Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An incredible fusion of Frankenstein retelling and Indian mythology. It's beautiful, heartbreaking and visceral. I cannot wait to be back in this world and read the rest of Lasya, Kajal, Tav, and Advaith's tale!

Also Kutaa is the best boy. I never knew how much I wanted a loyal undead dog companion until now!!

I am very thankful to have been gifted a copy of this book; however, at this point this book will be moving to my DNF shelf. It sounds like something I would have really enjoyed, and will happily come back and re-review once I am in a better mindset for the book.

"Nothing eludes us forever," she said. "Not even death."

GENRE: Gothic Fantasy with Indian Mythology
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc from Colored Pages Book Tour & Penguin Teen Publisher

Would I recommend to others?: I'd definitely recommend it to people who love folklore and want to explore Indian Mythology in a Dark/Horror/Gothic Fantasy book!

Long Review:
We Shall be monsters is a unique fantasy read that I still remember months and months later after reading it. This review has been long overdue and I truly loved this book!

In We Shall be Monsters, we follow along with Kajal, who is trying to bring her twin sister Lasya back from death. She tries to do this by interrupting the cycle of reincarnation and by doing that, she traps her sister as a bhuta, which is a violent, wraith-like spirit that is hell bent on murdering people who have wronged it or its loved ones in life.

Kajal is kicked out of the village she lives in due to being called a witch and is locked. She is saved by two strangers who are rebelling against the current ruler in the country as they want her to resurrect the kingdom's fallen crown prince and promise her to get Lasya's body in exchange to that. Of course, things goes wrong and Kajal ends up resurrecting the prince's twin brother (and yes, two sets of twins?! what are the chances)

I truly enjoyed We Shall be monsters and I cannot wait to read book two. This is one of my first exposure to Indian Mythology and I will say it was done quite well, with the descriptions that were vivid and imaginative It is beautiful in its own way and I cannot wait to follow along in the adventures of the characters in book two!

Thank you so much for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion

It's hard to believe that this is a YA novel.

This is a well-written novel about grief and the supernatural. While the main storyline wasn't about monster slaying, the type of supernatural creatures that showed up reminded me a lot of The Witcher series. Kajal reminded me of Yennefer (also from The Witcher), with her willfulness, her resilience, and her magical skills.

Kajal's grief for her sister felt very realistic. Her memories of Lasya kept her sister alive even though her sister wasn't physically there. This relationship also helped readers understand Kajal's character, while also providing character development.

I sort of tuned out in the last third because it was heavy on the sibling melodrama. But even then, I'm still interested to see how the story plays out.

Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for this arc.

We Shall Be Monsters is a fantasy horror based on Indian mythology that also features shades of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (if it wasn't already a loose retelling of an Indian myth, I'd be apt to call it a loose retelling of Frankenstein). It follows Kajal, who finds herself lonely and heartbroken after her sister Lasya's sudden death, and is willing to go to great lengths to bring her back. Sim does a great job exploring Kajal's relationship with her sister through flashback scenes, so even though I think we all know that nothing good comes from somebody trying to take the forces of life and death into their own hands, it's easy to understand why Kajal was so intent on resurrecting Lasya. I liked the attention to detail in the depictions of Kajal learning about anatomy in order to make this possible, but since it takes a long time, Lasya's soul warps into a bhuta, a ghost who becomes gradually stronger in order to kill those who wronged her.

The way that Lasya's bhuta haunts Kajal casts some suspicion on how she actually died, and she seems to be targeting Kajal directly by causing bad things to happen to her. In the midst of all this, Kajal gets roped into helping some university students resurrect a crown prince who also died under mysterious circumstances. Kajal ends up accidentally resurrecting the wrong boy and has to deal with the consequences. She is pieced with helping him piece together his story, and in the process, ends up learning a lot of hers and her sister's. The revelations were pretty shocking, and leaves the story on a bit of a cliffhanger with a spectacular build-up for a second book.

We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim is a dark, beautifully twisted fantasy that mixes Frankenstein vibes with Indian mythology, and I was hooked. This book isn’t just about monsters—it’s about the ones we fear, the ones we create, and the ones we become.

The world-building? Stunning. It’s lush, immersive, and packed with mythological elements that made the story feel so unique. Add in sibling bonds, unexpected friendships, adventure, and some truly haunting twists, and I couldn’t put this down. Kajal’s desperate attempt to bring back her sister Lasya sets off a chilling chain of events, and there’s one reveal that absolutely caught me off guard (I had to pause and process).

The characters were another highlight—Kajal is fierce and complex, her relationships are beautifully written, and I have to shout out Kutaa, the undead dog, because I loved him. The book explores grief, power, and morality in such an interesting way, making it more than just a fantasy story.

My only tiny gripe? I could’ve used a glossary or more context for some of the mythology because there were moments where I felt a little lost. And I thought this was a standalone, so realizing it’s a series threw me a bit.

Overall, We Shall Be Monsters is an eerie, atmospheric read perfect for fans of dark fantasy, mythology, and morally complex characters. Tara Sim’s writing is stunning, and I need book two ASAP.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim is a beautifully twisted, atmospheric fantasy that seamlessly blends Frankenstein with Indian mythology. The story presents a dark, introspective take on the idea that the true horror isn't the monsters you face, but the ones you create—whether physically or emotionally. The combination of mythological elements, sibling dynamics, friendship, and a sense of adventure adds so much depth to the narrative, making it a captivating journey from start to finish.

The characters are wonderfully developed, and their growth throughout the book really pulled me in. I was particularly taken with how the twists were crafted—especially the big reveal, which caught me completely off guard. It added so much intrigue to the plot, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

However, I did have a couple of issues. One was the lack of a glossary or clear explanations of some of the unique creatures and terms from Indian mythology used throughout the book. There were moments when I felt a bit confused, and having some descriptions would’ve been helpful. Additionally, I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series and not a standalone, which threw me off a bit.

That said, I absolutely adore We Shall Be Monsters. It introduced me to fascinating elements of Indian mythology, and I loved the writing style. It's a dark, enchanting read that I’d highly recommend to fans of atmospheric fantasy and mythological twists!

*3.5 stars

I really tried to love this book.

I liked the characters and I liked the concept, but...

The plot was all over the place. It was kind of a hot mess....

I felt like I needed a reread to truly understand what happened and the details of the book world and the lore. I also thought the romance was a huh situation... I didn’t see it at all and then it was just there.

Overall... I liked it, but I wish the author had restructured the plot just a tiny bit...

Tara Sim’s We Shall Be Monsters is an intriguing mix of Frankenstein and Indian mythology, packed with gothic horror, complex family dynamics, and moral dilemmas. The premise is fantastic—Kajal’s desperate attempt to resurrect her sister Lasya leads to unintended and terrifying consequences, setting off a chain of events that entangles her with rebels, politics, and a deadly spirit growing stronger with every kill.

The world-building is rich, drawing from Indian mythology in a way that feels fresh and immersive. The themes of grief, power, and the cost of playing god add depth to the story, and I was invested in the complicated relationship between Kajal and Lasya. However, despite the fascinating concept, the execution fell a little flat for me. The pacing dragged at times, and while the writing was atmospheric, it didn’t fully grip me in the way I’d hoped. Some of the emotional beats also felt a bit underdeveloped, making it hard to connect with certain characters.

That said, if you enjoy dark fantasy with unique mythology, strong themes of sisterhood, and a gothic horror twist, this book is still worth picking up. While it didn’t completely work for me, I can see it being a hit for the right reader—especially those who love morally complex protagonists and eerie, supernatural elements.

I was hooked when I read the blurb, and the book beyond delivered what was promised. I love how the author has combined Indian elements with the idea of Frankenstein... And done it so well... I've grown very fond of Kajal... She feels so real and so resilient... My absolute favourite is Kutaa the ghostie extremely good boy doggie... I simply can't wait to read the next book in this Duology.

