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

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This collection was such a treat. I not only got to read authors I already know and love (an amazing introduction by the author of My Heart is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones, and a fun werewolf story by author of Man Made Monsters, Andrea L. Rodgers) but also got introductions to a huge roster of new-to-me writers that I'm just dying to get to know better.

For folks who want a really meaty dark fiction collection to sink their teeth into, Never Whistle At Night is perfect. There are 26 stories, running the gamut from the extremely dark and extremely real ("Sundays" by David Heska Wanbli Weiden) to the darkly fantastical yet no less real ("Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected" by Carson Faust).

All of the stories were fantastic (see my personal ratings below, under the spoiler tag), but my personal stand out favorites were "Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth" by Conley Lyons, "Heart-Shaped Clock" by Kelli Jo Ford, "Sundays" by  David Heska Wanbli Weiden, and "Collections" by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala.


"Kushtuka" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"White Hills" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Navajos Don't Wear Elk Teeth" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Wingless" - ⭐⭐⭐
"Quantum" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Hunger" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Tick Talk" - ⭐⭐⭐
"The Ones Who Killed Us" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Snakes Are Born in the Dark" - ⭐⭐⭐
"Before I Go" - ⭐⭐⭐
"Night in the Chrysalis" - ⭐⭐⭐
"Behind Colin's Eyes" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Heart-Shaped Clock" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Scariest. Story. Ever." - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Human Eaters" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The Longest Street in the World" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Dead Owls" - ⭐⭐⭐
"The Prepper" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Uncle Robert Rides the Lightning" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Sundays" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Eulogy for a Brother, Resurrected" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Night Moves" - ⭐⭐⭐
"Capgras" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The Scientist's Horror Story" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Collections" - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Limbs" - ⭐⭐⭐


Thank you to the wonderful people behind Never Whistle at Night for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley!