I went into this one with high hopes and felt, just blah. It was marketed as great for fans of the hunger games, but I felt like I was reading a badly interpreted hunger games fan fiction - right down to the invalid sister, and money tight to the point of starvation at home. The story was hard to follow, and I kept waiting to be sucked into this dystopian world, but I just wasn't.

The mediocre world building makes this a difficult read to get into. The overall lack of development of the world’s history and characters contribute to the lackluster narrative. While I’m curious where the story could go, I would not feel strongly about picking up another book in this universe.

“This is the ocean, and you're a Hunter. You swim with monsters; these people cannot scare you.”

Koral’s family captures monstrous sea creatures to stay alive. Koral and sneaks entry into the Glory Race to provide a better future for her struggling family.

The action sequences were great and I loved the Glory Race, was very similar to The Hunger Games. The chariot races were written really well. I wish we got to see more training and development with Koral and her maristag.

I had a really hard time picturing the world and the monsters. The mythology also went right over my head.

Koral cries a lot throughout the book, which is understandable but also becomes very repetitive. She also gets many serious injuries but somehow manages to keep going. I don’t think the romance was necessary in this book because there was a lot going on that could have been developed more, and there wasn’t much chemistry.
The family dynamic was hard to figue out, I think it was supposed to be a complicated relationship but overall came across as confusing.

I’m excited to read other books by this author!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

3 Stars

I loved this book! The cover was gorgeous which is what initially caught my eye, but this book sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down!

Super fun read with a GORGEOUS cover!

Once I got about a third of the way through, I could not put the book down! It was a quick and entertaining read and I loved the maristags! My one issue was that the scenes felt a bit choppy so I do think it could have gone through another round of edits/revisions. Also, that open ended conclusion was CRUEL. Definitely one you won't forget.

My roommate also read this book and said it was one of her favorite reads of 2022!

Another dystopia/trail type book that I have been adding to my lists lately.

I definitely have a sub genre that I have clung to. And this would be it haha.

I really enjoyed the more raw edge and brutal world of thisnonw though. It leaned so hard into the classic aspect of the world. And liking politics or not. This was one that makes you pause and consider things in our own world as long as this fantasy one.

And I enjoy books that can keep the fantasy going but make me think about other things too without just giving me real life in my fantasy book. Of that makes sense haha.

It was well written and created an interesting and unique world

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

I do not normally read the premise or plot summaries of books before reading the actual book, but I did read this one and I was immediately interested. This is the story of Koral, who hunts sea monsters in order to make a living and survive on their island. Koral is thrust into a competition and forced to compete for money against high-born competitors so she can help her ill sister. There are a lot of classic YA fantasy elements in this book and I think that they mostly work in this book! There's some South Asian inspired elements as well, which I absolutely loved. This book is definitely fast paced. I read it so fast! I read this while on a family vacation was certainly interested enough to keep reading at any chance I got. The one thing I did want more of was the world building. There were a few times that I was a little confused and had to reread certain sections to make sure I was getting everything. Also would have liked to see more development from Koral. I liked her as the main character overall, but was hoping for more depth there. I did enjoy reading this book though. I thought it was a good YA fantasy and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from the author!

I DNFed about 25% of the way in. It was just not engaging, and the writing was a bit basic. It felt a bit amateurish. I understand the audience is YA, but it could have been more complex.

I absolutely LOVE this book and cannot recommend it enough. I've seen it described as The Hunger Games meets the Scorpio Races and that description couldn't be more perfect. Monsters Born and Made lives up to all of its hype.

Koral is one of my favorite protagonists ever--she's fierce and determined and I found myself rooting for her from page one. Dorian is an amazing character too and I ship him and Koral SO HARD. I also loved the dynamics between Koral and her family.

AND THE WORLD BUILDING. The world that Tanvi created is so vivid and compelling, I couldn't stop reading once I started. I'm really hoping for a book 2 that delves even deeper into this setting because I loved it SO much. I'm obsessed with Maristags and the other monstrous creatures in this book. They're seriously the coolest and unlike anything I've ever read (in the best way!).

A young adult mythology based fantasy with sea monsters, dystopian world, a hunger games type race, and friends to lovers type relationship. Good ideas, maybe needs a bit more editing to make it flow better?

