Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for this ARC!

We Shall Be Monsters is beautifully written and thought provoking. The dual POV was done wonderfully and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It felt like a long form poem with aspects of Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, and even Bridge to Terabithia. There were moments I felt wonderment, mystified, and terror. You will enjoy We Shall Be Monsters if you enjoy strong family bonds, questioning your own reality, and fantasy world building.

We Should Be Monsters is a dark, lyrical fairytale about a vengeful witch, monster father and mothers who protect above all else. It’s a great spooky and haunting fall/winter read with prose similar to Ava Reid. This is a book for you if you like dark fairytales in the vein of The Forest Grimm, Ava Reid or Kell Woods.

What You’ll Find:
🤰Mother/daughter relationship
🌳Spooky woods
😈Monsters, Fae, oh my
🖤Forbidden romance
📖Fairytale but make it horror

A dark, haunting fairy tale, We Shall Be Monsters was creepy from the start. I loved it.

This is a fantasy story of a mother-daughter relationship, how it can go wrong, and how we can mend what is broken, which we follow through the eyes of both Virginia and Gemma, mom and daughter. In a world of faeries, magic, and witches on the edge of our own human world, this complex story pulls you into their world, and at some point, you just can’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! It was a perfect read for this season.

My Rating: 2.7/5

I honestly really thought I was going to like it more even in the middle of the book but the ending left much to be desired.
The prose was as described and quite lyrical. I liked it until the end when it seemed to get on top of the author a bit. Characters were saying stuff that didn't quite feel natural and it definitely ended up controlling some story points.
The ending of the book was quite rushed and ended pretty abruptly. With it ending abruptly storylines were hastily tied up and one character's development suffered the consequences.
I really liked the middle of the book with the quest. I love a quest. However, the quest seemed....so so easy. Like literally so easy thinking back on all that she actually did.

I really thought I was going to love it but unfortunately the story fell a little flat for me. I did enjoy parts of it though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun, easy read, but not necessarily for me at my current age. The plot is very simple and the characters have a very clear motivation, but there isn't much more here than that. It definitely is made for a younger audience and I probably would have really enjoyed this book when I was 12-15 years old.

If you are looking for a gift for a tween or if you just want a really easy read where everything is wrapped up in the end I would recommend this book, if you want something more substantial you will probably want to look elsewhere.

The cover of this book is incredible!
I enjoyed the dark fairy tale elements of this story, but the switching POVs didn't really work for me for some reason, I think it gave us too much information rather than leaving some mystery.

Book: We Shall Be Monsters
Author: Alyssa Wees
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I thank the publisher, Del Rey, for sending me an ARC. This is the second book by this author I have read. I have enjoyed both of them. Alyssa has this way of writing that pulls you in and wraps you into the world.

In this one, we follow Gemma and Virginia, who live in their shop in Michigan. Right away, we pick on the fact that things are not what they seem. The woods around them are not normal woods. They will take you into a fairytale-only it’s not the fairytale of childhood. This one comprises monsters, witches, and evil with no hope of escaping it. It calls to Gemma. No matter how hard she tries to be a good girl and listen to her mother, she cannot stay away from it. What she doesn’t know is that her mother completely understands how she feels. Virginia, like her daughter, is drawn to the forest. Her mother had warned her about the forest and, like Gemma, she did not stay away. It’s personal too. Ash, Virginia’s lover and Gemma’s father has had a curse placed on him. He is a monster. There is more than that. If Virginia cannot break the curse by the time Gemma is fifteen, it will end up costing everyone. Virginia thinks she has everything under control….That is until Gemma enters the forest and comes upon a certain witch. Now, Virginia fears that history could repeat itself.

This is one of those books that you have to take your time with. This is a short book, but you cannot rush it. You have to slow down with your reading and allow the story to flow through you. If you do that, then you will see how atmospheric the writing is, and how it has this touch that allows you to become completely engrossed and immersed in the world. The writing makes this feel like a gothic fairytale. I don’t know how else to describe it. This is one of my favourite things in books. I love it whenever we are given this dark and unforgiven fairytale vibe and find ourselves taken into the world. You are there in the forest with both Gemma and Virginia. You see the beauty of the world, but also the darkness that lurks within it. Everything is woven together in a way that pulls you in and makes it difficult to escape the world.

