To be honest, I cared more about the beast than the love interest. There is too much going on - mostly bad stuff. Something bad happens, something bad happens and then again something bad happens. This pacing is rather problematic, in my opinion. I was bored by the endless action scenes. Especially, the chapter about the aquabats. Maybe I read too many books with a similar premise (The Hunger Games, The Scorpio Races, Race the Sands), but I expected something more original.

This book is infuriating bc of just how unfair life is for those who are broken under those in power. Throughout you can see the influence of The Hunger Games, with Landers standing in for The Capital. Some of the world building could be better, particularly around the various factions. I hope there's a sequel that gets justice for all the crushing blows one girl has to endure for reasons that are not fully clear.

The beginning of the book is a bit convoluted, but the last 25% is excellent.

Fast YA fantasy, think Hunger Games with south Asian influences. Please be aware there may be some triggers.
This story is well paced and will surprise you with its ending.

If you're on the younger side and you enjoyed The Hunger Games series then you might like this book - otherwise I don't really think it's worth much of a read. The story revolves around a dystopian future type setting where people are shunted into different castes with the Landmaster heading up the population of the island where this book takes place. Every four years, they hold a Glory Race, where mysterious yet incredibly dangerous amphibious creatures are raced with chariots for glory. A young "Hunter" defies the "Landers" only participants tradition by sneaking her way into the Glory Race so she can take advantage of the winnings and save her family from poverty and illness.

Now, this sounds like a good premise for a book, but my problem with it is that things just. keep. happening. SO MUCH happens in this book - from the violent Glory Race races to amphibious creatures attacking to the commentary on social hierarchies, the romantic subplot, the resistance subplot - it's all just too much. I think had this book been spread out over a couple of books, maybe a trilogy, I would have been able to get much more into it. But as it stands, I lost interest in the book about halfway through because the amount of bad stuff that happens in such a short period of time really pulled me out of it. Don't get me wrong - I think there is a level of suspension of disbelief you have to maintain when reading fiction, but there is a point where it's simply too much. It's hard to believe that a teenager could live through multiple traumatic, violent, otherwise life-ending events and get up and walk away from it as casually as the main character does.

Some other things - I thought the descriptions of the world were a little confusing and vague, I had a hard time developing an image in my mind of what the environment, the people and the creatures looked like. The action scenes are also hard to envision based off the descriptions.

I think that this book and the subject definitely has potential, but I think that it needs a lot of editing, some adjustments to the tone shifts, and maybe developing the storyline over a trilogy or series of books so that there is enough time to actually develop all of the differing, yet interesting, plot points the author has written so far. Also, you might notice I didn't say much about the love interest - that's because there's not much to say. Didn't really care for it.

I really wanted to like this book but I just felt like it was missing something. Or maybe just that it’s been done so many times before. I would have liked to see more of the main characters hunting and taming the maristags and having a smaller struggle without jumping into the big race.

Wow. Just wow. This book had mind working overtime to imagine the world it took place in. The descriptions of everything was amazing. My heart became too invested and I'm physically exhausted after finishing. The author knows how to throw out that hook and reel you in.

I fully enjoyed this book.
At first like any fantasy it takes a while to get into the world building but once I did I devoured this book. There was never a dull moment which meant I did not put down this book until I finished.
I loved the characters, they were not perfect and their flaws allowed the plot to move forward. I loved the protagonist and her need to help her family. Its a common trait in books like these, the self sacrificing lead who will do anything for the ones she love and I was not disappointed in any of her decisions. The disparities in social classes concept of course not new, was a brilliant and again, it really allowed the plot to move smoothly since many of the problems the protagonist faced could be linked to the class differences .

Overall, a great read and I will be buying a physical copy of this book because there is so much I would like to highlight , tab and annotate.

I had fun reading Monsters Born and Made; while it reminded me slightly of Hunger Games (on a different planet), combined with The Scorpio Races, it stood on its own to engage my attention with a more mythological background.

Sixteen-year-old Koral Hunter (last name is occupation) and her brother keep their family alive by capturing and raising ocean maristags for the higher class. The siblings risk their lives daily to make sure their family has enough to eat and medicine for their little sister.

Out of desperation, Koral dares to enter a high-stakes maristag race against the elites not realizing she has yet more to lose.

I really enjoyed Koral's character and her warring nature. While slightly confusing at times (could be the reader's attention I admit), I look forward to reading more about Koral as well as other books from Tanvi Berwah.

YA fantasy will never not have my heart and when I saw this was blurbed as The Hunger Games meets Fable, I was absolutely psyched. Monsters Born and Made is the beginning of a series (duology, trilogy, longer? I’m not entirely sure) and it was a very satisfying read.

