What do you think?
Rate this book
River of Bones and Other Stories
A stunning collection of award-winning fantasy and science fiction short stories from the New York Times bestselling author of the Between Earth and Sky trilogy—including a new novella set in the world of Trail of Lightning.
Rebecca Roanhorse’s first publication, “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™”, was awarded both the Nebula and Hugo award for best short story, and on its strength, Roanhorse was awarded the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. Although Roanhorse began to publish novels including Trail of Lightning and Black Sun, she has continued to write piercing stories that examine the American experience through marginalized perspectives.
“River of Bones” returns to the Sixth World series with a novella, this time from Kai’s perspective, as he and Maggie travel back to where he grew up to save his ex from the people who almost beat him to death—his ex’s family.
Based on the Tewa fable of Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden, “A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy”—winner of the 2019 Ignyte award—explores the tradition of celestial-based storytelling, set in a future where virtual reality is nearly indistinguishable from the real world and celebrities can project their images into space as literal stars.
“Falling Bodies” follows a young student at a space station university caught between two disparate worlds—the one he currently inhabits and the one he has desperately tried to escape—as he searches for his place in the universe.
First published in Jordan Peele’s Out There Screaming, “Eye and Tooth” is a story of black horror about the hunters who hunt the monsters and the monstrous among us.
Through a range of contemporary to outright fantasy and science fiction, these stories will immediately capture your attention from one of our premiere writers of speculative fiction whose work is always at the vanguard of American fiction.
Rebecca Roanhorse’s first publication, “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™”, was awarded both the Nebula and Hugo award for best short story, and on its strength, Roanhorse was awarded the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. Although Roanhorse began to publish novels including Trail of Lightning and Black Sun, she has continued to write piercing stories that examine the American experience through marginalized perspectives.
“River of Bones” returns to the Sixth World series with a novella, this time from Kai’s perspective, as he and Maggie travel back to where he grew up to save his ex from the people who almost beat him to death—his ex’s family.
Based on the Tewa fable of Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden, “A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy”—winner of the 2019 Ignyte award—explores the tradition of celestial-based storytelling, set in a future where virtual reality is nearly indistinguishable from the real world and celebrities can project their images into space as literal stars.
“Falling Bodies” follows a young student at a space station university caught between two disparate worlds—the one he currently inhabits and the one he has desperately tried to escape—as he searches for his place in the universe.
First published in Jordan Peele’s Out There Screaming, “Eye and Tooth” is a story of black horror about the hunters who hunt the monsters and the monstrous among us.
Through a range of contemporary to outright fantasy and science fiction, these stories will immediately capture your attention from one of our premiere writers of speculative fiction whose work is always at the vanguard of American fiction.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2026
43 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Roanhorse
62 books10.5k followersRebecca Roanhorse is a New York Times bestselling and Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Award-winning speculative fiction writer. She has published multiple award-winning short stories and novels, including two novels in The Sixth World Series, Star Wars: Resistance Reborn, Race to the Sun for the Rick Riordan imprint, and the epic fantasy trilogy Between Earth and Sky. She has also written for Marvel Comics and games and for television, including FX’s A Murder at the End of the World, and the Marvel series Echo for Disney+. She has had her own work optioned by Amazon Studios, Netflix, and AMC Studios.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 29, 2026
(I'm just reviewing the Sixth World novella, River of Bones, and saving the short stories for when I need a RR fix): I'd say this gives some nice closure to the story that was needed based on where the second book left off. The character progress makes sense, though I don't know that it was as emotionally satisfying as I'd have liked. I really enjoyed getting Kai's POV. All in all, I'd say this is high quality & really did it for me in terms of the fantasy component, but not my personal favorite romance trope.
Want to Read
August 7, 2025Some much-needed closure will be provided for us Sixth World fans. It's bittersweet, but I am ready!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a longtime fan of the Sixth World books, I was very excited to pick this up from the moment I saw the cover. While I wish it had been a full book, River of Bones was the star of this collection and it was wonderful to reenter that world again, this time from Kai's perspective. An overall bittersweet feeling, knowing that we likely won't get a full series of this world, but thankful nevertheless for the conclusion.
The other short stories were a more mixed bag-- some I had read before and loved, and others I felt were just okay. My favorites of the short stories were Eye and Tooth and The Boys From Blood River.
A huge thank you to S&S/Saga for the eARC opportunity to read this and share my honest thoughts! And, thank you to Colleen for buddy reading this with me :)
The other short stories were a more mixed bag-- some I had read before and loved, and others I felt were just okay. My favorites of the short stories were Eye and Tooth and The Boys From Blood River.
A huge thank you to S&S/Saga for the eARC opportunity to read this and share my honest thoughts! And, thank you to Colleen for buddy reading this with me :)
March 13, 2026
This is a collection of most of Roanhorse's short fiction to date, including the story that put her on the map, 'Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience (tm)'. Her stories center around Native American life, especially that of the US Southwest.
The stories are well crafted but because they each deal in an aspect of Native life and existence, they broadcasted where they were going fairly early. Although I couldn't predict the particular twists the narratives took, I knew pretty much where they would end up.
The last story and the titular one is a new story set in her 'Sixth World' series that began with 'Trail of Lightning'. You don't have to read the novels to enjoy the story, but it definitely helps to know more about the backstory of the characters to get the full impact.
The stories are well crafted but because they each deal in an aspect of Native life and existence, they broadcasted where they were going fairly early. Although I couldn't predict the particular twists the narratives took, I knew pretty much where they would end up.
The last story and the titular one is a new story set in her 'Sixth World' series that began with 'Trail of Lightning'. You don't have to read the novels to enjoy the story, but it definitely helps to know more about the backstory of the characters to get the full impact.
March 19, 2026
Usual with a book of shorts, some are good, and some are just okay. I think this book's highlight was a story that took place in the Sixth World series she wrote, but since I read that years ago, I didn't remember enough of it - seems like just a romantic ending for two characters that I didn't recall. Nothing in her fantastic Between the Earth and Sky series in this volume.
March 18, 2026
While all of the stories shared spooky undertones, they were also enjoyably unique. The 10 chapters meant to wrap up The Sixth World series felt rushed, which I guess is to be expected. Unfortunate that there won't be any more installments. It's been real, Maggie and Kai 👋
February 19, 2026
This collection of short stories proves that Rebecca Roanhorse is as adept at building a nuanced, impactful, and thought provoking short story as she is at novels. Writing effective short stories is a unique skill that not every novelist is able to cultivate. So I usually go into those collections with some trepidation, even with an author I enjoy and admire as much as Rebecca Roanhorse. This collection proves, without a doubt, that those fears are unfounded with this author.
The stories in this collection are a mix of previously released short stories and some new writings for this collection. They cover a number of genres including Urban Fantasy, light SciFi, and Horror. The prevailing themes in the collection are race, identity, queerness, and the conflict between the modern world and the weight of a racial historical identity. It's rare to find a short story collection where every story is a winner (Ted Chiang is the only other author I've seen do it), but Rebecca Roanhorse manages. These are stories that will stay with you long after you're done with the book and will keep your attention from beginning to end.
The final story in this collection is a concluding story for the authors urban fantasy series The Sixth World. This is the only story that will require prior reading to fully enjoy. The author clearly wrote this as a boon to her long time fans (I've been waiting for another Sixth World story for so long!) and she writes this without any recapping of the prior books, so be sure to catch up on that series to fully enjoy the last story.
I recommend this for anyone who loves short stories or Fantasy/Horror/SciFi. This is a fantastic collection that is sure to become a long time favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC.
The stories in this collection are a mix of previously released short stories and some new writings for this collection. They cover a number of genres including Urban Fantasy, light SciFi, and Horror. The prevailing themes in the collection are race, identity, queerness, and the conflict between the modern world and the weight of a racial historical identity. It's rare to find a short story collection where every story is a winner (Ted Chiang is the only other author I've seen do it), but Rebecca Roanhorse manages. These are stories that will stay with you long after you're done with the book and will keep your attention from beginning to end.
The final story in this collection is a concluding story for the authors urban fantasy series The Sixth World. This is the only story that will require prior reading to fully enjoy. The author clearly wrote this as a boon to her long time fans (I've been waiting for another Sixth World story for so long!) and she writes this without any recapping of the prior books, so be sure to catch up on that series to fully enjoy the last story.
I recommend this for anyone who loves short stories or Fantasy/Horror/SciFi. This is a fantastic collection that is sure to become a long time favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC.
May 11, 2026
I'm not much of a short story reader, but for Rebecca Roanhorse and another (please, not the last!) instalment of the Sixth World series, I make all the exceptions.
Roanhorse is a powerhouse in SF/F and known for writing Indigenous characters in stories with strong anti-colonial, anti-empire themes.
(If you haven't read Between Earth and Sky, her completed trilogy set in a world loosely based on pre-Columbian American cultures, consider this your call to arms and tell Xiala I said 'hi.')
I enjoyed this collection, which contains two short stories I've read before, "Falling Bodies and "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™." One is about a disgraced senator's son in a future world and the other about a tour guide who uses VR technology to help tourists experience his culture, but both are about authenticity, tyranny and the right of all peoples to exist. They're both excellent.
Other highlights include the vampire-esque story "The Boys from Blood River," the acute lesson in snobbery that drives "White Hills," and the doomed celebrity romance of "A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy."
Roanhorse's SF/F always has a tinge of horror and that influence is present across this collection.
I was less captivated with "A Harvest of Beating Hearts" and "Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death, and, Subsequently, Her Best Life." "Eye & Tooth," about a brother and sister team who hunt monsters, was pleasing but stuck with me less than other tales in the collection.
The highlight is "River of Bones" which takes place after Storm of Locusts and takes Kai back to his roots to resolve some unfinished business. It's also told from his point of view and I enjoyed seeing Maggie, everyone's favourite Dinétah monster hunter, through his eyes.
"Bones" gives some resolution to their dynamic, but left me longing for more. Roanhorse once said there were originally four books planned in the series but that sales of Book I/II weren't strong enough for the publisher to continue (a common decision for trad published authors new to the market).
I will always hope that her bigger footprint in the genre and growing horde of fans interested in her backlist means we'll get more Sixth World books, but if we don't, this is a satisfying place to pause.
Roanhorse is a powerhouse in SF/F and known for writing Indigenous characters in stories with strong anti-colonial, anti-empire themes.
(If you haven't read Between Earth and Sky, her completed trilogy set in a world loosely based on pre-Columbian American cultures, consider this your call to arms and tell Xiala I said 'hi.')
I enjoyed this collection, which contains two short stories I've read before, "Falling Bodies and "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™." One is about a disgraced senator's son in a future world and the other about a tour guide who uses VR technology to help tourists experience his culture, but both are about authenticity, tyranny and the right of all peoples to exist. They're both excellent.
Other highlights include the vampire-esque story "The Boys from Blood River," the acute lesson in snobbery that drives "White Hills," and the doomed celebrity romance of "A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy."
Roanhorse's SF/F always has a tinge of horror and that influence is present across this collection.
I was less captivated with "A Harvest of Beating Hearts" and "Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death, and, Subsequently, Her Best Life." "Eye & Tooth," about a brother and sister team who hunt monsters, was pleasing but stuck with me less than other tales in the collection.
The highlight is "River of Bones" which takes place after Storm of Locusts and takes Kai back to his roots to resolve some unfinished business. It's also told from his point of view and I enjoyed seeing Maggie, everyone's favourite Dinétah monster hunter, through his eyes.
"Bones" gives some resolution to their dynamic, but left me longing for more. Roanhorse once said there were originally four books planned in the series but that sales of Book I/II weren't strong enough for the publisher to continue (a common decision for trad published authors new to the market).
I will always hope that her bigger footprint in the genre and growing horde of fans interested in her backlist means we'll get more Sixth World books, but if we don't, this is a satisfying place to pause.
March 19, 2026
FCKKKKKKKK this collection has such well crafted short stories. A mix of previously released and new writings, from the author’s first eight years of her career.
I honestly loved all of them but my fav were:
• The Boys from Blood River — A haunting modern Western Vampire story that follows a depressed young man who is invited to join a group of immortal vampire cowboys.
• White Hills — A disturbing horror story that follows Marissa, a white-passing Indigenous woman living in luxury, whose life turns into a nightmare when her wealthy in-laws discover her heritage and engage in a forced, eugenicist plot against her pregnancy
• Eye and Tooth — First published in Jordan Peele’s Out There Screaming, it’s a story of black horror about the hunters who hunt the monsters and the monstrous among us.
• River of Bones — A novella in the Sixth World Series, this time from Kai’s perspective, as he and Maggie travel back to where he grew up to save his ex from the people who almost beat him to death—his ex’s family.
Indigenous. Contemporary. Fantasy. Horror. Scifi.
Thank you @sagapressbooks #SagaSaysCrew for the early eARC! This is my true and honest review.
I honestly loved all of them but my fav were:
• The Boys from Blood River — A haunting modern Western Vampire story that follows a depressed young man who is invited to join a group of immortal vampire cowboys.
• White Hills — A disturbing horror story that follows Marissa, a white-passing Indigenous woman living in luxury, whose life turns into a nightmare when her wealthy in-laws discover her heritage and engage in a forced, eugenicist plot against her pregnancy
• Eye and Tooth — First published in Jordan Peele’s Out There Screaming, it’s a story of black horror about the hunters who hunt the monsters and the monstrous among us.
• River of Bones — A novella in the Sixth World Series, this time from Kai’s perspective, as he and Maggie travel back to where he grew up to save his ex from the people who almost beat him to death—his ex’s family.
Indigenous. Contemporary. Fantasy. Horror. Scifi.
Thank you @sagapressbooks #SagaSaysCrew for the early eARC! This is my true and honest review.
March 17, 2026
Fuck me, dude. I really didn’t think that Rebecca could wrap up the Sixth World Series with a short story and that’s on me for doubting her. She’s so talented and her short stories fuck me up every time!
May 8, 2026
Going into this I was honestly REALLY nervous because I was reading that this was kind of speculative fiction which is VERY outside of my normal comfort zone and at first, I genuinely felt like everything was going over my head!!! But the more time I spent sitting with each story and thinking about them afterward, the more I started noticing all the recurring themes that are happening throughout the stories like loneliness, belonging, identity, grief, temptation...I think. I could be totally wrong and maybe I really didn't understand anything hahaha...Even though all the stories felt very different from each other genre-wise, they still felt connected because of the similar themes that I thiiink I was picking up on!
I definitely like some stories more than others and there were a few times where I felt lost/confused while reading but I actually ended up liking this book way more than I expected to. A lot of these stories became emotionally heavier AFTER I finished them and started thinking about them more which I think is part of what made this such an interesting reading experience for me. I also really loved the horror/folklore elements in this book, and I loved how creepy some of the stories felt but like...in a subtle way. White Hills was probably the standout for me just because of how strong of an emotional reaction it pulled out of me! I'm really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and read this!
I definitely like some stories more than others and there were a few times where I felt lost/confused while reading but I actually ended up liking this book way more than I expected to. A lot of these stories became emotionally heavier AFTER I finished them and started thinking about them more which I think is part of what made this such an interesting reading experience for me. I also really loved the horror/folklore elements in this book, and I loved how creepy some of the stories felt but like...in a subtle way. White Hills was probably the standout for me just because of how strong of an emotional reaction it pulled out of me! I'm really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and read this!
April 21, 2026
I’ve adored Rebecca Roanhorse since her Between Earth and Sky fantasy series! In River of Bones, she weaves fascinating tales of dystopia, science fiction, myths and monsters in this collection of short stories. They’re accounts of horrors and what if’s, ones that ask philosophical questions and others that feel like episodes of Black Mirror. We start with “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience (TM)” and also wander into spaceship territory, revenge fantasies and cowboy vampires.
Roanhorse’s unique perspective lends itself to her storytelling of indigenous characters; throughout each text we find complex individuals with different backgrounds and experiences— some with powers, others who are grieving, scared and even people hopelessly in love. I’m especially impressed by the diversity of her writing style and structure, seeing her give life to each story in its own voice.
It was definitely an interesting choice to include a short story (novella 2.5 if you will) of her ongoing series The Six World in this collection. Beforehand, I went out of my way to read summaries of book 1 and 2 for some context, and thankfully that was mostly all I needed to understand this side quest. BUT what was unexpected was for me to feel so immersed and engaged with these characters and their arcs within just ten chapters. I’m 100% picking up Trail of Lightning after this book; if this was a marketing scheme, it worked and I’m not mad about it. I need to know the details of what happened to Maggie and Kai before this novella, and I’m invested in their story after this as well!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Roanhorse’s unique perspective lends itself to her storytelling of indigenous characters; throughout each text we find complex individuals with different backgrounds and experiences— some with powers, others who are grieving, scared and even people hopelessly in love. I’m especially impressed by the diversity of her writing style and structure, seeing her give life to each story in its own voice.
It was definitely an interesting choice to include a short story (novella 2.5 if you will) of her ongoing series The Six World in this collection. Beforehand, I went out of my way to read summaries of book 1 and 2 for some context, and thankfully that was mostly all I needed to understand this side quest. BUT what was unexpected was for me to feel so immersed and engaged with these characters and their arcs within just ten chapters. I’m 100% picking up Trail of Lightning after this book; if this was a marketing scheme, it worked and I’m not mad about it. I need to know the details of what happened to Maggie and Kai before this novella, and I’m invested in their story after this as well!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
March 26, 2026
A collection of stories in this book are a mixture of previous released short stories and new ones. I liked how a variety of the short stories were a mixture of genres from urban fantasy to sci-fi, and horror. This is a good sampling of the author's work and gives the readers a taste of what the author’s books are like if you’re undecided. An array of strong themes are weaved in the stories. I struggled with the last short story because I hadn't read the book prior to listening to this collection.
The narrators, Kamali Minter and Shaun Taylor-Corbett did a wonderful job portraying the characters. The tones and inflections were great and they kept me engaged till the very end.
A very special thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted ALC.
The narrators, Kamali Minter and Shaun Taylor-Corbett did a wonderful job portraying the characters. The tones and inflections were great and they kept me engaged till the very end.
A very special thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted ALC.
April 26, 2026
I *really* don't like short stories. You just start to care about the characters and then all done! No more story.
However, this volume is short stories is an exception. Each of Rebecca Roanhorse's stories feels complete. They're moving, deep, sometimes funny, and always great reads.
However, this volume is short stories is an exception. Each of Rebecca Roanhorse's stories feels complete. They're moving, deep, sometimes funny, and always great reads.
November 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for this ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Rating: 4.5/5.0 Stars
I first became aware of Rebecca Roanhorse after watching a WorldCon panel on epic fantasy, The Shifting Landscape of Short Fiction, and a little research revealed her impressive credentials, including the Nebula and Hugo awards. Seeing this title on NetGalley, an anthology of varying short stories, I saw it as a hopeful introduction to her writing range.
I found her writing to be truly exceptional. This collection showcases Roanhorse as an author with an extraordinary talent for creating fully developed characters and world-building, even within the confines of short fiction. What impressed me most was her range; though several of the stories did not fall into the types or genres I typically enjoy, the quality of the prose made them compelling regardless. For instance, a story like River of Bones is part of her larger The Sixth World novel series, which I have not read, but her writing allowed me to understand what was going on seamlessly.
I recommend this as a read, especially for those who appreciate diverse speculative fiction, for anyone curious about the author's award-winning work, and as a welcome addition for existing fans who want a deeper look at her range.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Rating: 4.5/5.0 Stars
I first became aware of Rebecca Roanhorse after watching a WorldCon panel on epic fantasy, The Shifting Landscape of Short Fiction, and a little research revealed her impressive credentials, including the Nebula and Hugo awards. Seeing this title on NetGalley, an anthology of varying short stories, I saw it as a hopeful introduction to her writing range.
