DNF. I struggled to follow along and couldn’t really figure out what was going on. The writing style was very fast and immersive which just didn’t work for me in this case. Thank you for the arc!

This was a good story that held up, but I thought the idea was better than the execution. There were a lot of filler parts, and I wanted more characterization.

As a lover of Frankenstein I was really excited to read this book but I feel a bit letdown. The pacing was a bit off and this was really slow to fully grab me. I loved the weaving of Indian Mythology but as someone who is admittedly not at all versed in this at times it was hard for me to keep up and understand the story properly. It felt a bit like a school book assigned to me that I wasn't particularly interested in reading.

Thanks to Penguin Teen for the arc and gifted copy, and to NetGalley.

I really really really loved this one!! I haven’t read a lot of Indian folklore but this won’t be my last. I enjoyed the different twists of what is actually going to happen. I found the opening of the book to be quite gripping and left me wanting to read more. I can’t wait for the second!

"We Shall Be Monsters" by Tara Sim is a darkly enchanting tale that blends gothic horror with intricate character dynamics. Its atmospheric setting and compelling plot make it a captivating and immersive read for fans of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin for the ARC.

This book hooked me from the very first line “ The worst day of Kajal’s life was the day she broke out of her own coffin” and it didn’t let me go until the very end.

This was fast paced &, in the author’s own words “….the world is largely Buddhist in nature with undertone of Sikhism….” The lore and world were so rich and well done. There were times I wished things were explained a bit more in detail, but for the most part it was fleshed out so well.

I thought I knew what was going to happen, found myself pleasantly surprised by being a close but a bit off on what I thought the twist was, then was hit with another twist.

For most of the way through this book was a solid 4.5-4.75, but the last 50 or so pages and that ending bumped it right back up to a 5 star read.

This was my first book by Tara Sim, but I will now be going to read everything she’s put out already while I anxiously await the next book in this series.

It's a great fantasy book. I enjoyed the characters and the world of the story. It ends on a cliff hanger so I'm left with wanting more to the story. The author did a great job.

This book wasn't for me. I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn't get into it.

Thank you for this arc!

What would you do if you awoke to find yourself lying in a coffin presumed to be dead? Only to find that somehow you did not die but you are responsible for the death of your twin sister, Lasya. Kajal knows that this is all her fault and will do anything to right the wrongs she has done to Lasya. Kajal will bring Lasya back to life in a mystical practice only she knows how to perform. As she struggles to evade the law and society that have labeled her a witch Kajal must prepare and practice before she brings her sister life once more.
Soon however, Kajal starts to attract the attention of a select few who want to make use of her powers. These renegades have now captured Kajal in order to bring back to life the dead prince. They believe in doing so they will save all of humanity from the bhutas (zombie-like dead loved ones). As the story unfolds Kajal will find out more about who she truly is and what her powers will enable her to do. But can she bring the prince back to life in order to save what is most precious to her?
Overall rating 4/5
This book was composed of Sim's beautifully imagined folklore and a modern take of Frankenstein. I loved being immersed into this culture and the world of Kajal. The ending was also a wonderful addition that summed up a huge part to explaining how Kajal’s powers came to be. I do wish we could have more of the world described at the end (do not want to spoil the ending) and the characters within.

*Thank you to Tara Sim, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

TW that there is death of a sibling

Frankenstein retelling meets Indian mythology? Say less. This felt like a different reimagining than we're used to seeing and one with twists and surprises that weren't expected in a great way. For those have a close relationship with siblings, you would do anything to get them back wouldn't you? Would you raise the dead? Would you ally with rebels? Would you know your true self? It feels like an easy yes.

