Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST EDITED ANTHOLOGY • BRAM STOKER AWARD NOMINEE FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ANTHOLOGY • LOCUS AWARD FINALIST
A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the question: “Are you ready to be un-settled?”
“Never failed to surprise, delight, and shock.” —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop and Little Heaven
Featuring stories by:
Norris 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. Trujillo • Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. • Richard Van Camp • David Heska Wanbli Weiden • Royce K. Young Wolf • Mathilda Zeller
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.
A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the question: “Are you ready to be un-settled?”
“Never failed to surprise, delight, and shock.” —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop and Little Heaven
Featuring stories by:
Norris 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. Trujillo • Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. • Richard Van Camp • David Heska Wanbli Weiden • Royce K. Young Wolf • Mathilda Zeller
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.
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Readers say *Never Whistle at Night* is a powerful collection of Indigenous dark fiction, blending culture, history, and horror with emotional depth. ...
This is one of the best short story collections I have ever read. Horrifying, terrifying, unputdownable, and I’m not normally a fan of this genre, but they are diverse and so well written. Don’t mess with nature and the natural world. Even the trees will get you.
First time reading an anthology and first time reading indigenous dark fiction… loved every minute of it.
Never Whistle At Night is a “Dark Fiction Anthology” comprised of so many talented story tellers. I loved the different emotions that I felt reading this book. From compassion and better understanding to scared, disturbed and jumpiness from the horror. I loved every minute of it.
If you are looking for an unsettling, chilling read along with stories that have dark humor and poignant and reflective, look no further. If you enjoy diverse reads and own voices stories with these elements you won’t be disappointed.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.
Never Whistle At Night is a “Dark Fiction Anthology” comprised of so many talented story tellers. I loved the different emotions that I felt reading this book. From compassion and better understanding to scared, disturbed and jumpiness from the horror. I loved every minute of it.
If you are looking for an unsettling, chilling read along with stories that have dark humor and poignant and reflective, look no further. If you enjoy diverse reads and own voices stories with these elements you won’t be disappointed.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.
Never Whistle at Night gathers a powerful lineup of Indigenous voices and offers a glimpse into horror shaped by culture, history, and inherited fear. Stories are rooted in belief systems where a simple act like whistling can invite something dangerous into your life. It promises unease with the added layer of silenced Indigenous stories adding meaning behind it.
The collection delivers a wide range of horror. Ghosts, curses, revenge, and deeply personal fears tied to identity and survival. A few stories stood out in a big way. The haunted house tale had a steady and creeping dread that stuck with me. I also enjoyed the story centered on a pregnant woman protecting herself from her bloodline being erased.
A lot of the anthology started to blur together. Many stories leaned heavily into similar themes and graphic imagery without enough distinction in voice or structure to make them stand apart. I kept waiting for more stories to have the same clarity and punch as the ones I loved.
The audiobook experience is where this anthology shines. A full cast of narrators gives each story its own identity. It felt intimate and like each author was sitting down to tell their story directly to me. That level of care in performance elevated the material and kept me engaged.
Never Whistle at Night is a collection that will resonate strongly with readers looking for culturally rooted horror and a wide spectrum of voices. It just didn’t fully come together for me as a standout anthology.
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