me feel paranoid at points haha! The feeling of being watched was real.

Overall, I was super impressed by how diverse the stories all were and how many kinds of scary were showcased and felt! The writing for all of them had me super hooked and I loved getting to read some new Indigenous authors. I highly recommend to anyone who can handle some horror because it is the perfect fall read!

Woooee, what a collection. As editor Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. says in the afterword of this book: *It’s something else to be a monster-made man in a world of man-made monsters.**

'Never Whistle at Night’, based on the shared belief by many indigenous people that one should never whistle at night, is a wonderful idea for a collection (though not all stories involve whistling)! Its wonderful because each story can be something totally different and each diverse tale is juxtaposed within a central theme. You can have a ultra-violent monster chase story, a slasher tale, a slow and eerie haunting, or a quasi-realist story by Rebecca Roanhorse that takes disturbing look into what it means to whitewash, or to compromise your heritage for the sake of status and money - yet they all feel centralised more or less on the experience of being Indian. The stories explore so many different Native American people’s concepts of magic, of dark folklore, of horror, and of place, and mostly of struggle to exist, in the USA/Canada, it can be quite overwhelming at times, but in a good way!

As well as the downright horrific, there are some very sad stories in here, touching on the idea of internal racism (the outcast baby brother who isn’t quite Indian enough), or rejection of cultural identity (A wandering man returns home to face the truth of why his father needed to hunt).

There are wiindigoos of course, nasty witches and good witches, vengeful magic, golem type resurrections, serial killers, giant ticks, demonic homunculus slashers, people-eating plants, haunted houses, werewolves.

Some of my favourite tales were:

'Wingless' by Marcie R. Rendon - A disturbing story of child abuse and vengeance about two foster boys pushed to the edge.

The aforementioned 'White Hills' by the excellent Rebecca Roanhorse about a part Native American trophy bride who has to make a tough choice to keep her rich lifestyle.

'The Ones Who Killed Us' by Brandon Hobson - A beautifully executed stream of consciousness tale told from the perspectives of what I understood to be ghosts of First Nations, and their encounter with a group of repentant conquistadores.

I also really enjoyed 'Behind Colin's eyes', where the protagonist, a 10 year old boy, finds out about the darkness within his family and his own body, in a very well written story by Shane Hawk.

'Heart-shaped clock' is a heartrending of family trauma and seperation by Kelli Jo Ford, who was longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. Its tragic, violent realism at its best, and is one of the best stories in the collection.

'The. Scariest. Story. Ever.' By Richard Van Camp, is a bush Cree story about the power of a scary shared story, to change and empower, to heal or to destroy. It touches again on the idea of 'selling out' your culture for fame, as do many of these stories. Be that a story about Wheetago or Sasquatch or Aliens or Little People, or as in the case of this story, something even worse. A line from the writing that I really liked: ‘Devil is a handsome man in a suit but what they saw was a small boy with hay for hair and sticks for teeth. The child had no eyes. It grinned in their direction with its black stick teeth as the animals grew closer.’

I loved 'Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning', an excellent horror story wrapped in literary writing by Kate Hart that follows the lives of Uncle Robert and his friend/nephew Gregory. Its a tale full of weirdness and magic realism, as the two men become the Thunder God and the Ferryman of Souls between the stars. Kate's elegant writing enhances the beautiful tale.

'Capgras' is an pretty disturbing and layered story by Tommy Orange about a famous part-Indian writer on a book tour in Europe, a story written with a weird, surreal atmosphere, as the writer struggles with the mistranslation of his novel into French, and a strange growing lump on his neck. Its one tht left me thinking about it for days afterwards. A line form the text: 'We smiled wide and wanted to yell something out into the Parisian night, against the Seine, ashamed and proud at once of being American and not American and something else, from a future once dreamed of, a hoverboard-robot eighties dream we don’t even remember anymore.’ It makes me want to read more of his work, because this story rocked.

The second to last story in the collection was also very good, 'The Scientist’s Horror Story' By Darcie Little Badger. A ‘horror stories around a camp fire’ type tale where the people telling the stories are in fact three native scientists at a conference, sitting around a lamp at a late night catchup at a scientific-conference. This well-written and compelling narrative touches on radiation-ghosts, B horror films, and the future for indigenous people who are too small to find a voice. Very well done.

