I would rate this book as a 3.5 rounded up to 4. This was a slow build up for me, but once you got to the last third of the book, it's like a freight train and you just have to stay off the tracks. This is a dystopian novel that has hints of the hunger games (without the children having to kill each other). The ruling class lives in far nicer circumstances while the regular people are just trying to survive. There are a few interesting types of creatures that are feature throughout and figure into the plot. The main character is trying to balance survival, helping with her sick sister, helping to provide for her family, and being a teenager becoming an adult. It took a little bit for me to invest in the character but once I did, I was all in.

Wow. I don’t know what I was expecting starting this read but it kept me hooked from start to finish. I love anything with a challenge or mission and I was swept up easily with the fast paced energy of this story. The challenges felt fresh enough to be interesting and the dynamics between the main characters was realistic and not concluded too quickly. The continent & class system was fairly explained but my main criticism was I felt I was bombarded with too many technical or “fantasy” names straight away. The first chapters felt like a big info dump & I would of preferred a more natural progression.

I had no idea what was happening in this book half the time. The dynamics between the main character and the renters and landers was confusing. Like seriously, everyone hated this family. Stormgold was my favorite character. I wanted more of her. This story was supposed to be like the Hunger Games, but it was just too confusing and bleak.

I struggled with this one. I loved the premise, but I had a really hard time with the descriptions - I wasn’t able to form a picture in my mind for many of the sea creatures, or for the structures that the Landers use.
On top of that, these characters were very hard to get to know, because Koral didn’t know her own motivations for much of the book. I felt like we could have gotten so much deeper with her, Dorian, and Crane, but we only scratched the surface of who they are, and we really don’t even know what they want. I basically skimmed through the last trial and the end of the book, which was pretty predictable.

Apparently there’s going to be a second book, and I think that one would be more interesting than this one, now that Koral knows how the world around her really works.

Thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Fire for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Koral and her brother are Hunters--shunned by society for taming nature and providing the elite with brutal monstrous weapons known as Maristags. Their youngest sister needs expensive medicine they can't afford anymore and Koral decides to sign up for the Glory Race, a deadly tournament for the elite's entertainment.

I really enjoyed this one! I like the world the author created, and it was easy to picture a brutal dystopian fantasy thanks to her words. Although this is advertised as "fantasy" I'd promote it more as dystopian fantasy rather than straight-up fantasy. We have fantastical creatures but not fantasy as in magic and wizards. This is more of an action-packed book with intricate world-building than anything.

I think the only thing I wanted to see more of were the maristags, the sister, and the best friend. I'm sure they'll be expanded on in the sequel though. Very thrilling read!

A good debut that has good action (and I'm saying this as a sucker for good action). The atmosphere in the Glory Race was a blast to read about so were the different sea monsters.

But overall this truly feels like a book all over the place, that hoped to achieve a number of things but failed miserably. It's difficult to get through the beginning as a whole lot of info about the world and its rigid class system was dumped on us . Even though Koral's decisions were justified based on all the injustice she faced, I couldn't really care about her narrative that closely. And all other relationship developments were just there. So, I truly think this book had potential but I'm disappointed it didn't work out for me.

Monsters Born and Made is incredibly crafted, with well-written characters, a unique premise, and an intriguing new world. The unique setting and new sea monsters were a breath of fresh air for YA fantasy readers. The story was fast-paced and perfect for lovers of the Hunger Games.

A bit Hunger Games, a bit Fable this book is set in a world divided by weath, with only a dangerous game as an escape. With Amazing characterization and intriguing plot, Monsters Born and made is intriguing and well written and I can't wait to know what will happen next.

This book was really interesting! I was intrigued by the storyline and that's what initially drew me to this title. I also really love the cover artwork.

This book was action-packed, and it had an intriguing magic system and good world-building. I really was on the edge of my seat for most of the book, and I'll be recommending this to my readers that love fantasy with tons of action.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The cover is absolutely pretty and drew me into wanting to read this boo.

I enjoyed the character development and the world building.

This book kept me engaged for most of it.

This was a really fascinating story!! I loved the world building and the magical creatures, they were all so unique and exciting to read about, and the South Asian-inspired setting was beautifully depicted. Each character was flawed and imperfect, easy to differentiate and wonderfully interesting – and the questions of whether rebellion and war are worth the pain and poverty they bring, combined with the The Hunger Games style vibes of a brutal, corrupt challenge, were addictive and gripping.

“Where do we fit in, Crane? What about people like you and me? It feels like all we do is fight.”
(This quote may not be in the published version of this novel, it was copied from the advanced reader’s copy.)

I was incredibly invested in the enemies-to-lovers vibes between two of our main characters, though it definitely wasn’t the focus of the book. I wouldn’t have hated a little more of them… but maybe future books! And though I was a little disappointed by the naivety of the main character, I also hope that she’ll continue to develop as the series continues.

All in all, this was a really solid start to the series, and the author has definite potential – the world and characters created were incredible! Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is an author to keep an your radar. Excellent world building and character development. I loved the mythology of it all.

I struggled a little to get in to the story and I thought that it came off as a little juvenile. However, I think it will appeal to a wider audience of YA readers and the concept was so unique that it is still worth reading and I will definitely be recommending to fantasy lovers.

I This was a really unique YA fantasy novel, that I would definitely recommend trying!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I legit liked this complex ans dangerous world that Tanvi Berwah created in Monsters Born and Made. The world building was good, which was one of my main expectations going into this book based on the description. I liked the characters and was curious to see how their stories would develop. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but this may be because of the descriptive language. Overall, it was a good story.

I really wanted to love monsters born and made, but it just didn't happen. I felt it was the same story we've read before with nothing new or fresh brought to the concept. I enjoyed the characters, but the predictable plot made it really hard to rate this any higher than three

I flew through this book, even though there were a few moments that lulled. I loved the different creatures, and way they interacted with the characters. I would have liked more character development, but it wasn't terrible.
Sign me up for an underdog story, especially when it is someone from poverty going against the suppressive government. Books like The Hunger Games, Red Queen, and Red Rising all have this similar vibe, and I am never disappointed by it. Add in Asian mythology, and you have won me over.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced reader copy of Monsters Born and Made.

I didn't understand enough about what was going on in this and didn't care enough to find out. Weirdly, everything was over detailed but found the world building hard to follow. The MC was just annoying. This just wasn't for me, which is too bad because the artwork was beautiful.

unfortunatly this one wasn't for me. I struggled with the main character Koral, it felt like she very naive. I struggled to like her or most of the characters. What I loved about the book was the creatures, they were so beautifully described. It was a lot of fun to try to imagine. The charrette races where high action and intense.
2.5 stars

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for my review copy