This is a dystopian fantasy story, the idea overall seemed promising, however I felt it a bit flat, the plot could've been fantastic if the world-building and characters was a bit stronger and better developed. However, it was entertaining after the slow start. I hope the next book brings more into the story and is better developed. The idea of marketing like other more famous dystopian and fantasy books is understandable, but I think the mythology the author wrote is a better way to make this unique and drag more readers, it's refreshing and original. If the author could get a few fixes into this story in the following book I think it would bring more readers.

Definitely this one as not the book for me. I was not sold to the story and I took me a long time to be able to finish this. The style was not for me and world felt too confusing.

"Monsters Born and Made" by Tanvi Berwah is an audiobook that masterfully blends elements of dark fantasy, adventure, and a hint of dystopian intrigue. The story is set in a richly imagined world where societal hierarchy and brutal monster races form the backdrop of a compelling narrative.

The protagonist, Koral, is an unforgettable character. She’s fierce, determined, and driven by a deep sense of loyalty and survival. Koral lives in a world divided by class and privilege, where the elite participate in a dangerous and prestigious monster race using creatures known as "maristags." As the story unfolds, Koral finds herself thrust into this perilous world, fighting not just for glory but for the survival of her family.

Tanvi Berwah's world-building is exceptional. The setting is vivid and immersive, with a unique blend of mythology and dystopian elements that create a tense and captivating atmosphere. The concept of maristags and the societal structure around them are intriguing and well thought out, adding depth and complexity to the story.

The plot is intense and fast-paced, with twists and turns that keep you engaged. The themes of class struggle, family, and resilience are woven seamlessly into the narrative. Koral's journey is not just about the physical challenges she faces but also her internal struggle and growth, making her a multi-dimensional and compelling character.

The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each adding their own flavor to the story. The dynamics between Koral and these characters are one of the highlights of the audiobook, enriching the story with emotional depth and realism.

The narration of the audiobook is superb, capturing the essence of the characters and the world they inhabit. The narrator's ability to convey the intense emotions and the atmospheric tension of the story adds an extra layer of immersion for the listener.

Overall, "Monsters Born and Made" is a gripping and imaginative audiobook that offers a unique blend of fantasy and social commentary. It’s a story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking, making it an excellent choice for listeners who enjoy complex characters and richly crafted worlds. Tanvi Berwah has created a narrative that is not only entertaining but also resonates on a deeper level, making it a memorable listen.

Unfortunately, this one fell victim during my cell phone malfunction, and I wasn't able to review it.

Unfortunately I struggled to get into this one, which may be because it was an audiobook that can be tricky for the genre when there is such rich character development and world-building.

It was a little harder for me to get into the story, especially being audiobook, i find a bit hard to connect with the story and characters. But when I started to understand the world building and characters it was super nice and I couldn’t stop listening!!

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 interesting debut with some great aspects and some that for me, needed a bit of development. Firstly, I loved the setting. The world here had a post-apocalyptic vibe, which I appreciated and the social commentary regarding the separation of Landers and Renters was very well done. I also really enjoyed the creatures and the way in which they played an integral part of the plot. My main issues come with the pacing, which at times lagged a bit for me and the characters, who all fell a little bit flat. I applaud Tanvi Berwah for having the guts to finish the novel in the way they did as it definitely leaves the reader hoping for a sequel. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received an e-arc from Edelweiss and an audio arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately lost interest in this one, so it was a DNF. I tried a chapter to see if I still wanted to continue with the story, but I didn't vibe with the writing style. It felt very disjointed to me. I was confused by all the info dumped on the reader within the first chapter.
Though I was a little intrigued by the water creatures that they hunt, that wasn't enough to continue for me

Koral has no choice but to join the Glory Race, if she doesn't her family will die. So the Glory Race it is. But will she even stand a chance? At the beginning there is a sense of structure and direction but as the book progress multiple plot lines are introduced and it starts to get messy. This over layering takes away from Koral and the central plot line.

Fans of the hunger games will enjoy this south Asian inspired fantasy story.
Koral will do anything for her family. Even venture into the Raging restless sea to capture dangerous maristags for the Glory race.

But when all their maristags run off and her family are left with nothing to survive on, her brother needing medicine and her father rejecting her.

Koral offers to enter into the Glory race. And she decides to compete with an untamed maristag.

I loved the lore and fantastical elements of this story. The world building was beautiful and the depiction of the maristags and sea creatures was incredible.
Although the plot felt interesting, I didn't quite enjoy it. The characters didn't excite me to root for.

Monsters Born and Made

Plot: .5
Writing: .5
World Building: .5
Characters: .5
Themes: .5
2.5/5

Monsters Born and Made had an interesting premise. A girl trying to save her family by entering a race with dangerous sea creatures. I loved all of the monsters and being on an island.

Now, let's get into the meat. I didn't care about the story or the characters. Everything fell kind of flat for me. There wasn't a lot of character depth. I wasn't rooting for anyone. There's some political scheming that I thought could have used more details as well. Just nothing really kept me interested. I did a light DNF for a month and finally decided to finish it.

The cover of the hardcover book is beautiful and I really wished I liked this book more because I would have purchased the book.

Look, I don't think this book is horrible. It's got some interesting things that I think a newer YA would really enjoy. This one just wasn't for me.

The narrator for the audiobook also wasn't great. I was listening to it on 1.7-2 speed just for it to sound more normal.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced audiobook for an honest review.

2.5 stars!