Frankenstein meets Indian Mythology. Well paced, good character development. incredible worldbuilding.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 for my complimentary copy!.

You had me at Frankenstein meets Indian Mythology! This book was really cool. It had a slower start, but then it really picked up and kept my interest. The character development was great, and I thought they were complex and relatable!

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• indian mythology
• dog!!
• fantasy
• siblings
• friendships
• adventure
• inclusive

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very sweet and well written book. I loved the beginning of the book and was gripped from the beginning. I really loved the relationship between characters as it was so sweet. I loved all of the myth and lore in the book as it added so much to the story.

Okay, Tara Sim. I didn't know you two weeks ago, but you won me over. We Shall Be Monsters was everything I didn't know I needed: an interesting fantasy based on Hindu mythology with a twist of Frankenstein, an actual slow-burn romance, likable and complex characters, and a plot that actually had me wanting to read more to find out what the next twist would be.

We Shall Be Monsters is what happens when you mix Hindu mythology with Frankenstein. The story focuses on Kajal, who accidentally killed her sister and is trying to resurrect her. In the meantime, she resurrects a dog (which is great, love dog side-kicks) and is forced/coerced into resurrecting a prince (who is actually the wrong prince) by some rebels after they promise to help her resurrect her sister. Now, Kajal has to find the correct prince and resurrect her sister before her ghost kills her. And thus commences the story.

Recently, I have been finding myself burnt out from what seems like the same romantasy book rewritten over and over again. We Shall Be Monsters felt different - it felt like a breath of fresh air. Instead of being a romance book lightly tied together by fantasy themes that make no sense if you think about it too hard, We Shall Be Monsters felt like a solid fantasy book with two characters who you really want to get together. But that's a side note for the other cool fantasy things that are happening at the same time.

Enough gushing. I personally find it offensive that more people have not read this book. I highly recommend you try reading this book if you are tired of the typical romantic fantasy with no real plot, if you want to read fantasy that draws from something other than Western ideas, and/or if you just like good things.

Side note: I technically rated this book 4.75 stars because of one plot twist I wasn't a HUGE fan of. It didn't ruin the book for me, and I still had a fantastic time, but I felt like it reduced the slow burn a bit and felt oddly placed. That being said, I think it will be an important plot point for future books in this series, so I can't be too mad.

Thank you Tara Sim, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Huzzah!

3.5

I loved the world-building of this book was absolutely amazing, I didn't know what was based on real culture and what was made up. I have always thought that creating a fantasy world based on real culture is impressive. I know that it is supposed to be a Frankenstein retelling in a way or maybe it is just compared to it due to the process of resurrection but I think that does a disservice to this book. It really should stand on its own. I also did really enjoy the main character and the romance that was building. She was very complex and the romance came about subtly. I also love that it was in her POV but she was still hiding something the entire time. I will say I started to disconnect closer to the end. I'm not exactly sure what it was but it led to my liking it a bit less near the end.

Horror and fantasy mixed? Yes, please! This was such a unique story and I loved it so much! I'm excited for book two!

Conceptually, We Shall Be Monsters is everything I could want from a Frankenstein retelling, especially when it's a Mythology based creature feature mash-up. I think I just clashed with the pacing? Though Sim's writing is smooth and easily accessible, I found my mind wandering often. The first HALF of this book was slow going. The story picks up, and yet the ending fell flat for me. And that may be more because I didn't pay attention to this being a series and had different expectations.
Overall, it was a slow but solid start to a series.
P.S. Kutaa is my fav.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the eARC!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was so cute. It had such a huge fairytale vibe. I loved every ounce of it and had such fun reading it.

I kept wanting to like this book but after getting about half-way through I decided this
wasn't for me and dnfed it. Sorry about that I really wanted to enjoy this book!