The family drama is so well done too. We have a mother-daughter duo Gemma and Viringia who are more alike than they realize. Although Virginia knows how much they are alike…Anyway, these two live were nearly cut off from the world. Both are bound together by the woods and its secrets. We see what Virginia will do for her daughter. She protects her but understands her at the same time. She knows how Gemma is feeling because she once went through the same thing. She knows what it is like to be drawn to the forest and how you cannot resist its call. Yet, she knows what it is going to cost them. Everything she does is out of love for her daughter. Gemma wants to listen to her mother and do as she says, but it is hard. When she doesn’t listen, she sees the costs first hand and it tears her apart. She knows and blames herself for what has happened. This drives her character and it makes her who she is. Everything she does is to right the wrong.
I know I have said this in other reviews, but I do love mother-daughter relationships in books. I thought that this one was well done. I think what this one work so well was the fact that we got both of their points of view. We got modern day with Gemma and the past with Virginia. By doing this, we got to see how much they are alike and what got us to the point in the book. We see the lure and draw of the forest first-hand. We see the dangers. We also see the drive to protect those we love. A lot of times in books we don’t get to see the how and the why when it comes to parents. We just know it is there. By letting us see the events that got us to this point it leaves an impact. I do not think the story would have worked the way it did if Alyssa had not done it this way.

I thought that the side characters could have been developed a little bit better. While they were well done, I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of them. They did help with the story and did play their role very well. I would have liked just a little bit more for me to make that deep connection. I’m probably the only one who feels this way, but I like to have a really deep bond with my characters. (Yes, I know writing side characters is not easy and I am not very good at writing them myself, so I am not the best judge of this.)

Overall, I did enjoy this one. If you are looking for a book with a dark and atmospheric fairytale vibe, then I highly encourage you to give this one a go.

This book comes out on November 12, 2024.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/zBS0VBDjOKo

I absolutely loved this book. It was well written and perfect to kick off the spooky months. This story is so enchanting I loved how it blended classic and contemporary together I loved how it flowed like a lyrical fairy tale.
I highly recommend this book especially during spooky season!

I have a feeling that most people will like this but I am afraid that it fell short for me. The writing was alright but I definitely wanted more out of it.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this atmospheric, gothic-style fairy tale! Gemma and her mother, Virginia live on the edge of a dark and mysterious wood. Gemma is drawn to the forest despite her mother’s warnings to stay away.

-Dual POV
-Different timelines
-World building
-Enchanted forest
-Mythical creatures
-Mother/daughter relationship

I LOVED the first half of this book, but around halfway through I did feel like it got a little too complicated and had too much going on at once.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable autumn read, with lots of mystery and a suspense. An exploration of the damage done intergenerationally when mothers don't explain things to their children and many mistakes are made. I think Alyssa Wees does a great job with the theme of monsters and who they really are.

This was such a creative dark fairy tale fantasy. A story filled with magic, adventure, Fae, Witches, and of course monsters. Dual pov between a mother (Virginia) and her daughter (Gemma).
Growing up, both the mother and daughter were drawn to the woods behind their home, but constantly warned and even forbidden to enter them by their mothers. I loved that we were able to see the reasoning of why Virginia does what she does to Gemma. Mother's only want to protect their daughters, and this is a tale they tell to keep their girls safe. But ultimately, nothing could stop the pull to the woods.
This book gave me spooky Labyrinth/ Alice in Wonderland vibes and I absolutely loved it!
Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc!

Book Review: We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all, I was thrilled to discover that this story is set in Michigan! It made the mysterious and eerie atmosphere even more engaging for me. We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees feels like a modern-day fairy tale that pulls you deeper and deeper into its dark, twisting narrative. The story centers around a mother and daughter desperately trying to protect one another from a lurking monster. But the question that haunts the pages is: what truly makes someone a monster? Where is the line drawn?

The dual perspectives of Virginia and Gemma were captivating and gave the story a rich emotional depth. I found Virginia's perspective especially powerful as a mother determined to keep her daughter safe, even when it came at a cost. Although I'm not a mother myself, I could really empathize with her protective instincts. Gemma, on the other hand, frustrated me at times, but I think it’s partly due to her youth and my own perspective affecting how I viewed her actions.

Alyssa Wees masterfully weaves gothic horror with beautiful, lyrical prose. The fantasy elements, particularly the dark allure of the Fae and the magic, were mesmerizing and added a haunting charm to the novel. The vivid descriptions had me hooked from start to finish.

The only downside for me was that some parts of the writing felt a bit out of place, veering into purple prose. These moments occasionally disrupted the flow of the story, which is why I’m giving this book four stars instead of five. However, despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and found it to be a creepy, inventive, and hauntingly beautiful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. We Shall Be Monsters is a captivating and emotionally deep exploration of humanity, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a dark, magical tale.

This was definitely a different genre than I usually pick up but I’m SO glad I did. The cover drew me in honestly.

My mother recently passed so this was a bit of a tougher read for me timing wise, but it also made me think of all the things we went through together and how we always persevered.

This was a great dark story with twisted fairytale vibes. I might venture more into this genre!

Thank you for the early read

I think most fantasy readers will enjoy We Shall Be Monsters, especially women who are looking to deal with some generational trauma themselves. Think of it as self-therapy. Gemma’s grandmother and mama might not have made the right decisions, but they did what they thought was right at the time, and that’s all any of us can do.

Read full review at https://thecosmiccircus.com/book-review-we-shall-be-monsters-by-alyssa-wees/

We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees is a dark, enchanting tale about a mother and daughter intertwined with a mysterious forest. When Gemma’s mother, Virginia, disappears and is replaced by a shadow, Gemma must face the monsters her mother warned her about. Told through their alternating perspectives, the story explores family bonds, fear, and self-discovery. I loved how the dual narratives added depth to their relationship, with Virginia’s protectiveness and Gemma’s quest for truth. Richly atmospheric and perfect for fall, this is a captivating twist on classic fairy tale themes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I'm sorry but I found this so awesome to have taken place in Michigan! Such a cool and mysterious read. Loved the mystery of figuring what secrets were being hidden. Overall great book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for my arc in exchange for my review.

"We Shall Be Monsters" by Alyssa Wees feels like a contemporary fairy tale that draws you deeper and deeper into its depths until you're twisting and turning. Wees' tale follows a mother and daughter desperately trying to protect one another from a monster. But what exactly makes one a monster? Where do you draw the line?

I loved this so much! It was such a well-written, creepy, and inventive story. I loved the dual perspectives from Virginia and Gemma. There were some moments where I felt the writing was out of place and bordering on purple prose. The moments are unfortunately littered throughout the book (hence the docking of one star) but other than that, I really enjoyed reading. I felt a lot of sympathy for Virginia and her attempts to keep Gemma safe. I am not a mother, but her perspective made it clear why she was raising Gemma the way she was. Gemma got on my nerves a little bit to be honest...it honestly might be my own perspective clouding my judgement of her, especially because she's so young. The fantasy aspect was perfectly dark and magical and alluring. I fell in love with Wees' descriptions of the Fae and of magic. It was so enticing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and would recommend!

Alyssa Wees has crafted a dark fairy tale that manages to blend the classic and the contemporary, and it is an absolute delight. This story is seductive, playfully enticing you, luring you deeper into a forest that has no boundary.

The writing is very much reminiscent of a fairy tale. It is lyrical and almost elegiac at times, sung to a tune lost in the wind’s melody. You can choose any section of this text and be fooled into thinking this was a traditional fairy tale, in not just its tone and tambor but what it presents the fantastic, the way the fantastic invades the mundane without question or necessary explanation. Everything fits into the dream logic of a fairy tale, with important truths hidden under layers of magic and imagination. And yet Wees play with traditional form, as well. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of our main character, a young girl, and that of her mother. Divided in three sections, the first and last section see each chapter, regardless of the perspective following a singular narrative chronology. However, the second section divides our timelines, with the young girl’s chapters continuing in the present, moving the current story forward, and the mother’s chapters jumping back 16 years, sometimes more, setting the scene and creating all of the backstory that lets us see how we are the products of our parents, our inherited ecologies, and that makes the current story even richer. It is this constant shifting of perspective and the introduction of two parallel stories, albeit 16 years apart, that lets this fairy tale sit comfortably on the shelves of contemporary fiction. I will say that the narrative pacing in the second section does slow down a little, since there are two stories happening simultaneously, and that change in pacing was noticeable. However, the section was doing really delicate work of creating connections across time, showing foundational relationships and patterns that inform the modern-day storyline, and both stories were told with similarly spritely, dancing prose that even as I felt the pace slowing I was always content to be in the world that Wees was painting for me.

The characters were, to a certain degree, traditional fairy tale characters. On one hand it was inferred they had complicated and well-rounded lives, but on the other hand we experienced them through their participation in a fairy tale, and all fairy tales bear some passing resemblance to a morality tale, a warning disguised as an exciting quest. As such the characters needed to be wide enough that we can see ourselves in their shoes, enthralled and terrified by this forest at the same time. They need to have interesting enough lives to feel unique but also need to be general enough that we dissolve into them and their stories, and I think they did that well. If you are interested in an in-depth character study than you might be disappointed, but the characters feel genuine, whimsical, and dangerous, both full of story and open books at the same time, and they fit the fairy tale ambiance really well in that regard. The story itself, the narrative, is also a strong bland of traditional and contemporary. As with fairy tales it involves quests, it involves uncovering truths that, had they been openly discussed in the first place the whole story could have been avoided. There is journey, both literal and character. Wees does manage, though, to question the very idea of a quest, and to have enough twists and turns to complicate a traditional fairy tale. A classical fairy tale usually has clear demarcation between shadows and light, and here our characters and their stories weave in and out, not following any predetermined path through their forest. None of the surprises or revelations were entirely surprising, they felt supported and expected, but not in a bad way. When the reveals come you will have likely guessed them beforehand, because Wees has already made a comfortable nest for those reveals to roost in. So, there are reveals that feel comfortable, like everyone is included in the secret that we all know already. We know that isn’t Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, but we still want to see what happens when she learns it. By giving us two different perspectives we are constantly just a little ahead of both of our characters, which makes the reveals feel natural and refreshing.

Lastly, this story isn’t afraid to ask important question. About child-parent relationships, yes, about cycles of abuse and inherited trauma, inherited habits and worldviews. But it also asks ideas about what it means to belong to something, and what in means to be between worlds, lost in space, neither here nor there. It asks what we believe about ourselves, and how confident we are in telling our own stories. And it asks us whether our hearts are filled with love and forgiveness or whether they are lost to ambition and greed, lost in the stories other people may tell about us. As the title suggests, the story forces us to ask, who gets to define what it means to be a monster?

“Was a monster that which consumed more than its share? One that ate and ate and ate, leaving great holes in the world, gaps the rest of us could never hope to fill? I hadn’t believed this particular monster was real, but I suppose every monster is real for someone, somewhere. Why would we bother to tell fairy tales if no part of them was to be believed at all?
Hush now.
Hush.”

Nothing about this story feels preachy or didactic, it really does exploit the fairy tale modality in the best possible ways. It feels appropriate for a YA audience and adult audience alike, but you have to appreciate the fairy tale vibes and all that comes with that. It is dark, and there are moments of danger and peril, but these are all moments of growth and exploration, too. The writing is wonderful, and blending of multiple POV narration and multiple timelines with classical fairy tale rhythm and style is an affecting and enchanting blend, and the story itself shows a young woman finding out who and how she wants to be in the world, and we can all find a bit of ourselves in her journey, if we’re willing to brave the forest’s edge.

I want to thank the author, the publisher Ballantine – Del Ray, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

We Shall be Monsters by @alyssa_wees was a great read!
The tug of the unknown runs deep within. Where does the line between monster end and hero begin? A mother thinks she knows best in trying to shelter her daughter, but is it selfish or beneficial? The family dynamics found within this book are so co.mon and familiar, it was easy to connect with the story. Just beyond the comfort of home lies a forest that draws you in, even with the danger and mystery lurking just out of sight. Three generations have lived just outside the forest's reach but will they have the strength and ability to break free of its ties or will their decisions keep them locked within its grasp?