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eficca33's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Orange" and "Soilborn" were both flash fiction and the ending GOT ME!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Cannibalism, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Addiction, Car accident, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, and Classism
willowfan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
theclosetlibrarian's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
bonafidefaygo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love a short story collection, and I'm often underwhelmed...but when they're good, they're really good.
This a short horror collection focused on indigenous identities, myths, and trauma all focused around one town (Anoka, Minnesota) where there just seem to be some strange goings on.
Of the six stories, I thought 4 were really successful, 1 I enjoyed but the ending kinda lost me but I think maybe I need time to digest it, and then 1 was a major fail for me and unfortunately that was the first story but thankfully it was only 3 pages (part of why I think it failed for me).
The stories all had a really nice blend of weirdness/surrealism, body horror, and myth/supernatural/occult ideas and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the ideas and most of their executions. And I also deeply appreciated the story notes for each story, why it was written, what he was trying to convey, and what it inspired it.
I wish this collection was longer
This a short horror collection focused on indigenous identities, myths, and trauma all focused around one town (Anoka, Minnesota) where there just seem to be some strange goings on.
Of the six stories, I thought 4 were really successful, 1 I enjoyed but the ending kinda lost me but I think maybe I need time to digest it, and then 1 was a major fail for me and unfortunately that was the first story but thankfully it was only 3 pages (part of why I think it failed for me).
The stories all had a really nice blend of weirdness/surrealism, body horror, and myth/supernatural/occult ideas and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the ideas and most of their executions. And I also deeply appreciated the story notes for each story, why it was written, what he was trying to convey, and what it inspired it.
I wish this collection was longer
nooker's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Some of this was hard. Kids in danger and such. It was all interesting.
_lilbey_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
persian_green's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Gore, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Racism
obscurepages's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an impulse read since I saw how short it was and I was in a bit of a horror mood. And wow, I am so glad I picked it up 😆
This is Shane Hawk's debut Indigenous horror story collection. Some were really short, some were longer than the others. But one thing is for sure, this is a good collection of horror stories imbued with the experiences of Indigenous people. There's something unique in every story, but the Indigenous main characters are always the main focus. I love that this collection didn't really focus on the " scary"factor, but it will haunt you and disturb you as you read the stories. It also focused on the various experiences and horrors these characters see in their lives. I could also argue that some of these stories touch on psychological horror as well.
Some stories were more fleshed out than the others for me. My favorites would definitely be the last two, <i>Dead America</i> and <i>Transfigured</i>. It also helped that the author included Story Notes which helped give a background or perspective on why he chose to write these stories.
Also, another delightful surprise is the queer rep, which I didn't expect! I love that the author confirmed that the character was in fact queer (genderfluid to be exact), as the character only thought about their struggles with their gender.
Overall, this was really good! I can't wait to read more of the author's works, especially <i>Never Whistle at Night</i>! (in which he's the co-editor this time!)
CW: stillbirth, graphic violence, blood, kidnapping, murder, drug use, drug abuse, sexual content (implied), alcoholism, depression, mentions of genocide and violence on Indigenous Americans, body horror (a little bit), animal death, multiple deaths/massacre, murder, car accidents, gender dysphoria (a little bit)