It's a good premise and I was excited to read it. I wasn't a fan of the anachronisms including language that doesn't fit for the period. I did expect historical horror which I did not get. I'll definitely shelve the author to try again with another later though.

Life is rough in the 18th century French countryside—even more so if you're being hunted by a legendary beast.

Joséphine and her best friend, Clara, are shepherdesses in the small French hamlet, Mende, which has recently been haunted by the repeated and mysterious deaths of its denizens. Most folks blame a wolf-like mythic beast that targets its prey when they are alone and helpless, but for Joséphine and many of the other village women, the dangers are much closer to home. Abuse and mistreatment by the men in town are so common a spectacle that new bruises are barely remarked upon even among the abused. After saving the life of a young girl, Joséphine decides the beast itself is the perfect cover to finally gain the freedom they all yearn for.

This is based on a true story from 18th century France, and in that way, it reminded me of The Glutton, though the historical retelling was more poorly done here. It was hard to get past the anachronism in both language and subject. Otherwise, it was an easy read, generally empowering in the way this sort of historical fiction is meant to be, with simple, morally black and white characters. I didn't expect, but did enjoy the sapphic elements between Joséphine and Clara. However, if it weren't for the fact that I learned an interesting piece of history, I wouldn't say this story was particularly remarkable.

I loved this powerful rage book. It’s violent and heartbreaking and beautiful. Goodness, do I love these girls. And Louis. The two main girls are lesbians, and Louis and Pascal are gay. Then there’s the platonic love between all the abused girls, the fierce, fiery protection and bond between them. And the sheep are great too, honestly. And the parrot. It’s the fierceness of this love, this protectiveness, that makes this book so powerful and beautiful. Violence out of love. But not pointless violence, just protective violence. Self defense and defense of others. There’s plenty of diversity as well, since the village is mixed between white French peasants, Ethiopian French peasants, and a few rich jerks who are of course white. Plus there are straight girls, lesbian girls, and gay boys. Also Meme is suffering from dementia/Alzheimer’s, so there’s another kind of diversity. This book is fierce, raw beauty. I did keep wondering if anything was going to come of one of the girls being named Belle in this small French town with a beast prowling around, but no, no hints of beauty and the beast. Which is fine. It would not have fit at all. It's just a thing that I found amusing. Back to the point though, this book is exactly the kind of story people need today, and it's one I could re-read over and over. An essential addition to the queer canon, and one of my top books of 2024.

In the 1660s, something is stalking the poor region of Gevaudon, hunting shepherds and shepherdesses instead of the sheep. But for young shepherdesses Josephine and Clara and the other women of their village, the terror is also in their own homes; the men of their village are often violent and the threat of starvation is always one bad winter away. A monster really isn't that bad of a concern. So when the pair find a young girl who watched her father kill her older brother and pin it on the beast, they fake her death and hide her away from the violent man. They use this scheme to try and save other girls, but as soldiers close in on the monster and the beast seems to get closer, problems just keep multiplying.
The sensibilities veered pretty modern, but since this is a YA book, I can let it slide. Josephine's character growth was satisfying to watch, and the crew of side characters were delightful. It was really fun to see a YA take on the Beast of Gevaudon, and Griffis's balance of the horror of the beast and the horror of their daily lives. This is a really satisfying tale of female rage. All in all, I really enjoyed it.

A historical feminist fiction. As a woman, I loved the feminist aspect. As a horror lover, I was intrigued about the historical part of the beast of Le Gevaduan as a secondary plot. I did want more of that brought to the forefront but not everyone will have that complaint, and I should probably take a break from horror every now and then anyway. While I found it really good, it wasn't a page turner for me. Thanks to net galley for providing a review copy.

**Review of *We Are the Beasts* by Gigi Griffis**

*We Are the Beasts* by Gigi Griffis is a chilling and evocative historical horror novel that draws inspiration from the infamous and unsolved mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan. Set against the backdrop of 18th-century France, this dark and atmospheric tale blends historical fiction with a gripping narrative of survival, friendship, and the desperate desire to escape a life of cruelty and oppression.

The story revolves around sixteen-year-old Joséphine and her best friend, Clara, who live in the small French village of Mende. The town is shaken by a series of brutal, mysterious deaths, and the whispers of a monstrous beast stalking the countryside become impossible to ignore. While most of the villagers see the beast as a divine punishment, the girls see it as a rare opportunity to escape their grim lives. Both are trapped in abusive, oppressive environments—facing alcoholic fathers, violent brothers, and homes that feel like prisons. They hatch a dangerous plan to use the beast’s attacks as cover for faking their friends' deaths and hiding them away until they can escape to safety.

What makes *We Are the Beasts* so compelling is its mix of historical realism and gut-wrenching emotional depth. Griffis expertly brings to life the harsh realities of life in rural France during the 18th century, showing the girls’ determination to break free from the stranglehold of their circumstances. The novel’s sense of dread is palpable, and Griffis crafts an atmosphere of looming threat, where danger isn’t just from the mysterious beast, but from the villagers themselves and the bitter winter they must endure with little food.

Joséphine and Clara are multi-dimensional characters, both sympathetic and resourceful. Their bond is the emotional heart of the story, and the way they cling to each other in the face of unimaginable terror and hardship is deeply moving. However, the perilousness of their plan keeps readers on edge as the stakes grow higher with each chapter. The tension is unrelenting, and the line between survival and death becomes thinner and thinner as the girls’ scheme begins to unravel.

The beast itself is almost secondary to the real horror at the novel’s core—what humans are capable of in the name of survival and freedom. The suspense builds as Joséphine and Clara navigate their dangerous game of deception, knowing that their faked deaths could become all too real if they’re not careful. The ominous presence of the beast lurking in the mountains only adds to the sense of urgency, making each step they take fraught with danger.

Griffis' prose is atmospheric and haunting, perfectly capturing the tension of a world on the brink of collapse. She doesn’t shy away from the rawness of the girls' experiences, which makes their quest for freedom all the more powerful. The blend of supernatural mystery with the brutal realities of human cruelty is done in such a way that it will leave readers questioning not just the nature of the beast, but also the monsters that lurk within the human soul.

*We Are the Beasts* is a novel that will keep readers hooked with its mix of historical horror, dark mystery, and the fierce desire for escape. It’s a gripping tale about the cost of survival, the power of friendship, and the terrifying lengths people will go to in order to reclaim their freedom. If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong dose of horror and emotional depth, this book will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page.

I had such high hopes for this book but couldn’t get through it with how it’s set so far in the past but the characters say things and have mannerisms from current times.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with an eARC of We Are the Beasts in exchange for my honest review!

While I wouldn't say this stands out to me overtly compared to other books, it remains compelling enough with the supernatural and tense atmosphere that it builds up on top of its familiar YA fantasy-horror formula. It uses a feminist foundation to draw inspiration from the real-life mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan, which I hadn't even been aware of before picking up this book. I'm definitely glad to learn that new piece of history. I have some issues with the pacing that keep me from being fully locked in the whole time, but this can get balanced out by the investment I grow in Joséphine and Clara's relationship as well as the dynamics they form with other girls in the town. It all makes for a found-family sort of sphere that solidly charms me. I also appreciate Gigi Griffis's personal idea of what the beast was, and you know what, I do think it makes some sense.

Overall, I'm officially rating We Are the Beasts 3.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 3 stars. I'll look out for more of Griffis's work, including The Wicked Unseen.

I read another novel by this author, Wicked Unseen, and enjoyed it, so I was anxious to dive into We Are the Beasts. That fact that it's historical horror set in France appealed to me even more. Although the year is 1765, other than occasional mentions of houses and clothing this novel could take place present day. The modern character dialogue disappointed me. It's a great premise, but I think this would have worked better as a short story instead of a full length novel. This book didn't work for me like I'd hoped, but it won't prevent me from checking out this author's future releases.

