What do you think?
Rate this book
Taaqtumi
Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories
“Taaqtumi” is an Inuktitut word that means “in the dark”—and these spine-tingling horror stories by Northern writers show just how dangerous darkness can be. A family clinging to survival out on the tundra after a vicious zombie virus. A door that beckons, waiting to unleash the terror behind it. A post-apocalyptic community in the far North where things aren’t quite what they seem. With chilling tales from award-winning authors Richard Van Camp, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Aviaq Johnston, and others, this collection will thrill and entertain even the most seasoned horror fan.
Ages- 16+
Includes some explicit content.
Ages- 16+
Includes some explicit content.
184 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2019
210 people are currently reading
7288 people want to read
About the author
Aviaq Johnston
16 books80 followersAviaq Johnston is a young Inuk author from Igloolik, Nunavut. Her debut novel Those Who Run in the Sky was released in the spring of 2017. In 2014, she won first place in the Aboriginal Arts and Stories competition for her short story “Tarnikuluk,” which also earned her a Governor General’s History Award. Aviaq is a graduate of Nunavut Sivuniksavut, and she has a diploma in Social Service Work from Canadore College. Aviaq loves to travel and has lived in Australia and Vietnam. She spends most of her time reading, writing, studying, and procrastinating. She goes back and forth between Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 reviews
February 7, 2022
Overall I really enjoyed this collection. It contains a wide variety of stories that as a whole bring chilling life to the words "Arctic Horror." But more than that, Taaqtumi (Inuktituk for "in the dark") represents the perspective of northern Indigenous writers whose tales are imbued with the unique sense of a culture tied to the Arctic environment. As I read through this anthology I was both impressed and also filled with appropriate levels of creeping dread.
Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston (4/5) - Captures that scared feeling you try to talk yourself out of, trying to justify it as an irrational fear. Only sometimes it isn't.
The Door by Ann R. Loverock (3.5/5) - A story about overwhelming compulsion and the consequences of giving in.
Wheetago War II: Summoners by Richard Van Camp (3/5) - An oral recounting of a horrible encounter in what seems to be a kind of post-apocalyptic world. What is there is good, but I would have liked a bit more.
Revenge by Thomas Anguti Johnston (3/5) Revenge with the expected outcome of a terrible cost associated with it. This one utilises the arctic setting quite particularly.
Lounge by Sean and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley (3.5/5) A striking near future story with science fictional elements reminicent of Annalee Newitz and Kameron Hurley, but with a distinctive Northern voice.
Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona (4/5) Utiqtuq is an Inuktitut word meaning "returning or going back." So an interesting tidbit I learned from this story is that the Inuktitut word for zombie is ijiraujaq (e-yi-ROW-yaq), and "I shot a zombie" is ijiraujaq qukiqtara. Horror on two levels: zombies, and white men who want to "relocate" survivors from their traditional lands.
Sila by K.C. Carthew (4/5) Short, and with no supernatural element, the effective horror here comes from the inevitability of circumstances.
The Wildest Game by Jay Bulckaert (4.5/5) Written in the form of a letter, this brief but chilling entry hits its "human being as source of horror" points in short order.
Strays by Repo Kempt (4/5) the cold, arctic setting provides a perfect backdrop for this story of manifested guilt made real.
*********
A bit about the publisher of this little gem, Inhabit Media:
Inhabit Media Inc. is the first Inuit-owned, independent publishing company in the Canadian Arctic. We aim to promote and preserve the stories, knowledge, and talent of the Arctic, while also supporting research in Inuit mythology and the traditional Inuit knowledge of Nunavummiut (residents of Nunavut, Canada’s northernmost territory). Our authors, storytellers, and artists bring traditional knowledge to life in a way that is accessible to readers both familiar and unfamiliar with Inuit culture and traditions.
Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston (4/5) - Captures that scared feeling you try to talk yourself out of, trying to justify it as an irrational fear. Only sometimes it isn't.
The Door by Ann R. Loverock (3.5/5) - A story about overwhelming compulsion and the consequences of giving in.
Wheetago War II: Summoners by Richard Van Camp (3/5) - An oral recounting of a horrible encounter in what seems to be a kind of post-apocalyptic world. What is there is good, but I would have liked a bit more.
Revenge by Thomas Anguti Johnston (3/5) Revenge with the expected outcome of a terrible cost associated with it. This one utilises the arctic setting quite particularly.
Lounge by Sean and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley (3.5/5) A striking near future story with science fictional elements reminicent of Annalee Newitz and Kameron Hurley, but with a distinctive Northern voice.
Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona (4/5) Utiqtuq is an Inuktitut word meaning "returning or going back." So an interesting tidbit I learned from this story is that the Inuktitut word for zombie is ijiraujaq (e-yi-ROW-yaq), and "I shot a zombie" is ijiraujaq qukiqtara. Horror on two levels: zombies, and white men who want to "relocate" survivors from their traditional lands.
Sila by K.C. Carthew (4/5) Short, and with no supernatural element, the effective horror here comes from the inevitability of circumstances.
The Wildest Game by Jay Bulckaert (4.5/5) Written in the form of a letter, this brief but chilling entry hits its "human being as source of horror" points in short order.
Strays by Repo Kempt (4/5) the cold, arctic setting provides a perfect backdrop for this story of manifested guilt made real.
*********
A bit about the publisher of this little gem, Inhabit Media:
Inhabit Media Inc. is the first Inuit-owned, independent publishing company in the Canadian Arctic. We aim to promote and preserve the stories, knowledge, and talent of the Arctic, while also supporting research in Inuit mythology and the traditional Inuit knowledge of Nunavummiut (residents of Nunavut, Canada’s northernmost territory). Our authors, storytellers, and artists bring traditional knowledge to life in a way that is accessible to readers both familiar and unfamiliar with Inuit culture and traditions.
December 7, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
short review for busy readers:
An anthology of 9 Inuit horror and paranormal stories from the Canadian Arctic. Most are of a remarkably high writing quality. Lots of hunting and animal death (as well as human, fair's fair) through trapping and shooting. A pretty good "own voices" horror anthology.
in detail:
I don't know hardly anything about the Inuit language, but many of the stories in this anthology are told in the present tense, which might represent a connection to the native language of many of the characters.
Below individual ratings and a short description:
1. The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston: 2
Awkwardly written, with little depth. School kid runs home in a blizzard, thinks creepy crawlies are after them. Predictable and dull.
2. The Door by Ann R Loverock: 2.5
A hunter sees a doorway appear and disappear out on the ice fields. Solid concept, but not fleshed out enough to reach its potential. Amateurishly written.
3. Wheetago War II: Summoners by Richard Van Camp: 5
Excellent alien/zombie tale with a spiritual twist. Comment on how the Inuit were treated by white colonisers, esp the Church. The writing is mature with good flow and with very good use of monologue-style narrative form.
4. Revenge by Thomas Anguti Johnston: 3.5
A tale of an angry Megafauna Polar Bear that starts out good, but becomes repetitious and overtly 'telling' by the end. Good writing.
5. Lounge by Sean and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley: 5
A type of hard sci-fi haunted house story taking place in a deep Arctic mine. Well done in the exploration of isolation and long-damaged egos (not) interacting with each other as well as academic paranoia.
6. Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona: 4
Good zombie tale about a young girl who just wants her normal life back. Very nice until the end which was too abrupt and inconclusive.
7. Sila by KC Carthew: 3
Decent 'terrible choice' story about a polar bear attack. Pretty straightforward. Not much meat here (no pun intended). I was automatically against parents who named their daughter Sweetie Pie.
8. The Wildest Game by Jay Bulckaert: 4
Hannibal Lector time! Shows off very well how gross meat is when the shoe is literally on the other foot.
9. Strays by Repo Kempt: 4.5
A vet who has become immune to the death of her patients is visited by all the past horrors and 4-legged creatures she lost on the operating table...and one two legger who she did in on purpose.
short review for busy readers:
An anthology of 9 Inuit horror and paranormal stories from the Canadian Arctic. Most are of a remarkably high writing quality. Lots of hunting and animal death (as well as human, fair's fair) through trapping and shooting. A pretty good "own voices" horror anthology.
in detail:
I don't know hardly anything about the Inuit language, but many of the stories in this anthology are told in the present tense, which might represent a connection to the native language of many of the characters.
Below individual ratings and a short description:
1. The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston: 2
Awkwardly written, with little depth. School kid runs home in a blizzard, thinks creepy crawlies are after them. Predictable and dull.
2. The Door by Ann R Loverock: 2.5
A hunter sees a doorway appear and disappear out on the ice fields. Solid concept, but not fleshed out enough to reach its potential. Amateurishly written.
3. Wheetago War II: Summoners by Richard Van Camp: 5
Excellent alien/zombie tale with a spiritual twist. Comment on how the Inuit were treated by white colonisers, esp the Church. The writing is mature with good flow and with very good use of monologue-style narrative form.
4. Revenge by Thomas Anguti Johnston: 3.5
A tale of an angry Megafauna Polar Bear that starts out good, but becomes repetitious and overtly 'telling' by the end. Good writing.
5. Lounge by Sean and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley: 5
A type of hard sci-fi haunted house story taking place in a deep Arctic mine. Well done in the exploration of isolation and long-damaged egos (not) interacting with each other as well as academic paranoia.
6. Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona: 4
Good zombie tale about a young girl who just wants her normal life back. Very nice until the end which was too abrupt and inconclusive.
7. Sila by KC Carthew: 3
Decent 'terrible choice' story about a polar bear attack. Pretty straightforward. Not much meat here (no pun intended). I was automatically against parents who named their daughter Sweetie Pie.
8. The Wildest Game by Jay Bulckaert: 4
Hannibal Lector time! Shows off very well how gross meat is when the shoe is literally on the other foot.
9. Strays by Repo Kempt: 4.5
A vet who has become immune to the death of her patients is visited by all the past horrors and 4-legged creatures she lost on the operating table...and one two legger who she did in on purpose.
Read
June 5, 2023I thought "Sila" was the best story in this collection, with "Haunted Blizzard" and "Strays" also being pretty enjoyable reads.
November 17, 2025
An anthology of Arctic horror stories, like the covers says. A rare treat…I’ve rated/mini-reviewed them individually by rating.
The Wildest Game: 5 stars. A masterpiece. The jig is up. Better explain myself to my loved one, despicable as what it is I’ve done, before the sh*t goes down. The character perspective was brilliant. We need to see this character featured again.
Strays: 4.5 stars. The final story finished with a bang. A vet lost a dog in surgery and a repetitive sound kept messing with her mind. Cavalier in her attitude regarding animals deaths, I couldn’t help but be glad when…
Utiqtuq: 4.5 stars. An eerie zombie story set on Baffin Island. Three inuits had escaped the zombie outbreak and lived on the land for 3 years until a helicopter arrived and…(no spoilers). The ending was wrapped up quite suddenly.
Haunted Blizzard: 3.5 stars. The blizzard is in. School is out. There are bad things in the storm. It’s unsafe to be alone. But what’s coming? Fantastic anticipation. Fizzled ending.
The Door: 3.5 stars. Imaginative concept. Could do much with it. A good debate over whether warnings should include the gravity it also.
Revenge: 3.5 stars. Don’t let your anger ruin you. Set on the edge of an ice flow with baited seals and a sea monster waiting to pounce.
Sila: 3.5 stars. Human vs polar bear. And I love animals. Still, someone or something has to die.
Lounge: 3 or less stars. I don’t know what I was meant to be fearful of. I ended up momentoizing it (TM, Alan Teder) by reading it backwards but even still.
Wheetago War II: Summoners. 2 stars. A nice piece but a little too hectic to follow the world-building and origin of the cast. A longer version would suit this as it takes words, many words to give this alternative world what it deserves.
