As a mega fan of Tara Sim, I knew I had to read We Shall Be Monsters. Plus don’t even get me started on how nostalgic Frankenstein is for me! And We Shall Be Monsters is a great story about revenge, love, and sacrifice. Keep reading this book review of We Shall Be Monsters for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
We Shall Be Monsters is about resurrection born of love. I adored Kajal and her character growth in this one is truly fabulous. Full of twists and turns, We Shall Be Monsters explores what we would do for our siblings. What we would sacrifice. And who we would compromise. Would you destroy the world for your family? And I love that Sim explores siblings and family not only in Kajal, but also in some other side characters (shhh spoilers). It illustrates the differences in how we treat and see our siblings.
How they see us and what they will do for us. Because love isn’t always a straight forward two way street. We Shall Be Monsters also explores the power we could have if we opened up the idea that we could have it. Sometimes the person standing in front of our own power is ourselves. The circumstances of our birth versus our own choices. We Shall Be Monsters is a re-imagining that takes on a life of its own.
With some twists at the end that had me SHOCKED, it’s an action packed first book. We Shall Be Monsters explores beliefs and hope even if it’s futile. What kind of impact can we make as individuals?
About the Author
Tara Sim is the author of The Dark Gods trilogy, the Scavenge the Stars duology, and the Timekeeper trilogy. She can typically be found wandering the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she’s not chasing cats or lurking in bookstores, she writes books about magic, murder, and mayhem.
Author Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14118411.Tara_Sim
Website: http://www.tarasim.com
Instagram: http://www.twitter.com/EachStarAWorld
Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/tarasimauthor
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