This is one of my favorite ARCs that I’ve gotten the opportunity to read prior to release. I had a really good time reading this one, and I thought the plot, writing, and characters were extremely likeable and solid. The themes of feminism and female empowerment and strength were some of my favorite aspects of this book and I am looking forward to hearing more from this author in the future

I didn't want to put this book down!

I picked it up because I like reading about darker, more mysterious parts of history like the Beast of Gévaudan. But I fell in love with it because of the way it portrayed girls and women standing up for and protecting each other in a world that abandons and hurts them. While the action/inaction of the men was infuriating, I actually found a lot of hope through the way the women helped each other.

I want to read more from this author now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC.

beautiful historical fiction with feminine rage? absolutely glorious. it pulls you in and keeps you captivated

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this book and share my thoughts!
It was an interesting historical fiction because a part of the inspiration is from the story of The Beast of Gevaudan. The Beast of Gevaudan was believed to be a man-eating animal that terrorized the province of Gevaudan and has been a mystery ever since! But, the main focal point of the story is about this group of girls trying to save themselves while the village is distracted by the killings & hunting of the beast.
The book has a strong message of feminism as characters like Josephine & Clara show lots of strength & bravery despite their traumas. Also, the book reflects on misogyny, racism, & sexism.

I felt like it was an ok book. I felt like it dragged on a bit in some parts, and it was tough to get tied down to the setting if that makes sense. It seemed pretty plain with the details. There was a lot of repetition throughout the book regarding the language.
There is romance between Clara & Josephine, and I loved how the author expressed their love for one another through their actions. It is very PG & wholesome!

I wasn't a big fan of the beast reveal, but I thought it was a great way to introduce more of a realistic theory as to what the beast could have been back in the day. It made sense but took away a bit of the horror aspect for me. I would say this is definitely a thriller.

I didnt get a chance to read and review this book before it’s publish date. However now that I have a read it I gave it 4 stars

The writing was immersive and the fear felt real. The characters were interesting and had me hooked the whole way through. The themes were interesting and I think this is an important read for people, especially young girls, to read. I think it showcases the why and how of people become beasts.

I thought I would love this horror, feminist and historical monster retelling, but it just fell short of expectations for me. From a YA's perspective didn't do it for me, and overall, it felt a bit choppy with the writing style. The ending was I think could have been fleshed out more as well.

Mid-18th century France: sixteen-year-old Joséphine is the only survivor of her family after a fever swept through the village. Now she lives with her best friend, Clara. When out grazing their sheep, the two stumble upon a boy’s mutilated body. Fearing this is the work of “The Beast” that has been preying on young girls, Clara runs for help. But Joséphine soon learns the grisly truth from the boy’s frightened sister, hiding in the woods. To save the girl from her brother’s fate, they fake her death and find her a safe house. The risk of discovery quickly heightens when soldiers arrive with orders to hunt the beast. Arrogant and ungrateful, the soldiers expect to be sheltered and fed by the poor villagers who barely have enough for the upcoming winter. However, if Joséphine and Clara’s secret is discovered, the danger posed by the villagers will be more terrifying than starvation or the Beast.

Our young characters are faced with difficult choices. Eventually, Joséphine realizes they must either “[f]ace the monsters we know or risk the ones we don’t”; this theme runs throughout the story like a dark shadow. Griffis uses the setting well to heighten the sense of unease as our characters trek through hauntingly silent fields and rainy, dark forests. The book has strong elements of found family and plenty of character development as Joséphine struggles to overcome her own fears to save those she loves.

A historical horror novel for young adult readers, We Are the Beasts was inspired by the unsolved mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan. Content warnings include abuse, racism, homophobia, depictions of violence, and strong language. With compelling twists and turns, this is a well-written story of control, overcoming trauma, and standing up for what’s right.

Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/we-are-the-beasts/

I really enjoyed this YA historical fiction! While this book does not contain graphic sexual scenes nor a significant amount of language, I do feel a mature reader is needed due to themes present: violence, abuse, abandonment, starvation, assault, racism, classism and religious persecution for starters.