I- I am FREAKING SPEECHLESS, LIKE HOW-WHEN-WHAT THE HOLY TRECKING BAKED BLOODY SHREDDED, DRAGON INFESTED PURGATORY JUST HAPPENED-

I need time to come to terms with these messed up feelings.
....
And I'm back.

How is it even possible that this book shook me to the CORE OF MY VERY BEING and left me for dead at the side of the road???? How??? I'll tell you, because yes. '

The characters? Were amazing, surprisingly didn't get on my nerves (just kidding, I loved them like I love donuts, completely and obsessively) and gave me everything I could ever ask of a character.

a.) A personality (I know, these days, it's very difficult for amazing characters to have equally amazing personalities, however, this book made it WORK)
b.) A backstory (You don't know how much I really love this)
c.) And the side characters were also good!

Speaking of 'good' but not great, we have the comparison with the Hunger Games. I feel like the energy was present, but the outcome was less than. The plot had the possibility to be magnificent but, even though I didn't love it, it was better than expected. And the writing made for it! The descriptions made me visualize everything without overwhelming me, which I enjoyed greatly.

Overall, a very nice read for the mood of action-packed, monster-filled, fast-paced bonanza! If you're looking for a quick yet indulging read for easy fantasy readers? I think this might be your cup of tea.

Found this book a little confusing, it felt like it was trying to be a lot all at once. The idea behind it is good, however I think it’s just a bit all over the place which made it hard for me to get fully into.

Such a gripping read. I loved The Hunger Games vibes and the high-stakes story. It really kept me reading!

This book was very interesting. It almost reminded me too much of the scoriop races mixed with the hunger games. I think that I didn't find this very unique and the plot was a bit slow to get through. I found my interest lagging although it has an interesting premise.

This one held so much promise, and I was drawn in by the Hunger Games blurb. That said this book feels like an amalgamation of a few different YA fantasy/dystopian stories and while not inherently bad, just not as original as you’d hope it to be. I did love the monster world that parallels the caste system in India and those south Asian influences within the story!

Overall it’s enjoyable to read and does end in such a way I’m tempted to continue on in the series. I’d definitely recommend this to some younger readers I know, but older readers may find it too similar to other books and predictable.

A pulse-pounding test of determination and rebellion unfolds in a truly distinctive world inhabited by awe-inspiring creatures.

In the realm of Sollonia, where a privileged elite of Landers holds sway, Koral Hunter and her brother Emrik toil as Maristag hunters, belonging to the lower-caste Renters. Despite being the sole hunters on their island, their earnings fall short, leaving them mired in debt, particularly due to their younger sister’s constant need for medication. Faced with the prospect of an arranged marriage to alleviate their family’s financial burden, Koral takes a daring leap and enrolls in the unprecedented Glory Race—a competition no Renter has ever dared to enter. Against overwhelming odds, Koral secures her spot in the race, drawing upon her skills as a lifelong Maristag hunter to gain an advantage in this perilous contest.

Even though the story was a tad predictable but still overall it was an engaging and enjoyable tale nonetheless.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great fantasy book . Definitely recommended to fantasy readers . I liked the author writing style . Would love to read other books of the author.
The title and the cover made me pick up the book

I have mixed feelings about this book. I read this book as well as listened to the audiobook of it, and if I had just stuck to reading it, I think I would’ve enjoyed it much more and stuck with it. The narrator was not enjoyable at all to me, and ended up ruining the book. I couldn’t finish it unfortunately. One day I do think I’ll go back and try it again, just without the audiobook.

I can definitely see the logic in the comparative titles for this being HUNGER GAMES and FABLE. If you loved either of those I 100% recommend Monsters Born And Made! What an adventure. Koral lives in this rough, deadly world catching and training vicious sea creatures for the upper class's sport and Glory Games. There were times that I marvelled at her character's ability to get through a situation. Berwah has really instilled the desperate sense of a divided world and THAT CLIFFHANGER. I gasped at the lengths some of the characters would go to to keep the status quo from changing. Overall, an incredibly rich, visual and gritty world that I could definitely see being a movie and a cast of characters you want to fight for.