Hello, everyone! This evening I’ve got a review of Tara Sim’s upcoming release, We Shall Be Monsters. I’ve read most of Sim’s other books and am a huge fan. So, my expectations were pretty high going into this one. Read on to see if it lived up to them!

Frankenstein meets Indian mythology in this twisty, darkly atmospheric fantasy where the horror is not the monsters you face but the ones you create.

After her sister Lasya’s sudden death, Kajal vows to do whatever it takes to bring her back. No cost is too great, even if it means preventing Lasya’s soul from joining the cycle of reincarnation. But as Kajal prepares for the resurrection, her sister’s trapped soul warps into a bhuta—a violent, wraith-like spirit hell-bent on murdering those who wronged it in life. With each kill, the bhuta becomes stronger and fiercer, and Kajal’s chances of resurrecting Lasya with her soul intact grow slimmer.

Blamed for Lasya’s rampage and condemned as a witch, Kajal is locked away with little hope of escape. That is, until two strangers who label themselves rebels arrive and offer to free her. The catch: She must resurrect the kingdom’s fallen crown prince, aiding their coup to overthrow the usurper who sits the throne. Desperate to return to Lasya’s body, Kajal rushes to revive the crown prince . . . only to discover that she’s resurrected another boy entirely.

All her life, Kajal has trusted no one but her sister. But with Lasya dead and rebels ready to turn her over to the usurper’s ruthless soldiers, Kajal is forced to work with the boy she mistakenly revived. Together, they must find the crown prince before the rebels discover her mistake, or the bhuta finally turns its murderous fury on the person truly responsible for Lasya’s death: Kajal.

***Thank you to Penguin Group – Nancy Paulsen Books for providing a copy of We Shall Be Monsters via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I was in a bit of a reading slump going into this book. So, I was worried my mood would impact my ability to enjoy We Shall Be Monsters despite how much I’ve loved Sim’s other work. Fortunately, I was wrong to worry because I could not put this book down. I’m hoping it cured my slump, but I had a great time with it regardless. The mix of mythology, horror, mystery, and compelling characters kept me hooked from start to finish.

The plot of We Shall Be Monsters had its claws in me from the very first pages. What a way to start a story! I was intrigued by Kajal and all of her mysteries from the moment she busted out of her coffin. The pace of the story was steady and always had me on edge wondering how the pieces fit together. Sim did a fantastic job of dropping breadcrumbs that helped me put things together while also usually having events be not quite how I expected them to go. This story balanced the hint to surprise ratio really well.

I loved the world-building in We Shall Be Monsters. It was all so fascinating while never becoming overwhelming. The Indian-inspired setting and mythology were really cool, and the intricacies of the world and its history were revealed at a steady pace that felt tied to the story rather than getting too info-dumpy. It was the perfect backdrop for exploring the theme of whether good and evil are inherent traits or a path made up of a collection of choices. Sim introduced us to some truly terrifying creatures and circumstances that illustrated how humans can choose to be the most horrible monsters of all.

All of the characters in We Shall Be Monsters stole my heart, and each one had depth, even the side characters. Kajal’s struggle with grief, guilt, loneliness, and constantly feeling like an outcast really spoke to me. She became so focused on what she’d lost that it consumed her and kept her from being able to build any new connections. I enjoyed seeing her amass a found family, mostly against her will. lol. She was moody, impulsive, and a bit chaotic, but she also cared deeply, at least about the things that mattered to her. I’m not going to talk about the other characters, but I implore you to pick up this book and meet them, especially the animal companion.

There’s only one minor critique I’d provide for We Shall Be Monsters. Some parts of the plot seemed to resolve too easily. There’s one segment of the story where the characters must search for missing parts to something, and the way they managed to find them so quickly felt a bit too forced.

If you are looking for a fantasy inspired by Indian mythology with elements of mystery, horror, and a hint of romance, look no further than We Shall Be Monsters. I loved almost everything about this book, and it will definitely be added to my list of favorites. The characterization and world-building were top notch and provided ample material to explore some powerful themes. Therefore, I give We Shall Be Monsters a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Have you read We Shall Be Monsters or any of Tara Sim’s other books? What did you think of them? Let me know down in the comments! You can also check out my reviews of some of Sim’s other books, including The City of Dusk and The Midnight Kingdom.