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Never Whistle at Night #2
Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II: An Indigenous Horror Anthology
Not yet published
Expected 18 Aug 26The bestselling Indigenous dark fiction anthology returns with a new selection of even more daring and sinister stories. From monsters to mutilation, Never Whistle at Night is back for revenge.
They’re baaaaaaaaaack!
As any savvy horror fan the monster never truly dies. The team that brought you the bestselling dark fiction anthology Never Whistle at Night has risen, hungry, from the grave to summon more dark delicacies for your delectation. In these twenty-one brand-new, groundbreaking, gruesome stories—authored by both established and newly unearthed Indigenous talent—the contributors are fully embracing both supernatural horrors and the everyday horror of living under colonialist rule.
Featuring stories of unspeakable yet satisfying terror, from twisted psychological tales to gore-filled monster hunts, this new selection of sinister stories will sate your darkest appetites and leave you slavering for more. Never Whistle at Night, Part Back for Blood is a further celebration of Indigenous survival and the enduring tradition of transforming adversity into art.
They’re baaaaaaaaaack!
As any savvy horror fan the monster never truly dies. The team that brought you the bestselling dark fiction anthology Never Whistle at Night has risen, hungry, from the grave to summon more dark delicacies for your delectation. In these twenty-one brand-new, groundbreaking, gruesome stories—authored by both established and newly unearthed Indigenous talent—the contributors are fully embracing both supernatural horrors and the everyday horror of living under colonialist rule.
Featuring stories of unspeakable yet satisfying terror, from twisted psychological tales to gore-filled monster hunts, this new selection of sinister stories will sate your darkest appetites and leave you slavering for more. Never Whistle at Night, Part Back for Blood is a further celebration of Indigenous survival and the enduring tradition of transforming adversity into art.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 18, 2026
About the author
Shane Hawk
17 books483 followersShane Hawk is an Indigenous horror writer, editor, and screenwriter, and an enrolled member of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. He is best known as the co-editor of the bestselling anthology series Never Whistle at Night, which is now in its second volume with more than twenty printings. His debut collection Anoka was released in 2020 and became part of a growing wave of Indigenous Horror reshaping the genre. Hawk has an original TV series and feature film in development. He lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Reading for review in the June 2026 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: Indigenous Horror, Range of Scares, Unapologetic
Draft Review: Spending more than a year on the bestseller list, and sent into 20+ printings, the success of Never Whistle at Night cannot be exaggerated. That first volume leaned more heavily on atmosphere, cautiously testing the market’s appetite for Indigenous horror, but this time the editors are unafraid to lean on the horror with a full throttle because “Back for Blood,” is not just a title, it’s a promise. Some readers will come looking for new stories by Stephen Graham Jones, Tommy Orange, or Ramona Emerson, but half the stories came from an open call, and it is those new voices whose stories are among the most memorable here. Beginning with visceral body horror, moving through stories featuring werewolves, found footage, and Indigenous monsters (such as a tulpa and “That One”), to stories that contemplate the horrors of racism, addiction, and the murder of Indigenous women, leading to an unforgettable science fiction-horror hybrid, a tale that reverberates its terror across time, Hawk and Van Alst Jr lay bare their commitment to unapologetically represent the full range of Indigenous horror voices. The result is a captivating, chilling, and menacing anthology perfectly suited for readers of all genres.
Verdict: The rare sequel that is better than its original. Suggest to fans of any horror stories or anthologies featuring non-dominant culture authors such as Out There Screaming or Our Shadows Have Claws.
illustrated by renowned Cheyenne and Arapaho painter Brent Learned-- One before each story-- gives the reader of sense of what is to come.
The first Never Whistle at Night was a HUGE, surprise success. It spent two years on the indie bookstore bestseller lists and went into over 20 printings. So no surprise there would be a sequel. But would it be as good? And how would dit be different?
The answer to the first questions is an unequivocal yes and it is because of the answer to the second.
This anthology is different because the success of the first allowed MORE Indigenous author to se seen.
In the intro editors say how first volume asks you to sort in the darkness, this one asks you to listen to it breathe!
The other thing I love about this book is the order of the stories by the editors. The first story-- Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe is one of the best body horror stories I have read. It makes the movie The Substance look tame. It is a modern Frankenstein but for the beauty obsessed. And it is uncomfortably bloody, but also you cannot look away because well, who wouldn't want to upgrade their own parts through magic. This is a horror literally visceral and also will hit close to home for every reader.
And that is the START. It is all out horror in every way.
Along the way readers get horror of all sizes-- werewolves, Mothman, found footage, Indigenous monsters, killers, the horror of racism, the horror of addiction, the horror of being a woman, so much horror.
A few more favorites to me (but honestly, there is not a clunker here)
Civilized by A. J. Eversole-- complicated relationship of being half Indian but also contemplates racism and how white skin gets you a pass. Also murdered Indigenous women, and more... There is an unease and terror here that attacks everyone-- no matter their identity. I really liked that. The fear is easily internalized
Guest Account Alicia Elliott-- Introduced the "tupla" to me. Terrifying
Goat Eyes by Jake Arrowtop-- another monster-- Goatman. But it wasn't the master alone that made this a good story. Great protagonist.
We Don’t Talk About It by Alina Pete-- Protagonist works in the morgue. Her brother leaves rehab again. It is the horror of addiction but also an introduction to the evil creature "That One." This story is immersive and terrifying but also had humor. Protagonist attacks the white reader directly saying how much "people" get wrong about Indigenous monsters. And then gives us a terror that literally crawl inside her and us.
If I had to pick a favorite it is The Body Delivers Erica Tremblay. This is a SF horror that I don't want to spoil because WOW. It has a historical foundation but is set now. It is one of the best SF horror stories I have read full stop. And what it says about humanity and our scientific goals....chilling.
Bios for each author after the story so you can easily find more-- and you will want to.
Also, you know many people are going to be drawn to this book to read a new story by Stephen Graham Jones of Tommy Orange or Ramona Emerson-- all best selling authors. But the FIRST of these stories does not come until page 130. As a reader, you are already hooked by then. Stumbling upon SGJ next, is exciting but you are already invested.
Range of scares and range of places-- cities, suburbs, cabin in the woods, reservation, one with a historical horror twist
Hawk and Van Alst Jr are committed to not only representing the full range of Indigenous voices, not only are they refusing to accept the racism inherent in white readers collecting these stories like souvenirs, not only are the preserving stories of survivors, BUT they are also uplifting horror as serious literature. You can do all of this and they do. And that's why is is a superior anthology for all readers who love horror.
This is horror about being seen by other Indigenous. If white people see them and their stories great, but not the reason. But everyone will be scared by what they see. And unapologetic-- these are Indigenous told in their storytelling traditional ways. Does it follow a structure that the dominant Western culture storytelling does always-- no, not always. Do the endings sometimes feel like the story just ends? yes. Does that ruin my enjoyment of these stories as a white lady. Nope. Not one bit. Some of these I will never forget.
Readalikes-- of course the first book. But also, any horror that is by non white, Western/European voices, anything that showcases how Horror as an emotion and a genre not only transcends identity/culture/background but also illustrates how these horror stories are even more terrifying when the lens of those who have been marginalized (at best) and harmed (at worst) by the dominant culture.
Examples-- The World Horror anthologies by Valancourt, Out There Screaming, The Upcoming Something Followed Us Home, Our Shadows Have Claws, ed. Yamile Saied Méndez & Amparo Ortiz (YA), Black Cranes, Tales of Unquiet Women, Sinew and Silk (up for a stoker this year)
Three Words That Describe This Book: Indigenous Horror, Range of Scares, Unapologetic
Draft Review: Spending more than a year on the bestseller list, and sent into 20+ printings, the success of Never Whistle at Night cannot be exaggerated. That first volume leaned more heavily on atmosphere, cautiously testing the market’s appetite for Indigenous horror, but this time the editors are unafraid to lean on the horror with a full throttle because “Back for Blood,” is not just a title, it’s a promise. Some readers will come looking for new stories by Stephen Graham Jones, Tommy Orange, or Ramona Emerson, but half the stories came from an open call, and it is those new voices whose stories are among the most memorable here. Beginning with visceral body horror, moving through stories featuring werewolves, found footage, and Indigenous monsters (such as a tulpa and “That One”), to stories that contemplate the horrors of racism, addiction, and the murder of Indigenous women, leading to an unforgettable science fiction-horror hybrid, a tale that reverberates its terror across time, Hawk and Van Alst Jr lay bare their commitment to unapologetically represent the full range of Indigenous horror voices. The result is a captivating, chilling, and menacing anthology perfectly suited for readers of all genres.
Verdict: The rare sequel that is better than its original. Suggest to fans of any horror stories or anthologies featuring non-dominant culture authors such as Out There Screaming or Our Shadows Have Claws.
illustrated by renowned Cheyenne and Arapaho painter Brent Learned-- One before each story-- gives the reader of sense of what is to come.
The first Never Whistle at Night was a HUGE, surprise success. It spent two years on the indie bookstore bestseller lists and went into over 20 printings. So no surprise there would be a sequel. But would it be as good? And how would dit be different?
