Book Review | Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

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, NetGalley and Penguin Random House, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : September 19, 2023

Publisher : Vintage

ISBN: 0593468465

Pages : 416

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