I’m finding this one difficult to review though for several reasons: I loved as many aspects of it as I disliked. What worked? The world building is simply fantastic. Absolutely the highlight of the book. I really felt transported to this watery island Berwah has created and enjoyed reading about its political intricacies. Books centered around the main character entering a competition is always something I enjoy and the Glory Race was interesting enough, though I admittedly wanted a bit more. I also really loved how it was a commentary on the caste system. My favorite character is Stormgold! How the heck does a non-speaking animal character have more interesting character development than the protagonist? Nonetheless, I really liked Koral and Stormgold’s relationship. So what didn’t work for me? I really didn’t connect with Koral and I just didn’t feel like I ‘knew’ her by the end of the book, making it very hard to root for her. I think the characters overall could’ve been better developed. The dialogue didn’t really flow for me. There are some plot points I wanted further explored or explained but I’ll concede that it really laid the ground work for some promising sequels.

I usually struggle with the first book in a series so I’m not writing this off just yet, I had similar feelings post-reading Throne of Glass and it ended up being one of my all-time favorites. Overall, highly recommend to any YA fantasy fans and I’m excited to see where the series goes.

3.5 ⭐️

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

I really enjoyed the originality of this fantasy novel. The dystopian premise reminded me of the YA novels before it like The Hunger Games & Red Queen, but I think the cultural influence of this novel and its action sets it apart from the previous successes of the genre.

The setting, characters, and conflict were well drawn, and I think that the writing is great for a debut novel. I am excited to recommend this book to my students when it is released, and I look forward to following this author's future successes!

Not just another Hunger Games style fantasy, the concept here is so unique and one I've never heard of before (which is hard to say in a crowded genre) and the South Asian inspiration takes it to new levels.

A small selection of the elite, called Landers, are able to shelter from the sun underground or in cool houses while the Renters scurry about under the beating sun from raggedy shelter to shelter.
One family known as Hunters capture beasts from the sea and train them to race in the Glory Race- a competition only Landers are permitted to enter.
But Koral needs medicine for her sister and so she enters the race only to discover that with more than gold at stake, it's not only the elite who want her dead.

Think Hunger Games meets Ben Hur and you have somewhat the plot of Monsters Born and Made.
I don't know if it was just me but I was slightly confused at times. I understood the ruling system and the world but how the Elders fit into things, what Koral's mother had to do with any of it and why the Hunter family were so ostracised didn't add up for me.
Maybe I just wasn't in the right place for politics but if I ignored those things then I got along fine.
The world-building was brilliant and I liked the inventiveness of the different creatures on the island- Aquabats and Maristags and the Capricorns. They were described in a wonderful way, allowing you to immerse yourself in the story- I particularly like Stormgold and how her personality came through.
Some other aspects of the background I had trouble picturing- especially the Drome and the crystal maze- I really had problems with mentally picturing that- but again, maybe it was just me.
I found that the depictions of violence weren't off-putting as they weren't too gratuitous and concentrated more on the reaction of others rather than gory details.
As for the characters- I felt Dorian was a decent 'villain' with his own motivations and you could attribute all sorts of motives to his actions which made him a little less cut and dried.
Koral was very impulsive and forthright and with devotion to her sister at the forefront of her mind, I could really empathise with her. She was a great protagonist- although I do believe that her endurance and self-healing powers were nothing short of miraculous. Even with the Med Box healing thing she really should have succumbed to her injuries.
I'm not sure what to think of the ending. Is there supposed to be a sequel? It sort of ended without really resolving much and it felt both cliff-hanger-esque and bittersweet.
Overall I enjoyed it but would probably need to read it again to capture most of the nuances.

I think this is a really stellar book, with a really stellar concept. I was drawn in and fascinated with this world, it is as dazzling as it is dangerous. I truly felt for the characters, and the dynamics between them was a high point for me. Yet, I just wasn't the biggest fan of the writing. It felt a bit choppy, and it slowed the pace down for me. I just don't think this is the book for me, even if I did enjoy certain aspects of it. Nevertheless, this book has a lot going for it, and I hope the people who will love it, find it!

Wow where do I start? This was an anticipated release for me.
This story was strangely compelling for a dark dystopian fantasy world. The setting was dark, bleak and full of desperation. Its a world where everything seems to want to kill you, from the climate, the wildlife and the humans. Everything is about surviving for the lower class known as Renters. Our main character is a Renter and she does not have it easy. The upper class on the island (Landers) gets all the privilege and Renters get nothing. In this aspect and the races involved held a strong resemblance to Hunger Games.

There were slow bits but generally I found it quite fast paced. Whilst we got introduced to the deadly Maristags used in these Glory races early on, there's not really much development on what they actually are and their history despite the many years this tradition has been going on. Also the hospital wasnt really elaborated on, I wish there was a bit more world building beyond the MC's POV. I really hope we get to find out more about them in the next book!
There are hints of a bigger world beyond the island this book is set on, and I'm looking forward to exploring more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an eArc of this book for review!

