Traditionally, I have a no-faeries rule that I adhere to resolutely. I made an exception in the case of We Shall Be Monsters for several reasons I found enticing: 1) the Michigan woods backdrop as a setting; 2) the broader use of folklore (and to my understanding, largely original folklore which I found interesting); and 3) the plot centering around a human daughter and mother (and grandmother!) relationship rather than a human girl falling in love with a centuries old faerie-entity.

Shockingly, most of the above reasons were why I ended up liking the book less and less.

It is likely my own fault for wanting more from the Michigan/woods background. While the woods themselves play the biggest part in the story, they become a folkloric host unto themselves; I had wanted greater interaction between the faerie world of the woods and the midwestern background, as I thought having more interaction between worlds (which presents some but not much conflict in Virginia's story) would make for a new and original story in conjunction to the faerie world.

I did enjoy the overall folkloric nature of the woods and the story, but it also felt like too big of a world to be an overall setting and background to a human story. With so many moving parts, it felt like the bits and pieces that caught my attention, that made me want to know more, were never the focus, or never the focus for long. There was so much that was trying to be done in what was ultimately a simpler (yet still intriguing) story that it felt overinundated for what the purpose inevitably was.

The split perspectives was a choice that I initially thought could serve this story incredibly well; however, it moreso felt like two stories of characters linked by blood that needed to be told (if necessity was beholden to the story at all) sequentially and not in a split narrative. I would even-handedly find parts of Gemma and Virginia's stories too often uncompelling, leading to an overall lag in the narrative and pace. I simultaneously don't know how this story was stretched to 320 pages, and felt the weight and duration each page onerously. While I think both Gemma and Virginia's stories are important, I couldn't help but wonder how else they might be told in a way that would make them compelling and compulsive at all times rather than every other, other chapter. Again, this may go back to an overall feeling that too much is trying to be told in a story that intermixedly is a recitation of personal character history and an attempted bildungsroman in the midst of a fantastical quest.

I'm still not sure I could 100% identify the ultimate message(s) We Shall Be Monsters is trying to convey. But I can appreciate the sincere feeling of time and love poured into such a story, and I will always appreciate a focus on family and stories of love inside a home more than anything.

I loved this story. It evoked feelings of those old fashioned dark fairy tales. Generations of women plagued by the whims of fairies, with a curse only to be broken by love....just not the kind you think

I started this book before its release, but only recently finished it- while the style of the writing is genuinely gorgeous, the story just didn't grab me. I think that this is a book for a lot of people who will really love it, I'm just not the right audience.

A dark lyrical fairy tale that weaves a story of generational trauma, magic, and the blurred lines between heroism and monstrosity. The storytelling is atmospheric with alternating perspectives between Gemma and her mother. Beautifully haunting.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book caught me off guard in a good way. The writing is almost poetic and pulls you into a haunting, fast-moving story about the messy, complicated bond between mothers and daughters. The themes of fear, protection, and how trauma passes down generations really hit home. We see the story through Gemma and Virginia’s eyes, showing how trying to protect your kids can sometimes do more harm than good. The question of what makes someone a monster really stuck with me. The last quarter was tough. It felt rushed and packed with too many loose ends, but the ending still worked. The plot got a bit confusing at times, but it held my attention. If you’re into dark, family stories with a creepy edge, this one’s worth checking out.

We Shall Be Monsters is a dark, lyrical fantasy that seamlessly blends the eerie enchantment of fairy tales with a haunting exploration of mother-daughter bonds and the legacies we inherit—whether we want to or not. From the first page, I was pulled into its spell.

Gemma is a beautifully complex protagonist—curious, stubborn, and achingly human. Her journey from defiance to understanding felt raw and real. As she grapples with truth, betrayal, and the shadowy power within and around her, her growth unfolds with a quiet intensity. The relationship between Gemma and her mother, Virginia, was especially poignant. There’s tension, fear, love, and sacrifice wound tightly between them, and watching that evolve was one of the emotional anchors of the story.

The setting is gorgeously atmospheric—an antique shop near dark, whispered woods hiding the entrance to fairyland. Alyssa Wees crafts a fairy realm that’s not whimsical but dangerous, unknowable, and filled with echoes of old-world lore. The world feels lived-in and haunting, where every shadow seems to carry a warning. The way folklore and fable are woven into the rules of the world adds depth and menace, grounding the fantastical in something primal and familiar.

Wees’ prose is lyrical without being overwrought—moody, poetic, and immersive. The story flows effortlessly, drawing the reader deeper into Gemma’s world without ever feeling slow or meandering. The pacing was well-balanced: reflective when it needed to be, and tense when the stakes rose. There’s a dreamlike quality to the writing that matches the content perfectly, making the entire experience feel like falling into a dark, beautifully told cautionary tale.

This is the kind of story that lingers—a gothic fairy tale about trust, identity, and the cost of curiosity. While a few elements could have been explored more deeply, the emotional resonance and eerie beauty of the storytelling more than made up for it. A compelling read for fans of dark fantasy with a folkloric twist.

Overall, "We Shall Be Monsters" is a spellbinding blend of fairy-tale enchantment and familial drama, perfect for those who relish a tale where the mundane and the magical intertwine. Alyssa Wees' skillful storytelling and evocative writing make this book a captivating read that is hard to put down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers: Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine/Del Rey for sharing this brilliant fantasy novel's digital reviewer copy in exchange of my honest thoughts.

This book was so enchanting. It was a lyrical tale of a relationship between mother and daughter. The gothic vibes were perfect in this witchy novel. This book was so unique I don’t think I’ve read anything else quite like it.

This was such an interesting, unique read, and I found myself surprised as to how much I enjoyed it! It was really odd, in a good way; it was dark but not depressing, just something different. I liked our two characters, especially Gemma and found myself pleased that we had the alternating POVs, as I think it helped increase the pace of the book. I know some reviewers were not a fan of the short chapters, while I prefer longer chapters, I didn't feel it stopped me from enjoying the book.

3.5 stars! I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I love the concept of a forbidden forest and the family history of being burned by the forest in the past and not wanting their daughter to repeat the same mistakes, only for them to do so in the end. I enjoyed the way this was written and the story line. I will say this read to me more as a YA type of novel, but written with adult prose that might be harder for younger audiences to comprehend the meaning behind. I will also say that every sentence almost seemed like it was written in this metaphorical/hidden message way that you had to dissect almost every single paragraph. I thought the flow of it towards the end was a little week. But overall I enjoyed this!

I dnfed this at 13% I didn’t care what was happening in the story or top any of the characters. I think that it just wasn’t made for me.

A mother daughter grown up fairy tale involving the Fae. I liked the atmospheric vibes of it and the world Wees built. However, I couldn't always easily follow the characters' narration. Like others, I found Gemma's voice to be too young for her age. That might have been ok if it had seemingly been part of the plot intentionally, but I didn't get that sense. This had promise, but it ultimately was not for me.

This book was good! I liked it but didn’t love it. I definitely see potential in it and look forward to seeing what else the author does.

Gemma Cassata and her mother, Virginia, live in an isolated antiques shop in Michigan that borders on a magical forest. Gemma knows she's not supposed to enter, but she somehow always finds herself having grand adventures inside it. She also never remembers them after telling her mom. Virginia has a reason for wanting to keep Gemma away from the forest, a secret she's keeping in hopes of saving her from the curse that separated her family. But when things come to a head and Virginia disappears, can Gemma regain the memories she's lost and find the courage to rescue her family?

It has some good moments and good writing, but it's a book with a personality problem. The jumps between Virginia and Gemma change enough that it's like trying to read a romantasy and a YA simultaneously. They're similar and related, but the tonal shift between characters felt a little jarring. There's existential questioning next to chosen-one vibes, and it just didn't click for me.

I see what Wees was going for, and I can appreciate that it's highly imaginative without enjoying the reading.


Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Del Rey for the read!

I am a bit conflicted how I feel. I enjoyed reading this fantasy book, but I also felt frustrated with the characters. The author truly did their job because I enjoy that fantasy world building while also getting annoyed with the characters actions. Half of the time, I was questioning why some of these characters were doing half of the time.

It was enjoyable and even with familiar parts, it kept things fresh and had a good message about mothers and daughters.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC.

I found myself forcing my way through this book. If I had read this any other time, I would have seriously
loved it. So I will say, it was cleverly written and the plot was so good. Where it lost me at this time of my life, were the characters themselves. I just didn't vibe with them.

That being said, the plot is very strong and I would definitely recommend this to fantasy lovers.

I could not get into this one at all. The writing didn’t suck me in but I’m hoping others enjoy. Would still reccomend

We Shall Be Monsters is a novel about a mother and daughter who live on the edge of a magical forest in Michigan. The daughter, Gemma, is drawn to the forest, while her mother tries to keep her away from it as much as possible. The two get drawn into I love when fantasy novels are set near where I live, so I was excited to read it.

This was kind of a weird one! I was expecting Fantasy fantasy with magic and fae, and while that is part of it, and this is definitely more of a family drama with some fantasy elements that was more of a metaphor to what the family was going through than a full, independent fantasy realm. Not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. I was looking forward to reading a fantasy instead of a coming of age family drama, so I think my disappointment/confusion colored my reading experience.

I did enjoy reading it but found the overall story and characters just a little less than I hoped for. Near the end of the book I was just waiting it to wrap up. As you can tell from this review, I'm a fantasy girlie, so I would have liked more exploration of the fae realm and the forest expanded. You can't set a fae realm portal in Michigan and then barely spend any time there!

If you're more into family dramas than fantasy, this one might be for you! 3 stars from me. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees!