This book was such a great read, perfect for fall and wonderfully dark. The storytelling is so rich and beautiful, the writing lush and evocative. I really enjoyed the themes it explores and the complex mother-daughter relationship, but also all the fairytale elements and tropes. If you are in the mood for a dark fairytale, then this book is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. I greatly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it more than the author's previous work. I loved that the narrative was told from not only the daughter's perspective but also the mother's. The story was engaging and kept me drawn in and I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. The ending of this book was much better than the author's previous in my opinion. Bravo to the author on this really well written and engaging book.

Alyssa Wees first novel was fantastic. I was lucky enough to be granted an ARC from NetGalley, and enjoyed this immensely. Modern fantasy, something I have gotten into more and more. I appreciated the growth with mother and daughter, and the overall story that I don't want to spoil. I highly recommend this book!

Gemma and her mother live in a house filled with antiques at the edge of a large, dark wood. Gemma has always felt a pull to the woods, despite her mother forbidding her from ever going in them, and after witnessing a life-changing event she doesn't have a choice any longer. She'll have to enter the woods to protect her future, as well as her mother's. I loved this fairy-filled coming of age tale that speaks to the lengths we will go to for the ones we love.

I had the pleasure of reading this book as my first ever ARC and it did not disappoint.

Wees was able to create a compelling fantasy in a more modern setting. Even though I cannot pinpoint the exact time period, I did pick up on a GameBoy reference. The ambiguity made this fantasy even more unique.

This book gave me the same feeling I had as a young child reading Coraline. Gemma’s story into the woods feels like an older and more magical counterpart to Coraline’s journey to the other mother’s world.

In a similar fashion, the story also reminded me of the 1985 movie, Return to Oz.

I enjoyed the dual POVs between Gemma and her mother, Virginia. Being able to understand Virginia’s motivations makes the origin of this tale even more tragic. You really feel how high the stakes are for Gemma’s family and what a parent will sacrifice for a child.

If you are in the mood for a darker fairy tale, then this book is for you.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, Del Ray, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable in all it’s hauntingly dark and witchy ways — Wees has a unique writing style that kept me a little bit separate from the protagonists and allowed me to view the complex relationships from the sidelines, which all told served this story well. Rather grim and gothic with nuggets of love and even some light.

This book is marketed as a gothic fairytale - however, I think it is much more than that. The themes it explores and the depth of the characters makes the story telling so rich and beautiful. The mother-daughter bond is central to the story and gives the opportunity to explore what this relationship means and the various aspect of such bonds. This book, in short, is a great read.

This review is given freely and honestly. I received a review copy from NetGalley

Wonderfully dark! Full of twists and turns. How far would you go for love? What if you do something horrible for a good reason? What makes a monster? I really enjoyed this story! It really makes you take a moment and think… how much monster is within you?

I love dark and living landscape books, fairytale retellings that leave you wondering if the magical worlds would really be so great, and makes you want to go by your middle name so that you identity isn't stolen. This book is a beautiful lyrical story that shows the lengths mothers and daughters will go to protect each other, and how often, it isn't enough.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC!

We Shall Be Monsters was a wonderfully written and beautifully woven story about what it means to be brave, what it means to be evil, and explores the bonds between mother and daughter in a darkly whimsical way.

I loved the gothic tones of this book and was absorbed by the evils that may be lurking within the forest. To me, the forest felt wholly like another character, or an overseer, where it gave each character their motivations, their desires, and their tests of courage. What does it mean to be a monster? What does it mean to be brave for your loved ones? How strong is love when faced with the seemingly impossible?

The two main characters, Gemma and Virginia, were compelling though I found myself wanting to see more of their interactions together, rather than apart. Much of the book from Virginia's point of view was a series of flashbacks that give the reader context to the matter at hand, which makes sense, but I think the climax of the novel would have been given more weight had we seen Gemma and Virginia together for more of the book.

All that to say, I really enjoyed this fairy tale-like novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next from this author. Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey for this eARC.

*We Shall Be Monsters* by Alyssa Wees is a haunting, lyrical fantasy that explores the complexities of familial bonds amidst a dark, magical setting. Gemma Cassata, drawn to the forbidden woods near her Michigan home, discovers a hidden fairyland despite her mother's warnings. When Gemma's mother, Virginia, is taken by a witch, Gemma embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue her, uncovering hidden truths along the way.

Wees masterfully weaves alternating perspectives of Gemma and Virginia, revealing a family history steeped in curses, witches, and forgotten love. The atmospheric setting, blending dark fairytales with modern life, brings a sense of foreboding to Gemma's quest. Virginia's determination to protect her daughter, even at great personal cost, adds emotional depth to the story, making it as much about the ties that bind mothers and daughters as it is about magic.

The novel’s prose is rich and evocative, pulling readers into a world where every step through the woods feels both enchanting and perilous. Fans of dark fantasy and fairy tales will find this story of defiance, love, and sacrifice deeply compelling. *We Shall Be Monsters* is a poignant, imaginative tale that lingers long after the final page.

I am a sucker for reimagined fairy tales, so Alyssa Wees' book We Shall Be Monsters immediately drew me in and kept me captivated. It pulls on all the fairy tales tropes: dark woods, monsters, enchanting fairies, and a hero's quest. The tale is portrayed through the dual perspectives of Virginia (the mother) and Gemma (the daughter). Perhaps because of my situation in life, I enjoyed Virginia's story better than Gemma's, but I can imagine that a young adult reader would really enjoy Gemma's narrative. The writing is lush and evocative and perfect for a fall read.

