A rich and fantastic fairy tale, filled with deep characters, amazing worldbuilding, and a dark, haunting atmosphere! Highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Beltane for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*We Shall Be Monsters* by Alyssa Wees is a beautifully haunting tale that blends fantasy and family bonds in a mesmerizing way. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious Michigan woods, Gemma Cassata’s journey into an enchanted fairyland is both thrilling and deeply emotional. The alternating viewpoints between Gemma and her mother, Virginia, add depth to the story, revealing the generational struggles and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child.

The novel shines in its exploration of the complex relationship between parent and child, with the dark, magical elements perfectly complementing the story’s emotional core. The allure of the forbidden woods, the danger lurking within, and Gemma’s determination to rescue her mother create a compelling narrative that’s hard to put down. Alyssa Wees weaves a captivating tale that’s both enchanting and thought-provoking, making *We Shall Be Monsters* a must-read for fans of dark fairy tales and family sagas.

#WeShallBeMonsters #NetGalley

I should have known this would be a masterpiece. After reading Nocturne, I knew I was going to be a "forever fan" of Alyssa Wees. This book did not disappoint. I loved the atmospheric setting, the exploration of parentification and familial bonds, and the gothic/ethereal prose.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

About halfway through this story, I text my cousin and told her she needed to see if she could get her hands on a copy of this book because it was good. It was really, really good. Wees navigates what could be a tricky story between a mother and her daughter and the woods between them with ease. The dual perspectives is a brilliant way to (1) tell the story and (2) give us each side of the relationship and the reason for the distance between them.

She also does a great job showing how the relationship between Gemma and Virginia is fraught, but still filled with so much love. It would be easy to just let them have their sour notes, but the love is still there. The love has always been there. Where Gemma and Virginia love fiercely but sometimes get it wrong, Virginia and her mother, Clarice, love fiercely and seem to always get it wrong. The juxtaposition as we see Gemma describe what it feels like to have a mother who is distant (but not as distant as she thinks) versus Virginia desperate for her mother to show any affection, is masterfully done.

Another great note is that this promises dark fantasy and it delivers. The woods are deep and rich and filled with all sorts of fantastical things. Gemma’s guide through most of the story is a young fairy prince, but she encounters all sorts of magical creatures. There is also some light body horror, but it adds to the ambiance fo the story.

Wees crafts a great, lyrical narrative that showcases the human desire to be loved by your mother, to be monstrous, and to be something bigger than yourself. Gemma’s ending is a perfect note.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Wees nails the dark fantasy aspect, delivers on the promise of magical mysteries, and even slips in some surprises about characters that you’re not expecting. If you’re interested in a moving story about mothers, daughters, and the magical promise of the woods, this is the book for you. For anyone else, get it together and read this book!

Look for it on November 12, 2024!

Thank you for this Arc in exchange for my review!


I absolutely adore dark, and whimsical fantasies—and as the beginning grabbed me, I felt a bit exhausted of the filling. I wanted more pace, tension, and energy. I loved the generational transitions but felt it lacked in depth. I am positive this will find its Audience and so grateful to have read it!

This wasn’t my typical go-to read, but I absolutely enjoyed it. It was the perfect combination of fantasy and drama. I like the fact that it had more than one timeline which kept it interesting. Alyssa Wees’ writing style was amazing and I enjoyed every second reading this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys dark fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley, Alyssa, and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

We shall be mosters is a beautiful, multigenerational tale of a grandmother, mother, and daughter who become what they fear to save each other and those they love. They will tear their world apart, lie and deceive, and keep them from making the same mistakes of their past, to save them from hurt. Alyssa Wees’ world building paints incredibly vivid pictures of the fairyland in the woods and the creatures who inhabit it. At first I struggled to get into the story, but once the story really started unfolding, it was hard to put down. As a mother of a young daughter, I felt the profoundness of what it is to have a daughter and wish for her to not make the mistakes of her mother; and as a daughter, I understand why a mother wouldn’t want her daughter to maker her same mistakes. It’s truly a love story of mothers more than anything else. I loved this beautifully lyrical novel. This will be a book that I pass on to my daughter in hopes that she understands what a mothers loves means. I’ve already preordered this, and it really is a masterpiece. So incredibly wonderful

We Shall Be Monsters
By Alyssa Wees

Quick Rundown
- Mother/Daughter Relationships
- Fairytale and Folklore

We Shall Be Monsters dives into a dual POV fantasy story featuring Gemma and Virginia. Gemma, Virginia’s future daughter, must venture into the forest to break a curse. Meanwhile, in the past, Virginia longs to be in the woods, but her mother forbids it.

This book is a hauntingly dark novel that will remind readers of Grimm’s fairytales. I appreciated how the book doesn’t simply tell a story but also opens the door to complex situations and topics.

I want to thank the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. This review is based on an ARC copy I received from NetGalley. These opinions are my own and were given freely.

This book felt like a fever dream. It was a dark, gothic fairytale that was light, whimsical, and intangible while also being heavy, sad, and real.

It is a dual POV story, one following the daughter Gemma and the other following the mother Virginia. Both of the POVs follow the same storyline but both characters are on unique journeys very different from one another.

"What is a monster, truly? A murderer? A cheat, a liar, a thing that hides in the dark, or one that moves freely in the light, all the more terrifying for blending in, for being difficult to spot? What does a monster look like? Do claws and fangs alone make a monster? A cat has both, and we call it cute. What is a monster then? Ask one hundred people and you will get one hundred answers."

The daughter and mother live near the forest, and when the daughter is young she finds the forest to be irresistible and whimsical. Her mother is afraid of it and says it's forbidden. But why is her mother so afraid of the forest yet still living near it, why is the daughter pulled towards it?

This book touches on themes of motherhood and raising children, the fine line between protecting your children and harming them by keeping away the truth. You're made to think about how everyone has to go down their own path regardless of the wisdom handed down, and you reflect on good versus evil and what makes something monstrous and not.

I will say, for me at times this book was slightly hard to follow, there is a lot going on and it takes a bit for questions to be answered. The plot was intriguing enough to keep me searching and keep me going but it is a commitment. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book.

You know those stories that just feel MADE for you? This is that for me. A dark fairytale, a haunted forest, a complicated mother/daughter relationship, exquisite prose. I was enchanted from beginning to end. In the vein of some of my favorite authors like VE Schwab, Ava Reid, and Roshani Chokshi, this story is a slow build and that is part of its charm. It needles its way into your heart and holds fast until you're fully immersed and can't let go.

This book is a about the relationship between a mother and daughter. It's like a an old timey fairy tale. Creey vibes. Very good read

Overall I enjoyed this story, but for some reason it felt much longer than it needed to be and I found myself wanting to skim some of it. While I liked both POV's, I also at times forgot if it was Virginia or Gemma.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dark, engrossing, enchanting.
I started reading this book and quickly got sucked into its lyrical storytelling and fantastic world-building.
The characters felt real and possessed depth, and the author told us just enough to keep you wanting more.
It is not very often that I find a book which capitalises on its world building and is actually very thorough with it, and We Shall Be Monsters certainly did not disappoint. I was taken on a breath taking journey throughout The Woods, met many creatures, some scary and some not at all, and witnessed the growth of the female lead from a naive child to a brave teenager.
I really enjoyed this read, and I look forward to reading anything else Ms. Wees writes.

We Shall Be Monsters is a haunting fairy tale diving into relationships between mother and daughter with dark fantasy aspects.

The story follows Gemma and her mother Virginia. Nearby a dangerous forest holds a magical gateway into another realm. Despite her mother’s repeated warnings, curiosity takes its toll.

As the story progresses, Gemma must embark on a journey to life a curse and save her mother.

We Shall Be Monsters is a darker fairy tale with added family elements, ultimately setting the scene for a spellbinding, captivating read with pieces reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, Coraline, and other dark tales we all know well.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC

A huge thank you for the ARC from NetGalley, the publishers, and of course Alyssa Wees for this phenomenal story.

I have had We Shall Be Monsters on my TBR pile since back in May so I was beyond thrilled to be able to dive into this as soon as I received it.

Maybe it’s because an older mother to a 4 year old but the story became so much more than a fantastic fantasy, it was a story of motherhood and protecting our people.

The story was complex and entertaining and just out right beautifully written. Wees created a world I was enthralled with. I loved following bother Virginia’s pov as well as Gemma’s. It was just a story I can’t wait to share with everyone.

I loved the idea of this book and the dark fairytale mythical vibes! It is a perfect fall read very spooky! I thought the plot was very interesting once it got going just took awhile for me and the beginning felt slow. I still was intrigued enough that I will recommend and add to our library!

Gemma lives in an isolated antique shop with her mother, Virginia. Right outside is a mysterious patch of woods that hides an enchanted gateway to a fairyland. Virginia doesn't want Gemma near the woods, telling her some beasts live in the woods and to stay away. Despite these warnings, Gemma is drawn to the forest. Virginia, too, was once a curious and defiant daughter who did not heed her mother's warnings about the woods. Her disobedience led to a witch cursing her true love just days before Gemma was born. Haunted by her past, Virginia is determined to protect Gemma from the same fate, even stealing her daughter's memories to keep her safe from the truth. Gemma begins to uncover the secrets of the woods, and a witch reappears and takes Virginia captive. Gemma must courageously rescue her mother and break their family's curse.

Gemma's character is naive but brilliant. She has to navigate a dark world and grapple with complex emotions throughout the story. Gemma is unique, and readers instantly love her daring and brave spirit. Virginia's story plays out as a woman struggling to protect her daughter and find a way to break the curse that separates her from her family. You can feel her anxiousness. The mother-daughter relationship highlights mothers' sacrifices to protect their children and how daughters must eventually forge their paths. The story also examines inherited trauma and past actions' impact on future generations. Through alternating perspectives, the author skillfully portrays the inner worlds of both Gemma and Virginia. It allows the reader to connect with the characters and grasp the inner thoughts of both Gemma and Virginia. Readers will love the magical fairytale elements of the story and the courage of both characters.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Del Rey.

I liked the plot twist and the storyline of this book. I had trouble getting into it, it’s a bit slow paced and choppy in some areas but I think worth the read.

I wanted more. I connected with the synopsis and the overall plot. The execution left me wanting. I feel like the whole monster vs hero victims could have been further explored and less man vs woman, but more on the Haunting Beast just wanting to be free and happy and how the views of others made her, so called, evil. Not, that I support the eating of babies, but that this woman needed friendship, love, and support. As a mom, a daughter, a woman, I was kinda shocked that the complexity of that mix and change from daughter to mother was rushed through like much of the ending. It was a good story, a good idea, and wonderful beginning. The middle was dicey, and the end rushed. I'm not sure if I'll share my thoughts too publicly or broadly because I desperately wanted to love this book. Maybe this will still be someone's favorite and it will speak to them in new and deep ways.

I appreciate getting to read it early and I wish anyone who reads this response has a great day. And that they understand I really really really wanted to fall in love but I just couldn't force myself

Absolutely haunting but fantastic read. I will need to read it again just to make sure I got everything I possibly could from it.