Book Review: Never Whistle at Night edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

 

From the publisher:

Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home.

These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.

Never Whistle at Night  was published September 19th, 2023 by Vintage.

My Thoughts:  This is a perfect read for this time of year and for anytime you want to spook yourself. Even the introduction has it's creepy moments.

Some of the stories are really scary. Others are gross in their horror. The first story in the book is one of my favorites, Kushtuka by Mathilda Zeller. I caught myself holding my breath in places in the story. I was worried for the protagonist. 

This is an anthology of dark fiction. Some of it is supernatural horror. Some of it is the horror of the things people do to each other. But, all of it is well written. 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to fans of dark fiction. It's well worth a read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.