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 .

3,5 stars rounded down.

Overall this was a good book! There are things that I really liked and things I didn’t really like so let’s get into it.

My favorite aspect was definitely the relationship between Koral and Stormgold. I think they’re similar in a lot of ways and seeing their bond grow over the course of the story was so heartwarming I loved it. I also really liked the fact that even though Stormgold is a maristag she felt like a fully realized character just like any of the other main characters in the book. She got her own character development and we could see her growth and I loved that so much. I thought it was nice to see Koral’s dedication to not only Stormgold but also to her family and Crane. I also really enjoyed Dorian and Koral's dynamic, in terms of relationships outside of Stormgold I think this was the most interesting by far and I can't wait to see more of them in the future. The world building was done well and I enjoyed that aspect a lot. The history behind the Glory Races is really interesting and how they’ve chosen to honor it every 4 years was fun to learn about. I also loved learning about the maristags and the other creatures present in the world. There were also some really intense action packed scenes that kept me hooked and wanting to read more just when I felt like things were starting to come to a bit of a lull. I also loved the Glory Race events, particularly the last one.

Onto the things I didn’t like, as a character Koral fell flat for me. I didn’t think she had a lot of character development, She spent almost all, if not all, of the book being angry and although her anger was absolutely warranted, nothing really came of it. The anger was kind of just always there but it felt very one note to me and I was waiting to see other sides of her as the book progressed and that never really came. I also wish the focus of the book had been more on the Glory Races, the events were so short compared to some of the other parts of the book and this made the pacing a bit weird and I was left wanting more from the races. This also would’ve allowed us to get to know the other contestants better, I believe there’s 10 of them and we only really get to know Dorian and kind of know 2 of the others. I also wish more had been done with Crane’s story line, the rebel storyline was really interesting but ultimately it was so short lived that I felt a little let down by it.

The ending was a bit predictable so I didn’t love it but I do think it set up nicely for the next book so I’m excited to see what happens next for Koral and Stormgold!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC!

I love every pages! Monsters Born and Made was a perfect blend of adventures, family and friendship, a fight against oppressions and unjust systems, and delicious slow burn romance. I couldn't ask for more. Except maybe a sequel :)

The cover and book description hooked me and I requested this book right away. And as it turns out, MBAB exceeds my (already) high expectation and I enjoyed every seconds I've spent reading it! I love the fast pace and the writing style which was easy to read. It was a roller coaster ride and I love it.

Koral is a strong female main character! I love how bold she is, how she refused to stay put and took matters in her own hands. Yes, she is also hot headed and tend to make decisions by feelings which is not always ideal, but I love her sharp wits and enjoyed her adventure and character development! Also love her brother Emrik and sweet baby sister Liria! And ughhh don't get me started on Dorian Akayan because he has all my yeses.

The world building was amazing. I could almost feel the sea breeze, it was so immersive. I love maristags and the race idea! Stormgold is such a dear, we must protect her. Love all the challenges! And all those slow burn moments? EPIC.

I need a sequel or more story in this universe! It was amazing :))

<< Thank you Sourcebookfire for providing me E-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review >>

Generally a good book, kept my attention. The story was great, characters well thought out, and the pacing was good. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would read more by this author!! Thank you so much for the ARC!

This book is fast-paced and very adventurous. It made me think of fantasy sports anime and I loved the creative races. The monster creatures were also super cool. A very inventive fantasy!

Thank you Netgalley and SourceBooks Fire for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I read the description and the comparison to Hunger Games with a mix of Fable, I think my expectations might have been a little high.

I really liked the fantasy/dystopian aspect of the story. I miss reading dystopian books and they're hard to find as every author is writing about fae and the retelling of Hades and Persephone. Monsters Born and Made is a breath of fresh air.

There are different factions of living: Landers, Renters and Hunters. Koral is a Hunter with her family. When her sister falls ill and Koral realizes their situation is dire, she decides to sneak into the Glory Race. Only Landers are competitors. Koral sneaks her name into a box and is randomly picked to compete for riches to help keep her sister alive and her life afloat.

I can see the Hunger Games comparison with the competition, the brutal living conditions, a rebellion arises, and Koral volunteering as "tribute" to save her family. I'm a little unsure of the Fable comparison.

For the most part I did enjoy the book and the writing is pretty good but the characters fell flat and the ending is predictable and left open for a possible sequel.

Overall an average read with a gorgeous cover and an eye catching description.

3.5 stars