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?

Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC!

There is a fine line between being the hero of your own tale and becoming the monster of someone else's.

I really wanted to love this! I love the idea of a sentient forest, mischievous-bordering-on-cruel fae, anthropomorphic animals, and a curse with a countdown? Give me more. Unfortunately, stylistically, what (I think) was meant to evoke whimsy instead bordered on purple prose. I enjoyed the dual POV with Virginia and Gemma, more so Virginia, but I also felt like the story dragged through the middle and the ending was too abrupt.

This will be a 5⭐ for many readers, just not for me.

Review will be posted on Goodreads, and run from 9/29/24 in perpetuity

This was a beautiful book about ugly things!what we think of monsters, is not always the case.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I loved this book! It was dark, magical, and ethereal...all the makings of a great fairytale. The alternating perspectives between Gemma and her mother add depth. The book's themes explore the consequences of ignoring the truth, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, and what it means to be a monster. I was fully enveloped in this world.

And look at that cover art...Amazing!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! This dark, gothic, spooky tale was surprisingly deep and emotional. Not my usual cup of tea but I remained engaged and am glad I picked it up.

I want to start by thanking NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of "We Shall Be Monsters" by Alyssa Wees. This novel is a haunting and beautifully written exploration of what it means to be human. Wees masterfully blends elements of gothic horror and lyrical prose to create a story that is both chilling and deeply moving. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns. Overall, I give it four stars for its captivating storytelling and emotional depth.

Gemma is a girl drawn to the forest, regardless of the warnings of monsters from her mother. When her mother is taken and replaced with a shadow, Gemma must decide to listen to her mother's warnings or to enter the woods and rescue her.

This book goes between two POVs, Gemma and her mother, Virginia. I loved the back and forth, which allowed a richer reading experience and a deeper understanding of the characters.  It's a story many mothers and daughters experience. Virginia tries to protect Gemma and raise her differently than she was raised, but Gemma must learn for herself. I loved this story. Filled with mystery, magic, and monsters, it's a story of learning to accept that maybe there is a little monster in all of us. It's up to each person to decide what to do with it and decide if you can love someone else's monster.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

A beautifully written, lyrical tale that captures the imagination with its blend of monsters, fairies, and themes of forbidden love and betrayal. As my first experience with Wees’s work, I was struck by her enchanting prose, which perfectly balances whimsy and haunting elements.

The narrative immerses you in a world where magic intertwines with darkness, creating a captivating atmosphere that kept me turning pages.

We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees (publishing 11/12/24) is an atmospheric dark fantasy following the story of three generations of women and their relationship with each other and the magical forest right outside their house. There’s fairies, witches, sprites, wolves, and of course, monsters.

The story slowly unfolds through the alternating POVs of Gemma, a teenager, and her mother, Virginia. When the Slit Witch takes her mother, Gemma goes into the forest to find her and ultimately finds new understanding of the forest and herself.

The writing is beautiful and introspective which makes it a bit slower of a read, at least for me. I really liked the dual POV here because it showcased how sometimes parents may hide things from their kids to protect them but how that can lead to resentment in those relationships.

I recommend this to anyone who loves a magical forest, coming of age story, complicated, mother-daughter relationships, and introspective writing. I’ll be purchasing a copy for myself when it publishes! I mean look at that pretty cover!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own! I will post my review on October 31 on Instagram @bookologist_phd

This book is full of mysterious creatures, fairy tales and secrets, and the alternating stories of Virginia (Gigi) and Gemma and their connection to the woods bordering the family antiques store. As the title suggests, the story focuses on monsters— how do we recognize them, what makes one a monster, is a monster doomed to always be a monster or is redemption possible, is it better to know that monsters exist or to have to discover it on your own later, would monsters be less terrifying if we knew the truth about them earlier instead of our imagination filling in the details from the vague stories/threats we are told. The story also turns out to be inspirational when Gemma finally realizes the truth about herself, her parents, the woods, and the monsters, and seeks to use her power and knowledge to make things better.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Gemma lives in a small town in Michigan near a forest she’s grown up around. She plays in the woods even though she’s been told time and time again by her mother that they are not safe and mysteriously forgets about gallivanting in the woods with faeries. Everything changes when her mother gets kidnapped and replaced by a smoke spell cast by the Split Witch. Gemma knows her mother’s life depends on her and Gemma must go against the instinct instilled in her, telling her the woods aren’t safe.

I am disappointed with this book. I’m a Michigan girl, I was hoping for an exploration of the uniqueness of Michigan. Maybe some native plants, typical wildlife, a spell cast with magical Great Lakes water. Michigan was mentioned once, Ann Arbor was mentioned once, and that’s about all I got. We Shall Become Monsters was repetitive. Countless times I had to skim through the rest of a paragraph because the author said the same thing about four different times. I never connected with the book. I never felt engrossed or included. The pacing was odd, the two narratives were odd, the way events kind of jumped around was odd; resulting in the storytelling feeling stilted. Some characters were unnecessary, like Silvanus. He didn’t really serve a purpose other than initially engaging Gemma with the woods when she was little and then getting in her way up until the end of the book. Lastly, I really wanted this book to have some sort of creepy woods factor. I think it had great potential to be eerie. The Hunting Beast garden was awesome with all the bones sticking out and gnarly plants growing. That would have made the book better for me.