#BookReview ‘Listen To Your Sister’ by Neena Viel

About the book…

A razor-sharp, breathlessly harrowing novel of siblings, the nightmares that haunt us, and the deep, powerful love that can tie a family together, perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix, Isabel Canas and T. Kingfisher.

Twenty-five year old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie-but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he’s off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.

When Jamie’s actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than an AirBNB, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives-and reality-hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.

Published in paperback and e-book formats in February 2025, I am so grateful to the wonderful people at Titan Books for my gifted review copy of debut novel, ‘Listen To Your Sister’ by Neena Viel

This is an absolutely unstoppable story which propels you from the first page to last and absolutely does not feel like a debut!

It’s horror but also speculative fiction whilst undertaking a searing look at the rights, responsibilities and nature of unconditional love between trauma bonded siblings.

I related to so many aspects of the story, as an older sister to 2 younger brothers, that there is such an immense pressure on you to perform so many tasks and to schedule yourself last-Cally had my heart from the start with her meeting with the headmaster of her younger brother, Jamie’s school, where she was trying to focus despite the discomfort of her underwear , and advocate for Jamie’s latest shenanigans.

Blame for the lack of consistency in Jamie’s behaviour is placed squarely on Cally’s shoulders with little to no recognition of the third, and middle brother , Dre, who was meant to share that responsibility when they agreed to bring Jamie up together, in the absence of any parents. A dead father and a mother whose only interaction is limited to texts stating her children are dead to her, Cally has overall parental responsibility thrust upon her, without any of the support mechanisms in place to help her.

She doesn’t have the school run parents or anyone in the community around her , in the run down black neighbourhood which has been left to fend for itself as so many areas have been-we live in UK social housing which gives you an insight into how these neighbourhoods are regarded, treated and generally despised but I won’t digress…-so there is literally no one to lean on but herself.

All personal relationships have been sidelined, there are no official societal structures to help and Cally is freewheeling each and every day, having studied parenting books, theories and ways in which she can support her younger brothers.

The natural resentment this would engender, as well as cultural, social and economic pressures on her has resulted in these Nightmares, which deserve their capitalised state, in which the worst things she can imagine happening to Jamie and Dre flood her sleep with hellish visions.

This is another eye roll moment between the brothers when she mentions her fears for their safety in a world which is not disposed to look kindly upon young black men, to put it mildly.

So, you have an encumbered older sister doing her absolute best, two younger brothers who are trying every last nerve as they navigate what makes their lives meaningful, struggling through each day until a catastrophic event at a protest means they need to flee.

A cabin in the woods is not only a horror movie trope but a a reality for 3 fleeing siblings who despite Callie’s warnings, have ignored a fateful reckoning which is fast catching up with them.

Is love for your brothers enough to sustain both you and them?

Listening to your sister could be the difference between life and death, hopefully Dre and Jamie haven’t missed the chance to turn and face the cataclysm which is now consuming their little family.

The cabin exemplifies all of Cally’s best efforts to support and maintain her family from a sense of love, obligation and guilt , trying to present herself as the stabilising force which allows Jamie and Dre the freedom to be selfish, reckless and careless. But at some point she needs to take something back for herself, and in a showdown which reminded me of some of the best of Clive Barker’s writing, taking place in a the world of nightmares as well as our own, the 3 siblings need to find what binds them together to face an unstoppable force .

Moving, powerful and redemptive in so many ways, I found so much to relate to, laugh at and deeply feel, I completely adored this book and hope whoever reads this, might consider picking themselves up a copy.

About the author….