I found her writing to be truly exceptional. This collection showcases Roanhorse as an author with an extraordinary talent for creating fully developed characters and world-building, even within the confines of short fiction. What impressed me most was her range; though several of the stories did not fall into the types or genres I typically enjoy, the quality of the prose made them compelling regardless. For instance, a story like River of Bones is part of her larger The Sixth World novel series, which I have not read, but her writing allowed me to understand what was going on seamlessly.
I recommend this as a read, especially for those who appreciate diverse speculative fiction, for anyone curious about the author's award-winning work, and as a welcome addition for existing fans who want a deeper look at her range.
March 27, 2026
3/25/2025 3.5 stars rounded up. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
3/26/2025 Alright, I'm going to straight up admit that I haven't read any of Rebecca Roanhorse's Sixth World novels, so I was definitely not as invested in what is likely to be the biggest draw of this book for fans of hers: the novella that closes the collection and gives it its name.
River Of Bones is a perfectly fine story on its own, but I definitely got the feeling while reading it that I was supposed to come into it already caring about Kai, the extremely powerful narrator, as he tries to reconcile his feelings for Maggie, his maybe-girlfriend, with his feelings for his ex Lala. Alas, I grew steadily less impressed by his story the more powers he displayed -- likely the opposite reaction of readers who already know him and love him and want him to succeed. For readers new to the setting, this may well be the least successful of an otherwise absorbing collection of short speculative fiction.
Interestingly, I also had a meh response to the story that opens this book, the critically acclaimed Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™. It is a perfectly fine, if heavy-handed metaphor for the absolute audacity of white people in the ways that they treat indigenous peoples and "authenticity." While I certainly agree with the sentiments, part of my indifference is likely due to how far forward we've leapt as a nation in the past ten years alone when it comes to the representation of Native Americans in popular media -- helped in no small part by Ms Roanhorse herself. The pushback she's received in the years since underscores both the irony of her story and the complexity of identity. It's hard to escape the feeling that the pain she's experienced in navigating all this has definitely fueled the writing of the rest of the stories here, which draw on her descent from both a Pueblo and a Black parent, while also reflecting her experience of being adopted by and raised in a white family.
This struggle is most readily apparent in what I felt was the strongest story here, Falling Bodies. Ira is a human who was adopted as a child by a powerful member of the Genteel, the alien race who took over the planet Earth. His adoption was supposed to herald a new highpoint in cross-species relations. When he was kidnapped as a teenager by the radical Children Of Earth, who wanted to bring him home to the planet he was from, things went decidedly sidewise. This is, again, not a subtle story but it does successfully translate the pain of transracial adoption into a scenario perhaps more easily understood by people who might not otherwise see the harm in well-meaning gestures founded, unfortunately, on contempt.
The flipside of this story is White Hills, where a young woman decides she will stop at nothing to get the life she desires. While this also felt like a story of catharsis, it was also on the heavy-handed side, as aspiring influencer Marissa must choose how much she wants to sacrifice in order to secure her bag.
The perils of being young and desirable also permeate A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy, a futuristic take on the legend of Deer Hunter and White Corn Woman. After the death of his beloved Cherie, Dez uses a highly dangerous procedure to keep her close, even as stardom beckons. I actually preferred the even grislier retelling of the indigenous legend of Deer Woman in A Harvest Of Beating Hearts, as a young woman is seduced into avenging the deaths that bring her lover so much pain.
Revenge is the motivation that keeps our title heroine alive in Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death And, Subsequently, Her Best Life. One of the only two survivors of a massacre at a Black settlement out West, Abigail has to choose between love and vengeance... if the land will even give her a choice. I also enjoyed the other story with an explicitly Black heroine here, Eye and Tooth. Zelda and her brother Atticus are hunters with remarkable gifts, in a riff on the monster-hunting abilities of Maggie in the title story. And, finally, we have The Boys From Blood River, a heartfelt examination of queerness and alienation and the lines we draw for ourselves as we grow up and try to survive.
I may have had my reservations about some of the stories here, but overall I felt that this was a worthwhile read, especially as a snapshot of speculative fiction from underrepresented demographics in the past decade or so. The best thing about this collection is that you never know what the protagonist of each story will do in the end. Will they choose revenge? Will they choose love? Will they choose their better angels or succumb to their baser natures or, perhaps, both? Each protagonist is very much their own character, and not merely a vessel for an overarching agenda: that's the hallmark of deeply felt fiction. While this collection is, ofc, a Can't Miss for fans of Ms Roanhorse, it will also please fans of progressive speculative fiction in general.
River of Bones And Other Stories by Rebecca Roanhorse was published March 3 2026 by S&S/Saga Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
3/26/2025 Alright, I'm going to straight up admit that I haven't read any of Rebecca Roanhorse's Sixth World novels, so I was definitely not as invested in what is likely to be the biggest draw of this book for fans of hers: the novella that closes the collection and gives it its name.
River Of Bones is a perfectly fine story on its own, but I definitely got the feeling while reading it that I was supposed to come into it already caring about Kai, the extremely powerful narrator, as he tries to reconcile his feelings for Maggie, his maybe-girlfriend, with his feelings for his ex Lala. Alas, I grew steadily less impressed by his story the more powers he displayed -- likely the opposite reaction of readers who already know him and love him and want him to succeed. For readers new to the setting, this may well be the least successful of an otherwise absorbing collection of short speculative fiction.
Interestingly, I also had a meh response to the story that opens this book, the critically acclaimed Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™. It is a perfectly fine, if heavy-handed metaphor for the absolute audacity of white people in the ways that they treat indigenous peoples and "authenticity." While I certainly agree with the sentiments, part of my indifference is likely due to how far forward we've leapt as a nation in the past ten years alone when it comes to the representation of Native Americans in popular media -- helped in no small part by Ms Roanhorse herself. The pushback she's received in the years since underscores both the irony of her story and the complexity of identity. It's hard to escape the feeling that the pain she's experienced in navigating all this has definitely fueled the writing of the rest of the stories here, which draw on her descent from both a Pueblo and a Black parent, while also reflecting her experience of being adopted by and raised in a white family.
This struggle is most readily apparent in what I felt was the strongest story here, Falling Bodies. Ira is a human who was adopted as a child by a powerful member of the Genteel, the alien race who took over the planet Earth. His adoption was supposed to herald a new highpoint in cross-species relations. When he was kidnapped as a teenager by the radical Children Of Earth, who wanted to bring him home to the planet he was from, things went decidedly sidewise. This is, again, not a subtle story but it does successfully translate the pain of transracial adoption into a scenario perhaps more easily understood by people who might not otherwise see the harm in well-meaning gestures founded, unfortunately, on contempt.
