by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr.
4.5 · 4 reviewsMany Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night.
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.
4 reviews
Took the title as a challenge and regretted it. A few of these are properly frightening.
As with any anthology, some entries are much stronger than others. I'd say fifteen out of twenty-six really landed for me, which is a good ratio.
The best stories here get their power from history rather than jump scares. Colonial violence sitting underneath the supernatural makes it hit differently.
Twenty-six Indigenous authors and almost no filler, which is remarkable for a collection this size. The range is huge — body horror, quiet dread, folklore, satire. Several of these will stay with me a long time.