“For the creators behind modern myths this is a necessary interrogation of what matters on the page and in the real world. For readers, this is a deep dive into why these stories appeal to us and how they challenge dominant narratives. Burke's Hero Me Not reminds us all that diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality are more than buzz words or jargon. The stories we tell, the stories we consume matter on every level.” —Mikki Kendall

"These raw, brutal stories, often with intriguingly open endings, display an odd and unsettling relationships to the poetry of violence. These dark tales announce the arrival of a formidable new master of the macabre."
―Samuel R. Delany, author of Dhalgren and Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders

"Chesya Burke’s is a new massively talented writer with a penchant for textured storytelling and necessary historical reckoning.” —Kiese Laymon

"What a stunning collection. Let's Play White... and so on time. [Chesya Burke has] touched something special in [her] stories. I'm a big Octavia Butler fan and I see a peek of that as well as some latter-day Toni Morrison [within these pages]. I see the light and warmth [Chesya is] offering. There definitely is magic in that. The short story, next to poetry, is the most difficult writing form. [Chesya has] tamed it and made it yield to [her] touch."
—Nikki Giovanni, Grammy-nominated

“Burke weaves African and African-American historical legend and standard horror themes into stories that range from gritty subway gore fests to a sympathetic take on zombies. The magnificent closing novella, "The Teachings and Redemption of Ms. Fannie Lou Mason," follows a "hoodoo woman" as she nurtures and protects twin girls with similar powers and shows them what they are meant to do. If the urban realism doesn't always seem quite realistic, the depth of Burke's characters, the weight of their decisions, and their choices make this the very opposite of escapist fantasy.” —Publisher’s Weekly