Reviews with content warning for Cultural appropriation - Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

24 reviews

maryellen's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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annemaries_shelves's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25 stars

As with every anthology, there are some personal hits and some personal 'okays'. There wasn't a bad story in this bunch, though!

The editors did a fantastic job compiling a set of stories that alternately scare, unsettle, disturb, or otherwise make you feel something. There's an emphasis on themes of colonialism and racism, grief, hauntings and spirits, identity and family, and the unexplainable (either to the reader, to an individual outside a particular culture's set of traditions and knowledges, or to the characters themselves).

While some stories are more traditionally scary/disturbing, many land on the side of just unsettling or tense. I recommend readers go in without any expectations of mainstream horror or dark fiction to enhance your experience with the great storytelling found in this collection.

I truly enjoyed reading so many new to me authors (including some I've wanted to try for while) as well as revisiting some authors through their short stories.

My favourites include:
Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller
White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse
Navajos don't wear elk teeth by Conley Lyons
Snakes are born in the dark - D.H. Trujillo
Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp
Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf
Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
The Scientist's Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger
Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala
Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice

CW: rape (on-page rape of children at residential schools), murder, forced abortion, gore and body injuries, mental illness, drinking/alcohol abuse, colonialism, insects (ticks specifically), and more

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not_another_ana's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher

A collection of short horror stories by indigenous writers that touch on a great variety of fears with a fresh and different perspective. Horror is a very wide definition here, I think everyone will find something they like whether gore or ghost stories, and both supernatural and very real life dread. I enjoyed the mix of folklore and tradition with the modern world but, as it happen with almost all anthologies, this was very much a mixed grab bag. Some of the stories were a bit too long for a collection like this and some of them, while good, were upstaged by far more polished tales and writers.

There were a couple of clear standouts for me like White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse, a story that managed to touch on a myriad of issues (like racism, eugenics, privilege and poverty) with subtlety, and in a very short amount of pages, showing her experience and mastery of the craft. D.H. Trujillo's Snakes Are Born in the Dark is another interesting one that is a bit cheeky, funny, and has the right amount of gore to tie it all together. I found Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power to be a heartwarming bittersweet ghost story and Amber Blaeser-Wardzala's Collections a chilling portrayal of power dynamics. Generally, I think no one will be disappointed by what they find in this collection.

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srivalli's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

4.0

4 Stars

One Liner: A diverse collection

Do you think I could ignore a cover and title like that? Not a chance!

Never Whistle at Night is a collection of twenty-six short stories written by Indigenous authors from the US and Canada. It begins with a foreword setting great expectations about the content but also preparing the readers that the stories don’t have neat endings. This really helped because I’m not a fan of open or vague endings. However, knowing this in advance, I was prepared for it and enjoyed many stories.

Still, it’s hard to categorize this collection. I assumed the stories would deal with paranormal, supernatural, or horror. But around 40% of the stories don’t deal with any paranormal theme. They are dark but deal with human darkness. Some of these make a strong impact, while a few others don’t.

As with every anthology, there are hits and misses. Since I read one or two stories a day (it took me a month to finish), the review ended up detailed (longer than expected). I haven’t edited the individual reviews, as I wrote them soon after reading the story.

Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller – 4 Stars

What happens when a young Native girl is hired to help and serve at a white man’s party in a remote lodge? Thrown in all types of domination the Natives have to deal with. Kushtuka has to take a stand and save her people, right? So what if there’s collateral damage? The story comes in the first-person POV of the young girl. It is fast-paced, crisp, and chilling.

White Hills by Rebecca Roanhorse – 3.5 Stars

A half-Native poor girl does what she should to get the riches and lifestyle she always dreamt of. Marriage to a rich guy sorts many things. But a simple mistake threatens to ruin it all. What will she decide? The story comes in Marissa’s third-person POV. It’s compact with flaws and a reflection of inhumanity.

Navajos Don’t Wear Elk Teeth by Conley Lyons – 3 Stars

What happens when Joey hooks up with Cam despite the red flags because he didn’t want to feel lonely? This is more of a psychopath story with an indigenous character (than a native mystery element) and is in Joey’s first-person POV.

Wingless by Marcie R. Rendon – 3.5 Stars

How much is too much when two native kids get abused by their foster ‘parents’? When ‘magic’ doesn’t help, will they take things into their hands? How will it end? The story comes from the first-person POV of an eight-year-old. It is raw, gritty, dark, and hard-hitting.

Quantum by Nick Medina – 4 Stars

This is like a reverse-case scenario where Native Indian blood is more ‘useful’ than the White man's. But is it really the blood? Blunt, emotionless, and ruthless. The story comes from the third-person POV of Amber.

Hunger by Phoenix Boudreau – 5 Stars

‘It’ is ravenous for ‘food’ which has become scarce after Other People took over People’s land. However, It finds a vessel and zeros on a People girl who isn’t aware of Its existence. Or… This is fantastic. The story starts slowly but picks up momentum in the second half. The ending dips a little but seems intentional. This is what I wanted when I requested the book.

Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline – 4 Stars

Bilson, aka Son, would rather not be ‘Son’ but goes by the name anyway. Years pass by doing this, that, and nothing. Does it take a tick bite to redefine his life? Of course, if he can live long enough. The story comes in Son’s third-person POV and reflects his character arc. It’s more of an introspective piece than anything else.

The Ones Who Killed Us by Brandon Hobson – 5 Stars

Atvdasdiha! Listen to the ghosts tell the story of the fateful night when those who killed them get their due (yet again). The story comes in first-person plural and is written in long-winded sentences (typically in a ghost’s stream-of-consciousness POV). The writing takes time to get used to, but the atmosphere is spot on.

Snakes Are Born in the Dark by D. H. Trujillo – 4 Stars

Peter agrees to trek in Four Corners with his cousin Maddie and her boyfriend, Adam. However, things go as planned and turn even more bizarre through the night. Can they survive until the next dawn? The story comes from Peter’s third-person POV. It’s more of a horror story with some gore and weird scenes. Well-written.

Before I Go by Norris Black – 3.5 Stars

What does Keira find when she goes to visit the site of her fiancé’s death in the middle of nowhere? Told in the FMC’s third-person POV, the story is short, compact, and has the right amount of ‘horror’. I wish it was a little more atmospheric.

Night in the Chrysalis by Tiffany Morris – 3.5 Stars

How does Cece’s first night in the new house go? Will she survive to see daylight the next morning? Who is that strange singing woman? The story comes in Cece’s third-person POV. I like haunted house stories. This one delivers to an extent, though I wish it had more drama.

Behind Colin’s Eyes by Shane Hawk – 4 Stars

A ten-year-old Colin and his dad go hunting. This time, they want to shoot the majestic elk. However, strange events occur, and Colin knows something is very wrong. But what can the poor kid do? The story comes in Colin’s first-person POV and is set in a winter forest. It is descriptive, atmospheric, and creepy (but not too much).

Heart-Shaped Clock by Kelli Jo Ford – 3.5 Stars

Did he or did he not murder his brother? How much do you trust his version of the story? Written in Joseph’s first-person POV, this is a story of a broken family, a broken child who grew up as a broken man with unhealed issues. The writing has quality and pulls the reader. However, there are no otherworldly elements in this one.

Scariest. Story. Ever. by Richard Van Camp – 4.5 Stars

The nameless narrator, Uncle Mike’s Nephew, needs the scariest story to win a storytelling competition. He asks Mike to tell him the scariest story shared by Aunt Irina. However, the narrator may get more than what he wanted. Sometimes, it’s a good thing too! This story has elements of dark though it tackles the subject differently. I love the twist and the message (and how it doesn’t sound preachy).

Human Eaters by Royce K. Young Wolf – 4.5 Stars

Narrated by grandma to her two young grandsons (String Bean and No Filter), the story alters between reminisces and present. The Human Eaters symbolize colonizers and boarding schools. The story is atmospheric and contains a recurring message to not forget one’s roots.

The Longest Street in the World by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. – 4 Stars

Johnny Junior gets attacked when manning his father’s real estate office. He’s back in action after six weeks and is surprised and exasperated to find Louis bringing a bag of stinky items. The story comes in a relaxed third-person POV. It’s got sharp dark humor with what could possibly be little more than human character. By the way, the opening sentence is 103 words!

