I really enjoy this unique, fast- paced YA fantasy! I really like the main character Koral and how she was willing to do what it takes to help save her sister and family.
The world building was very interesting with all the monsters and ocean creatures! The islands were dangerous and the temperatures were so hot, that most people have to live underground. The races were exciting and had me on the edge of my seat! After the ending though..I can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!

This was such a great read! Competition, rebellion and a kind of dystopian setting make this book immediately one of my favorites this year.

Koral is a Hunter. Her and her family are lucky Renters who have had this title passed down through generations which give them a greater chance at monetary security. However, they have hit hard times and Koral decides to enter the Glory Race with their last Maristag(a very dangerous but beautiful creature). The Glory Race is usually only for the Landers who live much richer and safer lives than any Renters. In the midst of rebellion, monster attacks and romance, Koral has no idea what she's really getting into.

This is an insightful, beautiful and vicious story and I really can't help but hope for more to come!! (Please!!)

Out September 6, 2022!

**Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Monsters Born and Made started off slow, the Glory Races didn't start until chapter eight where Koral without failing switched her name with someone.  Even if Koral gets hurt, it seems as if there is no follow through with her injuries. However, I did like the worldbuilding and creatures my favorite chapter was twenty-one. The ending was a bit confusing and felt like it ended abruptly, I'm curious if there is a sequel and how will it pick up.

This book had me on the edge of my seat, desperately flipping pages to find out what would happen to Koral! I could not put it down. The dystopian world is rich with details and a phenomenally complex political system ripe for rebellion. The monstrous Maristag sea creatures bring gripping life-and-death stakes to the chariot race competition. And Koral is such a fierce, compelling, complex character. What an amazing ride!

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.

This novel, Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah, intrigued me from its description, and I have to say, it didn't disappoint. Koral and her brother Emrik, are maristag hunters, who capture the wild maristags in the sea and breed them in captivity to sell to the upper class Landers so they can compete in the Glory Race, a race among Landers for glory (and gold). Unable to capture a male maristag to breed to their last remaining female, Koral's family is desperate to raise money to help pay for the medicine of her sickly sister. In an unprecedented move for the lower class Hunters that she belongs to, Koral decides to put herself in the Glory Race in the hopes of becoming champion. She has many enemies, including a Lander who she knew when they were young, Dorian, who she gave a Maristag to for free because she felt sorry for him and his relationship with his overbearing and demanding father.

The book's synopsis describes it as a blend of the Hunger Games and Fable with a South Asian twist, and that is an apt description of it. I enjoyed reading it, although the world building was a little confusing at first. Looking forward to hopefully a sequel!

A world largely covered in water with monstrous creatures in its oceans and a sun shining down that truly burns is the setting for this story. Our protagonist at sixteen is part of the lowly “Renters” forced to survive above ground whereas the elite “Landers” survive protected below ground . To make things worse Koral’s family are seen as outsiders who have sold out to the “Landers” as they hunt and capture fierce creatures for chariot racing. When things go badly wrong and there’s no Maristags to sell Koral decides to somehow become a competitor but this deadly race isn’t just about glory and gold it’s about stopping a revolution from happening and Koral is right in the middle of it !
I truly enjoyed this although if I’m brutal the world building was sadly lacking. We know the humans arrived there centuries ago but why did they travel and just how did the two factions that depend on each other become so separated ? The creatures that are the natural predators of this world are fantastical without a doubt but I did feel I needed more information about them . All that being said and in spite of suggestions that this resembles a very famous dystopian trilogy I found this wholly unique and at times very exciting. There’s a lot of action here to offset the characters and what felt at times like perhaps just too far fetched reactions . The quiet revolution that’s happening underground was perhaps too quiet because as this ends there still wasn’t a clear picture of these would be revolutionaries just a few brutish thugs ! I think my final thoughts are that I really wanted Koral to succeed no matter how naive and blinkered she was but as this ends it’s in many ways a beginning well, certainly a new life for Koral .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Monsters Born and Made is a book that I wanted to read as soon as I heard about it. One look at that cover and I was sold! It’s so beautiful and the book just sounded absolutely incredible. I knew this one would be right up my street and it absolutely was! This book was everything I could have hoped for and more. Right from the very first page I was completely and utterly sold!

Monsters Born and Made is a high fantasy filled to the brim with danger and unpredictable magical creatures. I got some serious Hunger Games vibes from this book and I was living for it! As a huge fan of Hunger Games, anything that gives me those feelings is a major plus for me. This book was high action, high intrigue and a dash of longing and romance. I just absolutely loved it!

Now, it did take me quite a while to get through the whole book, but that was more due to my busy work schedule and after being really busy working constantly for a good 3 weeks, I found myself in a huge reading slump. Everything about the book was utterly fantastic, but as I read it sporadically, with large gaps of time in between reading sessions, I felt like it lost a little bit of the impact, and the magic for me. I really need to re-read this when I have time to binge read the whole thing to really feel the magic properly.

Monsters Born and Made is truly a fantastic read. I loved everything about it, the characters, the world building… the animals! I am left dying for the author to announce that there will be a second books, because I need more from these incredible characters. I’m not ready to say goodbye to them just yet! If there is one book that you need to pre-order this year… make sure that it is this one! You will not be disappointed!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Monsters Born and Made is the first in a series following Koral, a Hunter, who enters the dangerous Glory Race in pursuit of its cash prize, a sum that would all but guarantee the health and survival of her chronically ill sister.

This was a solid 2.5 star read for me. At its core, the story is basically Scorpio Races-meets-Triwizard Tournament set against a distinctly 2010s-YA-Dystopian backdrop. While these are all things I enjoy, or have previously enjoyed, the idea of combining them sounds better than the ultimate execution. The elaborate world that Koral lives in is explained, so the reader can objectively understand it, and yet the world does not feel as fully realized on the page as the worlds it is derived from. With a plot that relies heavily on the establishment of a solid Dystopian fantasy world, this means that the plot kind of suffers, too. In all honesty, beyond a vague people-in-power-want-to-maintain-that-power-at-all-costs, I’m not even really clear on why the bad guys were doing what they were doing, and how the political system gave them a sufficient level of power or what that power even was beyond just, like, being in charge of people. I will also note that I’m really not clear on what specific aspects of this story/world were actually South Asian inspired? As a white woman I know that this is already a blind spot for me, but in comparison to South Asian fantasies I’ve read before, I wasn’t really able to tell what was South Asian inspired outside the occasional character name.

Beyond the confusing aspects of a heavily detailed yet somehow still shockingly vague world and political system, the core plot was… incredibly predictable. There are times when I think that’s fine, because genre conventions do often require particular story beats that the reader is expecting. And this book did try to live up to its genre conventions. But a predictable plot, no matter its purpose, only works if, despite its predictability, it’s still riveting. Every plot twist, even if the reader has seen that exact twist a dozen times before, should feel earned and emotionally charged and involve genuine tension. But this plot was not only predictable, but also lacked that underlying X factor that would have kept me better emotionally involved and entertained.

Add to that a pretty bland and occasionally annoying cast of characters whose growth feels almost forced into distinct stages rather than allowed to develop naturally, and this book was mostly a letdown for me. I did sit with this for awhile before writing my review, and I did ultimately come to the conclusion that I would have likely adored this book if I’d come to it as the twelve year old I was when The Hunger Games came out. Though it has its flaws, the appeal is still there. This fantasy is approachable, and I think the writing generally strives to be clear and not over complicated. Plus, the under-400 page count is great for readers who may shy away from the popular, thicker fantasy tomes that dominate lately. I just wish that it better lived up to the predecessors that so clearly inspired it.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. There was a lot going on, and not in the best way. There was a lot of potential, but not a lot of the plot points were fleshed out enough for me to be fully engaged.

When the description told us, that this book has "Hunger Games" vibe, that's not a lie. And with this world building and the creature, Monsters Born and Made sure is better than "Hunger Games"
Also, it's a slowburn romance and I am in love with that !!!
The only thing I hate about this book is Koral's father... WHY ARE YOU SO TOXIC !!!!

Anyway, It's a good book and I am definitely gonna preorder for the hidden cover

This unfortunately didn't capture my attention. However, I will give it another go once it is published as the summary of the book sounds awesome!

While it has a similar feel as The Hunger Games, it took me awhile to get into the book. The story felt slow to start but as it progressed I was keen to see how it ended.
I enjoyed the concept of a world riddled with oceanic monsters but overall it was a slow read.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really liked this one but there is a sequel...right?
Monsters Born And Made is a wonderful book of Koral who joins the Glory Race so she can provide for her family specifically her younger sick sister. I loved reading about The Glory Race, it gave me major anxiety. Koral was a very accurate character, with her anger and rage that was totally understandable but her feelings were a bit repetitive after a while. The writing was great but the very heavy info-dumping in the beginning threw me off to the point where I skipped a few paragraphs. All in all, a great book with high stakes and I'd recommend.
Rating: 4 stars🌟

“…You’re a hunter. You swim with monsters; these people cannot scare you.”

Wow, what an entertaining book!! This gave me hunger games and Ben-Hur vibes. I was literally on the edge of my chair SOOO many times and I loved the crazy, hectic ride. When I finished this book, I felt heartbroken, excited, and thrilled. What a great beginning. It wasn't perfection, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I LOVED:
~Dorian. I wanted him to have more moments in the book cause…. that man. I wanted more of him.
~The Glory Race was intense, exciting and all the moments with Koral and her monster/maristag, was so satisfying and I loved their development throughout the book.
~Koral was such a fighter. I loved her passion and drive. Yes, she was also headstrong and made some rash and imperfect decisions, but she was unapologetically herself and fought for what she believed in. I couldn’t help but like her. “If you think anyone can squash me under their boots like a snail,… you’re wrong.”
~This one is a little silly, but I liked that the names of characters, monsters and places are easy to pronounce. It’s difficult for me to immerse myself in a world If it feels like a foreign language.
~The politics of the world was very interesting. A second book would answer some questions but a good beginning. “This is where humanity came to die.”

CRITIQUES:
I have to say that when I started this book, I was in a grumpy mood. I was basically looking for all the imperfections. (Again, grumpy mood moment) But this book helped bring me out of it, which is saying something. If I seem nit-picky, well, that’s probably why….

~The world building took some time to fully understand. Maybe 10 chapters in or 20%. and there were still some things that didn't make sense to me. They live on an island that is incredibly hostile and dangerous but then we get things like, cardboard boxes, bleach, microphones and tv screens? HOW do these things exist on an island that’s so hostile?? There’s no mention of a trading system with other islands so…. Eventually I let it go.
~I liked Koral, but I wanted her walls to go down a little bit. I understand WHY she was like that, but I wish she could have relaxed a little more. Especially with her best friend and Dorian.
~While the action was awesome, I think a couple scenes could have been taken out or shortened to make room for softer character moments.
~I barely know what the characters look like. They are vaguely described. I’m a visual person so some detailed descriptions of the characters help me see them in my mind and therefore, I can connect with them easily.
~There were some metaphors that didn’t make sense and a few choppy sentences.
~I would have liked a lot more angst with the romance. Especially on Koral’s end.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
CONTENT: Abuse, starvation, and violence/gore. Clean, slow-burn romance.

Characters - 7
Atmosphere/Setting - 6
Writing Style - 7
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 9
Logic/Relationships - 7
Enjoyment - 9

Total: 53
Divided by 7 = 7.5 (4 stars)
1.1-2.2 *
2.3-4.5 **
4.6-6.9 ***
7.0-8.9 ****
9.0-10 *****

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @ 25%. I always try to read at least a quarter of a book to give it a fair chance, but if I am not even the least bit invested by 25%, then it's not going to happen. When I read the description for this novel, I was interested in the idea. It mentioned being similar to The Hunger Games, but left out its similarity to The Scorpio Races. If I had known that, I probably wouldn't pick it up. I couldn't finish The Scorpio Races either.

The writing itself wasn't bad, it was just a lot. A lot of things to know and understand with little investment in characters or plot. Even though the novel is written in first person, there was a big disconnect with the main character and her relationship with other characters in the novel also felt flat. These are really big motivators for me. If I can't connect with at least one character in a novel, I lose interest pretty quickly.

This one wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it's not a good book. If you liked The Scorpio Races, I think this book would be a good choice for you.

Ultimately, this wasn’t for me. The plot and world building were good, I was really interested in the wider scope of the story. Unfortunately I just didn’t come to care for any of the characters, even the main character Koral. I will probably read more from this author because I did like their writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah is an action-packed YA fantasy that takes place in an oceanic world. The story revolves around Koral, whose family runs a maristag (a horse-like creature) farm. The elite class in the society run a deadly tournament called the Glory Race every year. This year, for the first time ever, Koral decides to apply so that she can win the gold necessary to get her little sister medicine. Will she persevere and win the race? Or will the other contenders of the elite class succeed in taking her out of the race?

Here is a fantastical excerpt from Chapter 1:

"We hunt when the world sleeps. A risk that could kill us. A risk forced on us.
I try to awaken my brother, but he only murmurs sleepily, “Piss off.”
“It’s four already. Baba told us to be at the beach by now.”
...
His shoe thuds against the door just as I shut it. I press my back against the stone wall, the chill grounding me.
Minutes later, Emrik appears. We’re dressed alike: black pants, a fitted white shirt with collars up to our chins, and boots molded to our feet. Beneath, we’re both wearing skaya-threaded watersuits. The Hunter siblings."

Overall, Monsters Born and Made is an amazing YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games or Tamora Pierce's Alanna series. In all of these series, the female protagonist is put down because nobody believes that she can do it, but she perseveres and ultimately proves the haters wrong. One highlight of this book are the cool fantasy elements, including the flying horse-creatures.

Another highlight of this book are the exciting action sequences. The races themselves were terrifying, and I was on the edge of my seat. I really hope that there's a sequel, but even if not, I will read anything the author writes in the future. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!

The unusual animal on the cover of this book caught my attention first - enough for me to pick it up and read the blurb which made me want to read it. Of course I had to find out what a maristag might be. And yes, I love a competition. This book reminded me so much of The Hunger Games - only with monsters. The haves and the have-nots, a class war. Life is not fair.

Koral was perfectly groomed as an underdog heroine. Her determination and courage were admirable. The entire book was exciting and fast-paced. I would recommend YA fantasy to anyone who enjoys a great fantasy adventure. I would have given it 5 stars except, for me, the ending fell flat - but the rest of the book was excellent.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 6, 2022.

This book sort of took me by surprise. From the blurb, I expected this to really be about the Glory Race, but it was more about social/class division and power. I didn't really get a sense for the world or the characters, but I can see the promise that this work had. I could almost see what was going on, but it just fell flat. The characters were a bit wishy-washy in their motivations and desires, which made the book not feel fully realized or complete, because there was really nothing holding it up or together. I thought that the social commentary/societal allusions were interesting and I did find myself getting sucked into the book more during those moments, but overall it just really didn't work for me. I would love to check out more by this author, because my issues were more about structure/fully realizing the idea rather than artistic ability, so I could totally see myself loving something else by this author!

DNF at 51%

I really thought this book would work for me, but sadly it didn’t. The premise sounds amazing – a deadly race, animal companionship, ex-to-rivals-to-lovers... but the execution wasn’t it. I am definitely not the audience target; even for a YA novel, however, it lacks depth. In the worldbuilding, the main character, the love interest, her relationship with her family and friends, the class struggle. I also thought there would be a deeper connection with the maristag (the animal she races with), because I’m a sucker for pet companions in fantasy books, but it doesn’t really seem the case?
It uses some known tropes and the dystopian air of Hunger Games, while at the same time it’s quite original, but it just didn’t hit.