We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees has a more detached, abstract feel than a typical novel, reminiscent of actual fairy tales. The story follows two perspectives: Gemma, a young girl growing up on the edge of a fairy wood, and her mother, Virginia, struggling to protect her from any fear and danger. We really only get to know them each in broad strokes, focusing less on who they are and more on what they’re going through and how they face it, which works well for the concept but might disappoint readers looking for more character connection & development.

Where the story really shines is in creating atmosphere. The woods are ordinary at first glance, but the constant awareness of what could be hiding just out of sight, and the seemingly random encounters the characters have there really make it feel otherworldly, as you can’t quite predict what might pop up next and whether it’s a danger or not, and that feeling permeates Gemma and Virginia’s lives, giving uneasy weight to activities—like having your hair brushed or an adult taking a private phone call—that would be perfectly innocuous in most other settings.

This story is more theme focused, much like a traditional fairy tale, but I think some of the smaller metaphors/plotlines (Silvanus, the fairy prince, and the question of what makes a hero vs. what makes a monster) could have been pared down for greater emphasis on the main theme of parent-child (specifically mother-daughter) relationships & intergenerational trauma, or perhaps that question would have been better explored within the overarcing theme if it had been explored more through Ash or Virginia instead of Silvanus. Also, the final reveal about the Hunting Beast & how it is dealt with seems to serve a theme of more general womanhood that I think competes with the main theme more than it strengthens it.

All in all, it’s an intriguing story that does provide payoff on its promises, I’m just not sure if what it’s trying to say is a little muddied by how much it’s trying to say.  Either way, it offers a lot to discuss and could be a really good book club read. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.