First published 2012
Chintana works as a seamstress in East Texas when five orphans arrive under her care. A storyteller appears with a tale of revenge and places a long black box before the children. The orphans hang on every word as the man spins his story of vengeance. Chintana watches the children become transfixed by both the narrative and the mysterious container that sits unopened before them. As the clock moves toward midnight, the storyteller prepares to reveal what lies inside the box. The children face a dare that will test their courage. When the box finally opens, Chintana and the orphans must confront the reality of the malice that has been both retold in the story and now promises to unfold in their lives. The consequences of the storyteller's vengeful tale become immediate and personal.
Genres: suspense, mystery, horror, dark-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: malice, unreliable-narrator
Setting: East Texas
Period: Midnight
288 pages · Hardcover · Pantheon
Content warnings: violence