Solid 4 stars!

For a relatively short novel, the world building was beautifully done and it married just enough whimsy and magic with enough real world references for you to anchor to. There were some elements of gothic horror weaved in that were really well done.

To accomplish a multi-generational connection through the book isn't easy and I felt Alyssa Wees did a remarkable job at it.

I found the timeline jumping a bit confusing at times, otherwise this would have been closer to a five star rating.

First, can we just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this cover is?! If you are looking for a dark atmospheric tale with fairies, witches, and curses that also explores the complexities of the mother/daughter relationship - you found it with this one!

The story unfolds through alternating POVs of mother (Virginia/Gigi) and daughter (Gemma). They live in an antique shop at the edge of an enchanted wood. The woods can be beautiful but they also house monsters and danger. Virginia’s mother tried to warn her, but she did not listen. A curse is then bestowed on Virginia for falling in love with a witch’s apprentice. To make things worse, it will take effect on the 15th birthday on Virginia and the apprentice’s daughter. Virginia spends years trying to find a way to break the curse while trying to keep her daughter safe from the woods. When Gemma unknowingly gets too close to breaking the curse, the witch takes Virginia. It then becomes Gemma’s mission to find her mother and help break the curse.

There were times where the pacing was a bit off. The lyrical style is lovely but there were several times where is dragged and I felt myself losing interest in some chapters. Overall, I enjoyed the world building, storyline and plot twist!

What an unusual fantasy story about woods and beasts and magic.

I liked the flip between past and present and how the woods have changed three generations of women in different ways. There’s probably some deeper subtext to the story but I liked it for the interesting tale that it was. It kept my interest and had a satisfying ending.

I liked the characters a lot too. Gemma, especially.

We Shall Be Monsters is LUSH! If you love rich, atmospheric writing, you’re going to devour Wees’ work. Mystery, magical forests, fae and a non-linear timeline kept me absolutely hooked.

I was lucky to receive an ARC of We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees, and I’m so glad to have discovered a new author. Unfortunately, I’ve been so busy that I forgot to write my review earlier, but let me see how well I can recall the details!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and respect what it set out to do. At its heart, this book is an exploration of the complex dynamics between a child and their parent. It focuses on willful and strong women and how their mothers, in their efforts to keep them safe, made well-meaning mistakes that led to secrets and resentment. Despite these challenges, the story ultimately highlights the beauty of the love between mothers and daughters.

If you’re someone who loves this type of relationship-focused narrative wrapped in a beautiful, mystical, fantastical story, this could be for you. On the other hand, if you lean more toward traditional fantasy or fairy tales, you might find the focus on relationship dynamics a bit unexpected. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I would say it’s similar to the distinction between fantasy romance and romantasy—you need to go into this one wanting character exploration at the forefront.

Personally, I tend to gravitate toward stories that explore sibling or friend dynamics, so I wasn’t necessarily the ideal audience for this particular book. However, I still found many aspects of the story intriguing. It absolutely feels like stepping into a dark fairy tale, and I always love a creepy wood! There were plenty of elements that I enjoyed, and the atmosphere was beautifully done.

I ended up rating it 4 stars, and I think it’s a solid read for most people. Knowing how well Alyssa Wees writes atmosphere, I’m definitely planning to check out her other works!

**4/5 Stars**
*We Shall Be Monsters* by Alyssa Wees is a gorgeously written reimagining of classic gothic themes, infused with a fresh and feminist perspective. Wees’ lyrical prose brings a dark, enchanting world to life, and her characters are complex and compelling. The narrative explores identity, ambition, and the cost of creation with haunting depth. While the pacing stumbles in parts, the vivid atmosphere and emotional resonance more than make up for it. A spellbinding read for fans of gothic literature with a modern twist.

Thank you DelRey/Ballantine for the digital copy of We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees!

"We try so hard to save each other, but really, we're doomed from the start."

I love how the author blended the idea of stories and the warnings in those stories with a mix of dark fae lore. It did take me a little bit to get into the two separate POVs and the timelines, but after a few chapters, it finally starts to smooth out. After that it's hard to put down.

I preferred the book from the mother's perspective the most. Her story had a more mature tone compared to what felt like the innocence of the daughter. The prose though is beautiful throughout the entire book. I also enjoyed how it embraces the monster in these pages. It gave me an Alice in Wonderland meets Legend vibe.

"How sad to be a monster in a world with a hero lurking in every shadow."

The audio is read by Valerie Lohman and Zura Johnson. They did such a good job of bringing the voices and personalities of Gemma and Virginia alive. I liked how their voices separated the tone of mother and daughter and added to the underlying theme of their dynamic.

If you enjoy the mystical and dark side of fae tales than I think you'll enjoy this novel too.

I did not expect this book to be so emotional. We Shall Be Mothers follows a mother and daughter who live on the edge of a magical forest. Within this forest is a gate to a magical world. Virginia, the mother, warns Gemma not to venture into the woods. Virginia once ignored these warnings from her own mother and paid the price. However, Gemma chooses to venture into the forest despite the warning. When Virginia gets taken, Gemma must get her back. This story intertwines reality with fantasy so well. The relationship and bond between Virginia and Gemma is so captivating and heart wrenching. Truly a hauntingly beautiful read.

As a reader from Michigan, this was such a fun reading experience. To imagine a world as dark and intriguing and fairytale-like in my own backyard made this the perfect book to cozy up in. The way that Alyssa Wees writes the stories of the women in Gemma's family is so beautiful and though I am not a mother myself, I perfectly understood the drive that Virginia has to keep Gemma protected and the lengths she would go for her, and I think that that shone through wonderfully. The ideas of motherly love, curiosity, self-discovery, what makes a monster... all were conveyed beautifully! The plot was quick and though I got lost a few times, it was easily picked back up.

All in all, this was a beautiful book with an immersive fantasy world that I really enjoyed. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!

Gemma Cassata lives with her mother in an antiques shop near an enchanted gateway to fairyland. Gemma isn't supposed to go into those woods, but she often defies her mother's commands. Her mother had once gone into those same woods, and a witch cursed her true love just days before Gemma was born. Virginia will do whatever she can to protect her daughter—even if it means stealing Gemma’s memories. When the witch takes Virginia, Gemma must rescue her mother and break the curse.

Virginia had entered the woods long ago and is looking for the means to end her love's curse. She has until Gemma's fifteenth birthday, but the Slit Witch doesn't play fair. Gemma is left to continue on her mother's mission in the second part of the book, saving her father from becoming the monster the Slit Witch wanted him to become. She is on a classic magical quest through the forest, which is now guarded and full of traps. The forest doesn't help her, and the stories she heard from her fairy boy aren't quite true. Her instincts are good, and she has the trust and belief of a teenager trying to save her family. She gives up something in exchange for magic she tries to use; using magic selfishly and without exchange is what led to the Slit Witch.

The magic here is the kind that let's fairies exist, or guardian wolves that speak, trees that drink blood, or venom that keeps bodies alive in perpetuity even when mangled. Within this forest are the deadly creatures of stories, but not all creatures are monsters. Gemma realizes the difference as the story progresses, but she also comes into her own. All the dangling threads are tied up at the end, and I really enjoyed the turns that part three contains. She is a great protagonist, one I enjoyed spending time with.

The plot was interesting, but the writing made the story drag and feel longer than it actually was. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.

We Shall Be Monsters is a dark fantasy filled with profound loss and hope. It follows a mother and daughter in alternating narration as they seek a way to repair their fractured family, destroyed for generations by a dreaded witch in the woods. The parallels between mother and daughter are unmistakable navigating guy lies and first loves and heartbreaks. Ultimately, this is a tale about the choices and sacrifices we are willing to make for one another. I thought this was a very sweet story, albeit extremely dark. I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

The concept is interesting. Three generations of women tangled up in almost violent magic of the woods near their home, but it's just not quite good.

It's a bit clunky with off pacing and at times downright boring. I felt a major disconnect with all of the characters and even between them. I wasn't attached to them and frankly, even though grandmother, mother, and daughter, they didn't seem too attached to each other.

Not quite for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

We Shall Be Monsters follows teen Gemma, who must journey into dark Fae lands to rescue her mother from a witch.

This is one of those books that drew me in like no other. The dual perspectives of Gemma and her mother Virginia were distinct and interesting, each one hooking me just long enough to keep me glued to the page. Wees captures the dark atmosphere of the Fae realm beautifully, with rich settings and even richer characters. I adored the story's exploration of the monstrous, of the gray area that makes up so much darkness, and the way it not only used and twisted fairy tale elements, but ultimately ended up feeling like a (horror-laced) fairy tale itself. It's everything I wanted from an adult fae fantasy and more, and I honestly can't recommend it enough.

We Shall Be Monsters is a lyrical fantasy that follows the intertwined lives of Virginia, a mother who falls in love with a fairy, and her daughter Gemma, who goes on a quest to save her mother from the curse of the Slit Witch. When Virginia unknowingly steals the heart of the witch’s son, the witch transforms him into a beast. To break the curse, Virginia must find a magical mirror before Gemma turns fifteen. But when Virginia is kidnapped by the witch, it’s up to Gemma to go on a quest to save her mother and father.

The writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. The prose is rich and atmospheric, pulling you deep into a world full of magic and danger. It's even a little eerie and spooky at times, very Labyrinth-esque. The author does a fantastic job of building a vivid, immersive setting that feels both enchanting. The relationship between mother and daughter is the heart of the story, exploring themes of love, desire, and the mistakes that get passed down through generations.

That said, the pacing can be a bit of a struggle. While the plot is intriguing and the premise solid, the heavy reliance on description sometimes slows things down. There are moments where the story feels stagnant, and it can be hard to stay engaged when the narrative isn’t moving forward. The lyrical style is gorgeous, but at times, it drags, and I found myself losing interest in certain chapters.

Overall, We Shall Be Monsters is a beautifully written story with a compelling premise, but its slower pace and heavy prose might not be for everyone. If you enjoy lyrical, atmospheric fantasy, it’s definitely worth the read, but be prepared for moments where the story takes its time to unfold.

I appreciate a twist on a fantasy story line. This is not your generic fae fantasy. It covers all the fantasy bases with faeries, witches, an enchanted forest. I enjoyed the POV being shared between Gemma and Virginia. However, there were some gaps in the story line which I wish had been shared in more detail. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would read another by Alyssa Wees.

Before I start my review, I would like to thank NetGalley and publishers for letting me read the phenomenal arc!

5⭐️

I was hooked from the first page! I have never read anything like this before and the idea was executed perfectly! I flew through the book and before I knew it, I finished it. I love the dual POV between the mother and daughter. The way their stories intertwine together is amazing! The puzzle pieces clicked in place as I read on. I loved the stories about the different monsters, places, and items found throughout the enchanted forest! The mother-daughter relationship was amazing how it developed throughout the book and you could see the struggles they faced in their relationship. I have never read a book with this type of dual POV and I absolutely love it. The dangerous quests and the romance put my liking of this book out the roof! This atmospheric, dark, lyrical, and spellbinding fairytale has to be one of my top favorite’s of all time.

This book includes:
dual POV ✌️
romance 💞
adventure ⚔️
mystery 🔍
plot twists ♟️
dark fairy tale 🧚

This was such a delightful surprise! I was immediately captivated by Alyssa Wees' gorgeous prose and was quickly enraptured in this Fae tale. There is so much to explore and love about this book, from the magical setting to all of the different creatures and elements that make it a truly enchanting and somewhat haunting story. I really enjoyed exploring the mother-daughter relationships in this book through our characters and thought it offered some interesting discussions on the topic. This lyrical story absolutely surprised me with how much the writing itself captivated me and by how much I want to read more from Alyssa Wees now! Highly recommended for fantasy fans, especially those who love a lyrical, dark, Fae-tinged tale.

A gothic fairytale about a girl who is marked for death and her journey into the woods to rescue her mother from a vengeful witch all the while the story of her mother's own journey into the woods begins to unfold. Gemma grew up in an isolated antique shop with her mother, near the woods.... a place that concealed an enchanted gateway to fairyland. Gemma grew up being told to stay far away from the woods by her mother, Virginia. Everytime she would go in her mother would erase her memories to try and keep her out... because in the woods lurks a vengeful witch, a cursed monster, and a quest that awaits her. Yet when Virginia is taken by the Slit Witch and Gemma discovers that her father is a cursed monster.... it will be up to her to find a way to save both her parents and go on her own quest in the woods. All the while we are treated to Virginia's own story about how she grew up and came into the woods, how she fell in love... and how she became cursed by the Slit Witch. This was an absolutely enchanting story about family, strength, and courage to face your fears. The alternating POVS and storylines was such a nice touch and well woven into the story. I loved getting to read bout Virginia and Gemma's stories and their love for their family was so well done. I truly had such a good time reading this and would absolutely recommend this for fans of fairytales!

Release Date: November 12,2024

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

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I love getting my hands on a dark fairy tale which explores gloomy, mysterious forests with evil witches, fae, and monsters. This novel reminds me of some of my more favorite authors of the genre, such as Naomi Novik and Kell Woods.

When we first meet Gemma, she is about 12-ish years old who lives in an antique shop with her mom and explores the edge of the woods behind her house when she can. Though the woods are off limits, she feels drawn to them and s curious about the inhabitants, especially a fae prince who has gained her attention and told her stories of The Hunting Beast and his destiny.

We have a dual perspective as the chapters go back and forth between her and her mom, Virginia. One of my biggest wishes, is these two ladies would talk to each other more rather than keeping so many secrets from each other. I feel we could have avoided a lot of heartache and stress had we had better conversations instead of trying to make Gemma forget about the forest in a sort of avoidant manner.

There are definitely some family issues which need to be resolved but the love is strong and the story is good. I would love to see what more this author writes and if we wander into the forest again in the future.