This book was just so good. I know this will be living in my head rent free for awhile. Also the undead dog who was such a good boy stole my heart. This mythology was newer to me and I loved it!

Frankenstein meets Indian mythology in this story about a girl who is determined to bring back her sister back to life... even if it means risking her sister's soul. Kajal cannot stand to live without her sister... and if that means resurrecting her then Kajal will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. What she doesn't expect is that the resurrection would go wrong and that her sister's soul would be turned into a murderous wraith-like spirit and that Kajal herseoulf would be sentenced to death due to her sister's rampage. Kajal is rescued by two strangers... but the catch is that she must now resurrect the kingdom's prince to help a growing rebellion against a tyrant... but turns out the boy she's resurrected is not the crown prince and now she hs to find a way to fix her mistake before it's exposed or before her sister's spirit comes after her herself. This book sounded so so interesting when I first heard about it, it sounded like something right up my lane.. unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. The story itself felt a bit scattered and really slow, I just couldn't get into it as much as I had hoped. As a huge fan of gothic stories, of Frankenstein, and of mythology, I was so hoping this would be for me, but sadly i'll have to say it felt like a big miss. I think it might have been a "its me not you" kind of thing, but it just felt so slow and it just never really hooked me in as much as I had hoped. While this one was a miss for me, if you enjoy new takes of classic gothic stories I would definitely recommend this!

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved We Shall Be Monsters! It did take me a little bit to get into at first, but it just kept getting better and better.
While reading, I didn't realize that this was going to be a series, so I was getting worried near the end wondering how everything was going to wrap up. Thankfully, we can look forward to book #2 to continue on with Kajal's story! Although the book is mostly horror/fantasy, I did enjoy the little bit of romance, and I hope that is dived into further in the rest of the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Teen for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really thought I was going to love this one, especially considering the cover is so stunning, but I just honestly could not get into it, and gave up on it.
DNF for me.

3.25 stars

"Frankenstein" meets Indian mythology, and there's an undead dog. What more could you want, in theory? I love the premise of this so much, and I can't even pinpoint what exactly I didn't enjoy about reading this, but it failed to grab me and I ended up skimming a large portion toward the end. I wonder if part of my issue is how much was given away in the blurb, but I see most of the reviews are 4-5 stars, though, so this might be a case of right book, wrong time.

Kajal has just killed her sister, Lasya. Accidentally. Luckily, Kajal is pretty sure she knows how to resurrect her. Not so luckily, before she can do so, Lasya turns into a vengeful spirit called a butya, and goes on a murderous rampage, leaving Kajal to be blamed for the murders. To escape her sentencing, Kajal makes a bargain with two rebels: they will free her in exchange for her using her research to resurrect the crown prince, who was killed 20 years ago by the current king, who usurped the throne. Kajal does so, only to realize that the person she's raised from the dead is NOT the crown prince.

The magic system and world was really interesting, but I did have a hard time keeping track of the names of some of the different creatures and powers and such. Toward the end of the book there were several chapters from a new POV that took place years before, and having those interrupt the climactic scene really took me out of things, and I ended up skimming those chapters. I also correctly predicted one of the twists very early on, which is always a little disappointing. I do think this is a good story very uniquely told, but probably won't continue the series as I just didn't feel connected to the characters or world.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"We Shall Be Monsters" by Tara Sim is a captivating South Asian fantasy-horror novel that intertwines rich Indian mythology as a retelling of the myth of Halahala. From the moment I read the description, I was intrigued, and the book did not disappoint. It's a unique and refreshing addition to the fantasy genre, showcasing Sim's meticulous care and research. This book is entirely centered around Indian mythology, so if you are unfamiliar with this, then you may find yourself looking up a lot of terminology, like I did.

The story follows Kajal, who wakes up in a coffin and learns that her sister is dead, potentially due to her own actions. Distraught and determined, Kajal embarks on a quest to bring her sister back to life, regardless of the cost. Her journey is filled with unexpected alliances, a gripping insurrection, and a host of well-developed characters, including an undead dog named Kutaa who quickly became a favorite. You don’t have to worry about the dog dying in this book because he is essentially a zombie. He’s also sentient and the best character. There is also some unexpected humor throughout the book (though mainly just in the first half) that I quite enjoyed, like with Kajal’s doodles. I do wish the humor was kept up throughout, but the 2nd half of the book became more serious as the plot progressed.

Kajal's character is wonderfully complex. Her impulsive and rage-filled imperfections make her relatable and engaging. Her determination to resurrect her sister, despite the dangers and moral complexities, drives the plot forward with relentless energy. There were some twists involve Kajal and her past that I was not expecting at all, especially in the last few pages of the book. I just loved learning more about Kajal and her motivations. The world-building and magic system are intriguing, weaving Dharmic religious motifs seamlessly into the horror genre. I absolutely loved all the descriptions of the different mythological beings depicted throughout the book as I was unfamiliar with all of them, so it felt like I was learning quite a lot when reading the book. The book's setting, enriched with motifs and elements from Indian culture and religions, provides a vivid backdrop that enhances the story's authenticity and immersion. I will say that there was a lot of unfamiliar terminology as I was reading, and I had to stop and look up several things. I also found it a bit difficult to keep track of names as there is a large cast of characters in this book. I feel like a glossary would have been beneficial as there were terms used for different creatures/beings, food, locations, etc. Having to stop and look things up constantly kept bringing me out of the story. I think those familiar with Indian mythology, however, would have absolutely loved this representation throughout the book.

The pacing of the book is quite fast-paced, which worked really well for a longer book. There are a few chapters that feel slightly out of place (towards the end of the book with an unexpected perspective shift). While these sections initially seem disjointed, they eventually tie back into the main narrative, albeit somewhat abruptly. The cliffhanger ending is both thrilling and frustrating, and it left me dying for more.

Overall, "We Shall Be Monsters" is a compelling and imaginative read that combines fantasy, horror, and cultural richness. Tara Sim has crafted a world that is both unique and immersive, with characters that are deeply relatable. I definitely can’t wait to read more so I can find myself immersed in this unique world once more.

an interesting retelling of Frankenstein, we get a few plot twists and a story that asks us to grapple with the question of what are we willing to do for those we love and if we're willing to sacrifice our morals to become a monster in the process? Overall, a solid read that at times, struggled with the pacing.

A fantasy book that combines Indian mythology with a sprinkle of Frankenstein - sign me up! I was unfamiliar with most of the mythology (shout out to kindle for making it easy to look everything up), but that didn’t make it difficult to get into the story. This story opens as Kajal, the main character, wakes up on a funeral pyre. As she is on the run, she works to figure out how to resurrect her sister and trust me when I say it is a JOURNEY. The story did not go in the direction I expected from the first 50 pages. Essentially Kajal is tracked down by a rebel organization and asked to raise the former prince from the dead in exchange for the resources she needs to bring her sister back.

The characters are well-written and relatable, even though what is happening around them is crazy. There’s even a sweetie pie little angel franken-dog. The story is a little dark and gothic, but the relationships between characters are warm and wholesome. I hope this isn’t the end of their story.

The story was very enticing and the characters well written.
I wanted more character depths though but over all it was a great read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Peguin Group for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 6/25/2024. Frankenstein meets Indian mythology? Well, yes, BUT... It is way more than that so don't let the tag-line or the summary fool you. It is definitely inspired by both things but the way Sim combines them and embroiders on the base makes this book more than the sum of its parts. Plus you have extra layers of political intrigue, a system of oppression, and a big old-fashioned supernatural threat.

Kajal is, quite possibly, one of the most complicated and willfully unlikeable (by her own choice!) main characters ever and yet she grabs your heart and squeezes and I love her even as I want to shake her. Much like the dog she reanimates in her methodical quest, she is half feral and not used to kindness and knows only the hard rules of survival. All of her softer instincts are reserved for her sister Lasya... Who unfortunately starts the book dead. Thus begins Kajal's driving purpose. In a more understandable way than our favorite mad scientist Victor Frankenstein, Kajal seeks to conquer death and restore life because she wants her sister back. Not for glory or reknown - though she does, at points, crave recognition of her brains and talent, making for a further complicated character. Of course, there is another reason but that's information for later.

Along the way, Kajal is drawn into a would-be coup and forced to show off her skills by re-animating the fallen crown prince. Except they get the wrong body and thus the wrong young man but that only results in more complications and ties binding her to a cause that isn't hers. For one thing, tangled up in the rage and worry about her sister's resurrection having a deadline before Lasya's spirit becomes a murderous ghost, Kajal discovers other feelings, things she is hardly equipped to deal with. Tav, the young man, is not helping things, what with being himself and having his own demands and needs. Then there's the demon rebels, the professor, the demon hunter, the aristocratic youngest son... Frankly, Sim's skill at making sure every character has a purpose and a clear personality is impressive and helps the story move along, supporting Kajal while still having their own interests.

I will admit that I saw a few of the twists coming but others threw me for a loop. I claim only that the ones I saw coming were because I have a decent basis in Indian myth so I was probably working with a bigger toolbox than most and could pick up some of the most subtle hints Sim dropped. The story did not suffer at all for seeing one or three things coming, though. I still was caught up in the struggles and the combination of high and low stakes. That is part of the true beauty of the story. To everyone else in the book (almost), Kajal bringing her sister back is low stakes while saving the kingdom is high stakes. But to Kajal? It's just the opposite... and the reader cannot blame her at all for it.

My only hesitation was in a section of chapters towards the end which proved to be an elongated flashback/backstory. I know why it was there. The information was very important to how the book went and needed to be shared and, to be honest, I don't know how it could have been done other than how Sim did it. But it was so long and elaborate that it felt like an entire story on its own, plopped right there. But it needed to be shared. But... Oh, well. Trust the author because she doesn't let you down in other places!

Pick it up for the gorgeous cover and stick around for the lush language, the intricate cosmology, and the most wonderfully screwed-up main character ever.

Thanks to NETGALLEY and Penguin Group & Nancy Paulsen Books for eARC

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing Style: 5
Cover: 5
Enjoyment: 5, A+, 100% - definitely finishing this series, cannot wait for book 2!

"We Shall Be Monsters" is told through third person POV via Kajal, our fabulous female lead. There are 34 chapters with time jumps. Everything is delicious and amazing. It's a cozy book and I couldn't explain why it feels that way for me. Fully developed interesting characters, fun settings, tantalizing lore, brilliant transitions, heckin' nice twists that I did *not* see coming. Humor, lovely writing. I would say that Adi felt a little inconsistent at times, though it wasn't enough to sour the genius of the book.

There is SO much in this book, but a small list of what it contains is as follows: reincarnation belief, witches, aga ghora (flame mare, demon), rākshasa, yakshas, bhuta, resurrection / undead, Nagas, Garudas, etc. It's a melding of mythologies as well as creations from Tara Sim.

We Shall Be Monsters is described as Indian mythology meets Frankenstein which couldn’t sound more interesting!

The first chapter draws you in immediately with Kajal waking up and escaping from a coffin only to find her sister, Lasya, in one as well except Lasya is dead. She desperately wants to resurrect her but she has to bring someone else, the person who will help her, back to life first! The clock is ticking before Lasya’s soul becomes a bhuta. Kajal meets people along the way and faces multiple challenges from the very start. The characters were so beautifully written, I felt like I was living inside of their world for the entirety of this book! It was so refreshing to read something different and new, this story was so unique. I was so excited to read this from the first time I read the description and it absolutely did not disappoint. What a wonderful story!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Tara Sim, and Nancy Paulsen Books for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published today, June 25th!

I have posted my review on Goodreads, in my Facebook book club, and will make a post on Tiktok.

Thank you so much for this ARC! I was asked to give a review before it goes public. This unfortunately, was five days beforehand, BUT! I did it!!!!!! The grind was real and honestly? It was a very easy and enjoyable read.

I have read the City of Dusk series by this author and knew it would hold a similar tone. Even though this is the case, the vibes are definitely different.

Sim has a very unique way to demonstrate the complicated, complex and troubled relationship with siblings. She's done this before with other characters in her book, but this time it's with two sisters.

What a wonderful joyous read! Will be purchasing the physical copy later tomorrow!

This is a very good book. The world reminded me of Little Thieves, which I referred to as a masterpiece, so that's a compliment. Obviously they pull from and build very different mythologies and social strata, but something in the depth and feel of the world was similar.

This is billed as Frankenstein meets Indian mythology, and while I haven't read Frankenstein (I know, I'm a failure of a reader), it absolutely lives up to the hype that that description gave me. The book is well-constructed and executed with care and precision. My one gripe was with the way the worldbuilding was presented; I had the impression early on that it was going to be lower on the fantasy scale than it turned out to be. However, that can be fairly attributed to my own biases going in rather than to a fault of the book.

Let's talk about the world, though, because once I adjusted my expectations as to how much magic and otherworldliness we were going to see, the world is stunning. I could probably write a short essay in praise to this world, but I'll spare you the details. Suffice it to say that the world this takes place in is rich and well-built. Each new element was presented matter-of-factly. The book brought me into believing in its world by treating it as "of course it's this way, why did you ever think it was otherwise?" The author's note at the back breaks down the liberties taken with Indian mythology, and without that I would never have known that the book wasn't completely faithful, because even the elements introduced feel natural (aside from one major plot device that I still would have believed was pulled from an obscure version of a story if the author didn't tell me otherwise). This world feels real, and fully realized, and lived-in.

And the people who live in the world are as fully realized and as real as the world is. I hated (and still hate) some of the characters. I am biased and admit to my bias. I don't like the characters because I grew attached to other characters and the ones I don't like are opposed. But I can think that and believe and understand that and still understand the characters, because each of them is the hero in their own mind as all good characters are. And I can see why they do each thing they do, and how each decision leads to each inevitable result, because these characters are carefully constructed and well-written.

I figured out the major plot twist at around the 69% mark, and was delighted with all the breadcrumbs that had been left to get me to that point. It did lead to the reveal at the 81% mark being a little underwhelming, but only a little. The rest of the book continued flowing and delivered the remaining twists I hadn't seen coming and the ones I was waiting on with a delightful level of surprise and discovery.

Overall, I'm very happy I read this book. Final rating: 4.5*

Loved this book. The mix of Hindu mythology and Frankenstein. Excellent world building. All the characters were well developed and relatable. The plot moved along without any slow spots. I enjoyed the whole ride. I was a little surprised to see that it ended in a semi cliffhanger, but will come back to see what happens in the next installment.

4.5 Stars!

This was SUCH an enjoyable read. I had no idea what to expect going in and was so pleasantly surprised by how hauntingly atmospheric and culturally rich this story was.

A genre blending mashup of fantasy and horror, We Shall Be Monsters puts a unique spin on hindu mythology with a frankensteinian spin as our main character, Kajal, wants to resurrect her sister before she turns into a vengeful spirit (bhuta) but instead finds herself imprisoned and condemned as a witch. Kajal is prepared to die for her supposed crimes when a team of rebels offer her freedom in exchange for reviving their fallen prince to take back his rightful place on the throne.

Kajal was my favorite kind of YA character - snarky, aloof, and with a dark sense of humor and a heavy sense of responsibility to her sister (Sisterly relationship in a fantasy book? SOLD. EVERY TIME). It is a testament to Sim’s writing how every single character, even the minor ones, felt multi-dimensional; and I especially loved Tav’s character (he gave T. Kingfisher MMC vibes, IYKYK). Kajal’s loyal companion, the undead dog Kuuta was also an awesome touch!

For a book that had so many different aspects of lore and mythology built in (so imaginative!), it wasn’t difficult to follow at all. And though I wouldn't have minded having a glossary for this one, Sim does a great job of weaving new words/names/aspects into the story in such a way that you can figure it out on your own. Also, despite being told through the lens of hindu mythology, the story spoke to universal themes of grief, the balance between light and dark/good vs. evil, and had a nuanced portrayal of villainy.

I did guess most of the “big reveals” prior to, but this just lent to an “ahah! I was right!” feeling rather than disappointment by not being surprised by the plot twist. My only initial irk was not understanding how the resurrection magic came so easily to Kajal but this was remedied by the end of the book when we understand more about Kajal’s history. I totally went into this thinking it was a stand alone and therefore are both excited and distraught that there is another book in this series!

I had such a good time with this - I would highly recommend this book for fans of T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone or The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller. Will 100% be reading book 2!

Thank you to Colored Pages Book Tours and Penguin Teen for the opportunity to receive a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've read other books by Tara Sim, and she has the ability to weave intricate plot lines and perspectives in narratives that both keep me on the edge of my seat and still surprise me. We Shall Be Monsters was no exception; it's an intense story that is at times fascinating, terrifying, and emotionally gutting.

Sim deals with some heavy themes surrounding loss, and there's plenty of loss to go around. There's Kajal's loss of her family, and there's the nation's loss of their true royal family. There are more losses, but I won't touch on them all because I want to avoid spoilers. It's enough to say that the things that break one person's heart often have a ripple effect and, in unexpected ways, devastate others.
As much as I try to guess where a story is going and what the outcome will be, that was impossible for me with this book. The ending felt like a kick in the stomach, and it was one I sat with for a while.

The characters are unique and colorful. Many have hidden motives and agendas, which influence their action and cause twists and turns as the story unfolds. I don't know much about Indian mythology, but this definitely made me want to learn more, and I have the sense it's deeply rooted in actual stories, with some modern influences added to the mix.

My only real complaint is that at the time I finished reading, I couldn't confirm if this would be a series. I desperately want/need a book 2, and I really hope we get a chance to continue with this story.

We Shall Be Monsters blends Indian folklore and mythology with the spooky and dark academia vibes of Frankenstein (from which it is loosely inspired). Kajal, brokenhearted and blaming herself after the death of her sister, joins into a plot to resurrect the crown prince on the condition that the rebels she is assisting will help her bring back her sister. Meanwhile, her sister has transformed into a bhuta, a monster that follows Kajal and kills people around her. Kajal successfully brings back the crown prince - only to realize that he is not the crown prince after all.
I found the magic and resurrection to be a very fun combination, and initially found the book very compelling. However, as I went on, I started to lose interest. The side characters are not very well fleshed out, and I wasn’t rooting for the main romance. I also found Kajal to be unreasonable, self-centered, and (outside of the scientific method) unwilling to learn from her mistakes. While the writing in the first few chapters was gorgeous, everything after that felt rushed and suffered from short, choppy sentences. Ultimately I felt the book didn’t quite live up to the potential of its premise.

This book was a fascinating deep dive into Indian mythology, with an incredible storyline and world-building system. Sim's writing truly pulled me in and kept me engaged until the end, with twists and turns every time I thought I knew where the book was going. The growth and depth of the characters were incredible, even the inclusion of the goodest boy in all the land. I am incredibly excited to see where this series goes from here!

Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for an ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, WOW, this book was so good!

The premise is that our main character, Kajal has learned the ability to resurrect the dead and is planning to do so for her dead sister, whom she feels responsible for.

She is not able to do this without getting into a heap of trouble, getting imprisoned, getting stuck in a bargain, accidentally resurrecting a prince, but the wrong one and just in general being a chaos gremlin. This girl does not know when to stop talking or not cause problems, and you know what, good for her. I support it 100%.

The wrong prince she accidentally resurrects is Tav, who is just a sweet boy trying to save HIS brother, the prince who was supposed to be resurrected. It’s all just very messy.

Kajal and Tav had a really sweet relationship, he had her back every time she inevitably made a mess of their situation and he was so kind to her just because he could be. There is a lot they need to talk about in the next book though…

Honestly, the characters made this book. Lasya and Kajal had a wonderful sisterly bond and I also liked how Kajal came to understand Jassi as someone in a position similar to hers.

The mythology in this book was really interesting and cool to learn about and yeah, I just really enjoyed this book!