The flipside of this story is White Hills, where a young woman decides she will stop at nothing to get the life she desires. While this also felt like a story of catharsis, it was also on the heavy-handed side, as aspiring influencer Marissa must choose how much she wants to sacrifice in order to secure her bag.
The perils of being young and desirable also permeate A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy, a futuristic take on the legend of Deer Hunter and White Corn Woman. After the death of his beloved Cherie, Dez uses a highly dangerous procedure to keep her close, even as stardom beckons. I actually preferred the even grislier retelling of the indigenous legend of Deer Woman in A Harvest Of Beating Hearts, as a young woman is seduced into avenging the deaths that bring her lover so much pain.
Revenge is the motivation that keeps our title heroine alive in Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death And, Subsequently, Her Best Life. One of the only two survivors of a massacre at a Black settlement out West, Abigail has to choose between love and vengeance... if the land will even give her a choice. I also enjoyed the other story with an explicitly Black heroine here, Eye and Tooth. Zelda and her brother Atticus are hunters with remarkable gifts, in a riff on the monster-hunting abilities of Maggie in the title story. And, finally, we have The Boys From Blood River, a heartfelt examination of queerness and alienation and the lines we draw for ourselves as we grow up and try to survive.
I may have had my reservations about some of the stories here, but overall I felt that this was a worthwhile read, especially as a snapshot of speculative fiction from underrepresented demographics in the past decade or so. The best thing about this collection is that you never know what the protagonist of each story will do in the end. Will they choose revenge? Will they choose love? Will they choose their better angels or succumb to their baser natures or, perhaps, both? Each protagonist is very much their own character, and not merely a vessel for an overarching agenda: that's the hallmark of deeply felt fiction. While this collection is, ofc, a Can't Miss for fans of Ms Roanhorse, it will also please fans of progressive speculative fiction in general.
River of Bones And Other Stories by Rebecca Roanhorse was published March 3 2026 by S&S/Saga Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
March 3, 2026
This review can also be found at: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-river-...
When I was a teenager, I loved staying up late at night and catching old episodes of a few different shows on TV — The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. Both presented these cool one-off stories that oftentimes had a monkey paw-type of twist. One of the most famous of course, is the one where Burgess Meredith’s character only wants time to read books (I can sympathize!), but when finally given all the time in the world, his glasses fall and shatter, leaving him unable to enjoy the printed page. But looking back now, I can see that much of the twisty little anthology scifi/horror shows I enjoyed from the past are very white. Most of the characters are white, many of their problems are viewed through the lens of the Western Hemisphere, and in spite of how uncomfortable the shows made us, they never forced us away from our own cultures and biases.
As I read through Rebecca Roanhorse’s River of Bones and Other Stories, I felt as if many of her short stories could easily be put on screen and fit right in with the best tales from those black-and-white shows from before I was even born — just with a little more color. Basically…bringing The Twilight Zone to the Reservation. In her stories, Roanhorse brings her own Native American background often not just as inspiration, but as the focal point, showcasing traditions and lifestyles that many of us are unfamiliar with. And because of that, there are hidden horrors that are unexpected for the average reader as well.
This was my introduction to Roanhorse’s writing, although I have her Earth and Sky Trilogy sitting on my bookshelf just waiting for a little free time to open up. After reading River of Bones, I have to say I’m much more likely to get to Black Sun sooner than later.
I know one of the selling points of this book was the title story, River of Bones. It takes place in the fictional world of Roanhorse’s Sixth World series, but since I haven’t read those books, this story is a dip down for me, personally. It’s still quite good and it did make me curious about the books, but since I didn’t have the multibook-background with these characters, I felt like I was missing out on a bit.
As for the other stories — some were straight up “WOW”. The opening story, Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™, was unsettling and chilling. I also loved The Boys From Blood River, a take on a vampire story that felt genuine and almost real. Roanhorse also tries her hand at a post-apocalyptic alien story with Falling Bodies, which works well as an analogy for cross-cultural adoption and some of the issues that come along with it.
There’s a lot to like about River of Bones and Other Stories. If you let yourself be transported to New Mexico and fall into the vibe that Roanhorse is putting out, I’m sure you’ll love these stories as much as I did, and can probably fully envision them on the TV screen, just like me. She packs a lot into the small package of a short story, leaving readers wanting more and more.
Thank you to Saga Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
When I was a teenager, I loved staying up late at night and catching old episodes of a few different shows on TV — The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. Both presented these cool one-off stories that oftentimes had a monkey paw-type of twist. One of the most famous of course, is the one where Burgess Meredith’s character only wants time to read books (I can sympathize!), but when finally given all the time in the world, his glasses fall and shatter, leaving him unable to enjoy the printed page. But looking back now, I can see that much of the twisty little anthology scifi/horror shows I enjoyed from the past are very white. Most of the characters are white, many of their problems are viewed through the lens of the Western Hemisphere, and in spite of how uncomfortable the shows made us, they never forced us away from our own cultures and biases.
As I read through Rebecca Roanhorse’s River of Bones and Other Stories, I felt as if many of her short stories could easily be put on screen and fit right in with the best tales from those black-and-white shows from before I was even born — just with a little more color. Basically…bringing The Twilight Zone to the Reservation. In her stories, Roanhorse brings her own Native American background often not just as inspiration, but as the focal point, showcasing traditions and lifestyles that many of us are unfamiliar with. And because of that, there are hidden horrors that are unexpected for the average reader as well.
This was my introduction to Roanhorse’s writing, although I have her Earth and Sky Trilogy sitting on my bookshelf just waiting for a little free time to open up. After reading River of Bones, I have to say I’m much more likely to get to Black Sun sooner than later.
I know one of the selling points of this book was the title story, River of Bones. It takes place in the fictional world of Roanhorse’s Sixth World series, but since I haven’t read those books, this story is a dip down for me, personally. It’s still quite good and it did make me curious about the books, but since I didn’t have the multibook-background with these characters, I felt like I was missing out on a bit.
As for the other stories — some were straight up “WOW”. The opening story, Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™, was unsettling and chilling. I also loved The Boys From Blood River, a take on a vampire story that felt genuine and almost real. Roanhorse also tries her hand at a post-apocalyptic alien story with Falling Bodies, which works well as an analogy for cross-cultural adoption and some of the issues that come along with it.
There’s a lot to like about River of Bones and Other Stories. If you let yourself be transported to New Mexico and fall into the vibe that Roanhorse is putting out, I’m sure you’ll love these stories as much as I did, and can probably fully envision them on the TV screen, just like me. She packs a lot into the small package of a short story, leaving readers wanting more and more.
Thank you to Saga Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Saga and NetGalley for the ARC.
It's hard for a collection of short stories to be a five-star read, and this wasn't for me, but it's a very solid four-star for sure. I think it gets stronger as it goes on, which tracks; per Roanhorse's foreword, it is set up to go pretty much sequentially through her career, so you can see her craft evolve over time. The first story, "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience," is evidently one of her most popular overall; it wasn't one of my favorite BUT I can clearly see why it resonates with so many people and I think it very obviously has the seeds of the horror that becomes more prominent in some of the other stories as the collection goes on.
If you liked Sinners, The Boys from Blood River is for you. White Hills has a FANTASTIC sense of suburban horror to it. Falling Bodies is an unexpected (to me) sci-fi installment and I really liked it as a lens on trans-racial adoption. Eye and Tooth was featured in the last year or two in Out There Screaming, which I also read, so I skipped that one this time around but it's a fun take on a monster hunting story.
And then there's the titular, longer-form River of Bones. I was surprised in the foreword that Roanhorse said she'd thought she was done with this series because it just ended so abruptly, and I am very glad she wrote SOMETHING else to wrap it up. This one is from Kai's perspective, which I don't THINK we've gotten before in that series? (I read both and enjoyed them a lot, but it's been a minute; still, I think both the full-length books were from Maggie's perspective.) I did not LOVE Kai as the POV character but I liked the peak at his past, and the Burque as a setting, and I think it did do a decent job of putting more of a period on the series in a short amount of time. I do wish we were getting more full-length books in this world, but alas.
It's hard for a collection of short stories to be a five-star read, and this wasn't for me, but it's a very solid four-star for sure. I think it gets stronger as it goes on, which tracks; per Roanhorse's foreword, it is set up to go pretty much sequentially through her career, so you can see her craft evolve over time. The first story, "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience," is evidently one of her most popular overall; it wasn't one of my favorite BUT I can clearly see why it resonates with so many people and I think it very obviously has the seeds of the horror that becomes more prominent in some of the other stories as the collection goes on.
If you liked Sinners, The Boys from Blood River is for you. White Hills has a FANTASTIC sense of suburban horror to it. Falling Bodies is an unexpected (to me) sci-fi installment and I really liked it as a lens on trans-racial adoption. Eye and Tooth was featured in the last year or two in Out There Screaming, which I also read, so I skipped that one this time around but it's a fun take on a monster hunting story.
And then there's the titular, longer-form River of Bones. I was surprised in the foreword that Roanhorse said she'd thought she was done with this series because it just ended so abruptly, and I am very glad she wrote SOMETHING else to wrap it up. This one is from Kai's perspective, which I don't THINK we've gotten before in that series? (I read both and enjoyed them a lot, but it's been a minute; still, I think both the full-length books were from Maggie's perspective.) I did not LOVE Kai as the POV character but I liked the peak at his past, and the Burque as a setting, and I think it did do a decent job of putting more of a period on the series in a short amount of time. I do wish we were getting more full-length books in this world, but alas.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The amount of joy I felt when I realized that was Maggie, Kai, and who I thought at first glance was Ben (but have since realized is someone else) on the cover of this collection was off the charts. I missed them so much.
Now, in general, I find short story collections to be hit and miss for me. So, it wasn't a huge surprise to me that this was a mixed bag.
1. Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience- 3 stars overall
2. A Harvest of Beating Hearts- 3 stars overall
3. Where in Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death, and, Subsequently, Her Best Life- 4 stars; but I would have LOVED to have this one expanded upon.
4. The Boys from Blood River- 5 star; really solid
5. White Hills-2 stars; felt very telling no showing to me (author does note in the intro that this is one of her more polarizing works)
6. A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy- 3.5 star; the end was really abrupt, but the concept was interesting
7. Falling Bodies- so sorry but 1 star; I am not the biggest sci-fi fan in the best scenario, but I couldn't tell what the point of this story was.
8. Eye & Tooth- 5 star; felt like an episode of prime Supernatural. I was loving it and wouldn't say no to a novella series or something of their exploits.
9. River of Bones-5 STAR MY BABIES!!! Although I will always be sad that we will likely never get more in this world, I really enjoyed this little wrap up from a new POV.
All in all, it has around a 3.5 star average from my current story ratings, but I will round it up just for how much I loved the stories that I did rate highly.
If you are a fan of Rebecca Roanhorse, this is a good collection of short works of different genres that she writes. If you are here for the Sixth World wrap up, I do feel like you will be pleased with the little wrap up that we get in here.
*Thank you so much to Saga Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own. Also thank you to Ariel for buddy reading with me :) *
Now, in general, I find short story collections to be hit and miss for me. So, it wasn't a huge surprise to me that this was a mixed bag.
1. Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience- 3 stars overall
2. A Harvest of Beating Hearts- 3 stars overall
3. Where in Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death, and, Subsequently, Her Best Life- 4 stars; but I would have LOVED to have this one expanded upon.
4. The Boys from Blood River- 5 star; really solid
5. White Hills-2 stars; felt very telling no showing to me (author does note in the intro that this is one of her more polarizing works)
6. A Brief Lesson in Native American Astronomy- 3.5 star; the end was really abrupt, but the concept was interesting
7. Falling Bodies- so sorry but 1 star; I am not the biggest sci-fi fan in the best scenario, but I couldn't tell what the point of this story was.
8. Eye & Tooth- 5 star; felt like an episode of prime Supernatural. I was loving it and wouldn't say no to a novella series or something of their exploits.
9. River of Bones-5 STAR MY BABIES!!! Although I will always be sad that we will likely never get more in this world, I really enjoyed this little wrap up from a new POV.
All in all, it has around a 3.5 star average from my current story ratings, but I will round it up just for how much I loved the stories that I did rate highly.
If you are a fan of Rebecca Roanhorse, this is a good collection of short works of different genres that she writes. If you are here for the Sixth World wrap up, I do feel like you will be pleased with the little wrap up that we get in here.
*Thank you so much to Saga Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own. Also thank you to Ariel for buddy reading with me :) *
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"River of Bones and Other Stories" is an excellent collection of short stories and novellas by Rebecca Roanhorse. These range from fantasy to sci-fi, but almost all of them fall squarely within the horror genre. I will admit I was not fully aware of that going in and some of the stories were a little more intense than I was expecting, but overall I really enjoyed this collection and I want to highlight some of my favorites.
"Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death and, Subsequently, Her Best Life" is a short story about two African American women living in the American West in the 1880s. Abigail makes a deal with desert spirits to exact revenge on an evil White sheriff.
"The Boys from Blood River" is a horror story of a queer Indigenous boy summoning a band of spirits to help him survive the hardships in his small town.
