We Shall Be Monsters

A Novel

De: Alyssa Wees

Narrado por: Valerie Lohman, Zura Johnson

A girl marked for death ventures into the wooded realm of the fairies to rescue her mother in this dark, lyrical fantasy about vengeful witches, beastly fathers, and the stories mothers tell to keep their daughters safe—from the author of Nocturne.

Gemma Cassata lives with her mother in an isolated antiques shop in Michigan, near a seductive patch of woods concealing an enchanted gateway to fairyland. Gemma knows she’s not supposed to go into the woods—her mother, Virginia, has warned her multiple times about the monsters that lurk there—and yet she can’t resist.

Virginia understands her daughter’s defiance. She knows the allure of the woods all too well. Her own mother warned her about the monsters, and Virginia also did not listen—until a witch cursed her true love just days before their child’s birth. So Virginia will do whatever she can to protect her daughter—even if it means stealing Gemma’s memories.

But everything changes when Gemma gets too close to the truth, and the witch takes Virginia. Now it is up to Gemma to venture deep into the mysterious woods to rescue her mother and break the curse.

Told in the alternating viewpoints of Gemma and Virginia, this novel is not only a tale of a girl’s fantastical quest through a darkly magical fairyland but also an exploration of the complex bonds between children and their parents.

©2024 Alyssa Wees (P)2024 Random House Audio

Dark Beauty and the Beast vibes!

"Amazing how only twenty little steps back into the woods had changed my life so completely."

This was as much Virginia's story, as it was Gemma's. A generational curse that you strive to break free from!
A dark fairytale that gives Beauty and the Beast vibes, but also monsters and has quests. I loved the mother/daughter dual POV. I would recommend this to anyone (especially YA's) who are looking to get into fantasy books. This was a fun and engaging read!!

The Themes are on point.

First I would like to say the narrators crushed this. I am a huge fan of the themes that are explored in this book. We get generational trauma, motherhood, womanhood, what makes a monster, and what fear does. The themes being shown through the lens of fairytales/folklore was really fun. I will say at first I thought the plot was pretty predictable but enjoyable. Later into the story there were some actual surprises so that was nice. The writing and prose was really enjoyable it was a draw you in and don’t let go kinda prose. The use of duel POV really enhanced the story and themes of this one. Overall it was enjoyable and I would recommend it.