Frankenstein meets Indian mythology in this twisty, darkly atmospheric fantasy where the real horrors are not the monsters you face, but the ones you create.
“One of the most unique and intelligent books I’ve read. . . Alluring, completely enthralling, and masterfully rendered.” —Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
Kajal knows she is not a good person. If she were, she wouldn’t selfishly be risking her sister’s soul in a dangerous bid to bring her back to life. She would let Lasya rest in peace—but Kajal cannot stand the horror of living without her.
As Kajal prepares for the resurrection, the worst happens: Her sister’s soul warps into a bhuta—a murderous, wraith-like spirit—and Kajal gets sentenced to death for her sister’s rampage. There seems little hope of escape until two strangers offer to free her. The catch: She must resurrect the kingdom’s fallen crown prince to aid a growing rebellion against a tyrannical usurper. Desperate, Kajal rushes to complete her end of the deal . . . only to discover that the boy she’s resurrected, Tav, is not the crown prince.
Now Kajal—prickly, proud, admirer of the scientific method—must team up with Tav—stubborn, reticent, and fonder of swords than of books—to find the real crown prince. With only a scalpel and her undead dog, Kutaa, at her side, Kajal must work fast before her mistake is exposed or Lasya’s bhuta turns its murderous fury on the person truly responsible for her death: Kajal herself.
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"Gripping . . . this Frankenstein-inspired story of accidental monster creation leads readers to timeless questions about true monstrosity and the responsibility of the creator for the consequences. A fantastic, magical adventure that covers a lot of ground with a large, energetic cast and a heavy infusion of fascinating and illuminating mythology."
— Booklist
Full of dark humor and darker twists, We Shall Be Monsters is not afraid to show its claws.
— Margaret Owen, New York Times bestselling author of the Little Thieves and The Merciful Crow seriesWith evocative prose and captivating worldbuilding inspired by Indian mythology, We Shall Be Monsters is a dazzling, macabre tale of sisterhood, resurrection, and the weight of destiny. Readers will fall in love with the fierce, prickly Kajal (and her undead dog!).
— Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come a Darkness and Garden of the CursedOne of the most unique and intelligent books I’ve read in recent years. Darkly alluring, completely enthralling, and masterfully rendered—Tara Sim is an author at the top of her game.
— Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the SeaA captivating tale of family and legacy, set in a darkly vibrant world inspired by Indian mythology. Filled with gorgeous prose, exhilarating twists, and heart-stopping romance, We Shall Be Monsters is everything I love about the fantasy genre.
— Akshaya Raman, author of The Ivory KeyWith evocative prose and captivating worldbuilding inspired by Indian mythology, We Shall Be Monsters is a dazzling, macabre tale of sisterhood, resurrection, and the weight of destiny. Readers will fall in love with the fierce, prickly Kajal (and her undead dog!).
— Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness and Garden of the CursedIn this stirring testament to the bonds of siblinghood, Tara Sim spins a complex tale of guilt and grief against a vivid Indian-inspired backdrop of myths, magic, and a touch of the undead.
— Traci Chee, New York Times bestselling author of A Thousand Steps Into Night[A] dark and dramatic masterpiece.
— Reactor MagazineBorrowing liberally from Hindu folklore and utilizing evocative, moody prose...Sim explores themes of systemic misogyny, superstition, and morality...deliver[ing] a twisted work of fantasy horror teeming with fascinating creatures and long-buried secrets.
— Publishers WeeklySim’s duology opener is an artful presentation of binaries—evidence and belief, right and wrong—and the complex, gray, in-between areas. This intriguing exploration of certainty is highlighted by a nonbinary character’s perceptions of duality...A dark and sinuous fantasy adventure.
— Kirkus ReviewsBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Tara Sim can typically be found wandering the wilds of the Bay Area in California. When she’s not chasing cats or lurking in bookstores, she writes books about magic, clocks, and explosives. She is the author of Timekeeper and Chainbreaker.
Deepti Gupta, fluent in Hindi, Urdu, and English, has an international career spread across India, Singapore, Pakistan, and the United States. As a narrator she brings an open and curious perspective to the author’s work. As an actress she has earned praise from the New York Times for her performance in the feature film Walkaway and also stars in Record/Play (a sci-fi love story) which was an official selection at Sundance 2013.