Average: 3.6 stars.
The Wildest Game: 5 stars. A masterpiece. The jig is up. Better explain myself to my loved one, despicable as what it is I’ve done, before the sh*t goes down. The character perspective was brilliant. We need to see this character featured again.
Strays: 4.5 stars. The final story finished with a bang. A vet lost a dog in surgery and a repetitive sound kept messing with her mind. Cavalier in her attitude regarding animals deaths, I couldn’t help but be glad when…
Utiqtuq: 4.5 stars. An eerie zombie story set on Baffin Island. Three inuits had escaped the zombie outbreak and lived on the land for 3 years until a helicopter arrived and…(no spoilers). The ending was wrapped up quite suddenly.
Haunted Blizzard: 3.5 stars. The blizzard is in. School is out. There are bad things in the storm. It’s unsafe to be alone. But what’s coming? Fantastic anticipation. Fizzled ending.
The Door: 3.5 stars. Imaginative concept. Could do much with it. A good debate over whether warnings should include the gravity it also.
Revenge: 3.5 stars. Don’t let your anger ruin you. Set on the edge of an ice flow with baited seals and a sea monster waiting to pounce.
Sila: 3.5 stars. Human vs polar bear. And I love animals. Still, someone or something has to die.
Lounge: 3 or less stars. I don’t know what I was meant to be fearful of. I ended up momentoizing it (TM, Alan Teder) by reading it backwards but even still.
Wheetago War II: Summoners. 2 stars. A nice piece but a little too hectic to follow the world-building and origin of the cast. A longer version would suit this as it takes words, many words to give this alternative world what it deserves.
Average: 3.6 stars.
July 25, 2019
3.5 Stars
Inuit Horror Short Stories set in the Canadian Arctic... Sign me up!
This was a fantastic diverse anthology featuring Arctic horror stories written by and about the Inuit experience of living in the north. As a Canadian, I particularly love cold weather horror like these stories because they are so atmospheric and suspenseful.
All the stories in the collection were written by authors of Inuit descent which made this a fantastic example of #ownvoices horror. Through the stories, I was exposed to the culture, language and experience of this unique indigious group. I learned about everything from hunting practices to legends to traditions and so much more. I particularly appreciated the glossary at the end of the book that provided definitions and pronunciations of the Inuit words used throughout the stories.
With one exception, the stories in this collection were not particularly scary. Certainly, many of the stories had creepy elements, but the cultural and environmental aspects were usually at the forefront of the narratives, rather than the elements of horror.
As always with anthologies, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. My personal favourite stories in the collection were:
Blizzard by Aviaq Johston - This was an incredibly atmospheric story that would be wonderful to read during a snowstorm. While not overly scary, this one had still some fairly creepy moments.
The Wildest Game by Jay Buckaert - I LOVED this one! This story is told from the first person perspective of a cannibal, which was such an interesting narrative choice. Given the subject matter, this was easiliest the more horrifying story in the collection with a lot of fantastic body horror and gruesome descriptions. It was probably one of the scariest short stories that I have read.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this collection and I would recommend it to anyone looking to read northern #ownvoices horror stories.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy from the publisher.
Inuit Horror Short Stories set in the Canadian Arctic... Sign me up!
This was a fantastic diverse anthology featuring Arctic horror stories written by and about the Inuit experience of living in the north. As a Canadian, I particularly love cold weather horror like these stories because they are so atmospheric and suspenseful.
All the stories in the collection were written by authors of Inuit descent which made this a fantastic example of #ownvoices horror. Through the stories, I was exposed to the culture, language and experience of this unique indigious group. I learned about everything from hunting practices to legends to traditions and so much more. I particularly appreciated the glossary at the end of the book that provided definitions and pronunciations of the Inuit words used throughout the stories.
With one exception, the stories in this collection were not particularly scary. Certainly, many of the stories had creepy elements, but the cultural and environmental aspects were usually at the forefront of the narratives, rather than the elements of horror.
As always with anthologies, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. My personal favourite stories in the collection were:
Blizzard by Aviaq Johston - This was an incredibly atmospheric story that would be wonderful to read during a snowstorm. While not overly scary, this one had still some fairly creepy moments.
The Wildest Game by Jay Buckaert - I LOVED this one! This story is told from the first person perspective of a cannibal, which was such an interesting narrative choice. Given the subject matter, this was easiliest the more horrifying story in the collection with a lot of fantastic body horror and gruesome descriptions. It was probably one of the scariest short stories that I have read.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this collection and I would recommend it to anyone looking to read northern #ownvoices horror stories.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy from the publisher.
June 24, 2020
Horror stories that take place in cold climate is my all time favorite. The freezing landscape and dark, forlorn ambience is pretty chilling on its own. But then, add in a paranormal entity or some crazed maniac, for example, is just pure horrifying. And I LOVE IT!!
This book is a collection of short stories written by Northern writers, all whom are of Inuit descent.
What I appreciated most about this collection is learning more about the Inuit culture. A culture that has always intrigued me. To live in a vast, isolated, region with temperatures below freezing is nothing less than extraordinary.
All in all, I really enjoyed this collection. There were a couple that stood out and will most likely haunt my dreams:
The Haunted Blizzard, The Door, Sila and The Wildest Game.
This book is a collection of short stories written by Northern writers, all whom are of Inuit descent.
What I appreciated most about this collection is learning more about the Inuit culture. A culture that has always intrigued me. To live in a vast, isolated, region with temperatures below freezing is nothing less than extraordinary.
All in all, I really enjoyed this collection. There were a couple that stood out and will most likely haunt my dreams:
The Haunted Blizzard, The Door, Sila and The Wildest Game.
March 10, 2022
I loved this own-voices Inuit horror anthology. The furthest north reaches of North America have always held their own inherent spookiness for me; an addiction to stories about HMS Terror, Erebus, and other doomed voyages only added to that. Add in the rich folklore of the locals and I was thoroughly entertained and totally creeped out by this collection.
It was even educational, with a full glossary of included Inuit vocabulary from the stories. I learned the kind of parallel Inuit version of a wendigo was a wheetago, and several useful words like ijiraujat for zombie.
A few of the standouts for me:
The haunted blizzard was a great goosebumps-esque tale that easily justifies how terrifying a combined snowstorm and power outage are.
Utiqtuq is a horrifying and grim nod to Canada's residential school atrocities, and a warning for how a parallel situation could plausibly play out in a dystopian world.
Sila was a tragic look at how being a good Samaritan can cost you everything in a land where every odd is against you in the first place.
Strays carries trigger warnings for animal mistreatment and death, but is a satisfying revenge tale of such.
It was even educational, with a full glossary of included Inuit vocabulary from the stories. I learned the kind of parallel Inuit version of a wendigo was a wheetago, and several useful words like ijiraujat for zombie.
A few of the standouts for me:
The haunted blizzard was a great goosebumps-esque tale that easily justifies how terrifying a combined snowstorm and power outage are.
Utiqtuq is a horrifying and grim nod to Canada's residential school atrocities, and a warning for how a parallel situation could plausibly play out in a dystopian world.
Sila was a tragic look at how being a good Samaritan can cost you everything in a land where every odd is against you in the first place.
Strays carries trigger warnings for animal mistreatment and death, but is a satisfying revenge tale of such.
February 1, 2020
Overall it seems that my fellow book club members enjoyed this book more than I did. It started off weak, with the fist couple stories being mediocre, bordering on bad, and I was afraid I was going to be in for a lot of tedium. Fortunately the third story turned out to be a lot better, partially because it had some unusual and weird elements, and partially because it felt like there was a fleshed out world being built behind the scenes. I had mixed feelings about the fourth story "Revenge" because it featured as asshole who was murdering animals and then just leaving the dead bodies to lure something from the deep, however the ending won me over when the giant walrus god killed the stupid asshole man. Several of the stories had ambiguous endings, for example Sila for which I thought of three ways to interpret the ending (Everyone in the book club seemed to think one particular interpretation was clearly correct, and it was my favorite anyway, so we'll go with that.) I think my favorite story was probably "Strays" because it made me very uncomfortable, so I don't know if favorite is the correct word; in any case, it made an impression.
January 9, 2024
This collection was more interesting to me for the glimpses into Inuit life and culture than it was for the quality of the stories. Taaqtumi started off strong with my only five star of the group, "Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard," but most of the rest were just okay. There were genres that I don't particularly like (sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian), so others who generally enjoy those themes might like this collection more than I did.
February 1, 2020
From the Inuktitut word meaning in the dark, behold a collection of stories about just that, all the terrifying things hiding in the profound lack of light and desolation that can be found along the Artic region. Some frights you have to go North for, far, far North with its stark beauty and unforgiving climate and tenebrous nights. This collection turned out to be a lovely find, albeit lovely might not be morbid enough of a descriptor for an anthology featuring zombies, cannibal and a diverse plethora of nightmares. Some specific to the area, some fairly universal. For me just being there would be scary enough, just the sheer amount of winter at its most brutal is horrifying enough without whitewalkers to add to the mix. It’s very much an entire world altogether and that was my favorite thing about this collection. Being a huge fan of thematic anthologies and travelogues, this book seems to offer the best of both worlds. It takes you far away and scares the living daylights out of you. Quite literally at times, both living and daylights. I wasn’t familiar with any of the authors, but the book offered an excellent line up quality wise. Not a dud to be found, although the longest of the stories (and also the one most likely to be voted science fiction at the prom) didn’t engage me quite as much. The zombie story offered a poignant metaphor on the relationship between the First Nations and the white settlers. The cannibal story was pretty great in its own right for just being a credible first person cannibal narration that didn’t feature fava beans. And while I’ve read Canadian fiction before, this might be the first time I can honestly consider it to be an international read, because it’s a completely different world, not just north of here, but the real North. All in all a great quick read that’s sure to delight the most seasoned genre fans, especially ones looking for something different and well, not exotic, per se, but along those lines. For maximum effect, read at night, if you can, on a winter night if possible. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
January 8, 2020
Some of the short stories featured can be either a hit or miss. Amongst the read, my favorites were the 'Haunted Blizzard' and 'The Door', and everything else pretty much fell under the radar and nothing else stood out. They were uninspired and didn't drawn me in enough to immerse myself in the read. Overall, there's not much to rave about.
December 4, 2022
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
This was a really solid short story anthology for my taste in horror short stories. So many of these were very unsettling and had wonderful pacing leading to the kind of open endings I enjoy in stories.
Favorite Stories:
Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq - A blizzard arrives during school and the children get to leave early to go home. But quickly things escalate from a half day off school to dealing with monsters in the storm. This really hit me nostalgically and I still think about the ending and atmosphere.
Revenge - Initially I didn't love this one but its grown on me. We are looking at the revenge of an individual in parallel with an ancient beast and I loved it.
The Wildest Game - This one I just appreciate its complete commitment to grotesque imagery and descriptions of a cannibals' confessing its sins.
This was a really solid short story anthology for my taste in horror short stories. So many of these were very unsettling and had wonderful pacing leading to the kind of open endings I enjoy in stories.
Favorite Stories:
Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq - A blizzard arrives during school and the children get to leave early to go home. But quickly things escalate from a half day off school to dealing with monsters in the storm. This really hit me nostalgically and I still think about the ending and atmosphere.
Revenge - Initially I didn't love this one but its grown on me. We are looking at the revenge of an individual in parallel with an ancient beast and I loved it.
The Wildest Game - This one I just appreciate its complete commitment to grotesque imagery and descriptions of a cannibals' confessing its sins.
October 4, 2022
"Taaqtumi" means "in the dark" in the language of the Inuit, and this collection of horror stories by indigenous writers of the Arctic is certainly dark. Most of the stories make use of the climate and geography to add to the danger. My favorite stories include the opening story of a young boy followed home by a dark shadow in a blizzard, the revenge story of a seal hunter and a giant polar bear, and "Utiqtuq," which showcases the horrors of zombies and the forced relocation of indigenous peoples.
Many thanks to the readers at "Worlds Beyond the Margins" for selecting this book as a group read!
Many thanks to the readers at "Worlds Beyond the Margins" for selecting this book as a group read!
October 17, 2022
An interesting collection of modern Inuit horror stories. As with all anthologies, there are hits and misses (and which is which probably depends on your personal taste). Personally, for actual horror I might reach for the traditional Inuit legends, many of which tend to the dark, but the variety here was enjoyable.
My favorite of the stories might be 'Lounge', in part because after the first four stories I wasn't expecting sci-fi, and the elements of the story (including the not-quite-AI-robot "danseurs") were really creative. It is longer than the other stories, and sent the most genuine shivers up my spine, though I wish some of the elements had been fleshed out more. I could see it being adapted into a horror movie to do just that. I also really liked the "old monsters coming back" concept of 'Wheetago War II'.
My least favorite, especially following the simple-but-effective 'The Haunted Blizzard', was 'The Door'. It started promisingly enough, but the horror really only happens because characters make dumb decisions:
One could potentially also get frustrated at the main character of 'Revenge', but it is established that he is not doing so well, mentally and emotionally speaking, so his ultimately self-destructive decisions don't seem as strange. 'The Wildest Game' and 'Strays' similarly include characters who are undone by their own choices, and which are solidly in the horror genre, though whether you find them scary may vary. By contrast, 'Utiqtuq' and 'Sila' are good stories, but they aren't so much horror as just sad.
My favorite of the stories might be 'Lounge', in part because after the first four stories I wasn't expecting sci-fi, and the elements of the story (including the not-quite-AI-robot "danseurs") were really creative. It is longer than the other stories, and sent the most genuine shivers up my spine, though I wish some of the elements had been fleshed out more. I could see it being adapted into a horror movie to do just that. I also really liked the "old monsters coming back" concept of 'Wheetago War II'.
My least favorite, especially following the simple-but-effective 'The Haunted Blizzard', was 'The Door'. It started promisingly enough, but the horror really only happens because characters make dumb decisions:
One could potentially also get frustrated at the main character of 'Revenge', but it is established that he is not doing so well, mentally and emotionally speaking, so his ultimately self-destructive decisions don't seem as strange. 'The Wildest Game' and 'Strays' similarly include characters who are undone by their own choices, and which are solidly in the horror genre, though whether you find them scary may vary. By contrast, 'Utiqtuq' and 'Sila' are good stories, but they aren't so much horror as just sad.
October 8, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
4.5/5
Why has this release not received more press? I was a bit shocked when I stumbled upon this release on Netgalley. The horror community has been working hard to be more inclusive – from Ladies of Horror Month, to showcasing and highlighting works of minorities, PoC and LGBTQ+.
Yet, I’ve not seen this anthology highlighted or discussed, and that saddens me.
“Taaqtumi” is an Inuktitut word that means “in the dark.”
I can’t think of a more accurate description of the stories that appear in here. Made up of authors of Indigenous background, this runs a frosty gamut of terror. Most of the stories connected with me and the only one that didn’t work at all was still a fun story.
It opens with ‘Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq – The Haunted Blizzard’ by Aviaq Johnston. What a great, creepy story. A cold storm hits the small community, so school gets let out early. As the kids either wait at the high school for their siblings or decide to walk home on their own, one of the students spots something in the blowing snow. Is it an animal? A human? They don’t know, but whatever it is has followed them home. A great opener.
Next up is ‘The Door’ by Ann R. Loverock. How I’d love to see this in novel form. During a hunt, a mysterious door is spotted in the wilderness. It draws the person in, wanting to open it and see what is behind it. Loverock gives us bits and pieces of background here, but what a story.
‘Revenge’ by Thomas Angunti Johnston is a fun story about a lone man hunting seal. Along the way he unleashes the fantastic creature known as nanurluk, which quickly tracks him back to the village. Gruesome and spectacular. Loved it.
‘Utiqtuq’ by Gayle Kabloona did something that hasn’t happened to me in some time – a zombie type story I enjoyed. Aliisa is a young woman, trying to survive a ravaged world where the dead come back to life. The Canadian Government arrive, telling her a cure has been found and begging her to come with them. Not only did this give me the creeps with the tundra zombie action, but it walked a very thinly veiled line in the historical realm of white government officials insisting young Indigenous come with them for a better life.
The anthology finishes with a high. ‘Strays’ by Repo Kempt tells us the tale of two vets, stuck in a snowstorm in an isolated community. While they work on the various animals that come through, more and more of what the one vet is running from back home comes to light. Really enjoyed how this one ended.
Throughout the anthology, each story is separated by stunning pieces of art that really elevated this project.
Like I said before, I’m not sure why this isn’t being championed more – the stories are great, the artwork is outstanding and it really highlights a group of writers who are far too frequently overlooked.
I would have given this a full five stars if it wasn’t for one story that was a big-time miss for me, but otherwise, this anthology was outstanding and I hope it becomes a series of releases.
4.5/5
Why has this release not received more press? I was a bit shocked when I stumbled upon this release on Netgalley. The horror community has been working hard to be more inclusive – from Ladies of Horror Month, to showcasing and highlighting works of minorities, PoC and LGBTQ+.
Yet, I’ve not seen this anthology highlighted or discussed, and that saddens me.
“Taaqtumi” is an Inuktitut word that means “in the dark.”
I can’t think of a more accurate description of the stories that appear in here. Made up of authors of Indigenous background, this runs a frosty gamut of terror. Most of the stories connected with me and the only one that didn’t work at all was still a fun story.