Thanks to Random House - Ballentine and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 star
This book has a dark atmosphere to it that is absolutely perfect for fall. It also has fairies, wolves, witches, and other magical creatures. I loved the descriptions of the world that made it feel like I was there. It shows the complex relationship between mother and daughters which I feel like when I was younger I would not have grasped/ enjoyed as much but now having a daughter myself, I felt like I was able to truly grasp that and appreciate it in this book. Now my only thing that has me rating this under 4 stars was just that the daughter’s pov reads a little too young for me. I know that she is only 12 and then moves to her being 15 but I felt like I had a hard time staying immersed during her parts. Overall I would recommend this book if you are looking for a magical fall book that has a great story line that mixes fantasy with a more real world feel.

I will also be including a review on my YouTube channel in my monthly wrap up at the end of September.

We Shall Be Monsters is a power tale of mother and daughter; the monsters in the woods and inside of us. Alyssa Wees weaves a tale told from the perspective of Gemma and her mother, Virginia. This dark fairytale is filled with fae, witches, & creatures of all sorts.

Quest after quest, our characters are thrusted into situations where they barely manage to escape. I felt as though many of the situations were too easily solved. For example, after the bloody entry to the Woods Below, Gemma and her mother just wandered around for the exit. It felt very anticlimactic. The solution to many of the problems they faced were solved with a whisper or a convenient touch of magic.

While I loved many of the characters, I disliked how Wees dismantled the fae prince, Silvanus, into a 1 dimensional, singularly focused "hero". While most of the characters felt fleshed out, Silvanus at the end felt like a poorly written comedic relief insert. I was disappointed in the changes to his character.

This story was not just magic and fae. It was the multi-generational trauma, it was the love we have for our mothers, it was the truth we see when we finally look in the shadows.

"We Shall Be Monsters" by Alyssa Wees is a mesmerizing dive into gothic horror with a fresh, feminist twist. Set in a richly imagined, darkly atmospheric world, the novel reimagines classic monster lore through the eyes of its complex female protagonist, who confronts her own monstrous transformations and the societal constraints that shape her.

Wees’s lyrical prose and vivid descriptions create an eerie and immersive reading experience. The narrative explores themes of identity, agency, and rebellion against oppressive norms, all while delivering suspense and psychological depth. The interplay of horror and empowerment provides a nuanced commentary on the nature of monstrosity and the fight for self-definition.

In essence, "We Shall Be Monsters" is a compelling, thought-provoking read that offers both thrills and a profound exploration of the female experience in the face of fear and societal expectation.

We Shall be Monsters by Alyssa Wees is a dark and atmospheric fairytale that has two narrative voices, Gemma & Virginia. Gemma, the daughter, is forbidden to enter the enchanted woods near their home by her mother, Virginia, but has no choice when her mother is kidnapped by the Slit Witch.

The author really has two distinctive narrative voices here. It really is easy to see who is Gemma and Virginia as you read, which sometimes authors have a hard time doing. The world building by the author is immersive, you truly find yourself getting lost in it. There are numerous quests and magical creatures.

At this stories core is the mother-daughter relationship. How one can swear to “never be like her” and find yourself there, exactly like her, doing things you swore you’d never do. This story also makes you ask the question, just because you do something out of love, does it make it “right”?

Overall I really enjoyed this book & would recommend it to others.

We Shall Be Monsters is a delightfully dark and atmospheric fairytale that intricately explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. The dual POV is handled exceptionally well, with distinct voices that still reflect the parallels between Gemma and Virginia. The author's vivid descriptions made me feel as though I had been dropped directly into the story. Often, when a book feels unpredictable, it’s because the author lacked clear direction, but this is a rare case where the unpredictability felt intentional, creating a great sense of mystery for the reader. While there were some minor pacing issues, and a few problems were resolved too easily, I absolutely loved this book overall. I would pitch it as Coraline meets the writing style and atmosphere of T. Kingfisher and Holly Black—a perfect vibe for the autumnal season.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book deserves a million stars. The prose is so beautiful, and the two narrative voices in the story, mother and daughter, are so distinct and perfect. It's a true fairytale, a little bit sad, but with an earned happy ending. It's greatest strength, other than how deeply kind and loving it is, is the imaginative nature of the quests. It feels magical like Labyrinth or The Neverending Story, like you read it as a child and forgot it, then came back as an adult to find all the wonder still there.

We Shall Be Monsters is a thrilling reimagining of classic monster tales that I found absolutely captivating. I loved how Wees skillfully intertwines the stories of iconic literary monsters with a fresh, feminist perspective, giving voice to characters often relegated to the sidelines. The writing is rich and immersive, pulling me straight into a dark, atmospheric world.
Overall, the unique premise and strong character development made it an enjoyable read that kept me hooked until the end.

3.75 stars! This was a perfect little fairy tale to get me in the mood for autumn. I ended up loving Virginia’s POV much more than I thought I would and loved that at the end of the day, this was really a story about family. I appreciate the romance in it, but it was refreshing to have the focus of a fairytale be on different kinds of love. This is for readers who want a nostalgic feeling as it felt like a fable from my youth, and I think because we follow daughters, mothers, and grandmothers, a rebellious, adventurous girl of any age would find a way to connect with these characters. Pleasantly surprised by this!