You could say that this is one of the best horror anthologies I have read in recent years. A lot of the best stories are stacked near the end of the collection, and while there of course are a few I felt were quite weak (as in all anthologies) or could use some brutal editing at least, most of these stories are well written, fascinating, and well executed tales. If like me, you love the weird folklore and stories of Indigenous American/Canadian people, if you want to be scared, compelled and grossed out, if you want to feel the struggle of being native in a country that seems to want to destroy your heritage and right over your people's history, come to 'Don't whistle in the dark'. You won't be disappointed.

Book Review: Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
Editors - Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Never Whistle at Night is a collection inspired by indigenous storytelling traditions and lore. You won’t want to skip past the Foreward astutely written by Stephen Graham Jones who provides the context and set up for the stories to come. The anthology provides an array of tales from the nightmarish to the creepy. Never Whistle at Night features an outstanding cast of indigenous writers many of which you may recognize and others who are debuting their literary talents. A good spooky tale will make you check before walking into dark spaces. But an excellent story will fuel your imagination while peeking behind the veil to reveal true horrors. Some of my favorites in the collection include: Kushtuka (Mathilda Zeller), Hunger (Pheonix Boudreaux), Before I Go (Norris Black), Night in the Chrysalis (Tiffany Morris), Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrection (Carson Faust), The Scientist’s Horror Story (Darcie Little Bear), Collections (Amber Blaeser-Wardzala) and Limbs (Waubgeshig Rice).

I personally connected with this form of storytelling as I grew up listening to the Mexican legends of La Lechuza, the El Sombrerón, La Llorona and my family’s own stories of the paranormal. If you’re looking for a collection of dark tales that will take you back to sitting around the camp fire listening to scary stories or late nights watching horror films with your crew, then you need to add Never Whistle at Night to your Fall TBR and don’t forget to turn on the lights!

Many thanks to the authors, @PenguinRandomHouse and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now Available! Publication Date: 19 September 2023
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4.5 stars <3

"Is it our blood that makes us who we are?"
- "Quantum" by Nick Medina

This book is my first time reading from Native American authors AND about Native culture. It was about time let me tell you because I've always been interested in this part of history, or more exactly, this forgotten, unrecognized part of history. The injustice, the crime, the horror of stripping an entire people of their land, killing them and forcing them to forget their own culture and traditions? I've always wondered how could so many non-Native Americans claim to have all the rights and belong there, not to mention the anti-immigration ideology which is the most ridicule thing when they are originally immigrants themselves. Anyway. Didn't mean to start a political essay, let's get back to the book.

The stories were very diverse, in the sense that I never knew what to expect from the next one, I didn't resonate with all of them but then I'd find myself really into the story and seeing the metaphors and parallels made between fiction and reality. Even if the last story wasn't all that exciting, the next one could be, and it usually was.

I won't spoil anything to anyone, but I want to talk a bit more individually about some stories. The werewolf one lost me completely, I didn't understand how it fit in this anthology and how it could be linked with Native culture, apart from the main character being Native. As for my favorite, it has to be the last one, "Limbs". It was the story in which I found the most relevance and comparisons with how white people butchered and stole from the Native people and took and took after being helped and given so much, until nature eventually settles the score. It was horryfying (which is exactly what I came here for, it's dark fiction after all) and satisfying.

I also really enjoyed all the female POV ones, and all the ones where revenge is executed and justice is served. For this, Kushtuka was just perfect.

I have to say I didn't enjoy the Capgras story, mainly because I didn't understand what was going on AND how it ended. But also, there was like one french expression in the whole thing and it managed to be misgendered : "le petite souris" with a masculine article and a feminine adjective, it really is "la petite souris". I think authors need to take proofreading more seriously when they include words that are in a language they're not familiar with.

Overall, I'd say this is the best literary surprise of the year. I'm glad I got the opportunity to read from Native authors and how they adapted dark fiction to their culture and the whole indigenous theme. The cover is also a treat for the eyes!

Finally, my favorite quotes :

"But my vomit's all wrong, like I chugged black and red war paint and attempted Indian abstract art. Something else for the Smithsonian to steal."
- "Behind Colin's Eyes" by Shane Hawk

"Isn't escapism the reason everyone enjoys horror?"
- "The Scientist's Horror Story" by Darcie Little Badger


[review posted on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram and probably tiktok]