Dead Owls by Mona Susan Power – 4.5 Stars

Amy, a preteen, visits her favorite Aunt Phyllis for the holidays. She loves being with her aunt but wonders if the house has ghosts. Of course, the ghosts decide to answer it themselves. The story comes in Amy’s first-person POV. The tone suits the character’s age. The story is rather heart-touching, with bits of dark on the edges.

The Prepper by Morgan Talty – 4 Stars (for the gripping narration)

Narrated in the first-person, this is the story of how a young boy prepares to save himself and his mother from the end of the world (2012) and Nὰka. It’s a story of undiagnosed mental illness and what it can do to a person. The story is set in the past, with the MC recounting it from his present perspective.

Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning by Kate Hart – 4.5 Stars

Told by a narrator in a sort of dispassionate tone, this is the story about the bonding between Robert and Gregory (uncle and nephew but brothers in friendship). It is real yet unreal, emotions barely there but fully present. There’s something in there, tugging the reader’s heart.

Sundays by David Heska Wanbli Weiden – 4 Stars (for the ending)

Narrated by a 50+ Tom (Thomas), we see how his wife’s death triggers his childhood trauma of being abused by Father R when he was being civilized in a church-run school. How Tom comes to terms forms the rest of the story. It’s amazing how one can do anything to heathen and kafirs with little to no consequences. 4 Stars (for the ending)

Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected by Carson Faust – 3.5 Stars

Callum is shot to death and leaves behind his grieving sister and half-brother. Told in the first-person, we learn about a dysfunctional family, a ‘god-fearing’ small town, and the sister’s desire to revive her dead brother. The beginning feels ordinary but ends on a different level. My only grouse is that the voice sounds like a man (in fact, I thought the narrator was Callum’s brother and not sister until she was addressed as Della).

Night Moves by Andrea L. Rogers – 3.5 Stars

Walt is an Indian boy stationed in Germany in 1968. What happens one night when Walt, Carl (half-German, half-Black), Christ, and JohnBoy miss their last train to the army base and have to walk through the woods? Told in Walt’s third-person POV, the story tries to blend the paranormal with the real. It succeeds to an extent.

Capgras by Tommy Orange – 3 Stars

Tom (Thomas Bline) and his family (wife and son) fly to Paris for his author interviews. Tom’s book has been translated into French, and he is supposed to be excited about it. Told in Tom’s first-person narration, the story blends his past, his drinking problem, and how translations tend to change the core contents by aligning it with the translators’ perspectives.

The Scientist’s Horror Story by Darcie Little Badger – 4 Stars

Three researchers, Bets, Anders, and Harmoni, spend their evenings telling scary campfire stories while attending a conference. Anders starts, and Bets tells the next one. However, ‘scary’ could mean a lot of things, including reality. This has two stories in story format and ends with a (helpless) reminder of how brutal real life can be.

Collections by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala – 4.5 Stars

Oh, boy! Megis is exhausted but has to attend the party hosted by Professor Smith to get into her good books for a recommendation letter. However, the decorations in the professor’s house freak her out. The story comes in Megis’ first-person POV. This is a strange tale, dark yet not too dark or gory. Scary but different. It could also be seen as a metaphor for the world’s obsession to play savior and demand undying gratitude.

Limbs by Waubgeshig Rice – 4 Stars

Makwa is a guide to a white businessman who wants to destroy the land for business. What happens when Makwa protests? Told in Makwa’s third-person POV, the story has a sense of foreboding throughout. It gets quite graphic at one point, which seems intentional. However, the climax is over too soon to make the impact it should.

To summarize, Never Whistle at Night has strong indigenous themes and deals with colonization, displacement, supernatural, and human darkness in various forms. It cannot be read at once. Spread it over a few days to let each story register in the mind. Also, quite a lot of triggers in this one, so proceed with caution.

Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Vintage, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #NeverWhistleatNight

***

P.S.: Every story is followed by a short author’s bio. I added a whole bunch of books to my TBR, thanks to this anthology.

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