Book Review: Never Whistle At Night

 

Title: Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction

Author: Multiple

Series/Standalone: Never Whistle At Night (Volume #1)

Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Adult Fiction, Indigenous

Pages: 408

Publisher: Random House

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audiobook (Own It)

"A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the 'Are you ready to be un-settled?' Featuring stories by:

Noriss Black- Amber Blaeser-Wardzala- Phoenix Boudreau -Cherie Dimaline -Carson Faust -Kelli Jo Ford -Kate Hart -Shane Hawk -Brandon Hobson -Darcie Little Badger -Conley Lyons -Nick Medina -Tiffany Morris -Tommy Orange -Mona Susan Power -Marcie R. Rendon -Waubgeshig Rice -Rebecca Roanhorse -Andrea L. Rogers -Morgan Talty -D.H. Trujilo -Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. -Richard Van Camp -David Heska Wanbil Widen -Royce Young Wolf -Mathilda Zeller

Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many 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 revelling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon."

My Rating: 5/5

I listened to the audio of this book and loved it so much I ordered my own copy. I also loved that while each story was unique, they were all filled with twists and different horrifying elements. Some were less intense than others, but still incredible. I've also preordered the next volume and can't wait to see what other stories will stick with me. 

Sidny

Book Review: VenCo by Cherie Dimaline

Title: VenCo

Author: Cherie Dimaline

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Adult Fiction, Indigenous

Pages: 400

Publisher: William Morrow

Year Published: 2023

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"Lucky St. James, a Metis millennial living with her cantankerous but loving grandmother Stella, is barely hanging on when she discovers she will be evicted from their tiny Toronto apartment. Then, one night, something strange and irresistible calls out to Lucky. Burrowing through a wall, she finds a silver spoon etched with a crooked-nosed witch and the word SALEM, humming with otherworldly energy.

Hundreds of miles away in Salem, Myrna Good has been looking for Lucky. Myrna works for Venco, a front company fueled by vast resources of dark money.

Lucky is familiar with the magic of her indigenous ancestors, but she has no idea that the spoon links her to VenCo's network of witches throughout North America. Generations of witches have been waiting for centuries for the seven spoons to come together, igniting a new era, and restoring women to their rightful power.

But as reckoning approaches, a very powerful adversary is stalking their every move. He's Jay Christo's, a roguish and deadly witch-hunter as old as witchcraft itself.

To find the last spoon, Lucky and Stella embark on a rollicking and dangerous road trip to the darkly magical city of New Orleans, where the final showdown will determine whether VenCo will usher in a new beginning... or remain underground forever."

My Rating: 1.5/5

This started out in a direction I enjoyed, but as the book went on, I felt it dragged. The plot became fairly obvious, and the storyline, while entertaining at first, felt really heavy-handed for me for adult fiction. I enjoy the concept, but the storytelling wasn't for me, and the plot points weren't what I wanted. 

Sidny