It opens with ‘Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq – The Haunted Blizzard’ by Aviaq Johnston. What a great, creepy story. A cold storm hits the small community, so school gets let out early. As the kids either wait at the high school for their siblings or decide to walk home on their own, one of the students spots something in the blowing snow. Is it an animal? A human? They don’t know, but whatever it is has followed them home. A great opener.
Next up is ‘The Door’ by Ann R. Loverock. How I’d love to see this in novel form. During a hunt, a mysterious door is spotted in the wilderness. It draws the person in, wanting to open it and see what is behind it. Loverock gives us bits and pieces of background here, but what a story.
‘Revenge’ by Thomas Angunti Johnston is a fun story about a lone man hunting seal. Along the way he unleashes the fantastic creature known as nanurluk, which quickly tracks him back to the village. Gruesome and spectacular. Loved it.
‘Utiqtuq’ by Gayle Kabloona did something that hasn’t happened to me in some time – a zombie type story I enjoyed. Aliisa is a young woman, trying to survive a ravaged world where the dead come back to life. The Canadian Government arrive, telling her a cure has been found and begging her to come with them. Not only did this give me the creeps with the tundra zombie action, but it walked a very thinly veiled line in the historical realm of white government officials insisting young Indigenous come with them for a better life.
The anthology finishes with a high. ‘Strays’ by Repo Kempt tells us the tale of two vets, stuck in a snowstorm in an isolated community. While they work on the various animals that come through, more and more of what the one vet is running from back home comes to light. Really enjoyed how this one ended.
Throughout the anthology, each story is separated by stunning pieces of art that really elevated this project.
Like I said before, I’m not sure why this isn’t being championed more – the stories are great, the artwork is outstanding and it really highlights a group of writers who are far too frequently overlooked.
I would have given this a full five stars if it wasn’t for one story that was a big-time miss for me, but otherwise, this anthology was outstanding and I hope it becomes a series of releases.
May 26, 2023
8+ I like horror short stories, and I like genre stories written from other perspectives than my own. This unique collection therefore was right up my alley. The small publisher only publishes stories by northern Indigenous authors, meaning the Inuit people from Northern Canada. One of their projects is this collection, featuring horror stories written by authors of Inuit descent. The title, Taaqtumi, is a word in the Inuktituk language meaning 'In the dark', which is quite fitting. It is interesting to see the culture of the Inuit people reflected in their stories, especially in their fears. I believe horror is a great instrument to examine our anxieties, both personal and cultural, and here the power of the genre is on display. These stories concern the harsh nature of the far north (cold, snow and polar bears), the isolation (cannibals) and also the reality of how Indiginous People have been treated by colonisers (us) - which gives a whole new, deeper layer to the horror - real history is scarier than stories.
None of these authors (as far as I know) are well known in the horror community at large and in some stories their relative inexperience shows (some stories are written in short sentences, a bit clunky and have trouble establishing atmosphere), but it's still worthwile to read! Especially as this is the only way new authors from other communities can hope to find a wider readership and more opportunities.
Some stand outs for me were 'The Door' by Ann R. Loverock that has a relatively simple, almost fairy tale like structure, but works very well because it mostly suggests. Also the concept, of a door appearing in the otherwise pristine wilderness is in itself weird and scary.
Betraying my love for SF and cosmic horror and weird stuff (in a story that still makes sense narratively speaking), probably my favourite story was 'Lounge' by Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley. Strange particles in a mine lead to hallucinations - but are they really only that? I loved the evocative descriptions here.
'Utiqtuq' by Gayle Kabloona is impactful. A couple of inuit have escaped a zombie infestation. Now a chopper lands and the doctor tells them the threat is over and they need to be relocated. But how wise is it to trust him? Strong social critique and well realised.
'Sila' by K.C. Carthew was a well realised wild animal story, with a harrowing choice at the end and 'The Wildest Game' by Jay Bulckaert creeps up on you. The final story, 'Strays' was well written and had a strong point of view, but the concept of it didn't enthrall me. I had expected something more from a story as well written as this. A more horrifying twist?
Anyway, for afficionados of short horror fiction I can recommend this collection. Not all stories are great, but enough are to make it worth your investment. And it's great to read stories from another culture than your own once in a while.
None of these authors (as far as I know) are well known in the horror community at large and in some stories their relative inexperience shows (some stories are written in short sentences, a bit clunky and have trouble establishing atmosphere), but it's still worthwile to read! Especially as this is the only way new authors from other communities can hope to find a wider readership and more opportunities.
Some stand outs for me were 'The Door' by Ann R. Loverock that has a relatively simple, almost fairy tale like structure, but works very well because it mostly suggests. Also the concept, of a door appearing in the otherwise pristine wilderness is in itself weird and scary.
Betraying my love for SF and cosmic horror and weird stuff (in a story that still makes sense narratively speaking), probably my favourite story was 'Lounge' by Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley. Strange particles in a mine lead to hallucinations - but are they really only that? I loved the evocative descriptions here.
'Utiqtuq' by Gayle Kabloona is impactful. A couple of inuit have escaped a zombie infestation. Now a chopper lands and the doctor tells them the threat is over and they need to be relocated. But how wise is it to trust him? Strong social critique and well realised.
'Sila' by K.C. Carthew was a well realised wild animal story, with a harrowing choice at the end and 'The Wildest Game' by Jay Bulckaert creeps up on you. The final story, 'Strays' was well written and had a strong point of view, but the concept of it didn't enthrall me. I had expected something more from a story as well written as this. A more horrifying twist?
Anyway, for afficionados of short horror fiction I can recommend this collection. Not all stories are great, but enough are to make it worth your investment. And it's great to read stories from another culture than your own once in a while.
October 24, 2022
3.5 stars
A very cool collection with a few standouts that I loved. And, if nothing else, an interesting window into a very harsh landscape with different attitudes to horror than the usual Westernized/White lens.
Atmosphere: ★★★★
Diversity in horror tropes: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★
It's always weirdly hard to review a short story collection. Given the wide range story types, lengths, and writing styles included, there always seem to be some all-star favorites and...some duds. Taaqtumi was no exception.
I found this collection to be chilling. Metaphorically AND literally, given its icy landscape setting! (I couldn't resist that reference.)
There are tales that ring of science fiction, of small town horror, of indigenous roots. There are stories about characters of all genders doing a myriad of things and experiencing horrors both large-scale and intimate. The Arctic landscape is its own character in all of them.
I recommend this collection to all horror fans, but more specifically, for those who are also afraid of the unique horrors awaiting us in the dead of winter. The snow, the cold, the sense of permanent isolation... there are things to be afraid of here in the cold dark.
Blog | Instagram
A very cool collection with a few standouts that I loved. And, if nothing else, an interesting window into a very harsh landscape with different attitudes to horror than the usual Westernized/White lens.
Atmosphere: ★★★★
Diversity in horror tropes: ★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★
It's always weirdly hard to review a short story collection. Given the wide range story types, lengths, and writing styles included, there always seem to be some all-star favorites and...some duds. Taaqtumi was no exception.
I found this collection to be chilling. Metaphorically AND literally, given its icy landscape setting! (I couldn't resist that reference.)
There are tales that ring of science fiction, of small town horror, of indigenous roots. There are stories about characters of all genders doing a myriad of things and experiencing horrors both large-scale and intimate. The Arctic landscape is its own character in all of them.
I recommend this collection to all horror fans, but more specifically, for those who are also afraid of the unique horrors awaiting us in the dead of winter. The snow, the cold, the sense of permanent isolation... there are things to be afraid of here in the cold dark.
Blog | Instagram
January 17, 2020
This was horrifying but in the best way possible.
Horror is diverse. Yes, I’m saying this pointedly. Glare to you, Mr. Stephen King.
This book showcases that with stories and authors and lore of the Arctic.
I was terrified, devastated, and haunted by each and every story and none of of them fell flat for me. I had my favorites yes as one often does with an anthology but this was a solid book of short stories that makes you crave more but also has you afraid to turn the page or to even read another word. I greatly enjoyed this read and yes, it’s absolutely perfect for the winter when the chill has set in and you’re not too sure what exacrlt is lurking in the frigid cold.
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of my Arc. All opinions are my own.
Horror is diverse. Yes, I’m saying this pointedly. Glare to you, Mr. Stephen King.
This book showcases that with stories and authors and lore of the Arctic.
I was terrified, devastated, and haunted by each and every story and none of of them fell flat for me. I had my favorites yes as one often does with an anthology but this was a solid book of short stories that makes you crave more but also has you afraid to turn the page or to even read another word. I greatly enjoyed this read and yes, it’s absolutely perfect for the winter when the chill has set in and you’re not too sure what exacrlt is lurking in the frigid cold.
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of my Arc. All opinions are my own.
April 7, 2020
This one is a hard one for me to even rate. I enjoyed it a decent amount. I loved the Canadian setting and that it was indigenous ownvoices. It's hard to find diverse voices within the horror category and I was really excited to that. My main issue is I only loved about half the stories and the other half just didn't work for me on any level. There was also a lot of animal violence/death and that is a hard one for me, so I had to skip a couple of stories entirely. I'm glad I took the time to read this overall, but I'm on the fence if I would recommend it to others.
My favorites were probably 'Haunted Blizzard', ‘Uqtituq’ and The Door.
My favorites were probably 'Haunted Blizzard', ‘Uqtituq’ and The Door.
October 9, 2022
The nanurluk, being an ancient creature of the sea, needs to reacquaint its legs with being above the water. Angrily the nanurluk stumbles about like a calf learning to walk. The dot of the lone man disappearing ahead of him. The bear lets out a great roar, loud enough to be heard by all Inuit in the Arctic.
I'm not really a horror person, so left on my own devices I would probably never picked up this book. I'm glad it was picked as one of our BR over at WBtM, because this was really interesting experience! (Discussion thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)
What I enjoyed the most about this read was without a doubt the worldbuilding of the stories and the cultural aspects. I often encountered concepts/creatures I never heard about before which made this whole experience really novel and just made me want to go and do some research.
On the other hand, the plot itself seemed to me lacking most of the time. But I think that pulling off a great short-story is a sign of true mastery, so... it's understandable. And I'm also freakishly picky when it comes to my short stories... I often felt like I would definitely read a longer story/book set into the worlds presented.
My mother doesn't know. She's too grown up to remember the scary parts of our land. The scary things that hide around us. She thinks that the land is nothing more than the science of the space around us, environment and nature. She thinks this is all that lives outside.
All of this quite complicates the favorites choosing...
Best executed story: Revenge This one is excellently written, which is a little surprising since this one is not written by a professional writer. It broke my heart and made me angry at the same time. I think it has to be my favourite...
Scariest: Sila it's also really sad... To be fair it's not really scary in the traditional sense of the word. It's very realistic and reads like something that could definitely happen. Featuring global warming and also showing that I apparently enjoy stories that break my heart.
The most disturbing: Easily The Wildest Game the narrator of this one is brilliantly written. He is disgusting and vile, but at the same time he doesn't really feel "evil". He's just pragmatic... once more this one feels very "real life".
The best worldbuilding: This is a tie... if I had to choose, it would probably be Wheetago War II: Summoners, I would definitely read a book set there and I just wanted to know more. (Also, plus points for including trans* character - not really specified...). But I was also really intrigued by the world of Utiqtuq, but I thought that .
The story I enojoyed the least would be Lounge it had a great potential , but ultimately it was too long and the payoff just didn't justify the long buildup.
With Sweetie Pie in the amauti, the rifle in one hand, and the axe in the other, Laila moves swiftly through the snow.
From below, the way up the rocks is not obvious. Sweetie Pie makes noises. "It's okay, my girl," Laila says, trying to keep her voice steady. She starts to climb. Her heart pounds. She wills her hands to stop shaking. They do.
