Snowy Sinister Horror Stories in the Dark
Arctic Chills for Holiday Thrills
Tags: #Horror #Shortstory #Taaqtumi
The festive season is upon us. What better way to celebrate the holidays than snuggling up with a blanket, your favorite hot drink, a roaring fire in the fireplace/on the yule log channel while you tuck into a horror anthology from the North. Set Hallmark movies aside this year and instead indulge in Taaqtumi (2019) – which translates to ‘in the dark’ – a collection of nine sinister, snowy horror stories from Northern authors.
Each short story in the anthology has its own unique voice and offers bitesize insights into indigenous lore. The wide range of tales lead to mythical creatures, polar bears, and something lurking in snowstorms. Some are more mystical while others have more grounding in realism. The only throughline is the Arctic setting in the background. There is certainly something for every reader in the collection; no two are the same.
Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories, 2019, Book Cover
Because of this wide spread, it is hard to say every story in the anthology was a favorite. Some stories were developed more thoroughly and it was more difficult to gauge what the author intended in others. Nevertheless, they were all a quick read so if you have an afternoon off or need to duck away from the relatives after dinner, we recommend you give this one a try. To give you a quick insight, we’ve picked our top three to get you started.
Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston
The first short story makes a strong start for the collection. When returning home, a (pre)teen discovered that there may be something in the blizzard outside other than the snow. While it wasn’t necessarily the spookiest of tales, the story resembles a good old fashioned Goosebump.
It sets the tone for the anthology by balancing exposition and lore with sprinklings of Inuktitut in the dialogue. Nothing feels forced or out of place. The build up isn’t rushed and the ending feels natural, though it is a quick read. The narrator’s voice is clear and reads as though the young girl is recounting the story to you. It’s eerie, but unless there is snow outside, you’re probably safe.
8/10, bonus points for nostalgia.
The Wildest Game by Jay Bluckaert
Ever wondered what it’s like listening to the thoughts of a Cannibal, then this story is for you. The penultimate story in the collection is probably the most horrific. It was an uncomfortable read at times, but some things should be uncomfortable. Although it's on the short-short side, it does make you pause to digest (pun intended) some of the details.
Despite its controversial subject matter, the narrator is another strong, solid voice. This was the best, most complete story in the anthology from beginning to end. Written as a confession letter, the format is unique amongst the collection. It does contain explicit gory details so if you’re squeamish or prone to get nauseated, we’d recommend you skip this one.
9/10, maybe don’t eat while reading this one.
Strays by Repo Kempt
The final story ends the collection on a high note. A traditional ghost story, of sorts, follows a veterinarian as she struggles to complete a rotation in the northern cities of Canada. For animal lovers, this might be a tough one, especially the first scene, and there are some elements of body horror. The story does end with some redemption.
It is difficult to like the narrator in Strays, but you still follow along with her out of curiosity to see where she’ll end up. There are some questions, but nothing that will keep you up at night unable to fall asleep. Possibly due to being the last story in the anthology, it does pack a punch, but there are some trigger warnings for animal death and substance abuse.
7.5/10, minus points because the dog died.
There is plenty more to enjoy in the remaining six stories we did not include in this quick review. There are creatures and magic and danger from friend and foe. If the relatives are asking uncomfortable questions at the table, begin reading The Wildest Game out loud. If the power goes out, grab a candle and crack the book open to Utiqtuq for a zombie story. If you need to lock yourself in the bathroom to hide from everyone for a few minutes, The Door or Lounge might be more interesting than Doom Scrolling on the apps.
Why not get through the holiday season with something a bit more sinister this year? Nothing will be of better help when you want to wait up for Santa. We’ll be back with more terribly written women who have questionable decision making skills in 2025. And if you need a break between the horror tales, why not consider watching A Christmas Prince or Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe.