Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

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

30 reviews

eclecticreadswithash's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Fancy a short story collection that's a little bit different? Look no further! 

Never Whistle at Night includes stories from indigenous authors from all over the U.S. and Canada. These stories are definitely more "dark fiction" than horror, where they often cover topics related to everyday tragedies and generational trauma that indigenous people face in modern times, such as residential schools, foster family abuse, and racism. Only a couple of stories are more mythological. It was addressed right at the beginning in the forward that Native Americans experience real horror in the everyday, and that can be scarier than anything made up. 

I really appreciated the variety of stories shared and the showcase of authors from so many different tribes. Despite this, there are many similar themes. Indigenous peoples have suffered. And they continue to do so, no matter where they are. And that's not okay! This is a really interesting way to bring attention to indigenous issues and culture. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I rarely read short story collections. If you don't mind a bit of spooky or uneasy/uncomfortable topics, I would really recommend this! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Body horror

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, Racism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, and Alcoholism

Minor: Abortion

cerasaurusrex's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Abortion, Addiction, Cannibalism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Bullying, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Racism, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, and Violence

megwilli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use and Alcoholism

idk_indigo's review against another edition

I don't like the short stories in audiobook format. It's too confusing. I also don't think this is the book for me. A lot of the stories were interesting, but heavy warning for so many things. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Body horror, and Racism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Incest, Kidnapping, and Rape

Minor: Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Trafficking, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse

blchabot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

A fantastic compilation of Indigenous stories told by Indigenous people. There is a harrowing sense of realism in each of the stories within this anthology, proof that culturally significant narratives are best told through the eyes and mouths of those who have lived it. Definitely a top read for 2024

As someone who loves myth, folklore and sharing scary stories around a campfire, I was enthralled with  the concept of so many different "scary stories" told by Indigenous writers.

"Never Whistle at Night" is a compilation of 26 stories exploring dark themes that really highlights the incredible significance of storytelling for all Indigenous people.

Each story tackles a uniquely dark and harrowing topic ranging from the obvious topics of racism, colonialism, residential schools and the effect of generational trauma, NWAN touches Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, blood quantum and Indigenous monsters like the Kusktuka.

Some of my favourites included:

· Navajos don't wear Elk Teeth by @conleylyons
A man moves into a new neighbourhood and finds himself in a strange relationship with a very forward man who keeps an even stranger collection.

· Tick Talk by Cherie Dimaline
A man goes on a hunting trip after losing his father only to end up with a little passenger who won't quite go away.

· Snakes are Born in the Dark by D.H. Trujillo
A spelunking trip to see protected Indigenous cave painting goes horribly wrong when a white man chooses to engage in casual racism.

In order to engage in the cultural act of oral storytelling, I listened to this on audible. I highly recommend it, so you too can truly experience these stories.

There is an emotional difference when you hear stories written by the likes of Cherie Dimaline, DH Trujillo and Rebecca Roanhorse read by incredible narrators like @ghostkeepermusic @kaniehtiio @thesheldonelter that really puts you in the story.

I had so many visceral emotions when contemplating the things left unsaid at the end of each of the short stories but the most terrifying part was how monstrous humanity has, and continues to be towards the Indigenous Community. The acknowledgments, read by editors shane.hawk and @tvayyyy said it best:

It's something else to be a monster made man, in a world of man made monsters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Racism, Violence, Addiction, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child death, and Classism

Residential Schools

eficca33's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This collection of short stories was intense and brilliant. Please check TW for yourself before reading, but it's worth it!! Some of these stories will stay in my mind for months, I know it!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Racial slurs, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Trafficking, Violence, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Torture, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Animal death, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

tainolibrary's review

3.0

While some of the selections were exactly the kind of “ghost tales” inspired by (if not directly from) various Native cultures that I was anticipating, others fell short. They’re all well-written stories, don’t get me wrong, but some just felt out of place. I also don’t love the fact there weren’t any content warnings to be found in the book (I read a digital copy) and, yes, they’re very much needed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Excrement, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Vomit, Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia

mikcarrington's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

Y'all, check content warnings.
I'd initially expected this to be a lot of folklore/supernatural (the title in particular gave me that impression). While there's definitely some of that in there, it does not take the forefront as I think through the incredible stories in this collection. There's such a great range of extremely disturbing to lighter fare, with concerning endings and righteous ones. Many of these stories will likely stick with me for years to come. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Torture, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

scarrillo222's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

I appreciate the length of each short story. They were about 5 to 6 pages at max. Some of the stories I really enjoyed when it came to supernatural theme or more dark classic horror themes. Some of the stories did drag on a bit, but it was nice to be able to skip a story and not feel like you’re missing out on a major details since it is an anthology. By the time I finished reading the book, I did get a bit burnt out and decided not to read the last three short stories. In my opinion, the couple of short stories are the most interesting, and what really like pulled me into the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Animal death, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Body horror, Classism, Gore, and Blood

renwrites13's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

very diverse, lots of diff types of horror. not just indigenous mythology, but also crime and other genres with a creepy twist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, Torture, Gore, Racism, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Body horror

Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Child death, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Alcohol, and Suicide

Minor: Gun violence, Cultural appropriation, Fire/Fire injury, Cannibalism, Classism, Excrement, and Alcohol