Alyssa Wees’ We Shall Be Monsters is a captivating and eerie historical fantasy that reimagines the iconic figures of the Frankenstein mythos with fresh, thought-provoking twists. The novel takes readers into a world where science, power, and identity collide, following a group of women who are bound together by their shared experiences as outcasts and their pursuit of vengeance. Wees’ writing is atmospheric and haunting, with vivid descriptions that draw you into a gothic world filled with both beauty and horror. The characters are strong and complex, each grappling with their own struggles for autonomy and recognition. The pacing is a bit slow at times, but the novel's exploration of power, feminism, and the monster within makes it a compelling and deeply emotional read.

Dark, atmospheric, and ever so evocative, We Shall Be Monsters weaves a tale that is both thoughtful and addictive.

Wee's has taken the dual narrative approach here and spun a masterful tale using it! Often, I personally struggle with multiple POV's , as one always seems to capture my attention more than the other, but these two stories are woven just right to create a breathtaking tapestry of a tale.

Readers that enjoy their fairy tales to have teeth will find this one perfectly suited for their TBR piles!

I love dark fairytales and this was no exception. The language is rich and vibrant. The story is beautiful and atmospheric. Absolutely stellar.

*The Fairy’s Curse* is a dark and lyrical fantasy that draws you in with its mix of fairyland danger, vengeful witches, and a daughter’s quest to rescue her mom. Gemma’s journey through the enchanted woods is filled with twists, danger, and family secrets, and the alternating perspectives between her and her mother really deepen the emotional layers of the story. If you like hauntingly atmospheric tales about family bonds and magical curses, this one will definitely keep you hooked.

At the time, I’d believed that what I was doing was right. All villainesses do, don’t they?”

This was a stunning dark fairytale, full of rich language and deep reflections on what makes someone a monster. I wrote down so many quotes as I read - I really loved the writing! The story focused on mothers and daughters in multiple generations, and how their love for each other manifested sometimes harmful ways.

I’m always looking for good fantasy standalones, so finding this one was a big win! It’s full of curses, magical objects, fae, and monsters. The world building of the enchanted forest was just enough to build the atmosphere and set the stage for the storyline.

I haven’t seen this one around much, and I need more people to read it!

I frankly feel conflicted by this book. On one hand, it is so beautifully written, so alluring and captivating. It feels like a story captured in sweet sap. On the other one, I fail to feel the characters as real, painfully one-dimensional and dull, But in a way, that works on the book's flavor as it solidifies that fairy tale feel, where characters are driven by forces bigger than themselves, whimsical and victims of the written fate that the author crafted for them, and relived by the reader every time the pages are explored again.

The lore, world building and feel are something I love, but that always feels lacking, and I cannot fully grasp the reason. I love the dual POV of the story, the adventure of Gemma as she enters the woods, and the past of Virginia, in pain, confused and in a reality she does not fully grasp.

The dual POVs in this story helped with understand the characters. I really enjoyed the author's writing style, it kept me interested through the story. Definitely worth the read!

I wish I had known this was romantasy before diving into it...the blurb advertises a fascinating portal fantasy centering the relationship between a mother and daughter. However, this relationship plays second fiddle to the one between the protagonist and a fae prince. While I'm certain this will appeal to fans of Sarah J. Mass and Jennifer L. Armentrout, I was sad to encounter something other than what I was hoping for. I also find it hard to classify this as an adult novel. Gemma's age throughout the story and the thematic simplicity of the content lend at least her POV scenes more of a YA feel.

Unfortunately this was just not for me. It just didn't grasp my attention the way I wanted it to. I will try this one again as a published book. I will be purchasing the finished edition in teh near future to be able to read it.

good mystery about a couple and staying in a house and the other couple there. kept me on my toes . good mystery and figuring stuff out.

We Shall be Monsters is a dual POV following Gemma and her mother Virginia. They live near magical woods filled with fairies, monsters, and witches. Virginia tells her daughters to avoid the woods but Gemma can't resist and meets the fairy prince. We also learn about Virginia's past with the fairies and the deals she made.

This was a dark fairytale with attributes reminding me of a Holly Black book. I did get a little thrown off by the back and forth between the POVs and time lines but it was still a good read. It was more twisted that I thought it would be but I liked them surprises.

Thank you to Random House Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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!