Monsters Born and Made is a wild ride set in a vibrant, fantastical world filled with sea monsters and chariot races. Koral is fierce and determined to keep her family safe, no matter the cost--or the monsters standing in her way.

Atmospheric, fast paced, and a stunning story with magnificent monsters.

Koral and Emrik are hunters of maritime beasts. Unfortunately, their last hunt didn't go as planned and now they injured, empty handed, and desperate for money to save their ill sister. Without any other options, Koral makes the insane decision to enter the chariot races of the upperclass. Threatened by this breach of protocol, the riders, spectators, and other contestants will do anything to make sure she doesn't finish, but they don't know desperation like Koral who is willing to sacrifice everything, including her life, for those she she loves.

The atmosphere and setting in this story are so richly crafted, i felt absolutely immersed in this novel. The characters grew and arced but I didn't love all the choices that were made for each character. Specifically Koral, she felt like a heroine that lacked depth but tried to make up for it in guts and determination, which just rang a little caricature for me. Like a Mary Sue superhero.

The pace was breathtaking in the second half in its swift action sequences and socioeconomic drama. I enjoyed the ride and found that it reminded me of The Scorpio Races.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

On Sollonia, an island ruled by a rich elite of Landers, Koral Hunter and her brother Emrik are maristag hunters, and part of the lower-caste Renters. Even though they are the only hunters on their island, it doesn’t bring enough money, and they are indebted because of their younger sister’s need for constant medication. When she is told that she will have to marry in order to erase some of the family’s debt, Koral decides to enroll in the Glory Race instead, no Renter ever entered the race before. Against all odds, Koral manages to enter the race, and being a hunter that caught and raised maristags for most of her life might just be what gives her an edge in this deadly competition.

Overall, the story was predictable but still enjoyable. While I never read the Hunger Games series, I did see the movies and I know what it is about, so I understand why this book might be recommended for fans of the Hunger Games, but it’s not as intense. Sure, it’s a group of teenager racing and competing against each other for glory and riches, but if you are looking for a book that gives Hunger Games vibes, I would recommend All of Us Villains instead. Still, the chariot races were intense and the contestants were pretty ruthless, willing to kill in order to become the champion, or just to get revenge on each other.

The writing is not bad, but there is room for improvement. The first part was full of very intriguing pieces of information, but the pacing was a little jumpy at times. There is also time spent on details or internal monologues, which helped us get a better idea of the setting or the main character, but other events were just vaguely explained, or there were some time jumps that could have been used to build more tension, add relevant details to the plot, or even add more layers to the characters.

Koral is not a bad main character, but I did not particularly like her. She trusts people way too easily, especially considering the dystopian society she lives in, and also the fact that Hunters are outcasts, even among the Renters. Logically, she should not trust anyone besides her family and best friend, but she has a tendency to just roll with it and trust others without asking too many questions. I understand that she felt like she didn’t have a choice at times, but she still felt a little naïve.

The secondary characters like Emrick, but mostly Dorian (the ex) and Crane (the best friend) were shallow and seriously lacked development and depth. They were there to support the main character at one point or the other, or to make the plot move forward, but I do not really care for them because I do not know much about them and they felt hollow and bland. Another aspect that could have been so much more developed is the rebel group known as the Freedom Ark. They are just a rebel group with no known leader, and there is no real explanation about their motivations, beliefs or goals. They are just there to add more complications to Koral’s life and add a “political” aspect to the story.

The world-building of this book is strong at first, there are magical aquatic creatures, different castes of people, and rebels and they live in what seems to be an archipelago-type nation, but then it becomes weak as nothing new is added. There is a strong base, but let’s just say that after the first few chapters that were full of weird creatures and that showed us a dystopian-like civilization, I was expecting a little more for the rest of the book. This book is also described as “South Asian inspired”, but I honestly couldn’t see or feel it at all. It’s not a negative thing, but just don’t go in it expecting a story with strong South-Asian vibes.

I wouldn’t say that there is romance in this book. There is a teeny tiny hint of it since Koral and
Dorian have a secret past together, and it is made clear that they both still have some feelings for each other, they remain rivals until the end because they both want/need to win the competition.

The ending is promising though, and I am curious to see where this is going, so I will probably read the second book when it comes out. While this was not a 5 stars read, it was still entertaining and an easy read that I recommend if you are looking for a fantasy with a dystopian vibe, vicious sea creatures, and deadly chariot races, but don’t mind weaker characters and a somewhat predictable plot.

Compelling from the very beginning, an excellent book with themes on class solidarity, refusing to give in to expectations, and the loneliness in doing so.

Seriously, I couldn't put it down and stayed up far too late to finish.

I hope there's a followup.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Truthfully I am not sure exactly how I feel about this book. However I do suggest going into it knowing as little as possible.

Tanvi Berwah's debut novel Monsters Born and Made is a fast-pace, thrilling fantasy novel that takes readers from the perilous seas to the inside of a battle dome, to ballroom teaming with court politics. This South Asian-inspired fantasy explores the corruption of power, the rule of the elite, how far will one go not only for family but also for glory, and how dangerous it can be to dream of a life better than the one other's deem you worthy of.

While there were many things I liked about this novel there were also things that I disliked. While the writing it fast paced some of the ideas and narratives seemed a bit repetitive with also the same type of scenario/sentiment playing out more than once with no actual plot advancement. That being said I have seen this title compared to The Hunger Games and I can say it brought me the same intrigue and thrill that I had reading that series.

I thought the world was incredibly inventive and did feel like the writing transported me to a cut throat and dangerous fantasy land. The court politics I also really enjoyed and wished perhaps the MC's relationships with others would have been a little more defined and it would have added a whole new layer to the fraught relationship between those lucky to be elite and those unfortunate enough to be lesser.

I wasn't quite sure how to feel about this book going into the last 15% but the final "battle" and the ending actually managed to shock me. I think Monsters Born and Made is a debut Berwah can be proud of and I will be interested in reading the sequel. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

What It’s About: Koral Hunter and her family are Renters, members of a low caste in their society. Koral and her brother support their family by capturing maristags and selling them to members of the elite Lander caste for the Glory Race. The amphibious maristags are ferocious, which makes the work quite treacherous. After a failed hunt, Koral’s family is left virtually penniless, unable to afford life-sustaining medication for her younger sister. In her desperation, Koral sneaks her name into the entries for the upcoming Glory Race. When she’s selected, many of the Landers are angry that the low-caste girl has stolen one of only ten spots in the competition, but Koral is determined to win and save her family.

My Thoughts: The book’s interesting premise and gorgeous cover drew me in. I liked the book; however, it reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games and especially Red Rising with the way the living arrangements for the members of the different social classes were organized. As a big fan of early 2010s middle grade and YA dystopian novels, I felt the plot was rather predictable.

The world Berwah creates in Monsters Born and Made is rich and, at times, frightening. The characters’ culture has clear ties to south Asia. Many of these elements are part of their everyday lives, which makes them stick out less in the narrative. The fantasy elements of the novel and its references to Greek mythology are mentioned more explicitly and thus are likely more noticeable for the reader. This combination plus the dystopian plot makes for a really neat fantasy world that I loved reading about but would never want to inhabit.

This book was heavily plot-driven. I liked the characters, but they all felt a bit flat to me, likely as a result of there being so much focus on the action. Koral sticks out as determined, tenacious, loving, and trusting; however, there’s so much focus on the action that I’m not sure I got to know her enough to care deeply about her. Her backstory with Dorian was interesting, and I would also have liked some more depth there.

The last 10% or so was my favorite part of the novel. I loved how absolutely ruthless Landmaster Minos was. The way the story concludes leaves me curious about where things are headed in the next installment and whether we’ll see Koral and Dorian reunited.

A fast-paced, brutal, and ferocious fantasy, reminiscent of Ashlords, Red Rising, and The Hunger Games. This book pulls you in from the first page, and throws you into a world of violence, brutality, oppression, and rage - at a breakneck page. The characters were compelling, and the story was intriguing, I look forward to more from this author, and more in the series. I liked it a lot!

~ Amazing, Dystopian-Fantasy! ~

I loveddd this book!!!!! The characterization and world building were just sooo good and so much fun to read!!
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The concept of the glory races and the island was just so cool and I loved spending time in this world! It gave me some 2012 dystopian nostalgia, but the plot and fantasy aspect made it so much more fun and intriguing! Also this had a really really amazing and well written battle scene and I don’t know why it really stood out to me, but it did, and I loved it!
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Koral was a great protagonist and I really love when authors create protagonists that are unapologetically human! I really loved how Koral was just trying to survive and make it out alive and it just felt so realistic. Too often in dystopias, characters are focused on sacrificing themselves for others and the greater good at all costs, so it was very refreshing to have a character that only had the headspace for self preservation for her and her family!
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Dorian was a fun side character and I loved the rivalry and history between him and Koral! The other races were fun as well and each added something different to the plot! Crane was a really interesting best friend and I loved her and Koral’s determination to stay friends despite their slowly shifting motivations and loyalties!
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I’m going to need a sequel asap and I highly recommend you pick this one up!! It was sooo good and I looked forward to every free moment I got to pick this one up and read more!!
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CWs - occasional strong language
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***Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an early e-arc to read and review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.***
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"The old world will come to an end, the seeds of a new world will shoot out of this monument's broken ground; those they call monsters will be born and made."

Monsters Born and Made is a must-read for any YA fantasy-loving individual. The world-building will suck you in and by the end of the story, you'll be breathless and longing for the next book. The author manages to make the sea not only a setting but almost like its own character. It has clashes of different castes, people on both sides that want to fight for a fairer, better world. There are painful, raw, and difficult familial relations and forbidden love. Plus enough action to keep you on your toes!

In my opinion, this South-Asian inspired book was a hit! I felt lucky to not only receive an advanced copy but to also be a part of the book tour!

This book started off a bit choppy for me, but once the story took off I really enjoyed it! It's a unique world, with lots of action and engaging characters,

I loved the different creatures Berwah included in this book. It was so interesting to see how the humans and creatures interacted, and how those interactions affected every aspect of their lives. It was so fun to learn about them and the world.

The characters grew on me as the story progressed. At first, I wasn't a huge fan of Koral and found her a little annoying. But the more I got to know her, the more connected I stated to feel. She's such a complex and interesting character.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was different in some ways, but familiar as well. I'm really interested to see where the story goes next!

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. Which is why I gave it three stars. The storyline is a bit like Hunger Games, but With a new spin and I’m OK with that. The characters flawed, but in a way that made them relatable. I love the setting, the dangerous island with all the sea creatures. But I felt that I had missed something somewhere,, because it all felt very chaotic and like they were too many for me to keep track of. Once I wrapped my head around the fact that I had missed some thing and the chaos of the creatures was just part of the story, maybe even an element because the world is chaotic, I was able to enjoy the storyline a bit more. I do feel like this is the start of a series though, there were a lot of side story lines that didn’t get wrapped up at the end. I feel like it could’ve been flushed out a little bit more if this is supposed to be the only book. And I’m not sure I love the ambiguous ending if this is the only book. If it’s the start of a series it was a great way to end. Overall this was an OK book, if it is part of a series I will definitely read the next one. I I did recommend it to my 13-year-old son to read, I think he will really enjoy the rich setting of the book.
*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*

Sorry, I really tried with this one and gave it a good attempt. But it's a DNF for me. The world building was all over the place, and I couldn't get past the writing. It's in a first person, present tense. It did not flow, and simple statements like "touched a door" didn't have any merit on the story or setting of the story. All it did was flop me around. I'm giving it two stars though for the potential. I did like the concept of the story. I think those that can get through the writing will enjoy it.

I enjoyed this book. I found the story easy to get caught up in and the characters intriguing. The blend of drama, action, intensity, emotion, danger, angst and thrills is smartly crafted and had me deeply invested and highly entertained. I'm excited to see what happens in book two.

Tanvi Berwah's Monsters Born and Made is the authors debut novel and what appears to be the first in an unknown named series. The author herself has called this story The Hunter Games meets The Scorpio Races which is appropriate. The story takes place on the Island of Sollonia where 6,000 people call home. It is a place surrounded by the Ocean and it is also separated by Landers, Renters, and Hunters. The story is told by 16-year-old Koral Hunter who along with her elder brother Emrik, capture maristags, breed them, train, them and sell them to the upper cast.

On the final day of hunting, Emrik is hurt trying to catch the last maristags before they disappear for Ten months and blames Koral. Thanks to some unfortunate incidents in the recent past which has cost them nearly everything they own, Koral's family is in dire straights. It is also dire because of Koral's younger sister's failing health which they don't have the money to pay for. The Landers―the ruling elite, have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class.

The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others―if they're lucky―survive. In an act of desperation and rebellion against her father, Koral takes her maristag Stormgold, and sneaks into the The Glory Race which could change Koral's family's fortunes for the best if she wins, or the worst if she doesn't survive against the brutal competition. The competition includes Dorian Akayan, the boy she helped train to race with his own maristag and who is getting abused by his own father to ensure that he wins, and that Koral doesn't get the chance to either entire, or finish the race.

The Glory Race is the islands biggest event that takes place every 4 years. There is betting, and killing, and only Ten chosen will start the race. The race features chariots and three stages, and a variety of dangers, including monstrous sea creatures. Thankfully for Koral, she's been training with maristags all her life. She has known all her life that if she doesn't Hunt, her family doesn't eat, and they have no money to live on, and no medicine for Liria. She is scoffed at, she is abused, and pushed around, yet is her love for her sister and Stormgold's determination, that guides Koral throughout the story and the race.

Fans of dystopian action-packed adventures will definitely enjoy this tale of a high-stakes competition with mythical creatures in an oceanic world. Danger lurks everywhere and the odds are stacked high against Koral in this world where your place in the caste system means everything and no one can be trusted. Even though Dorian tries hard to get Koral to bow out of the race for fear she will be killed by one of the contestants, it is the group Freedom's Ark who might be the one to make Koral's life unbearable.

When I finished this story, there was a huge, twisted cliffhanger ending. I said to myself, well that sucks! There's nothing that indicates that this is part of a series, but allegedly, others have told me that yes, this is a series. In that case, I would request that Goodreads librarians discover if that is true or not, and update the posting for this book so others don't get upset by the ending.

Monsters Born and Made follows Koral, a girl who is determined to save her family at all costs. Koral lives in a dangerous world on the precipice of a sea filled with monsters. When her brother is injured and requires medicine, along with her chronically ill sister, she is forced to imagine a way out of dire circumstances. With experience as a maristag hunter, Koral enters a chariot race where she could win or lose everything. Only Koral was never supposed to be able to enter…

Monsters Born and Made is action-packed! It has a great focus on sibling bonds and an important examination of power and politics. Berwah tackles real-world issues of climate change (and how this impacts people with less power) and hoarding of supplies by people in power. There is so much action, but I would have liked to see the characters a little more fleshed out. However, I really appreciated how strong the sibling bonds were. I also loved the maristags!! What an incredible creature! It was beautiful to see Koral bond with and earn the trust of her maristag.

If you enjoyed The Scorpio Races, competitions with sky-high stakes, and important environmental messages then you should check out Monsters Born and Made. I look forward to seeing what Tanvi Berwah writes next and how the story continues! Thank you to Tanvi Berwah, Sourcebooks Fire, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

Back in the early 2010s, the dystopian craze hit me HARD. Monsters Born And Made is a YA fantasy that reminds me of the early days of the dystopian boom, before the market got oversaturated with authors who didn't really get it and just wanted to capitalize on the popularity.

Koral's family has a very particular job on their island. They are the Hunters— The family responsible for hunting and taming vicious, deadly beasts called maristags. The beasts are a vital piece of the ruling class's annual Glory Race, a cruel competition that offers its winner fame and riches beyond compare. After a disastrous failure during the hunt, Koral's family is on the brink of destitution and her chronically ill sister is close to death. To save them, Koral does the unthinkable: Cheats to enter herself in the Glory Race. The ruling Landers despise her gall, including her ex crush who's also competing, and her own societal tier feels she's betrayed them. Koral must get up close and personal with monsters, both creature and human, and defy death to save the people who matter most to her.

Let's get this out of the way: The book's description calls it South Asian inspired, but reviewers are getting caught up on the chariot race element and essentially calling it "Not South Asian" enough because of it. The author IS FROM South Asia and has described the novel as Greco-Indian. I saw those South Asian influences in the descriptions of everyday life— clothes, food, cultural mannerisms, etc. But if these (let's face it, mostly white) reviewers want to tell an Indian author that she is not being South Asian enough because she's not constantly throwing stereotypes in their faces… Go off, I guess?

That being said, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this story. The cultural divide between the haves and the have-nots is strikingly shown as Koral bounces between worlds. Every new place brings different tensions that clash deliciously. Yes, Koral has to navigate wealthy Lander society, but she also has to out-battle giant mythological creatures while led by an unreliable maristag who may change its mind and murder her. She may have to avoid the wrath of rebels, but she’s also got to keep her family together. You know from the start that she can't perfectly balance it all, but watching her try leaves a delicious sense of foreboding.

Koral is a great character in her own right, but she's spurred on by a solid cast of supporting characters. I especially liked Emrik and Crane, who are trying to balance the fine line between being Koral's support system and diving headlong into rebellion. I was intrigued by Dorian and Koral's relationship as ex-friends/crushes turned reluctant enemies. I'm simultaneously glad the novel doesn't overdo the romance element and disappointed that we didn't get to see more unfiltered interactions between them. We've also got a rare YA fantasy that ACTUALLY EXPLORES family dynamics!

The action is strong and really consistent. It's interjected in unexpected ways that add layers. Many such scenes involve fascinating creatures that feel so original and horrific. Of course, the other characters cause equal amount of chaos and things can get brutal very quickly in pretty much any scenario.

Finally… THAT ENDING. It's both incredible and infuriating when a novel's final scene practically begs you to pick up the sequel immediately, but you then have to WAIT for the sequel. I will be (im)patiently waiting!

I don't know who decided on these comps, but I did not get vibes from either The Hunger Games or These Violent Delights . I did, however, get many vibes from The Sco rpio Races . I mean, it's a book about sort-of-horse races by the sea, come on.

I digress. Comps aside, I had some mixed feelings about the story overall. I liked some aspects, but I had some problems too, so let's dive in!

What I Liked:

►The concept was intriguing. Look, I enjoy a competition! Especially when one is kind of desperate to win the thing. (Hey, maybe that is the point of the THG comps? Actually, I think it was maybe the political bit, but we'll get to that.)

►I enjoyed the family focus. I mean, I mostly hated Koral's dad, but I loved that family was such a huge focus of this story. Koral was constantly considering her family's welfare, even when her plans didn't exactly work out as she'd hoped for them. Her heart seemed in the right place, at least.

►The commentary of the political/social system was on point. I mean, obviously it was telling that Koral couldn't even participate in the race to begin with, and how poor her family was despite doing basically everything they could to provide a service for their community. And then there is the whole "let's pit all the poor folks against each other so they don't come after us" but, which of course the wealthy love to do. So yeah, it certainly tracked! I figured by the end, the whole "hope is stronger than fear" schtick was what led to the THG comps. Still, no.

What I Had Trouble With:

►Some of the plot points just seemed way too easy. Obviously I can't get into it too much because spoilers, but even one instance in the beginning felt this way. When Koral joins the race, even though no one of her social class ever had dared try before, it was just sort of... explained away in a way that didn't feel quite authentic, or earned? And this wasn't the only instance, just the only one I can get into without spoiling stuff.

►To that end, it often felt safe and rather predictable. Because I figured everyone would worm their way out of any dire situation, I didn't feel the sense of urgency that such a story should compel.

►I wish I understood the world better. I mean what even is a maristag? I mean okay so it can swim but... I kind of want more details. I was also really unsure of when/where it was all supposed to be too. I thought maybe some sort of dystopian or post-apocalyptic world, but then it could have been a fully fantasy world too. Was there anything outside this town? What I am saying is, I just wanted more information.

Bottom Line: I was underwhelmed a bit by the easiness of some of the plot and the lack of information, but the premise was strong and races are fun.

Although I've been stepping away from YA recently, this book was a nice reintroduction to it! I'm glad that young readers are getting more diverse stories than when I was a kid and get to see themselves represented more. This book had a nice pace of action and plot to keep me interested, and our main character was distinctive enough that I felt she was nicely fleshed out.

3.75 ⭐️. This book definitely gave Hunger Games and Gladiator vibes. The world building was descriptive and clear. Obstacles during each race was very intense. The pace was fast. There are parts that drag a bit. The characters were relatable although I was frustrated with the FMC, Koral, during each race. Let’s just say she’s no Katniss Everdeen.

It does end in a cliffhanger so I am looking forward to the sequel.

Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah takes the idea of heroes and heroines and turns it on its head. Koral is so bitter, so angry, and so traumatized that you find her slightly abhorrent even as she tugs at your heartstrings. At the same time, Ms. Berwah shows the insidious nature of power in a world that is nothing like current-day America but certainly has a lot of similarities when it comes to the haves and the have-nots. Monsters Born and Made is a difficult read not only because of the raging emotions swirling within Koral and fueling her actions but also because it is bloody and raw, violently brutal, and ruthless. I loved every minute of it.