The answer to the first questions is an unequivocal yes and it is because of the answer to the second.
This anthology is different because the success of the first allowed MORE Indigenous author to se seen.
In the intro editors say how first volume asks you to sort in the darkness, this one asks you to listen to it breathe!
The other thing I love about this book is the order of the stories by the editors. The first story-- Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe is one of the best body horror stories I have read. It makes the movie The Substance look tame. It is a modern Frankenstein but for the beauty obsessed. And it is uncomfortably bloody, but also you cannot look away because well, who wouldn't want to upgrade their own parts through magic. This is a horror literally visceral and also will hit close to home for every reader.
And that is the START. It is all out horror in every way.
Along the way readers get horror of all sizes-- werewolves, Mothman, found footage, Indigenous monsters, killers, the horror of racism, the horror of addiction, the horror of being a woman, so much horror.
A few more favorites to me (but honestly, there is not a clunker here)
Civilized by A. J. Eversole-- complicated relationship of being half Indian but also contemplates racism and how white skin gets you a pass. Also murdered Indigenous women, and more... There is an unease and terror here that attacks everyone-- no matter their identity. I really liked that. The fear is easily internalized
Guest Account Alicia Elliott-- Introduced the "tupla" to me. Terrifying
Goat Eyes by Jake Arrowtop-- another monster-- Goatman. But it wasn't the master alone that made this a good story. Great protagonist.
We Don’t Talk About It by Alina Pete-- Protagonist works in the morgue. Her brother leaves rehab again. It is the horror of addiction but also an introduction to the evil creature "That One." This story is immersive and terrifying but also had humor. Protagonist attacks the white reader directly saying how much "people" get wrong about Indigenous monsters. And then gives us a terror that literally crawl inside her and us.
If I had to pick a favorite it is The Body Delivers Erica Tremblay. This is a SF horror that I don't want to spoil because WOW. It has a historical foundation but is set now. It is one of the best SF horror stories I have read full stop. And what it says about humanity and our scientific goals....chilling.
Bios for each author after the story so you can easily find more-- and you will want to.
Also, you know many people are going to be drawn to this book to read a new story by Stephen Graham Jones of Tommy Orange or Ramona Emerson-- all best selling authors. But the FIRST of these stories does not come until page 130. As a reader, you are already hooked by then. Stumbling upon SGJ next, is exciting but you are already invested.
Range of scares and range of places-- cities, suburbs, cabin in the woods, reservation, one with a historical horror twist
Hawk and Van Alst Jr are committed to not only representing the full range of Indigenous voices, not only are they refusing to accept the racism inherent in white readers collecting these stories like souvenirs, not only are the preserving stories of survivors, BUT they are also uplifting horror as serious literature. You can do all of this and they do. And that's why is is a superior anthology for all readers who love horror.
This is horror about being seen by other Indigenous. If white people see them and their stories great, but not the reason. But everyone will be scared by what they see. And unapologetic-- these are Indigenous told in their storytelling traditional ways. Does it follow a structure that the dominant Western culture storytelling does always-- no, not always. Do the endings sometimes feel like the story just ends? yes. Does that ruin my enjoyment of these stories as a white lady. Nope. Not one bit. Some of these I will never forget.
Readalikes-- of course the first book. But also, any horror that is by non white, Western/European voices, anything that showcases how Horror as an emotion and a genre not only transcends identity/culture/background but also illustrates how these horror stories are even more terrifying when the lens of those who have been marginalized (at best) and harmed (at worst) by the dominant culture.
Examples-- The World Horror anthologies by Valancourt, Out There Screaming, The Upcoming Something Followed Us Home, Our Shadows Have Claws, ed. Yamile Saied Méndez & Amparo Ortiz (YA), Black Cranes, Tales of Unquiet Women, Sinew and Silk (up for a stoker this year)
Want to Read
May 12, 2026Never Whistle at Night Part II: Back for Blood!!!
Heck yeahhh, that's how you title a follow-up anthology! I absolutely love it. Never Whistle at Night is one of my favorite Dark Fiction Anthologies ever, so I'm stoked we're getting more stories. Edited again by Shane Hawk. This is gonna be good. ARC received!!
Heck yeahhh, that's how you title a follow-up anthology! I absolutely love it. Never Whistle at Night is one of my favorite Dark Fiction Anthologies ever, so I'm stoked we're getting more stories. Edited again by Shane Hawk. This is gonna be good. ARC received!!
April 20, 2026
First off, huge thank you to @netgalley , @aaknopf , @pantheonbooks , and @ireadvintage for the ARC!
I LOVED The first Never Whistle at Night collection and was so pissed I hadn’t read it sooner! This time when I saw it on NetGalley I requested it so damn fast 🏃🏻♀️💨 This collection was even better than the first, which I didn’t even think was possible! Being able to find new indigenous horror makes my heart so happy 🥰 I really hope they decide to keep doing new volumes in the future!
Some of my favorite stories are:
🕸Miss. Cherokee Princess 1996
🕸Neon Moon
🕸We Don’t Talk About it
🕸Guest Account
🕸Party at the Alvarez Ranch
Be sure to check out Never Whistle at Night II: Back for Blood on August 18th, 2026!
I LOVED The first Never Whistle at Night collection and was so pissed I hadn’t read it sooner! This time when I saw it on NetGalley I requested it so damn fast 🏃🏻♀️💨 This collection was even better than the first, which I didn’t even think was possible! Being able to find new indigenous horror makes my heart so happy 🥰 I really hope they decide to keep doing new volumes in the future!
Some of my favorite stories are:
🕸Miss. Cherokee Princess 1996
🕸Neon Moon
🕸We Don’t Talk About it
🕸Guest Account
🕸Party at the Alvarez Ranch
Be sure to check out Never Whistle at Night II: Back for Blood on August 18th, 2026!
June 19, 2026
I enjoyed Never Whistle at Night Part 1, but I REALLY enjoyed Part 2. In the intro, they said they listened to their readers, reflected, and went darker. Wow, they did not disappoint. There were such a variety of stories that brought out all kinds of emotions. Each one was so unique. I never could have guessed what was going to come next. There were a number where I desperately wished for a full length novel. Here are my individual ratings for them all!
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996: 4/5
Animal Dumb: 4/5
Neon Moon: 4/5
Late Night Stroll Through
A Moonlit Pasture: 3/5
Saskan Breakup: 2/5
Civilized: 4/5
Footprints: 5/5
Ivories: 5/5
Rez Dogs: 5/5
Guest Account: 4/5
Party At the Alvarez Ranch: 3.5/5
Found Footage: 3.5/5
Summer Vacation: 4/5
Goat Eyes: 5/5
We Don't Talk About It: 5/5
The Corpse Room: 5/5
Star Mound 4/5
Little Tree 3/5
Toothjar 3.5/5
The Body Delivers: 4.5/5
The Making of Monster 4/5
Thank you Vintage and Netgalley for letting me read this one early <3
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996: 4/5
Animal Dumb: 4/5
Neon Moon: 4/5
Late Night Stroll Through
A Moonlit Pasture: 3/5
Saskan Breakup: 2/5
Civilized: 4/5
Footprints: 5/5
Ivories: 5/5
Rez Dogs: 5/5
Guest Account: 4/5
Party At the Alvarez Ranch: 3.5/5
Found Footage: 3.5/5
Summer Vacation: 4/5
Goat Eyes: 5/5
We Don't Talk About It: 5/5
The Corpse Room: 5/5
Star Mound 4/5
Little Tree 3/5
Toothjar 3.5/5
The Body Delivers: 4.5/5
The Making of Monster 4/5
Thank you Vintage and Netgalley for letting me read this one early <3
Want to Read
March 30, 2026Book 1 is SO SO GOOD! I can't wait to read this one!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026Didn't finish before my access on net galley expired 🥲 it was really really good but I can only do so much horror at a time and I kept getting distracted by other books. Looking forward to finishing it when I can get my hands on it again.
April 4, 2026
A refresh of a beautifully anti-colonialism and anti-capitalism horror anthology – yes please! Savored the stories and truly enjoy how all of the authors really create a spooky setting. Not only does this feature indigenous voices, but it creates an inclusive space in horror. An anthology that has been long awaited and is well worth the read. Each story sets a different mood for all your horror needs.
Some stories like “We Don’t Talk about It” and “Cherokee Princess” really nailed their vision. The metaphors that come alive through horror will always be my favorite aspect of reading this genre. I promise you this a bloody collection full of monsters, indigenous folklore, and metaphors that really make you think about the ways we interact with western ideals. All opinions are my own, thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and anchor publishing for this advanced digital copy.
For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews – visit my blog brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
Some stories like “We Don’t Talk about It” and “Cherokee Princess” really nailed their vision. The metaphors that come alive through horror will always be my favorite aspect of reading this genre. I promise you this a bloody collection full of monsters, indigenous folklore, and metaphors that really make you think about the ways we interact with western ideals. All opinions are my own, thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and anchor publishing for this advanced digital copy.
For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews – visit my blog brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5
Richard Van Camp and Shane Hawk edited and collected another amazing group of indigenous horror short stories, with some from invited and established authors I'm very familiar with (Stephen Graham Jones, Tommy Orange, Jessica Johns, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Erica Tremblay) and half from open-call submissions introducing us all to amazing new talent (For me this definitely includes the authors of some of my favorites from this collection, such as P.C. Verrone, Alina Pete, and Alicia Elliott to name a few).
Some of the stories are feminist horror, or queer horror, or technological horror. All are indigenous horror, and all are educational on indigenous history and stories. They weave this knowledge into body horror, a Mothman retelling, our climate crisis, and more, and I find myself researching things such as the COINTELPRO infiltration of the American Indian Movement and Matushka Olga.
Each story also has a beautiful illustration to introduce it, done by renowned Cheyenne and Arapaho painter Brent Learned. Below are my spoiler free reviews of each story and their individual ratings.
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe: 3/5
All you have to do to get exactly what you want is mix some banevine and creek water and a whole new you can emerge. That's exactly what Emmamae Wilson needs. She is competing for her last year of eligibility in Miss Cherokee Princess, a contest started by her great-great-grandfather, who met her great-great-grandmother (the very first Miss Cherokee Princess) through it. She feels like her chances are impacted by the fact that she is mixed, so she uses her grandma's took book to create a concoction allowing her to change her physical features into whatever she wants, as long as she has a picture for inspiration. She can assemble an ideal version of herself from the pieces of other people she desires. But it's all worth it to be Miss Cherokee Princess... right?
Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone: 4/5
You are the main character in this first person POV story. You are a boy going through puberty and falling in love with your best friend Adrian. Your grandmother used to share Kiowa stories with you, before she started losing her memory. Your brother is five years older than you but still bullies you endlessly. You're growing a concerning amount of hair following a blood moon outing, but that's puberty. One-night things come to a head with your brother, and your hair may have to decide if this is regular puberty or if you may be becoming something else.
Neon Moon by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.: 4/5
Stories of a Mothman like creature have been spreading throughout Chicago, but Joey and his friends are a little more concerned with police brutality and rival gangs in the neighborhood to worry about some urban legend running around. As they hangout drinking outside an old theatre, they see something that matches the stories, and surviving the night becomes the only goal. After the chase, the origins of the creature are revealed, and that may be the scariest part of the whole tale.
Late Night Stroll Through a Moonlit Pasture by Jim Terry: 3/5
Billy just wants the girl he likes to meet up with him at the bar. When she doesn't show up, he heads home, and his friend Dave catches up with him. The two take a different 'safer' route back to their dorms and Dave questions Billy on why he feels so uncomfortable with his native heritage. Billy dodges the questions, but an encounter on the way home makes him come face to face with his identity.
Saskan: Breakup by Jessica Johns: 3.5/5
Vi and Caroline break up, and Caroline isn't quite sure what life looks like now that Vi isn't there. As she attempts to learn, she looks deeper into her heritage and her family's history in their town.
Civilized by A.J. Eversole: 3.5/5
It's 1920 in Tulsa and Charley is Cherokee but can pass as white thanks to the father he doesn't know. He uses this ability to his family's benefit, when possible, even though he doesn't enjoy it. The community also gossips about Charley, saying he had spiritual eyes that could let the devil in and out. As bodies start showing up around town, Charley has to contend with the way the police treat him versus his family and friends and decide if the devil is inside of him after all.
Footprints by Sonia Marie Barry: 4/5
Marie must go on a trip to get a procedure done. Any additional details would spoil the story.
Ivories by Shane Hawk: 4.5/5
Parenthood is hard between sleep training, decisions about the future, and realizing your own mortality. Shaun and Rory are new parents, dealing with loss of sleep and the teething of their daughter Mia. Shaun has been using his 'night shifts' with the baby to work on his writing, but his exhaustion has him wondering if he's seeing things. He falls back on knowledge from his grandfather to explain the occurrences and help him navigate his reaction. As memories of his own childhood come back, Shaun must learn what is passed down from parent to child and the lengths to which he is willing to go to protect Mia.
Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones: 3/5
Story from the POV of the dogs on a reservation, just trying to survive every day to make it to the next day.
Guest Account by Alicia Elliott: 4/5
Meg is a social outcast and lonely, her only real friend is her cousin Lexi, but Lexi plays sports and has extracurriculars, so Meg spends most of her time alone. Lexi's sister, Shel, is Meg's main tormentor. When she's young, she realizes the allure of the internet and creates another version of herself when she gets a NetPetz and creates the online profile. When actions on her account she can't recall get her banned, she simply moves onto the big leagues of online culture, Reddit, Discord, and Tumblr. When her grandmother gets her a cellphone at sixteen, Meg sees it as the opportunity to spend the majority of her time being her online self. After getting her phone, certain occurrences make Meg wonder how much of her persona is created, and how much may be lurking inside of her.
Party at the Alvarez Ranch by Matt RudeWalker: 3.5/5 - Wish it had been longer
Jace and Alex spend most nights driving around in Jace's car listening to music, but tonight Alex convinced Jace to go to a party, hoping to get in with the popular kids at their school. The Alvarez ranch is the oldest and largest family-owned plot, and their money means they get away with whatever occurs on it. What could go wrong on a giant plot of land with a bunch of underage drinking?
Found Footage by Shaawan Francis Keahna: 4/5
Casey and Johnny make a video in hopes of freeing Casey from what is inside of her.
Summer Vacation by Billy-Ray Belcourt: 5/5
Not all horror is supernatural.
Goat Eyes by Jake Arrowtop: 3/5T
ommy's parents died in an accident when he was young, and he has been raised by drunk Uncle Bits ever since. Tommy and Bits go hunting together frequently and collect trophies from their kills. Tommy also has an obsession with the legend of the Goatman.
We Don't Talk About It by Alina Pete: 5/5
Sasha comes from a self-described family of Native academics, all except her brother who just checked himself out of rehab for his alcoholism. Sasha secretly feels a bit holier-than-thou when it comes to her brother, but she's about to realize just what kind of sickness he has been dealing with.
The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling: 4/5
A story on residential schools and their horrors, real and supernatural.
Star Mound by Joshua Whitehead: 3/5
Little Tree by Tommy Orange: 3/5
Little Tree's parents were pipeline protestors who are responsible for the death of government men blown to bits by one of their pipeline bombs. Little Tree has been trained on what to do if people come seeking revenge but may not be prepared for what comes after.
Toothjar by Ramona Emerson: 3/5
A young man goes back to his family's land, where he spent one life changing summer in childhood, after his father dies and wonders what horrors may await him there.
The Body Deliverers by Erica Tremblay: 4/5
History is important for the future, sometimes history makes the future.
The Making of Monsters by Kimberly Blaeser: 3/5
A monster is made.
Richard Van Camp and Shane Hawk edited and collected another amazing group of indigenous horror short stories, with some from invited and established authors I'm very familiar with (Stephen Graham Jones, Tommy Orange, Jessica Johns, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Erica Tremblay) and half from open-call submissions introducing us all to amazing new talent (For me this definitely includes the authors of some of my favorites from this collection, such as P.C. Verrone, Alina Pete, and Alicia Elliott to name a few).
Some of the stories are feminist horror, or queer horror, or technological horror. All are indigenous horror, and all are educational on indigenous history and stories. They weave this knowledge into body horror, a Mothman retelling, our climate crisis, and more, and I find myself researching things such as the COINTELPRO infiltration of the American Indian Movement and Matushka Olga.
Each story also has a beautiful illustration to introduce it, done by renowned Cheyenne and Arapaho painter Brent Learned. Below are my spoiler free reviews of each story and their individual ratings.
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe: 3/5
All you have to do to get exactly what you want is mix some banevine and creek water and a whole new you can emerge. That's exactly what Emmamae Wilson needs. She is competing for her last year of eligibility in Miss Cherokee Princess, a contest started by her great-great-grandfather, who met her great-great-grandmother (the very first Miss Cherokee Princess) through it. She feels like her chances are impacted by the fact that she is mixed, so she uses her grandma's took book to create a concoction allowing her to change her physical features into whatever she wants, as long as she has a picture for inspiration. She can assemble an ideal version of herself from the pieces of other people she desires. But it's all worth it to be Miss Cherokee Princess... right?
Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone: 4/5
You are the main character in this first person POV story. You are a boy going through puberty and falling in love with your best friend Adrian. Your grandmother used to share Kiowa stories with you, before she started losing her memory. Your brother is five years older than you but still bullies you endlessly. You're growing a concerning amount of hair following a blood moon outing, but that's puberty. One-night things come to a head with your brother, and your hair may have to decide if this is regular puberty or if you may be becoming something else.
Neon Moon by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.: 4/5
Stories of a Mothman like creature have been spreading throughout Chicago, but Joey and his friends are a little more concerned with police brutality and rival gangs in the neighborhood to worry about some urban legend running around. As they hangout drinking outside an old theatre, they see something that matches the stories, and surviving the night becomes the only goal. After the chase, the origins of the creature are revealed, and that may be the scariest part of the whole tale.
Late Night Stroll Through a Moonlit Pasture by Jim Terry: 3/5
Billy just wants the girl he likes to meet up with him at the bar. When she doesn't show up, he heads home, and his friend Dave catches up with him. The two take a different 'safer' route back to their dorms and Dave questions Billy on why he feels so uncomfortable with his native heritage. Billy dodges the questions, but an encounter on the way home makes him come face to face with his identity.
Saskan: Breakup by Jessica Johns: 3.5/5
Vi and Caroline break up, and Caroline isn't quite sure what life looks like now that Vi isn't there. As she attempts to learn, she looks deeper into her heritage and her family's history in their town.
Civilized by A.J. Eversole: 3.5/5
It's 1920 in Tulsa and Charley is Cherokee but can pass as white thanks to the father he doesn't know. He uses this ability to his family's benefit, when possible, even though he doesn't enjoy it. The community also gossips about Charley, saying he had spiritual eyes that could let the devil in and out. As bodies start showing up around town, Charley has to contend with the way the police treat him versus his family and friends and decide if the devil is inside of him after all.
Footprints by Sonia Marie Barry: 4/5
Marie must go on a trip to get a procedure done. Any additional details would spoil the story.
Ivories by Shane Hawk: 4.5/5
Parenthood is hard between sleep training, decisions about the future, and realizing your own mortality. Shaun and Rory are new parents, dealing with loss of sleep and the teething of their daughter Mia. Shaun has been using his 'night shifts' with the baby to work on his writing, but his exhaustion has him wondering if he's seeing things. He falls back on knowledge from his grandfather to explain the occurrences and help him navigate his reaction. As memories of his own childhood come back, Shaun must learn what is passed down from parent to child and the lengths to which he is willing to go to protect Mia.
Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones: 3/5
Story from the POV of the dogs on a reservation, just trying to survive every day to make it to the next day.
Guest Account by Alicia Elliott: 4/5
Meg is a social outcast and lonely, her only real friend is her cousin Lexi, but Lexi plays sports and has extracurriculars, so Meg spends most of her time alone. Lexi's sister, Shel, is Meg's main tormentor. When she's young, she realizes the allure of the internet and creates another version of herself when she gets a NetPetz and creates the online profile. When actions on her account she can't recall get her banned, she simply moves onto the big leagues of online culture, Reddit, Discord, and Tumblr. When her grandmother gets her a cellphone at sixteen, Meg sees it as the opportunity to spend the majority of her time being her online self. After getting her phone, certain occurrences make Meg wonder how much of her persona is created, and how much may be lurking inside of her.
Party at the Alvarez Ranch by Matt RudeWalker: 3.5/5 - Wish it had been longer
Jace and Alex spend most nights driving around in Jace's car listening to music, but tonight Alex convinced Jace to go to a party, hoping to get in with the popular kids at their school. The Alvarez ranch is the oldest and largest family-owned plot, and their money means they get away with whatever occurs on it. What could go wrong on a giant plot of land with a bunch of underage drinking?
Found Footage by Shaawan Francis Keahna: 4/5
Casey and Johnny make a video in hopes of freeing Casey from what is inside of her.
Summer Vacation by Billy-Ray Belcourt: 5/5
Not all horror is supernatural.
Goat Eyes by Jake Arrowtop: 3/5T
ommy's parents died in an accident when he was young, and he has been raised by drunk Uncle Bits ever since. Tommy and Bits go hunting together frequently and collect trophies from their kills. Tommy also has an obsession with the legend of the Goatman.
We Don't Talk About It by Alina Pete: 5/5
Sasha comes from a self-described family of Native academics, all except her brother who just checked himself out of rehab for his alcoholism. Sasha secretly feels a bit holier-than-thou when it comes to her brother, but she's about to realize just what kind of sickness he has been dealing with.
The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling: 4/5
A story on residential schools and their horrors, real and supernatural.
Star Mound by Joshua Whitehead: 3/5
Little Tree by Tommy Orange: 3/5
Little Tree's parents were pipeline protestors who are responsible for the death of government men blown to bits by one of their pipeline bombs. Little Tree has been trained on what to do if people come seeking revenge but may not be prepared for what comes after.
Toothjar by Ramona Emerson: 3/5
A young man goes back to his family's land, where he spent one life changing summer in childhood, after his father dies and wonders what horrors may await him there.
The Body Deliverers by Erica Tremblay: 4/5
History is important for the future, sometimes history makes the future.
The Making of Monsters by Kimberly Blaeser: 3/5
A monster is made.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m so sorry to the publisher/NetGalley. There was just no way I was going to make it to August to wait to read this. 🤣 Never Whistle at Night is hands down one of my favorite story collections of all time. It sits proudly on my shelf. I had this “sequel” of sorts, preordered almost as quickly as it was announced.
I do think Never Whistle at Night edges this one out for my favorite between the two, but this is no less worthy of your time and I’m thrilled the editors put the work into making a follow up collection. If they do a third (please do a third) I’ll certainly read it.
There were some deeply unsettling stories to be found here, so it lives up to the Back for Blood name. I loved that the first book elevated the voices of lesser known/newer authors, but here there are plenty of recognizable names: Stephen Graham Jones, Tommy Orange, Shane Hawk, Billy Ray Belcourt, Ramona Emerson, Alicia Elliot and Jessica Johns.
I think a lot of these stories require you to sit with them for a bit. I don’t know that all of them were straightforward, they ask you to work a little harder than the previous book, but perhaps that’s to be expected with more experienced authors. Hawke’s story in particular I had to read twice to properly unravel. (It was worth it).
I actually intend to reread this one when I get my finished copy. I am excited to see the beautiful illustrations for one (each story had its own and they were great) but also looking forward to reconnecting with it when I know better what to expect. So in no particular order, here were some of the standouts for me:
IVO R IES, Shane Hawke- I read it twice and I’m still not sure I understand it, but once you figure out what’s going on I think this is the most unsettling story of the collection.
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996, Jessica Doe- what an opener. I appreciated the social commentary in this one as much as the horror. Both were top tier. I’ve never read anything from Jessica Doe before but would love to see more.
Latenight Stroll through a Moonlit Pasture, Jim Terry - I loved the eerie/spooky vibe. I wouldn’t call it folklore horror really but has that sort of quality to it.
Guest Account, Alicia Elliott- is there anything scarier than losing yourself? This one was both unsettling and had a 90s nostalgia to it that I loved.
Party at the Alvarez Ranch, Mat RudeWalker - has a classic horror feel, teens partying, urban legends, something out to get them. Loved it.
Toothjar, Ramona Emerson- apocalyptic, weird, horror. Knocked it out of the park.
The Body Delivers, Erica Tremblay- I almost don’t want to say the genre because I feel like it’s a spoiler. This one unravels slowly and once you catch the gist it’s unsettling as all hell.
And I can’t not shout out Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones. This one surprised me the most. Another one I’m not 100% sure I understood, would like to do a reread. But I enjoyed my time with it.
Anyway. If you loved Never Whistle at Night definitely put this on your TBR. I’ll never stop recommending that one to people and now I’m happy to be able to recommend the follow up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
ETA: I’m sorry to all the stories and authors I didn’t mention, as I was looking at the table of contents honestly I could have put them all here it was hard to choose favorites. They all had merit.
I do think Never Whistle at Night edges this one out for my favorite between the two, but this is no less worthy of your time and I’m thrilled the editors put the work into making a follow up collection. If they do a third (please do a third) I’ll certainly read it.
There were some deeply unsettling stories to be found here, so it lives up to the Back for Blood name. I loved that the first book elevated the voices of lesser known/newer authors, but here there are plenty of recognizable names: Stephen Graham Jones, Tommy Orange, Shane Hawk, Billy Ray Belcourt, Ramona Emerson, Alicia Elliot and Jessica Johns.
I think a lot of these stories require you to sit with them for a bit. I don’t know that all of them were straightforward, they ask you to work a little harder than the previous book, but perhaps that’s to be expected with more experienced authors. Hawke’s story in particular I had to read twice to properly unravel. (It was worth it).
I actually intend to reread this one when I get my finished copy. I am excited to see the beautiful illustrations for one (each story had its own and they were great) but also looking forward to reconnecting with it when I know better what to expect. So in no particular order, here were some of the standouts for me:
IVO R IES, Shane Hawke- I read it twice and I’m still not sure I understand it, but once you figure out what’s going on I think this is the most unsettling story of the collection.
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996, Jessica Doe- what an opener. I appreciated the social commentary in this one as much as the horror. Both were top tier. I’ve never read anything from Jessica Doe before but would love to see more.
Latenight Stroll through a Moonlit Pasture, Jim Terry - I loved the eerie/spooky vibe. I wouldn’t call it folklore horror really but has that sort of quality to it.
Guest Account, Alicia Elliott- is there anything scarier than losing yourself? This one was both unsettling and had a 90s nostalgia to it that I loved.
Party at the Alvarez Ranch, Mat RudeWalker - has a classic horror feel, teens partying, urban legends, something out to get them. Loved it.
Toothjar, Ramona Emerson- apocalyptic, weird, horror. Knocked it out of the park.
The Body Delivers, Erica Tremblay- I almost don’t want to say the genre because I feel like it’s a spoiler. This one unravels slowly and once you catch the gist it’s unsettling as all hell.
And I can’t not shout out Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones. This one surprised me the most. Another one I’m not 100% sure I understood, would like to do a reread. But I enjoyed my time with it.
Anyway. If you loved Never Whistle at Night definitely put this on your TBR. I’ll never stop recommending that one to people and now I’m happy to be able to recommend the follow up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
ETA: I’m sorry to all the stories and authors I didn’t mention, as I was looking at the table of contents honestly I could have put them all here it was hard to choose favorites. They all had merit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll start this off by admitting two things: 1. I did not read the first book. I actually have it sitting on a shelf glaring at me right now for reading book two first and 2. This is probably only my second dive into what I would consider modern Indigenous horror. I have stacks of what would be considered "traditional" horror, most from a time before or just after white people arrived but for the most part none of the stories I have read do not go past say 1900 and actually I think that's being generous. Now, granted this is taken at the word of the people who compiled the anthologies I own, which I have tried to ensure most of them were done by Native American humans so I trust them, but ya never know. I say this all to say I went into this without any expectations at all other than it would probably scare the crap out of me (look if you've read any traditional Native horror you know that shit is fucking scary okay) and on that level I will say that these stories truly succeeded. However, these stories are so much more than just horror.
For the most part a lot of the stories are the same multi layered and quite frankly cleverly done conversations about the realities of being Indigenous in the U.S. and Canada. To be fair I think some of them are so clever they may fly over the heads of many white people. References to parts of Native American history that quite simply are not taught in school were abundant to say the least. That being said many of them while, speaking directly to the experience of being an Indigenous human simply existing in the U.S. some of these were relatable on multiple levels, which I think is an important aspect of horror. Not all of the time and not in every story but if you don't have a little bit of stake in it, the impact is lessened. That being said many of them definitely were not there were many stories where I could not relate even the slightest and oddly enough some of those were the creepiest but also the most heartbreaking.
At the end of the day though I think what I really liked about this is that quite honestly, they run the gamut in terms of horror. Creatures, shapeshifters, body horror, some body snatcher type thing, like you name it. If you have a specific little niche horror genre that you enjoy you will most definitely find a story for yourself in this collection. And yeah some of these stories absolutely made me cry. Going to make sure that's out there, again I know, horror, weird but trust me I'd at least have a couple of tissues nearby okay. And look don't be like me and start it at 1:30am because yeah sure some of these are just mildly creepy but some of them ensured I'll be sleeping with the lights on for the next two days at least. And I'll be side eyeing my freaking dogs for a while thanks to Stephen Graham Jones.
I'd say it's fairly obvious at this point that I highly recommend this book!
As always thanks to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the eArc!
For the most part a lot of the stories are the same multi layered and quite frankly cleverly done conversations about the realities of being Indigenous in the U.S. and Canada. To be fair I think some of them are so clever they may fly over the heads of many white people. References to parts of Native American history that quite simply are not taught in school were abundant to say the least. That being said many of them while, speaking directly to the experience of being an Indigenous human simply existing in the U.S. some of these were relatable on multiple levels, which I think is an important aspect of horror. Not all of the time and not in every story but if you don't have a little bit of stake in it, the impact is lessened. That being said many of them definitely were not there were many stories where I could not relate even the slightest and oddly enough some of those were the creepiest but also the most heartbreaking.
At the end of the day though I think what I really liked about this is that quite honestly, they run the gamut in terms of horror. Creatures, shapeshifters, body horror, some body snatcher type thing, like you name it. If you have a specific little niche horror genre that you enjoy you will most definitely find a story for yourself in this collection. And yeah some of these stories absolutely made me cry. Going to make sure that's out there, again I know, horror, weird but trust me I'd at least have a couple of tissues nearby okay. And look don't be like me and start it at 1:30am because yeah sure some of these are just mildly creepy but some of them ensured I'll be sleeping with the lights on for the next two days at least. And I'll be side eyeing my freaking dogs for a while thanks to Stephen Graham Jones.
I'd say it's fairly obvious at this point that I highly recommend this book!
As always thanks to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Vintage Press and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own. Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Volume II publishes August 18, 2026.
4.25 / 5.00
This was a great sampling of horror tropes from a variety of Indigenous authors, many of whom were new to me authors. Some of my favorites included:
*Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone
*Neon Moon by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
*Late Night Stroll Through a Moonlit Pasture by Jim Terry
*Saskan: Breakup by Jessica Johns
*Footprints by Sonia Marie Barry
*Ivories by Shane Hawk
*Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones
*Guest Account by Alicia Elliott
*We Don’t Talk About It by Alina Pete
*The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling
*The Body Delivers by Erica Tremblay
Like any collection of stories, there were some stories I just didn’t connect with or truly enjoy, but I always expect that. There were plenty of stories I did love, and it was great to learn about authors I haven’t encountered yet. My ARC had placeholders for some of the author bios, so it will be fun to get the finished book and read more about the authors included in this collection. I loved how different each of the stories were, both in content and in writing style.
I also loved that the stories were all relatively the same length, so I never got to a place where I was surprised that one story was significantly longer or shorter than the others. There’s going to be something for everyone to love in this book, and I really hope we get a third installment of the series!
This book had me humming “Things That go Bump in the Night” by allSTARS. The song is an electronic dance tune that invokes all the best things about Halloween – the creeps, the sneaks, and all the monsters to boot! “Beware of the full moon / Stick to the path / Out come the creatures / A spine-chilling laugh.” Back for Blood gives plenty of reasons to stick to the well-lit path and showcases some familiar monsters in new ways. “There’s a chill in the air / You hear a creak on the stars / You gotta lock all your doors / Is there anybody out” One thing I absolutely loved about this book was that the terrors aren’t always things you can keep out. Sometimes, you’re the monster you want to run from. “You cannot run / And you cannot hide / Yeah, you gotta face it, baby / Things go bump in the night.” Find out some of the things you can’t run or hide from when you pick up Back for Blood in August!
4.25 / 5.00
This was a great sampling of horror tropes from a variety of Indigenous authors, many of whom were new to me authors. Some of my favorites included:
*Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone
*Neon Moon by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
*Late Night Stroll Through a Moonlit Pasture by Jim Terry
*Saskan: Breakup by Jessica Johns
*Footprints by Sonia Marie Barry
*Ivories by Shane Hawk
*Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones
*Guest Account by Alicia Elliott
*We Don’t Talk About It by Alina Pete
*The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling
*The Body Delivers by Erica Tremblay
Like any collection of stories, there were some stories I just didn’t connect with or truly enjoy, but I always expect that. There were plenty of stories I did love, and it was great to learn about authors I haven’t encountered yet. My ARC had placeholders for some of the author bios, so it will be fun to get the finished book and read more about the authors included in this collection. I loved how different each of the stories were, both in content and in writing style.
I also loved that the stories were all relatively the same length, so I never got to a place where I was surprised that one story was significantly longer or shorter than the others. There’s going to be something for everyone to love in this book, and I really hope we get a third installment of the series!
This book had me humming “Things That go Bump in the Night” by allSTARS. The song is an electronic dance tune that invokes all the best things about Halloween – the creeps, the sneaks, and all the monsters to boot! “Beware of the full moon / Stick to the path / Out come the creatures / A spine-chilling laugh.” Back for Blood gives plenty of reasons to stick to the well-lit path and showcases some familiar monsters in new ways. “There’s a chill in the air / You hear a creak on the stars / You gotta lock all your doors / Is there anybody out” One thing I absolutely loved about this book was that the terrors aren’t always things you can keep out. Sometimes, you’re the monster you want to run from. “You cannot run / And you cannot hide / Yeah, you gotta face it, baby / Things go bump in the night.” Find out some of the things you can’t run or hide from when you pick up Back for Blood in August!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
A delightful collation of Native horror in a nice anthology! I enjoyed the first anthology and was quite excited to have a sequel. Each story is also prefaced with an illustration of the themes within the story. I have to admit, as a home-grown Chicagoan, I really enjoyed the callouts to the city and suburbs within the story - they truly made it feel like I was listening to stories told by the campfire or at a sleepover. Many of the authors in this anthology were new to me, and I certainly have new authors to add to my watch list!
I think where this anthology truly shines is the approaches to intersectionality, with the common thread being Indigenous communities. I love seeing how each author expressed their life, love, trauma, and experiences in incredibly artful ways. I think the scares here are less so trying to intimidate you with relentless gore, but rather the introspection of the world (in the case of A. J. Eversole's story), or exposure to unique horror monsters with a tragic tale spun around them (such as in Jessica John's story). These different takes on horror lend themselves to an anthology where I never expected the next move, and I truly enjoyed that.
