February Book Recommendation
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Reviewed by Carlee Wilson
I wasn’t sure what I was diving into with this anthology of horror stories by 26 different Indigenous writers, but I was definitely entertained! Horror hasn’t been my go-to choice for reading until recently, and I must say that Indigenous writers are killing it in this genre. I was excited to see some names of authors I recognized – Rebecca Roanhorse, Tommy Orange, Richard Van Camp, and Cherie Dimaline – grace the contents list, whose own novels are some of my favorites.
Never Whistle at Night has the mythical creatures and lore original to Turtle Island, but the stories are so much more than haunting figures from our ancestors’ tales. Each story truly exhibits what it means to be Indigenous in today’s modern society where we are either fighting the use of racist mascots in sports or battling with colorism in our own tribal communities.
The monsters aren’t the scariest parts, I’d say. The real horrors of this anthology lie in the cruelties we face from settlers and from each other. This book feels like an ode to how misunderstood we are by adversaries and kin. Some of these enthralling short stories are blood-spilling thrillers while others beg the question “Is it our blood that makes us who we are?”
I recommend this read to anyone who likes a little fictional revenge, social commentary, and laugh-out-loud moments. It’ll have you rolling your eyes at some characters’ thought processes while also making you take a look at your own.
Buy the book from Time Enough Books