"Eye and Tooth", previously published in Jordan Peele's 'Out There Screaming', tells of two African American siblings who are monster hunters and the different "monstrous" forms people can take. While I typically don't read a lot of horror, this made me want to look into 'Out There Screaming.'
And, of course, the reason I was so thrilled to be given this eArc, "River of Bones" returned us the Sixth World duology with a closing novella for Maggie and Kai. I loved "Trail of Lighting" and "Storm of Locusts". They are by far my favorite of Rebecca Roanhorse's works and I always hoped she would return to that world. This story was a wonderful closure and I am so glad that I got to spend more time with these two characters. Learning more about Kai's history was great and if she ever wants to return to this world I will be first in line.
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for a free copy of this eArc in return for an honest review.
"Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death and, Subsequently, Her Best Life" is a short story about two African American women living in the American West in the 1880s. Abigail makes a deal with desert spirits to exact revenge on an evil White sheriff.
"The Boys from Blood River" is a horror story of a queer Indigenous boy summoning a band of spirits to help him survive the hardships in his small town.
"Eye and Tooth", previously published in Jordan Peele's 'Out There Screaming', tells of two African American siblings who are monster hunters and the different "monstrous" forms people can take. While I typically don't read a lot of horror, this made me want to look into 'Out There Screaming.'
And, of course, the reason I was so thrilled to be given this eArc, "River of Bones" returned us the Sixth World duology with a closing novella for Maggie and Kai. I loved "Trail of Lighting" and "Storm of Locusts". They are by far my favorite of Rebecca Roanhorse's works and I always hoped she would return to that world. This story was a wonderful closure and I am so glad that I got to spend more time with these two characters. Learning more about Kai's history was great and if she ever wants to return to this world I will be first in line.
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for a free copy of this eArc in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As someone primarily familiar with Roanhorse as a long-form fiction writer, I'm thrilled to report that her short fiction is as biting and brilliant as her novels. This book collects a broad range of stories from across her career, a mix of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and realistic fiction broadly centering on themes of colonialism, resistance, generational trauma, and healing. Favorites from the collection inclucded "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience", "A Harvest of Beating Hearts", and "Eyes and Teeth."
I won't lie - the main reason I requested this was the tantalizing promise of long-awaited Sixth World content. While I loved the story, I can't help but feel cheated by it. It doesn't so much read as a standalone adventure as a snippet of the yet unpublished third book the Sixth World sequences. While I enjoyed getting to see Kai's inner world, Maggie's character and thoughts are so unusually opaque that I came away certain we were missing her half of the narrative. I also find it odd that a major development in Kai and Maggie's relationship appears here in a short story rather than in the next series installment. My guess (or at least my hope) is that this is a sneak preview of the next book and not a piece of standalone content. If not, I can't help but feel that this is Roanhorse's way of putting series to bed for the time being. I wish her the best of luck and will certainly read any future project of hers, but mourn the indefinite freeze/soft termination of a world I really loved.
I won't lie - the main reason I requested this was the tantalizing promise of long-awaited Sixth World content. While I loved the story, I can't help but feel cheated by it. It doesn't so much read as a standalone adventure as a snippet of the yet unpublished third book the Sixth World sequences. While I enjoyed getting to see Kai's inner world, Maggie's character and thoughts are so unusually opaque that I came away certain we were missing her half of the narrative. I also find it odd that a major development in Kai and Maggie's relationship appears here in a short story rather than in the next series installment. My guess (or at least my hope) is that this is a sneak preview of the next book and not a piece of standalone content. If not, I can't help but feel that this is Roanhorse's way of putting series to bed for the time being. I wish her the best of luck and will certainly read any future project of hers, but mourn the indefinite freeze/soft termination of a world I really loved.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you for the ARC Saga Press and Netgalley!
Rebecca Roanhorse has done it again! River of Bones and Other Stories is a masterpiece featuring a collection of short stories and a novella with Maggie and Kai from the Sixth World Series.
The stories in this collection tell powerful short tales, conveying narratives that are unique and emotional. Roanhorse does a great job exploring different POVs spanning centuries into the past and reaching out to a time far in the future. Another thing I really liked about this book was the diversity of magical and supernatural elements that the reader comes across. The short stories, although covering different topics, make you really think about who the true monsters really are at the end of the day, leaving you with a sense of unease. The world-building within the span of a few pages is well-developed and reads holistically.
River of Bones: In my opinion, this novella entailed its own sub-review, because I truly love immersing myself in Maggie and Kai's world every time there is a new story. To be fair, I'd read a short story about Maggie and Kai eating breakfast and folding their laundry if Rebecca Roanhorse wrote about that, but for now, I am happy to mention that this novella did not disappoint! It is everything one would expect from a Sixth World book. Even condensed, the story packs a good punch, exploring the post-apocalyptic universe through Kai's perspective.
Rebecca Roanhorse has done it again! River of Bones and Other Stories is a masterpiece featuring a collection of short stories and a novella with Maggie and Kai from the Sixth World Series.
The stories in this collection tell powerful short tales, conveying narratives that are unique and emotional. Roanhorse does a great job exploring different POVs spanning centuries into the past and reaching out to a time far in the future. Another thing I really liked about this book was the diversity of magical and supernatural elements that the reader comes across. The short stories, although covering different topics, make you really think about who the true monsters really are at the end of the day, leaving you with a sense of unease. The world-building within the span of a few pages is well-developed and reads holistically.
River of Bones: In my opinion, this novella entailed its own sub-review, because I truly love immersing myself in Maggie and Kai's world every time there is a new story. To be fair, I'd read a short story about Maggie and Kai eating breakfast and folding their laundry if Rebecca Roanhorse wrote about that, but for now, I am happy to mention that this novella did not disappoint! It is everything one would expect from a Sixth World book. Even condensed, the story packs a good punch, exploring the post-apocalyptic universe through Kai's perspective.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If Rebecca Roanhorse’s awards and honors were manifested as framed medals her wall space would be full. But this sounds too stuffy for her eviscerating, reflective, seductive stories that can be shocking and shockingly beautiful. How fortunate we are that they are gathered in a new collection, which also includes a novella from the Sixth World series. These are stories about being an outsider in an outsider culture, about deadly racism and vengeance for generational and current injustices and killings, about the visceral costs of grief and desire. Their territory includes visits by some dark and some sacred figures at the edges of myth, like the beautiful terrifying Deer Woman, or The Blood River Boys who have a taste for things, not on the regular menu, or the true cost of bargains made with intangible, unsettling things. The stories often shade into dark satire and horror; while revealing how poverty and history can be the worst horror of them all. Roanhorse is one of those special authors that seamlessly removes the wrapping between the reader’s outer and inner worlds. It is much like swimming and then being carries away by a body of water, perhaps a river, and being pulled along, story after story. You can lose yourself in the powerful current, which is much more dangerous than it initially looked. The only question is, do we ever want to go back? Very recommended.
