- The Good: Cherokee horror fantasy short stories
- The Bad: You’ll wish some of the stories were longer
- The Literary: Cherokee syllabary rounds out the traditional and modern folklore
This collection of horror short stories spans centuries, complete with classic gothic tropes like vampires and werewolves and zombies. What makes this book special is the addition of Native American—specifically Cherokee—horrors, both modern and traditional, from colonialism and domestic abuse to the Little People who live in the mountains, the serpent with antlers Unktena, and Deer Woman.
I really enjoy the slow shift across time, from 1830’s Georgia, to WWI, to present day Oklahoma, and beyond. I like that the book follows an overarching connection and theme that subtly ties the stories together. The protagonists from the stories are all related and belong to one big extended family.
Most of all, I love that the stories are set in places that are familiar. Whether it be the streets of Tahlequah, Tulsa, or even the Indian boarding school my own father attended, I see familiar faces, situations, and motivations. There are Cherokee words and Cherokee writing to cement the Cherokee fears.
The horror is slow and creeping, but it’s not too scary (I’m the type who watches scary movies only in daylight). But it is the sort of horror I like best. It’s the kind that looks within and reassesses who the monsters really are and what exactly we are afraid of when we tell boogeyman stories. It’s a satisfying uneasiness.
Representation in media of minorities has come a long way, but when you see your own family and culture combined with your own love of genre, it’s quite an exciting experience. I can’t wait to read more of Andrea Rogers! Highly recommended for fans of horror and indigenous Cherokee culture!