We Shall Be Monsters

Wees (Nocturn) delivers an enchanting, eerie, and lyrical fantasy that blends fact and fairy tale. It alternates perspective between 14-year-old Gemma, growing up above a Michigan antiques shop on the border of deep woods that mysteriously beckon to her, and Gemma’s mother, Virginia, who tells Gemma frightening stories of the woods in an attempt to scare her away from them and uses her magic to remove Gemma’s memories of experiences she’s already had among the trees. Despite her mother’s efforts, however, Gemma is continually drawn to the woods, uncovering the magic and secrets lurking within. Virginia too was once drawn to the woods, a recklessness she paid for dearly when a witch cursed her true love, Gemma’s father, to transform into a beast. When, spurred by Gemma’s incursions into her domain, the witch returns and abducts Virginia, Gemma embarks on a perilous journey to save her mother and lift the curse before her 15th birthday. Wees’s rich exploration of parent-child bonds delves into themes of defiance, protection, and the enduring power of love. Evocative prose brings this dark, folkloric world to life and makes it easy to sink into both protagonists’ perspectives. Skillfully told and compulsively readable, this is sure to be a hit with fans of atmospheric fantasy. (Nov.)