April 22, 2026
I already knew I was a fan of Roanhorse's long fiction. I'm happy to report she is also an excellent short story writer. Rebecca Roanhorse has an incredible gift for crafting stories that feel cohesive, biting and tightly paced. The kind that grab you by the throat from the first page and don't let go until the end.
Whether you are a longtime fan of Roanhorse's novels or a newcomer looking for sharp, gritty speculative fiction, this is collection is one you need to pick up.
The Stories
This collection of eight stories ( some new, some previously published) explores life on the fringes of society. Roanhorse seamlessly blends Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi and horror, giving the entire collection a dark, Black Mirror-esque edge. Each story feels distinct yet part of a larger, sharp-edged vision of American life.
The Novella: A Return to the Sixth World
The centerpiece for many will be the title novella, River of bones, which serves as the conclusion to the Sixth World series. We get this final installment through Kai's perspective. Its been four year since I read the first two books and while I didn't remember every single plot point, I never felt lost. Roanhorse provides enough context that the story remains accessible, though it definitely made me want to go back and reread the original duology. It's a bittersweet finale for me. I'm sad the series is over and wish we had a full third novel but it provides a truly satisfying emotional conclusion to the journey.
Whether you are a longtime fan of Roanhorse's novels or a newcomer looking for sharp, gritty speculative fiction, this is collection is one you need to pick up.
The Stories
This collection of eight stories ( some new, some previously published) explores life on the fringes of society. Roanhorse seamlessly blends Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi and horror, giving the entire collection a dark, Black Mirror-esque edge. Each story feels distinct yet part of a larger, sharp-edged vision of American life.
The Novella: A Return to the Sixth World
The centerpiece for many will be the title novella, River of bones, which serves as the conclusion to the Sixth World series. We get this final installment through Kai's perspective. Its been four year since I read the first two books and while I didn't remember every single plot point, I never felt lost. Roanhorse provides enough context that the story remains accessible, though it definitely made me want to go back and reread the original duology. It's a bittersweet finale for me. I'm sad the series is over and wish we had a full third novel but it provides a truly satisfying emotional conclusion to the journey.
February 22, 2026
The first 70% of this book is a short story collection. It was wildly impressive but not exactly enjoyable, possibly because I was blindsided by the heavy content.
Every story here expertly addresses challenging real world issues, especially racism, using a mixture of horror and supernatural or science fiction elements to drive emotional impact. There is murder, self harm, terrorism, forced abortion, and child abuse in these pages. But also glimmers of hope that are all the lovelier for this darkness.
If you’re interested and in the right head space for that, these stories are well worth the read.
The final 30% of this book is a novella sequel to Roanhorse’s Sixth World series. It’s understandable but not meaningful as a standalone story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Every story here expertly addresses challenging real world issues, especially racism, using a mixture of horror and supernatural or science fiction elements to drive emotional impact. There is murder, self harm, terrorism, forced abortion, and child abuse in these pages. But also glimmers of hope that are all the lovelier for this darkness.
If you’re interested and in the right head space for that, these stories are well worth the read.
The final 30% of this book is a novella sequel to Roanhorse’s Sixth World series. It’s understandable but not meaningful as a standalone story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2026
This was my first time reading Rebecca Roanhorse, but it won’t be the last. This anthology collects eight previously published short stories from Roanhorses’s first eight years, as well as a new Sixth World novella. I thoroughly enjoyed these speculative fiction stories featuring people of color, mostly Native American but also African American. Some stories are more fantasy and some more science fiction, but they all have at least a touch of horror.
Each story was beautifully written and held my interest, and I suspect many will stick with me. Many of the stories deal with violence, discrimination, and other injustices against minorities, women, and LGBTQ folks. One is an indictment of colonialism. Despite these dark themes, most of the characters retain agency, and I didn’t find the overall tone of the collection to be excessively dark.
Thanks to Saga Press for giving me a free advanced review copy of the ebook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
Each story was beautifully written and held my interest, and I suspect many will stick with me. Many of the stories deal with violence, discrimination, and other injustices against minorities, women, and LGBTQ folks. One is an indictment of colonialism. Despite these dark themes, most of the characters retain agency, and I didn’t find the overall tone of the collection to be excessively dark.
Thanks to Saga Press for giving me a free advanced review copy of the ebook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
March 8, 2026
I requested this ARCK because Roanhorse is one of my favorite authors!!! Big fan! And so lucky I got the eARC from NetGalley
This collection just made me realize even more why I love this author so much! River of Bones and Other Stories is a strong collection that shows Roanhorse’s ability to tell compelling stories in a short format across fantasy, science fiction, and horror. The stories explore themes of identity, race, and belonging while drawing on Indigenous perspectives. One of my favorites was include “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience.” I found it unsettling in the best way. Overall, if you are already a Rebecca Roanhorse’ fan you’ll love this one.. and if you haven’t read her books, I think this would be a good way to start
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press for the ARC.!
This collection just made me realize even more why I love this author so much! River of Bones and Other Stories is a strong collection that shows Roanhorse’s ability to tell compelling stories in a short format across fantasy, science fiction, and horror. The stories explore themes of identity, race, and belonging while drawing on Indigenous perspectives. One of my favorites was include “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience.” I found it unsettling in the best way. Overall, if you are already a Rebecca Roanhorse’ fan you’ll love this one.. and if you haven’t read her books, I think this would be a good way to start
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press for the ARC.!
April 6, 2026
Overall, I thought this collection of short stories was okay. I certainly don't think any story was weaker than the others nor do I think any suffered from length or composition. I think going into it, I should have done more research because I kept seeing quotes from Ms. Roanhorse which highlighted the "return to the Sixth World." So it was slightly disappointing to have that story be less than 1/3 overall, and a further twist to have it be told from Kai's perspective. It was disappointing to have , especially after 6+ years.
April 15, 2026
This collection of short stories is a mix of horror, fantasy, and science fiction and includes a conclusion to the Sixth World urban fantasy series. Some are previously published and some are new. They are written from an indigenous, Black and/or queer perspective and explore themes of race and racism, colonialism, poverty, injustice and vengeance. These well-crafted, consistently excellent stories illustrate why Rebecca Roanhorse is a multiple award-winning writer. My favorites were A Harvest of Beating Hearts, The Boys from Blood River, Eye and Tooth and, of course, River of Bones. These stories are riveting, unsettling, thought-provoking, and lyrically written.
Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free advance reader's copy for review.
Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free advance reader's copy for review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews