This is a Frankenstein-esque book with the main character, Kajal, attempting to bring her sister back to life. The characters are unforgettable, and I absolutely loved the folklore in this book! Kajal then gets entwined with rebels who want her abilities for their own purposes. Meanwhile she is concerned about her sister becoming a bhuta. The characters all had dimension, even the ones who were not main characters. Indian folklore, undead dog, bringing people back to life...absolutely unique story! This was a great read!

I couldn't put this book down. Sim wonderfully blended the loose interpretation of Frankenstein with Hindu mythology to create a wonderfully original story. The characters were as vibrant as the world they existed in. I can't wait for the next book.

Tara Sim, who has written many books including City of Dusk and Scavenge the Stars, has written a new YA fantasy that is being promoted as Frankenstein meets indian mythology. It’s following 2 sisters, one alive and one dead and the goal is through science and magic to resurrect the other and bring her back to life but she is being hunted by witch hunters, and a sickness spreads across the land. This was really fun and interesting. One of the most captivating beginnings of a book I've read in a long time and I highly recommend!

I was captivated by this Frankenstein retelling infused with Indian mythology! I recommend it for all lovers of fantasy and those seeking retellings with non-western mythology.

Am DNFing at 40% for the sole reason I’m really really bored. It’s prob just not for me. The prose was great but the story after the first few chapters really didn’t captivate me. I tried both physically reading and coreading via audio but kept wanting to put it down to read something else.

Centering around themes of resurrection, the bonds between siblings, grief, and destiny We Shall Be Monsters is a dark, gripping read that leaves the reader desperate for book two. Kajal and Tav are both struggling to do what they think is right and the duty they feel towards their sibling. Both willing to commit any action to save their sibling only to be faced with monstrous misdeeds. Is there a point at which a sibling is no longer deserves love and loyalty?


Single POV, Fantasy, Found Family, Sibling Bonds, Royal Intrigue

We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim will be published officially June 25th.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this book.
For me, I think the pacing was off among other things. This book started out intense and mysterious. I thought I would continue to learn more as it went, but the shroud of mystery was a common theme for a majority of this first book in this new series. A lot of information is hidden from the reader.
I had some trouble with understanding the mythology aspect of the world building. I'm not familiar with Indian Mythology, but I feel as the reader, I shouldn't need to do outside research to remember the difference between the names of things and what they are in this fantastical world. There was even a moment where a classroom scene was strategically placed to do this, but only gave an overview for a main plot point that the reader would have to understand in order for the plot to be understood.
The pacing was also off for me, about 70% in was what I wanted to start up sooner. I was able to guess a lot of revelations even with the purposeful mystery, which may be a sign I'm too old for YA. I did enjoy Tara Sim's City of Dusk, which is classified adult, so I believe it might just be a case of intended audience.
Overall, If you are okay with mysterious characters, macabre themes, plus a newer form of mythology that's not usually used, this book may be one you'll enjoy. This book also contains a doggo that needed more page time, but got a decent amount.

This synopsis sounded intriguing. The book started off good with a girl digging a grave. It sounded like I was really going to get sucked into this story. I got 15% in and then got sidetracked. I never gave this book a second thought until I remembered I needed to make progress. When I picked it back up, It was a chore to read another 10%. I just lost interest in the story and the characters didn't connect with me. Sadly I dnfed this at almost 30%

This was a great read, it is a YA fantasy horror novel that uniquely combines both Indian mythology and classic themes from Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. It focuses on a young woman Kajal who is upset and grieving the sudden death of her sister. She tries to resurrect her sister which leads to dangerous consequences when her sister’s soul turns into a malevolent spirit. This is well written and explores different themes such as grief, guilt, and the ethical boundaries of science. I was engaged from start to finish.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this arc.

I found the book interesting, I enjoy books that have a mix of a new story along with a backing in mythology of other cultures.

There was also the love that Kajal had for her sister motivating her. The band of rebels that she hooks up with along the way to save her sister. A love interest, an animal sidekick, this book truly had all the great aspects to make it enjoyable.!

We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim is a captivating and masterfully crafted story that will completely enthrall readers. Darkly alluring and expertly rendered, Tara Sim proves herself to be a top-tier author in this compelling novel.

We shall be monsters is a dark fantasy romance. It's fast and easy to read. You won't be able to put it down.

Frankenstein meets Indian mythology’. Demons and Gods and undead dogs. This was surprisingly fun. I wasn’t sure what i expected both a gothic myth definitely wasn’t it. However i actually really liked it and now need more Indian Myth retelling in my life. Kajal was fun and a BA and i liked her relationship with Tav. They were fun and i really hope we get to see more of their story. the ending though perfect created a fair amount of questions as well. I will be rereading for clues ASAP.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I loved this. It was unique, and the vibes were immaculate. Middle-eastern inspired, AND gothic? LOVE. Tara Sim is already an author I automatically gravitate to, and this book is an excellent example of why I do so! I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

I liked this book. I made it my plan to read more diverse fantasy this year, and I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book so I could experiment with this author. I haven't loved Sim's other work, rated it 3 stars, and not necessarily something I was invested in continuing. This one felt different. The Indian mythology felt less forced and less secondary to western mythology, which I appreciated. There are likely going to be readers who will resent that but have no qualms doing research for or just blindly accepting books about mythology that feels more western European to them, but there are still elements of stories they'll find familiar here.

The one thing that often has me deducting a star is that I don't like her characters enough to root for them. Kajal feels different to me. She's true to her age in being a little annoyingly impulsive at times, but at the end of day, you understand why she's doing what she does in a way that makes you want her to succeed even when you don't know if she should.

This was very enjoyable and I recommend it highly.

thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC of this book. all opinions are my own.

I wish I could put into words how much I enjoyed this. What a great book. Highly recommend.

We'll see how book two goes, but this series might quickly join my favorites shelf.

We Shall Be Monsters borrows elements from Frankenstein and Indian mythology to create a lush world filled with magic and monsters, not born but made. I absolutely adored the worldbuilding, mostly because it relies heavily on parallels from the story's history, and I'm always a fan of unavoidable fate. It's also well-explained (as long as you don't skim the lore sections like I accidentally did at first), and I really like the imagery.
And the plot? Every time I thought I got a grasp on where the story was going, it became more complex and twisty, and I enjoyed every second of it. There's necromancy (in a sense), mythological magic, demons and other creatures, and plenty of "adventure." I did manage to predict some of the main plot twists, but usually not until right before they were announced, and I was still sort of shocked by them. The ending is cruel, and I can't say much else for spoiler purposes, but given my experience with one of the author's other series (Timekeeper), I'm prepared to be sad.
I also loved most of the characters. Kajal was incredibly complex, but I really enjoyed her narration, and her relationship with Lasya reminded me a lot of Ephyra and Beru from There Will Come a Darkness. Kutaa is amazing, and everyone needs an undead dog in their life. I didn't like the rest of the side characters as much because I felt they ruined the vibe between Kajal and Tav. And Tav? Look, the butterfly boy prince from history with some mythology tied into his backstory completely stole the show for me. If anything happens to him (and I'm sure this won't end well for a variety of reasons), I'm not going to be happy.
We Shall Be Monsters is the first book in what I anticipate to be one of my favorite fantasy series, and when book two releases, I will be buying it immediately.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.5/5

A quick and engaging read, We Shall Be Monsters is a solid YA fantasy that incorporates Hindu mythology into an original world where life, death, and rebirth are all interconnected. I thought the process and means of reanimating the dead was a very cool story mechanic, and found the characters to be distinctive and interesting. There's a big lead up into book two, so I'm definitely interested in seeing where this story goes! A huge thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for my thoughts!

This Indian-inspired story is a refreshing addition to the fantasy genre. The danger and excitement of following our protagonist, Kajal, on her quest to revive her sister is a wholly unique one. The influences of Indian mythology was not only fun but a learning experience for someone not familiar. At times there could have been more explanation of the many new terms to not lose the basic reader in so many 'new' concepts. As the plot hurtles toward the last half of the book, some of the beats and character revelations seemed redundant or over-explained to justify. With one of the final twists, a concept never before discussed was introduced. At the end certain character choices felt confusing. But overall, a solid book that hints at a developing series.

I absolutely loved this one! It gave me all the Gothic vibes I craved, as well as the Frankenstein influences I was promised. It was darkly vibrant, full of mythology, dreamlike storytelling, and characters I couldn't get enough of! I couldn't put it down!

Tara Sim crafted such a beautifully unique story that captured my imagination and flew with it. It's been a while since I was really able to visualize what was happening in my mind as I was reading. We Shall Be Monsters read like a horror comic full of color, feels, and just the right amount of comedy.

The last several chapters had me tearing up. No spoilers, but just because of the twists and turns in the story telling. The entire book centered around, not only the theme of good vs evil but, the theme of balancing good and evil, darkness and light. It was multi - faceted and woven so vibrantly and intricately.

Beyond the multi-layered plot, the well developed characters, and the dark beauty of the story, what I loved the most is that this one didn't feel like a typical young adult book. It didn't make me feel like I was too old to be enjoying it. It gave me Lord of the Rings meets Willow and Thriller vibes, where there were bits of horror and fantasy to be enjoyed for most ages. It took me on mystical, enchanting adventure that I cannot wait to continue!

Thank you, Penguin Teen, for the e-arc!