I was very interested in this mystery/thriller take on the mystery of the Beast of Gevaudon. Set in 18th century France, we follow two young women on their trials while living in a village plagued by a mysterious "beast" who has been killing off young people in the area. The girls are very poor, shepherdesses living with an aged and less than lucid grandmother. Unfortunately, the danger in the wild while tending their sheep is really minimal in comparison to the danger of living in that time. The political climate of the time meant women, lower class, "foreigners" and differences in sexuality were treated as expendable, without any real rights.

It was interesting how the author so clearly showed how the King allowed the soldiers to mistreat everyone, the local officials allowed everyone under them to be mistreated, and then the Priest and men of the village were allowed to mistreat the women, etc. The abuse just rolled down hill.

I, for one, was not bothered by the lack of historically accurate language. The use of modern language actually helped me stay engaged in the story and spend less time trying to figure out what was actually being said. I also didn't mind the lack of extensive time period world building. The story was set in 18th century France, we get an idea of how poor they are, the general type of clothes they are wearing, how they are expected to act and the methods of survival (shepherding, gardening, merchants, etc) - I feel like that was more than adaquate. I did not need to know the color of every article of clothing or the shade of brown of the bed roll - that info does not help me through a story. Personal preference here, I know! I can see how one might be underwhelmed if they go into this anticipating a true historical fiction however.

I will agree, this did not feel like a horror story to me. It was definitely more of a mystery/thriller in my opinion. That being said, it was very interesting, thought provoking, maddening and entertaining for this reader!!

So, I requested this book and after it was approved, I realized it was YA. I've got nothing against YA, it's just not for me personally. I generally am not interested and choose not to read it. I prefer more adult themes in my books.

And then I read this one and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. This book is all girl power - filled with badass, bold young heroines who truly just kick ass.

I loved the characters, the story (based off the beast of Gevaudan), the representation, the pure power in this book. If I had a daughter, I would want her to read this one.

The ending made me cry, I was invested all the way through. I highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoy YA horror!

Gigi Griffis’ We Are the Beasts offers a chilling look into the dark, oppressive world of 18th-century rural France, blending historical horror with a feminist undercurrent. Inspired by the true mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan, the novel crafts a daring narrative centered on two teenage girls desperate to escape the cages of their lives.

The premise is gripping: Joséphine and Clara use the chaos caused by a mysterious beast to stage their friends’ “deaths” and orchestrate their freedom from abusive homes. The story’s strength lies in its concept, where the girls’ courage and ingenuity shine through as they defy societal norms and challenge the brutality of their existence. Griffis deftly captures the bleakness of the era, weaving it with moments of dark humor and camaraderie that make the girls’ plight both heartbreaking and inspiring.

However, while the foundation of the story is solid, the execution sometimes falters. At times, the pacing feels sluggish, and the narrative could have benefited from tighter editing to sharpen its impact. Repetition in dialogue—like the overuse of “Mon Dieu” (my god) and “Oh la vache” (oh my god)—can pull the reader out of the immersive setting, and the resolution of the Beast’s identity feels predictable. Readers familiar with other interpretations of the Beast of Gévaudan may find themselves yearning for a more unique take, such as a hyena or giant wolf, rather than revisiting the lion theory.

That said, there are moments of levity that stand out, such as the humorous depiction of sheep confronting a lioness, which injects a touch of whimsy into the otherwise grim tale. These lighter notes provide a welcome contrast to the story’s darker themes, making the girls’ journey feel all the more human.

We Are the Beasts is not without flaws, but it offers an engaging exploration of resilience and rebellion against oppression. While it may not achieve the same cinematic grandeur as Brotherhood of the Wolf—a comparison the author may inadvertently invite—it still carves out its own space as a worthwhile and entertaining read. For fans of historical horror and feminist narratives, Griffis’ novel delivers a thought-provoking and adventurous story.