We Shall Be Monsters

A Novel

By: Alyssa Wees

Narrated by: 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.

Critic reviews

Praise for Alyssa Wees’ Nocturne

“An utterly unique, lyrical play on the Persephone and Hades myth for fans of Neil Gaiman or Madeline Miller.”—Booklist (starred review)

“An enchanting and lyrical fever dream bursting with dazzling prose and dark romance, Nocturne enthralled me.”—Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows

“Richly imagined and heartbreakingly told, Nocturne is a lush gothic romance that will dance you dizzy.”—Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

“No one writes the way Alyssa Wees does, and Nocturne is her latest masterpiece. Like the ballet pulsing at its core, the story is both sinuous and quick on its feet, leading the reader through a labyrinth of emotions that range from the brightest passion to the darkest grief. A powerful, haunting read.”—Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of Strike the Zither

“A beautiful nightmare and a fairy tale all at once . . . Wees’s lyrical prose swept me away in this unique story about the battle between love and despair. Nocturne is not to be missed.”—Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of The Crown’s Game

“In Nocturne, Wees robes the classic story of Beauty and the Beast in lush prose and infinite splendor. It’s a fever dream of a novel, surreal and intricate, and enchanting in every way.”—Ava Reid, author of The Wolf and the Woodsman

“Haunting and immersive—like a dream poured onto a page . . . Alyssa Wees has deftly spun a dark tale of romance, betrayal, and destiny. Nocturne kept me in its sinister grip from the first page to the last.”—Heather Walter, author of Malice

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.

Hit deep

I loved this whimsical take on generational trauma. As mom, this one really hit deep with how far a mother will go to protect her child, but still manage to mess things up anyway.