If you like Frankenstein, The Jasmine Throne, The Oleander Sword or City of Brass/ The Daevabad Trilogy, you're going to love the vibes and politics here.

we shall be monsters is described as “frankenstein meets indian mythology” and I think that’s a fairly valid description of the plot and setting. I ended up really enjoying this book, particularly the history we uncovered and the magical world the author built. it did take me longer than normal to get immersed in the book- most of the pleasant side characters took a long time to show up, and so we were left with our MC and a bunch of hostiles for a bit too long in the beginning. there’s not a lot of hope or potential for the MC to improve things at that point, so the outlook as a reader is also quite bleak. but, by the time a band starts assembling, the plot also starts to fall in place, and by the end the story is really compelling and interesting. overall, I’d really recommend this one! probably around a 4.25★ for me?

Thank you, NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books, for the chance to read this book in exchange of a honest review.

TW: death, grief, blood

Kajal isn't a good person. She's risking her sister's soul in a bid to bring her back to life, because she can't live without Lasya. But the resurrection goes wrong and her sister becomes a bhuta, a murderous spirit and Kajal is sentenced to death for her sister's damages. But two strangers offer her a chance to escape, only to ask her to resurrect the kindgom's fallen prince in order to fight the tirannical usurper. Desperate Kajal rushes to resurrect the prince, only to make a mistake and resurrects Tav. Now they have to real prince, with only her scalpel and an unded dog with her. Rushing to cover her mistake, to avoid Lasya's bhuta to turn its fury against the person responsible for her death. Kajal.

Frankestein meets Indian mythology in this alluring, captivating and intriguing story about a woman ready to do anything to save her sister and to live in peace. A story about monsters, real and inside us, spirits and undead dogs (Kutaa was the best) and the complex relationship between sisters. Filled with twists, this atmospheric novel is one you can't miss. It's fantasy and horror, mythology and science, swords and political agendas, rebellion and fights for freedom, We shall be monsters is really a book you have to read asap. I did find it very intirguing, even though a bit confusing, at times, but overall it's a very good book.

I ended up DFNing this book at 69%. It wasn't for me. Even though I was very excited about the story's premise, I had difficulty connecting with it. I spent more time researching words, phrases, and lores than just reading and enjoying the story. I did end up switching my reading formats from digital to audio, but the narrator, Deepti Gupta, could only get me so far. The pacing was slow, and Gupta's acting skills can only create two kinds of voices: Her own and a deeper version of the male perspective. It left no imagination for other character personalities.

The beginning of the story was definitely attention-grabbing! I can say that. Further into it, it started to move at a snail's pace; but again, that probably had something to do with my disconnect. Take it as a grain of salt.

2.5
I didn't realize this was YA until after I received the ARC so take this review with a grain of salt as I typically don't read YA anymore.
I liked the premise and some of the characters but the authorial tone did not do it for me (I can't tell if it was grading or I don't know something about it seemed off)
Pacing was off and the plot seemed like it was lacking something - maybe would've been more successful for me if treated as more New Adult?
I did appreciate the exposure to Indian/Hindu mythology as I'm not familiar with it - and I even enjoyed some scenes (resurrection scene at University)
Sad I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. Side note, this cover is gorgeous).
Thank you to Netgalley and then publisher for my ARC!

Actual Rating 3.5

This tale was compared to Frankenstein, which I mistakenly assumed meant a retelling. This certainly wasn’t (which I was just fine with!) but was inspired in some instances by the classic work. There were so many things that the author did well with this one, which included incorporating mythology and religion in a way that was familiar but still relevant to the fantasy setting of the book. I also liked that the book explored the themes of what makes a monster and the lengths people will go to for family and/or due to guilt.

The characters were well written and interesting and added much to the reading experience. There was also strong worldbuilding and setting descriptions incorporated throughout, which kept the whole book quite immersive.

There is a portion near the end of the book that randomly jumps to the POV of another character, one we haven’t been introduced to. And it’s set in the past, which is another thing that isn’t clarified until you just happen to get enough context clues from reading it. I disliked this at it was a somewhat jarring switch, and I wish it had been clearly marked to make it easier to know what was going on. I think this also contributed some to the pacing issues that were present – the first half of the book was well-paced and quite engaging, but there was a lag during the next 20 to 30% that made it a bit more of a slog to get through. There was also some somewhat heavy-handed foreshadowing that made it easy to guess where the book was going, but I still enjoyed the journey so I didn’t mind this too much.