The reason that I am rating it was 4 stars is because of the variety of quality and styles within the book. I understand that this is a hard line for anthologies to strike - how to add so many amazing diverse stories and also maintain cohesion. I have truly enjoyed this book and the previous one, and am thankful for the exposure to new authors that I will be adding to my TBR.
A delightful collation of Native horror in a nice anthology! I enjoyed the first anthology and was quite excited to have a sequel. Each story is also prefaced with an illustration of the themes within the story. I have to admit, as a home-grown Chicagoan, I really enjoyed the callouts to the city and suburbs within the story - they truly made it feel like I was listening to stories told by the campfire or at a sleepover. Many of the authors in this anthology were new to me, and I certainly have new authors to add to my watch list!
I think where this anthology truly shines is the approaches to intersectionality, with the common thread being Indigenous communities. I love seeing how each author expressed their life, love, trauma, and experiences in incredibly artful ways. I think the scares here are less so trying to intimidate you with relentless gore, but rather the introspection of the world (in the case of A. J. Eversole's story), or exposure to unique horror monsters with a tragic tale spun around them (such as in Jessica John's story). These different takes on horror lend themselves to an anthology where I never expected the next move, and I truly enjoyed that.
The reason that I am rating it was 4 stars is because of the variety of quality and styles within the book. I understand that this is a hard line for anthologies to strike - how to add so many amazing diverse stories and also maintain cohesion. I have truly enjoyed this book and the previous one, and am thankful for the exposure to new authors that I will be adding to my TBR.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Never Whistle at Night II: Back for Blood is gripping and creepy. I liked it much more than the first. While I didn't hate the first anthology, I didn't love it. It didn't feel like horror, but this did. I wanted more horror and horror elements, and this definitely delivered in that department. It's a solid lineup of short stories. There were a few I didn't care for much, but the rest I enjoyed. I also loved that they touched on some real-life events such as the 60s scope and forced sterilisation. My favorite story was Neon Moon, but I also really liked Miss Cherokee Princess 1996, Footprints, IVO R IES, Party at Alvarez Ranch, The Corpse Room, and Guest Account.
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe - 4.25 ⭐️
Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone - 3.75 ⭐️
Neon Moon by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. - 4.5 ⭐️
Late Night Stroll Through a Moonlit Pasture by Jim Terry - 3.75 ⭐️
Saskan: Breakup by Jessica Johns - 3.5 ⭐️
Civilized by A. J. Eversole - 3 ⭐️
Footprints by Sonia Marie Barry - 4.25 ⭐️
IVO R IES by Shane Hawk - 4.25 ⭐️
Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones - 3.75 ⭐️
Guest Account by Alicia Elliott - 4.25 ⭐️
Party at the Alvarez Ranch by Mat RudeWalker - 4.25 ⭐️
Found Footage by Shaawan Francis Keahna3.5 ⭐️
Summer Vacation by BillyRay Belcourt - 4 ⭐️
Goat Eyes by Jake Arrowtop - 4 ⭐️
We Don’t Talk About It by Alina Pete - 3.75 ⭐️
The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling - 4.25 ⭐️
Star Mound by Joshua Whitehead - 3 ⭐️
Little Tree by Tommy Orange - 3.75 ⭐️
Toothjar Ramona by Emerson - 4 ⭐️
The Body Delivers by Erica Tremblay - 4 ⭐️
The Making of Monsters by Kimberly Blaeser - 3.75 ⭐️
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe - 4.25 ⭐️
Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone - 3.75 ⭐️
Neon Moon by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. - 4.5 ⭐️
Late Night Stroll Through a Moonlit Pasture by Jim Terry - 3.75 ⭐️
Saskan: Breakup by Jessica Johns - 3.5 ⭐️
Civilized by A. J. Eversole - 3 ⭐️
Footprints by Sonia Marie Barry - 4.25 ⭐️
IVO R IES by Shane Hawk - 4.25 ⭐️
Rez Dogs by Stephen Graham Jones - 3.75 ⭐️
Guest Account by Alicia Elliott - 4.25 ⭐️
Party at the Alvarez Ranch by Mat RudeWalker - 4.25 ⭐️
Found Footage by Shaawan Francis Keahna3.5 ⭐️
Summer Vacation by BillyRay Belcourt - 4 ⭐️
Goat Eyes by Jake Arrowtop - 4 ⭐️
We Don’t Talk About It by Alina Pete - 3.75 ⭐️
The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling - 4.25 ⭐️
Star Mound by Joshua Whitehead - 3 ⭐️
Little Tree by Tommy Orange - 3.75 ⭐️
Toothjar Ramona by Emerson - 4 ⭐️
The Body Delivers by Erica Tremblay - 4 ⭐️
The Making of Monsters by Kimberly Blaeser - 3.75 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The thing I love about anthologies like this is that no matter what you like—what subgenres, themes, or writing styles—there's something that'll appeal, and this anthology really does have a little bit of everything: body horror, creature features, paranormal, crime, psychological horror, human monsters, historical pieces, and stories that brush up against cosmic horror and sci-fi. The prose styles are also wonderfully varied and really well paced. I appreciate the narrative restraint in a lot of them, too. It can be tempting to over-explain things in horror, but subtlety is often the line between "fine" and "genuinely effective," and the unanswered questions are what make the horror linger. The best pieces in this anthology are the ones that leave a gap of the unknown for the mind to start making its own connections.
Out of the twenty-one stories, the overwhelming majority were four to five stars, and two of them made me reach for the tissues in the middle of reading (full-on chills and tears, no shame). There were a couple of really lovely romance subplots, a lot of fun dialogue, beautiful trope subversions, and truly well-executed twists. Not every story is going to hit for every reader, but that's okay, because there's plenty that will, and I think most horror readers will find something to love here. Plus, I found a bunch of new authors to follow, which is great for me even if it's bad for my TBR stack.
Out of the twenty-one stories, the overwhelming majority were four to five stars, and two of them made me reach for the tissues in the middle of reading (full-on chills and tears, no shame). There were a couple of really lovely romance subplots, a lot of fun dialogue, beautiful trope subversions, and truly well-executed twists. Not every story is going to hit for every reader, but that's okay, because there's plenty that will, and I think most horror readers will find something to love here. Plus, I found a bunch of new authors to follow, which is great for me even if it's bad for my TBR stack.
June 2, 2026
Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC
What a collection! Sometimes gross sometimes weird and sometimes sentimental Back For Blood is a short story collection that packs a punch.
A stacked set of authors with a very diverse set of stories I truly belive this collection will have something for every horror fan, and even non genre fans.
The stand outs for me
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe
Holy shit what an opening. It's vicious and made me genuinely squeamish. It sets the tone wonderfully and is one im going to think about for a while.
Animal Dumb by P.G. Verron
Weird, 2nd person, queer heart pounding. One of the best werewolf tales I've read in a long time. Dead by daylight as an indicator that a character isn't strait is so beautiful to me personally.
Ivories by Shane Hawk
This made me glad I’m not a parent. Loved seeing a fathers baby horror perspective without it being oh I just hate my kid. This one got my pulse RACING. I take notes on each short story and here are my notes for it.
“Shawn? Is this about you (arrow pointing to shane) BUGS :( . I think this baby might be evil.
WORSE
:( :(
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Guest Account by Alicia Elliot
Vile and vicious. This is mean girl horror with a real bite that truly runs the gauntlet of the experiences of being a young girl with too much access to the internet. Truly horrifying
What a collection! Sometimes gross sometimes weird and sometimes sentimental Back For Blood is a short story collection that packs a punch.
A stacked set of authors with a very diverse set of stories I truly belive this collection will have something for every horror fan, and even non genre fans.
The stand outs for me
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996 by Jessica Doe
Holy shit what an opening. It's vicious and made me genuinely squeamish. It sets the tone wonderfully and is one im going to think about for a while.
Animal Dumb by P.G. Verron
Weird, 2nd person, queer heart pounding. One of the best werewolf tales I've read in a long time. Dead by daylight as an indicator that a character isn't strait is so beautiful to me personally.
Ivories by Shane Hawk
This made me glad I’m not a parent. Loved seeing a fathers baby horror perspective without it being oh I just hate my kid. This one got my pulse RACING. I take notes on each short story and here are my notes for it.
“Shawn? Is this about you (arrow pointing to shane) BUGS :( . I think this baby might be evil.
WORSE
:( :(
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Guest Account by Alicia Elliot
Vile and vicious. This is mean girl horror with a real bite that truly runs the gauntlet of the experiences of being a young girl with too much access to the internet. Truly horrifying
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT is one of my favorite anthologies of all time and was one of my favorite reads in 2024 when it came to me, so I was so excited to see a second collection was coming out. And just like the first collection, BACK FOR BLOOD blew me away. The stories are definitely horrifying, and I found myself wincing and cringing as I read them, the way you wince and cringe while watching a really good horror movie.
The thing I think I love most about horror is the way that it forces audiences to really confront not only their actual fears, but why they have those fears. Those fears are often politically or socially contextual, and the scariest horror forces the audience to grapple with that directly. The stories in BACK FOR BLOOD do that, but not because they are particularly full of monsters or frightening events, but because they force the reader to reckon with ambiguity and the self and the cyclical nature of life. That’s not to say that there are no monsters here, and I think it’s quite likely that every reader will have a different experience with this collection.
I think my favorites were Animal Dumb and Summer Vacation, but I also loved Guest Account and Toothjar. I would read a million more anthologies like this, and I hope I’m lucky enough to get the chance to!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Vintage for the ARC!
The thing I think I love most about horror is the way that it forces audiences to really confront not only their actual fears, but why they have those fears. Those fears are often politically or socially contextual, and the scariest horror forces the audience to grapple with that directly. The stories in BACK FOR BLOOD do that, but not because they are particularly full of monsters or frightening events, but because they force the reader to reckon with ambiguity and the self and the cyclical nature of life. That’s not to say that there are no monsters here, and I think it’s quite likely that every reader will have a different experience with this collection.
I think my favorites were Animal Dumb and Summer Vacation, but I also loved Guest Account and Toothjar. I would read a million more anthologies like this, and I hope I’m lucky enough to get the chance to!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Vintage for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Advanced Copy from Netgalley
This is the second anthology of short horror stories from indigenous authors. As much as I enjoyed the first collection I wasn’t sure the second could live up to my expectations. This collection might actually be better.
I am absolutely not qualified to speak on any of the cultural aspects and I don’t know a lot of the backgrounds to the stories collected here. It almost feels like going with a friend to their family reunion. You’re excited to be at the party, but you’re still an outsider. There’s so much I don’t know, but I feel honored to get this look into another culture and it’s exciting to be presented with so many authors and stories to look further into. There were some writers who have become very popular and I was familiar with already like Stephen Graham Jones and Tommy Orange. But this anthology has added so many authors to my TBR list.
As a horror fanatic I can’t speak highly enough about this collection. The stories will move you in many different ways. Some will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and others will fill you with a dread that sits with you for days.
This is the second anthology of short horror stories from indigenous authors. As much as I enjoyed the first collection I wasn’t sure the second could live up to my expectations. This collection might actually be better.
I am absolutely not qualified to speak on any of the cultural aspects and I don’t know a lot of the backgrounds to the stories collected here. It almost feels like going with a friend to their family reunion. You’re excited to be at the party, but you’re still an outsider. There’s so much I don’t know, but I feel honored to get this look into another culture and it’s exciting to be presented with so many authors and stories to look further into. There were some writers who have become very popular and I was familiar with already like Stephen Graham Jones and Tommy Orange. But this anthology has added so many authors to my TBR list.
As a horror fanatic I can’t speak highly enough about this collection. The stories will move you in many different ways. Some will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and others will fill you with a dread that sits with you for days.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My expectations for Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II were high, and oh boy, were they surpassed. I knew this was going to be good, but the very first story is brutal and horrific and glorious, and is truly such a great way to set the tone for the anthology. As the introduction explains, the first book uses horror and Indigenous lore as a cautionary tale, whereas Part II is more about accepting, even coexisting, with the horror. It's the return of the final girl...and she's pissed.
While there truly isn't a bad or boring story in the whole lineup, Cherokee Princess 1996 and Saskan: Breakup might be my favorites. Guest Account, Civilized, and The Body Delivers are also stellar—displaying a fantastic variation in horror.
Back for Blood just makes sense as successor, and it definitely doesn't skimp on the blood.
Thank you to NetGalley; the publisher Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor; editors Shane Hawk and Theodore Van Alst Jr.; and especially to all the authors whose work make up this awesome collection. I was given the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review
While there truly isn't a bad or boring story in the whole lineup, Cherokee Princess 1996 and Saskan: Breakup might be my favorites. Guest Account, Civilized, and The Body Delivers are also stellar—displaying a fantastic variation in horror.
Back for Blood just makes sense as successor, and it definitely doesn't skimp on the blood.
Thank you to NetGalley; the publisher Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor; editors Shane Hawk and Theodore Van Alst Jr.; and especially to all the authors whose work make up this awesome collection. I was given the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rounded up to 4 from an actual, combined average of 3.53. After enjoying the first installment, I was beyond excited to get my hands on an early copy of the sequel: Part II Back for Blood. The introduction promised more horror: "sustained dread, sustained appetite, sustained consequence."
I love the editors' mission to include not just well-known authors, but also general submissions from any indigenous writer, teacher, or storyteller. The elevation of lesser known, or even unknown, talent is what makes this collection so special.
By far my favorite story, and my only 5 star, was We Don't Talk About It by Alina Pete. Telling the story of a sister's relationship with her brother who is battling addiction, this one hit extremely close to home for me. Expertly crafted and beautifully written, Alina also delivers bucketfuls of the horror and dread that was promised to the readers.
Like all short-story collections, not every story worked for me. But I still had a good time overall, and will highly recommend both this installment and the previous to anyone looking for unique horror stories.
I love the editors' mission to include not just well-known authors, but also general submissions from any indigenous writer, teacher, or storyteller. The elevation of lesser known, or even unknown, talent is what makes this collection so special.
By far my favorite story, and my only 5 star, was We Don't Talk About It by Alina Pete. Telling the story of a sister's relationship with her brother who is battling addiction, this one hit extremely close to home for me. Expertly crafted and beautifully written, Alina also delivers bucketfuls of the horror and dread that was promised to the readers.
Like all short-story collections, not every story worked for me. But I still had a good time overall, and will highly recommend both this installment and the previous to anyone looking for unique horror stories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II sure does pack a punch. This collection follows up the first installment, but amplifies the scary- the gory- the creepy! The compendium includes 21 stories written by an impressive selection of indigenous authors.
Overall the tone of this sequel is much more horror centric, with some stories being a bit more haunting than others. I really enjoyed almost all of the tales, it's impossible to compare them to the first Never Whistle at Night, in a way this is just an extension of the first allowing more space for more authors to share their stories.
In particular I really enjoyed The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling, We Don't Talk About It by Alina Pete, and Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone. 5/5 for all of those, there's a little bit of something for everyone, cryptids, spirits, creatures, and downright evil humans. Horror comes in different forms and this is a great display. I would definitely read this again and recommend to anyone who loves horror! 4/5 stars overall, thank you to Netgalley for this digital arc!
Overall the tone of this sequel is much more horror centric, with some stories being a bit more haunting than others. I really enjoyed almost all of the tales, it's impossible to compare them to the first Never Whistle at Night, in a way this is just an extension of the first allowing more space for more authors to share their stories.
In particular I really enjoyed The Corpse Room by Debra Magpie Earling, We Don't Talk About It by Alina Pete, and Animal Dumb by P.C. Verrone. 5/5 for all of those, there's a little bit of something for everyone, cryptids, spirits, creatures, and downright evil humans. Horror comes in different forms and this is a great display. I would definitely read this again and recommend to anyone who loves horror! 4/5 stars overall, thank you to Netgalley for this digital arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a short story anthology especially when writes I’ve never read before get the spotlight. I really enjoyed Never Whistle at Night (part 1) so I was pumped when I saw another part was on its way. Firstly I have to say I really really enjoyed the stories here (not one skip or DNF!) but it was not quite as scary as the introduction promises or when compared to part one. Caveat Part 1 did include one of the most horrifying stories I’ve read (Quantum by Nick Medina) so this one did have a step climb to be as scary. This anthology does run a nice gambit of stories where the horror is a monster or circumstances or people (mostly white people which valid) and I appreciated that variety. The writing was great throughout and I’m so pleased there is an avenue for these writers to share their culture, their monsters and their fears.
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 12, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the E-ARC!!
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To be 100% honest, I have not yet read the first book, but “Back for Blood”, I HAVE to go read it! This horror anthology, my first anthology, was amazing. I do have to sit and think about a few of the stories to fully wrap my head around them.
Indigenous horror, Appalachian horror, Latino horror, they are all fascinating and I loved reading these indigenous horror stories and learning a little about those Cryptids and indigenous lore had me hooked.
Some of my favorite stories:
*Miss Cherokee Princess 1996
*Neon Moon
*Guest Account
*Party At the Alvarez Ranch
*Toothjar
and….
*The Making of Monsters
I was a tad disappointed by the ending of last story through, The Making of Monsters, as it kind of skipped how the story was resolved but it was still one of my favorites nonetheless! Like I said, I loved this anthology and cannot wait to go back and read the first one!
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To be 100% honest, I have not yet read the first book, but “Back for Blood”, I HAVE to go read it! This horror anthology, my first anthology, was amazing. I do have to sit and think about a few of the stories to fully wrap my head around them.
Indigenous horror, Appalachian horror, Latino horror, they are all fascinating and I loved reading these indigenous horror stories and learning a little about those Cryptids and indigenous lore had me hooked.
Some of my favorite stories:
*Miss Cherokee Princess 1996
*Neon Moon
*Guest Account
*Party At the Alvarez Ranch
*Toothjar
and….
*The Making of Monsters
I was a tad disappointed by the ending of last story through, The Making of Monsters, as it kind of skipped how the story was resolved but it was still one of my favorites nonetheless! Like I said, I loved this anthology and cannot wait to go back and read the first one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't normally gravitate towards anthologies, but this collection of stories offered so much variety and depth. My favorite stories ended up being from authors who were new to me rather than some of the big names, and I appreciate the variety of authors. The introduction also does a great job of setting expectation for what you're about to consume. The idea of cyclical stories and an interrupting past helped me better embrace the stories as I consumed them.
If I had to pick a standout from the collection, it would be Civilized by A. J. Eversole. The way the story brings passing privilege into horror and grapples with a complex mixed race identity grabbed my attention. One part that stuck out to me was when his mother tells him "I stole the skin for you. That's the only way for them to see your as one of them. To keep you safe. It's a gift."
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
If I had to pick a standout from the collection, it would be Civilized by A. J. Eversole. The way the story brings passing privilege into horror and grapples with a complex mixed race identity grabbed my attention. One part that stuck out to me was when his mother tells him "I stole the skin for you. That's the only way for them to see your as one of them. To keep you safe. It's a gift."
Thank you NetGalley and Vintage for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Opened with a bang and ended with a story to ruminate over.
The marketing wasn't lying when the authors said they heard what the people had to say about the first book, and made it scarier. I really liked this one a lot more than the first, there were a bunch more 5 stars and only one DNF. (I'm sorry SGJ but I can't take it when you kill a Rez Dog when my own dog was one). Below are all my individual ratings per story.
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996: 4/5
Animal Dumb: 3.5/5
Neon Moon: 4/5
Late Night Stroll Through A Moonlit Pasture: 3/5
Saskan Breakup: 3/5
Civilized: 4/5
Footprints: 5/5
Ivories: 6/5
Rez Dogs: DNF
Guest Account: 3/5
Party At the Alvarez Ranch: 2/5
Found Footage: 5/5
Summer Vacation: 3.5/5
Goat Eyes: 3.5/5
We Don't Talk About It: 4/5
The Corpse Room: 100/5
Star Mound" 4.5/5
Little Tree 3.5/5
Toothjar: 3.5/5
The Body Delivers: 4.5/5
The Making of Monster: 4/5
Thank you Vintage and Netgalley for letting me read this one early <3
The marketing wasn't lying when the authors said they heard what the people had to say about the first book, and made it scarier. I really liked this one a lot more than the first, there were a bunch more 5 stars and only one DNF. (I'm sorry SGJ but I can't take it when you kill a Rez Dog when my own dog was one). Below are all my individual ratings per story.
Miss Cherokee Princess 1996: 4/5
Animal Dumb: 3.5/5
Neon Moon: 4/5
Late Night Stroll Through A Moonlit Pasture: 3/5
Saskan Breakup: 3/5
Civilized: 4/5
Footprints: 5/5
Ivories: 6/5
Rez Dogs: DNF
Guest Account: 3/5
Party At the Alvarez Ranch: 2/5
Found Footage: 5/5
Summer Vacation: 3.5/5
Goat Eyes: 3.5/5
We Don't Talk About It: 4/5
The Corpse Room: 100/5
Star Mound" 4.5/5
Little Tree 3.5/5
Toothjar: 3.5/5
The Body Delivers: 4.5/5
The Making of Monster: 4/5
Thank you Vintage and Netgalley for letting me read this one early <3
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A big thank you to Negallley for providing this ARC in exchange for my opinion. "Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Nught Part II" by Shane Hawk is an anthology of indiginous stories. This is part two in the series, and I am giving it 4 stars. If you liked the first anthology in this series, you'll love this one. It has more monsters, more horror, and more gore. The different authors with their unique writing style and voice are what really made this book enjoyable. Although there were many different authors, there was still cohesion and flow throughout. I also liked the illustrations at the beginning of each story. I have a massive love for anthologies in general, and this one checked all the boxes for me. This is a spooky book and has a story for everyone. The fact that it represents a marginalized group and can lead people to know the type of horrors they have to live with makes it all the more powerful. I would encourage everyone to read this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II somehow outdoes the already phenomenal first book and I say that as someone who loved every eerie second of Book 1. This anthology doesn’t just pull you in, it drags you under, with standout stories that linger like a chill you can’t shake. From razor-sharp psychological horror to deeply unsettling supernatural encounters, so many entries feel like instant classics, each voice distinct yet perfectly in sync with the collection’s pulse. What makes these stories incredible is how they fuse terror with truth, colonial violence, survival, and identity woven into every haunting moment. I found myself completely immersed, turning pages faster with each creeping sense of dread. If the first book opened the door, this one kicks it off the hinges. Easily five stars: bolder, scarier, and even more unforgettable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Monsters roam the earth; sometimes they live inside us.”
This anthology pulled me in from the very first page of the introduction and dare I say, it’s an even better read than the first book. From the introduction onward, I was pulled into stories without perfect endings, stories that kept you guessing about what the real horror was and what might have come in the pages after if they authors had continued to write. A perfect blend of horror, mystery and culture of urban legends to dystopian ideas. I found my own fears reflected back to me in these stories of both human monsters and the monsters you can’t quite put your finger on. Can’t wait to own a physical copy and read this again once it’s released.
Thank you to the NetGalley Team, Ted Van Alst and Shane Hawk for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
This anthology pulled me in from the very first page of the introduction and dare I say, it’s an even better read than the first book. From the introduction onward, I was pulled into stories without perfect endings, stories that kept you guessing about what the real horror was and what might have come in the pages after if they authors had continued to write. A perfect blend of horror, mystery and culture of urban legends to dystopian ideas. I found my own fears reflected back to me in these stories of both human monsters and the monsters you can’t quite put your finger on. Can’t wait to own a physical copy and read this again once it’s released.
Thank you to the NetGalley Team, Ted Van Alst and Shane Hawk for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think this is the perfect anthology for someone trying to dip their toes in the genre; there’s a really wide range of subjects and horror levels in here and I actually really enjoyed all of them (which I know isn’t guaranteed in a collection).
Miss Cherokee Princess is the first story and really sets the tone of the book. This story and Guest Account really hit hard due to their social commentaries about the importance of beauty and popularity. Definitely check trigger warnings if needed; some stories are scary beasties but some are more psychological.
It’s getting more difficult to find stories by indigenous authors and it’s so important to read more diversely. Highly recommend this and look forward to any more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and all the authors for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Miss Cherokee Princess is the first story and really sets the tone of the book. This story and Guest Account really hit hard due to their social commentaries about the importance of beauty and popularity. Definitely check trigger warnings if needed; some stories are scary beasties but some are more psychological.
It’s getting more difficult to find stories by indigenous authors and it’s so important to read more diversely. Highly recommend this and look forward to any more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and all the authors for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gifted via Netgalley
Back for Blood is the follow-up to Never Whistle at Night and after reading it, I sincerely hope they continue publishing in this series. It's been a great introduction to new authors and I've been thrilled to see debut novels coming out for authors from the first book because I had that connection.
Each story in the collection was so unique from the rest of the book, that it really shows how many stories our people have to tell. What an inspiration! And I found myself gasping and cringing, mouth hanging open at times. Never whistle at night, but also maybe never read this book in the middle of the night... or the middle of the woods... or without a friend close by to scare off the monsters.
My top 3 scariest stories from the collection:
-Guest Account by Alicia Elliot
-Summer Vacation by Billy-Ray Belcourt
-Toothjar by Ramona Emerson
Back for Blood is the follow-up to Never Whistle at Night and after reading it, I sincerely hope they continue publishing in this series. It's been a great introduction to new authors and I've been thrilled to see debut novels coming out for authors from the first book because I had that connection.
Each story in the collection was so unique from the rest of the book, that it really shows how many stories our people have to tell. What an inspiration! And I found myself gasping and cringing, mouth hanging open at times. Never whistle at night, but also maybe never read this book in the middle of the night... or the middle of the woods... or without a friend close by to scare off the monsters.
My top 3 scariest stories from the collection:
-Guest Account by Alicia Elliot
-Summer Vacation by Billy-Ray Belcourt
-Toothjar by Ramona Emerson
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
I am genuinely not a horror person. I don't do horror movies, horror shows, horror books - you name it, and I will be quick to say that it' simply not for me. However, I made a sizable and curious exception for the first Never Whistle At Night, and enthusiastically did the same one for Back for Blood. I love how these short story collections get me out of my comfort zone and genuinely and aggressively challenge me - not just genre-wise, but through the indigenous, anti-colonialist perspective of the authors.
If a third anthology appears on shelves in the future, I'll be happy to dive in without hesitation and in a way that definitely would have surprised not-too-distant past me.
I am genuinely not a horror person. I don't do horror movies, horror shows, horror books - you name it, and I will be quick to say that it' simply not for me. However, I made a sizable and curious exception for the first Never Whistle At Night, and enthusiastically did the same one for Back for Blood. I love how these short story collections get me out of my comfort zone and genuinely and aggressively challenge me - not just genre-wise, but through the indigenous, anti-colonialist perspective of the authors.
If a third anthology appears on shelves in the future, I'll be happy to dive in without hesitation and in a way that definitely would have surprised not-too-distant past me.
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