Koral and her family are Hunters -- tasked with capturing the aquatic monsters, maristags, for the wealthy Landers who live on the island. The Hunters have a precarious position in society as they have a bit more prestige than the lowest class, Renters, yet are entirely dependent on the upper-class Landers for their continued employment and social position. When Koral's sister, Liria, needs medicine that the family can no longer afford, Koral decides to enter the Glory Race, a dangerous chariot race that is historically only for Landers. Monsters Born and Made follows Koral as she fights for her family, tries to find her place in the world, and questions the power structures she's forced to operate within.

Monsters Born and Made was an immersive story set in a world I desperately want to learn more about. The island of Sollonia brimmed with interesting monsters and characters who all have different views of how life on the island should be. Koral was a main character who was so easy to root for. Koral's fierce determination to provide for her family paired with her deep rage about the structural inequalities of her life made her a compelling protagonist. I loved seeing her work to forge a path that was different from the ones typically available to Hunters, particularly through her growing friendship with her maristag Stormgold.

To top it all off, this book brims with action from the very first chapter. There are aquatic fights with sea monsters, chariot races, and so much more. The action paired with the captivating setting and Koral's magnetism to make Monsters Born and Made a book that was hard to put down. This was a highly enjoyable debut that left me wanting more in all the best ways.

Here is what drew me in initially:

STUNNING cover

South Asian representation!

Strong female protagonist.

Hunger Games / Goblet of Fire vibes.

** Welcome to the island of Sollonia! **

What an amazing world. I am so fascinated by all the hybrid animals that Berwah has created. Not only the Maristags - which were so intricately described - but the gorgons and aquabats and every other kind of animal as well. Berwah has created a world that truly feels real, as did every character and experience within it. I want to try opalfruits and candied firberries and freshly made flatbreads. The zargunine was one of my favourite concepts.

The plot flowed so nicely, with excellent pacing. I was gripped the entire time. Beautiful representation of south Asian cultures and hierarchies and rules and expectations. The internal struggle Koral had with her Baba so accurately reflected the struggles I had with older males in my family.

Each character in this story - Mama, Baba, Liria, Emrik, Koral, Crane, Judas and Dorian - were a joy to discover. Each had flaws and strengths that harmonised with each other, whilst sometimes resulting in a cacophony of fireworks.

I was expecting the ending to be predictable but it totally surprised me!

I am so thankful for Berwah for writing this book. I wish I had read it when I was a teen!

This will definitely win awards. Fresh, exciting, fast-paced fantasy fun!

I loved the setting (especially the islands and the general moodiness of it all) and the way that the sibling dynamic was woven into the story. It kind of put me in the mood of The Hunger Games. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, since present tense first person isn't really my thing.

Initial Thoughts
I was so excited when the publisher sent me an e-ARC of this book. First of all, the cover is stunning. Second of all, I will read and and all books that say they're like the Hunger Games. Lastly, South Asian influences!? YES!

Some Things I Liked
Be still my little half Indian heart, I loved the South Asian vibes in this book. It was so perfectly done. If felt like a clear influence but the world building was utterly unique.
The politics and society. The social structure in this world was so interesting and it led to so many fascinating, complex, and morally grey characters.
The slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. It was everything. I can't wait to read more.

Series Value
I'd sell my soul for an ARC of the next book because this series was so good. I can't wait to keep reading and read anything and everything Tanvi Berwah writes in the future.

Final Thoughts
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It's the perfect blend of The Hunger Games, The Scorpio Races, and Ashlords with South Asian vibes that will leave you desperate for more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a really strong and captivating debut from Tanvi Berwah! I was immediately hooked after hearing it was a sci-fi dystopian/fantasy story about a legendary chariot race with South Asian influences and exes-to-rivals-to-more. And let me tell you, Tanvi really delivered on all fronts. This book really drew me in from the first page, and I'll really be so incredibly upset if this ends up being a standalone.

One of the first things I noticed reading this book is that the worldbuilding in first third of the story was a little hard to follow along. I was a little confused with all the terms that Koral, our MC, kept using to describe aspects of her daily life and the worlds she lived in. Slowly, as the book progressed, I was able to piece together what exactly she meant and vision exactly how this world looked, but it did take some time. I do want to give a warning, though, that this book wasn't exactly easy to read in the sense that the hardships that Koral and her family face were really hard to read about. The things they endure as Hunters was written in a really visceral manner and definitely made me feel like I needed to take a break, so please take care when picking this book up! I'd give a major TW for violence, death, gore, domestic abuse, parental abuse, chronic illness, torture, and starvation.

I think the two aspects that captivated me the most was the Glory Race itself and how Koral's relationship with Stormgold grew from the start to finish of the race, as well as Koral's relationship with Dorian. I've heard this book get compared to The Hunger Games, which I can definitely see, but I also pictured the chariot race to look a lot like the pod-race from The Phantom Menace. This book is action-packed and each of the rounds of the race were so harrowing to read--I was truly on the edge of my seat praying that Koral made it through unscathed.

All this to say that Monsters Born and Made is definitely a book you want to have on your radar if you're a YA sci-fi or fantasy fan! I'm really excited to read Tanvi's future works .