Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

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

16 reviews

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

melshoo's review

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I don’t feel that I can give a numeric rating to this book because the things I disliked are pretty inherent to the horror genre, such as body horror and violence. Very unsettling, especially with the undertones of racial violence and history included.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Stalking, Colonisation, Murder, Mental illness, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

poisoned_icecream's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Physical abuse, Suicide, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Child abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child death, Death, and Homophobia

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

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

pineapple_queen's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Racism, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Child death, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Alcohol, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Alcoholism, and Ableism

dezzella's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

Went a little outside of my usual genre reading this, not usually the horror/thriller type reader, but I really enjoyed this! I thought there was lots of variety in the types of stories you encounter (whether from a paranormal/otherworldly experience to just other humans doing some terrible things). Glad I picked this up, and would recommend for those who love dark stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Racism, Blood, Abortion, Gore, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, and Death

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Stalking, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship

shuttersham's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Cancer, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Racism, Sexual assault, Addiction, Mental illness, Gun violence, Grief, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia

cadence99's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this fantastic Anthology. Many stories were deeply disconcerting, and had me jumpy and on edge after some late night reading. Some of my favorites were White Hills, Scariest. Story. Ever. and Eulogy for A Brother, Resurrected (this one in particular was my favorite, and I look forward to reading more from the author!)- I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for thoughtful, well crafted horror that packs a punch

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Ableism, Abandonment, Abortion, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Gore, Physical abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Addiction, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Violence, Racism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Vomit