I really appreciated the author’s note at the end of the work that discussed the aspects of the work that were fantasy, those that were inspired by Indian myths, and where the two blended. This was especially helpful for someone (like me) who isn’t the most familiar with the mythologies and religions of India. While this book set up for a sequel, enough things were resolved to make it a satisfying read in and of itself. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was truly one of a kind and had me curious to see how the author would marry Indian mythology and Frankenstein. I expected a horror story to keep me on my feet with a badass FMC who can resurrect the dead.

Sadly, it fell flat for me. The book's pacing is very slow and it took a long time to get to the crux of the story. By that point, the endless inner monologues and descriptions had already worn off my excitement for the story itself, which is always a tragedy for any reader.

While our main character was interesting and I liked her resurrected dog sidekick, I just couldn't picture her as a real person. I didn't fully understand her motivation and what drove her. Her relationship with her sister felt underdeveloped despite it being central to the plot. And her character arc was underwhelming because it felt stagnant.

All in all, I think this book just wasn't for me because I had expected something more eery and horrific than what this book ultimately promised.

I loved this book from the moment I cracked it open- I've been DYING for a frankenstein retelling / inspired story because I think the OG is such an interesting premise (but I hated the execution) and this gave me EXACTLY what I wanted.

My favorite subgenre is fantasy horror- I love creepy fantastic horror, so this book was a REALLY really fun read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was rich in detail and lore while holding on to emotion and personality. Kajal is a sister grieving. She's on a quest to bring her sister back from the dead before she becomes a monster bent on destroying her enemies. When Kajal's gift for reviving the dead is discovered, she is tasked with bringing a prince back to life to save their country. The problem? She revives the wrong man. More than anything, this story is one of self discovery. It's dark but there are moments of lightness. I found it to be entirely captivating.

-frankenstein meets indian mythology was the trope which made this book tempting to read. Two siblings, one is alive and the other one is dead who needed to be resurrected so that she does not turn into a bhuta (which is a wraith). 
- mythologies is the genre which I love to read because it teaches you so many rituals and customs of a religion. Indian mythology is very diverse in nature with many beliefs which are beautiful and haunting at the same time! 
- i love the relationship between Kajal & Lasya and how kajal tries so hard to bring her sister back. In the process she forms a bond with an undead dog which is heartwarming
- to read this book at night was making me feel chill at certain points but overall it was fascinating screaming journey for me

Thank you NetGalley & Tara Sim for an eARC of this book. The following is my honest review of We Shall Be Monsters.

Indian Frankenstein.

That is all. That got me intrigued immediately and I loved this book.
Kajal mourns her sister who was killed in an accident but instead of burning her body and releasing her spirit, she holds on in hopes of resurrecting her. After successfully bringing back a stray dog, she is found by two rebels who seek to resurrect the slain prince and restore him to the throne, usurping the man who stole it nearly two decades ago.

I fell in love with Sim's writing with The City of Dusk, so I was very eager to read her YA retelling of Frankenstein infused with Indian folklore and Hindu mythology. The magic system was complex and interesting, and I enjoyed learning about the figures that are so integral in the Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The world felt so vivid and real and had me invested throughout the book.
Sim's characters are also really fun to read. I loved our protagonist, Kajal, who has such clear character flaws and selfish motives. That twist at the end had my jaw on the floor and it made everything make so much more sense. I was not expecting that reveal even though Sim set it up so well. It makes me want to reread to connect all the dots.
I also loved the prince. He was a twist on expectations we tend to have from all the tropes in fantasy so it was a nice reversal on what I was expecting him to be like. Though my favorite character was probably the dog. I love a good stray companion.
I will definitely be picking up book 2 in this series. Sim is one of my favorite writers and I enjoy her worlds and her characters. If you haven't discovered her yet, you absolutely should!

**Trigger warnings for war, death, blood, gore, medical procedures.