Overall, this was an extremely interesting read. I wasn't really scared at any part, but there were some pretty chilling moments and I simply really enjoyed the exploration of Inuit culture. I already added some more books from these authors on my TBR.
Recommended playlist: Tanya Tagaq! You can start here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkdJK...
November 9, 2021
Oh wow this anthology was amazing! Each story was unique but equally horrifying in various ways. In some instances, a complete 10 page story was even more scary than the longer ones! Topics ranging from undead, paranormal, survival, and speculative fiction; each of these stories approach horror with a commonality: the unforgiving Arctic climate and the dangers it can hold. Some may lurk in the midnight brightly lit summers, and other the wintery dark noon blizzards, but each approach felt so tangible and different. Highly recommended for horror anthology fans.
November 9, 2019
So rarely do I read an anthology and love every story in it; to be honest, I think this might be the first. Horror fans, this book is a must-read!
These authors capture everyday horrors - such as a strange noise in the night, nature, and the consequences of an impossible choice - with such skill I was simply awed. The writing conveys emotion expertly. I know I’ll be thinking about these stories for a long time.
These authors capture everyday horrors - such as a strange noise in the night, nature, and the consequences of an impossible choice - with such skill I was simply awed. The writing conveys emotion expertly. I know I’ll be thinking about these stories for a long time.
November 13, 2019
An enlightening collection of ten tales of horror and speculative fiction by authors of the Arctic, TAAQTUMI provides a fine window into a diversity of legends and mythology from a geographic locale and ethnicity (Inuit) of which most Western readers are unaware. Be assured: Inuit horror and speculative fiction can astonish, enlighten, and terrify every bit as much as can Western literature.
October 1, 2023
Taaqtumi is a anthology of horror stories by several indigenous writers of the Arctic.
This was a fairly decent book imo. The authors collectively created an atmosphere of dark and danger and all the stories worked pretty well together as an anthology. There was no particular favourite story of mine in this one tbh, each and every story was unique in its own way and undoubtedly brought its own charm to the book.
However, me not being a huge fan of horror books, I didn't really enjoy them as much as I should. My preferred genre is mystery thriller and the books that are predominantly horror automatically end up being not a candidate for my favourite books.
3 stars.
This was a fairly decent book imo. The authors collectively created an atmosphere of dark and danger and all the stories worked pretty well together as an anthology. There was no particular favourite story of mine in this one tbh, each and every story was unique in its own way and undoubtedly brought its own charm to the book.
However, me not being a huge fan of horror books, I didn't really enjoy them as much as I should. My preferred genre is mystery thriller and the books that are predominantly horror automatically end up being not a candidate for my favourite books.
3 stars.
December 26, 2022
I loved this anthology. I don't think there was a stinker in the bunch. All very creepy, all very thought provoking.
December 12, 2022
The Haunted Blizzard
for 10 pages that scared the shit out of me what in the fuck bro
The Door
again, super short, I would've liked to have seen a little more of the aftermath of the door opening but still super unsettling
Wheetago War II: The Summoners
heavy on the gore, hectic with the story. I would've like to have known more but i really liked this one
Revenge
Didn't vibe with this one at all
Lounge
weird and not fun, slightly confusing
Utiqtuq
literally nothing happened
Sila
that shit hurted
The Wildest Game
I loved the writing style of this one and the letter format, it wasn't what I expected but I LOOOOOVED this one
Strays
not bad but not memorable
for 10 pages that scared the shit out of me what in the fuck bro
The Door
again, super short, I would've liked to have seen a little more of the aftermath of the door opening but still super unsettling
Wheetago War II: The Summoners
heavy on the gore, hectic with the story. I would've like to have known more but i really liked this one
Revenge
Didn't vibe with this one at all
Lounge
weird and not fun, slightly confusing
Utiqtuq
literally nothing happened
Sila
that shit hurted
The Wildest Game
I loved the writing style of this one and the letter format, it wasn't what I expected but I LOOOOOVED this one
Strays
not bad but not memorable
May 25, 2021
[The Arctic is] where people go to become more of what they are. - Sean & Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, "Lounge"
All men are the same, some are just better at hiding this shared disease than others. - Jay Bulckaert, "The Wildest a Game"
Taaqtumi was a blast. While not necessarily scary, the stories in this anthology are suspenseful and keep you invested to the end. Each one is a fast, easy read that left me silently praising the author at the end with a "Nice..." under my breath.
If you need a break from pretentious literature, go read Taaqtumi. **This is the junk food your brain wants.**
All men are the same, some are just better at hiding this shared disease than others. - Jay Bulckaert, "The Wildest a Game"
Taaqtumi was a blast. While not necessarily scary, the stories in this anthology are suspenseful and keep you invested to the end. Each one is a fast, easy read that left me silently praising the author at the end with a "Nice..." under my breath.
If you need a break from pretentious literature, go read Taaqtumi. **This is the junk food your brain wants.**
October 26, 2021
*4.5
Incredible tales. Can't wait to now look up each of these authors individually and check out more of their work!
Incredible tales. Can't wait to now look up each of these authors individually and check out more of their work!
January 27, 2025
Got chills but only weather related
August 13, 2024
I picked up ‘Taaqtumi - An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories on a particularly hot day earlier in August. I’ve always adored cold weather, especially its potential for atmosphere. This book absolutely delivered on the gore, scares, as well as heartbreaking stories.
This anthology was written primarily by indigenous writers from the Canadian North and have such a beautiful, rich flair for both storytelling and building on atmosphere. Truly there was only one story that I didn’t love - this was a really great series of short stories. Might have to pick up a physical copy of this one!
This anthology was written primarily by indigenous writers from the Canadian North and have such a beautiful, rich flair for both storytelling and building on atmosphere. Truly there was only one story that I didn’t love - this was a really great series of short stories. Might have to pick up a physical copy of this one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 reviews