Rating: 4/5
What It’s About:
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.
Penguin Random House
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book released on September 19th, 2023.
The Review
Never Whistle at Night offers a variety of spine-chilling, harrowing, and gruesome stories. I enjoyed the variety of writing styles and sub-genres of horror that were included. This book is perfect to pick up during the Halloween season. The indigenous perspective and experiences of generational trauma and colonialism were horrifying to read about just on their own…considering they come from real life history. The infusion of indigenous culture, legends, and religion make the stories of Never Whistle At Night a notable anthology.