Debut Review: Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
A perfectly crafted blend of horror and humor. Stunning for any book, let alone for a debut.
Metadata
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Neena Viel |
| Fic/Non Fic | Fiction |
| Genre | Horror |
| Format | eARC - Audiobook |
| Rating | 5/5 |
Disclosure: This audiobook was provided as an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review
You’ll have to forgive me if this review is a little incoherent, because I feel like I could gush about this book for hours. The only place to begin is with the characters. Calla, Dre, and Jamie are quite possibly best written siblings that I have ever read. They are all the heroes in their own heads, and despite their love for each other, they all have their own complex resentments about each other. Splitting the narrative between their PoVs works unbelievably well, and when one sibling is being a little shit, you get that moment of catharsis when they are put in their place. Just like twisting the knife against your own sibling, you immediately regret it, since you know how badly it will hurt them. That dynamic is beautifully written and is the focus of the plot, driving it in perfect tandem with the supernatural horror elements. I don’t want to spoil any of those elements, so suffice to say that they serve multiple functions and you just have to experience them for yourself. It’s hard to say enough how well crafted this book is. I can’t think of a single scene or detail that was wasted, and that in itself is an incredible achievement.
I do think it is worth knowing going in that this is not a straight horror book, and the Stranger Things comparison really does it justice. While there are moments of true horror and grotesque scenes, it is somewhat diffused by the humor, which comes in many forms, internality, dialogue, and sometimes in the scene setting itself. One scene in the book had a particularly creative lighting source that had me legit laughing at the setup. Having read this, I’m a little sad that it’s over and I will be there day one for whatever Neena Viel writes next. The only downside is now I have a strong desire to rewatch the first season of Stranger Things.