I think unfortunately this was a case where the YA was a little too young for me. I thought the premise was pretty good, but the characters, specifically Koral, just felt so naive. I did think the audiobook had a really good performance though!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just know I would have loved this as a teenager!

Fast paced, action driven ya fantasy. And the audiobook is great. For a debut novel I think it was done well and could see myself reading more by the author.

You’re following Korel and her brother Emrik - they capture maristags to provide for their family. The ruling family have indentured their family so they must risk their lives to capture these monsters that are used in a deadly race called The Glory Race. Unfortunately, korel is forced to compete in this race when they aren’t able to capture anymore maristags. Will she survive the deadly race to save her family?

2.5 🌟. I probably would have enjoyed this more if I hadn’t read The Scorpio Races first and I’m not sure I would have finished it if not for the audiobook which was good! Still now, in my head, the story seems to overlap with the one in the Scorpio Races but it lacks all the magical realism and amazing style Maggie Stiefvater is famous for. Koral is an interesting characters, she is loyal and she fights for her family, she remains kind even if her father is abusive, so I really appreciated her. Honestly for the rest I think it’s pretty unremarkable and I don’t think I’ll read a sequel.

I’m always here for anything having to do with the ocean, so right off the bat, I loved the setting for this book, and how Koral and her family have to battle the sea for survival. Not to mention the upper class tormentors she has to face on land. This felt like a very classic YA fantasy book, so if that’s your genre, try this one out! The pace felt uneven at times, but I liked the world enough to keep reading, and I was glad I did.

The title, premise and cover all drew me right to this YA Fantasy debut novel. Though marketed as being South Asian inspired, I must admit that this had more of a Spartacus/Greco-Roman feel to me... Koral and her family are Hunters who manage to capture and semi-tame ocean monsters like the maristags from the sea. As such, they fall into the outskirts of this strictly casted society. The Landers rule while the Renters, rebels and the poor scrabble by. The Glory Race seems to unite the islands - charioteers race with maristags in an often lethally thrilling competition. When Koral finds that she has no choice but join the race to earn the gold coins her family so desperately needs, she feels the pressure that she alone can save her family from ruin.

The audio is well-performed and the world-building is unique with these lethal sea creatures that add to the the fresh and fun feeling of the book. But there's more crammed in here - from the political plots, societal unrest, family dynamics, Koral's own past and then plenty of action from the races, the violence of the animals and the society itself. This constant blend of action, description and set-up for more of the same leaves little time for character development. This makes it more difficult to feel truly invested in the story. Plus, the chaotic ending doesn't actually resolve much of anything at all. I am not sure if a sequel is planned, but this conclusion certainly leaves the door wide open for one. And while I did enjoy the ocean creatures, because I never connected with the other characters, I don't feel as anxious for a sequel as such an open-ending would usually leave me feeling. I would be curious to pick it up, if only to see some actual resolutions.

Monsters Born and Made – Tanvi Berwah



I was given an audio copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.

Tanvi Berwah is a South Asian writer who, besides having a love for writing, also has a great love for the stars and wanting to reach back in time. “Monsters Born and Made” is her debut YA fantasy novel.



The world is oceanic and inhabited by vicious and cruel beasts – or monsters depending on how you look at them. The humans are divided into two classes – Landers and Renters. Landers make up the ruling elite and the Renters – a class of people being forced to work and break themselves to get enough just to scrape by. It’s a harsh existence and some have it worse than others.

Koral and her family are lucky enough to have been given the job of Hunters. So, they are the only family who are able to hunt and rear the beast known as the Maristag. It is Koral’s family's role to hunt the Maristag beasts and provide them for the Landers to buy and also for the glorious event that only happens once every few years – The Glory Race.

This race is meant to commemorate their early beginnings but it has since evolved into a race for survival that only the elite can hope to win – Renters have not been allowed to compete in the race, though a Renter won the first Glory Race. For the champion lucky enough to win they are crowned in glory and given riches and gold. Something a lowly Renter can only dream about.

Thus, when Koral and Emrich fail to hunt and capture any Maristag’s this season, their family struggling to survive already, Koral enters the Glory Race. This is met with much hatred and hostility. Koral and her family are subject to much violence and threats as a result of Koral’s action.

Now Koral must fight to survive and win the Glory Race so her family do not have to beg and fall lower than they already have; Koral must also stave the oncoming threats to her and her family, if she has any hope of surviving the Glory Race.

Yet just as her goal is within reach – Koral is betrayed and now her life and the lives of her family are now in very real danger, more so than they ever have been. The fight for her life and that of her family is far from over.



“Monsters Born and Made” is an exhilarating and gripping fantasy tale that fans of the Hunger Games, life myself, will lose themselves in. The talented writing and the mesmerising voice of Deepa Samuel, made for a magical tale of fantasy, young love, betrayal and survival. The Maristag seems like such a beautiful and dangerous creature – absolutely captivates my imagination. Koral’s beginnings seem so cruel and unfairly harsh – I immediately felt such sympathy for her, and then that twist at the end – so cruel, a literal knife in the back. I really hope there is a second book, I feel there is so much more to Koral’s tale to explore. I hope she can overcome all the obstacles coming her way, she has already had to overcome so much.

Monsters Born & Made is a YA Dystopian Fantasy novel that is reminiscent of all my favorite fantasy novels. I wanted to love this book so much! I read a six chapter excerpt earlier in the year, and I was hooked by the fantastic writing and the dystopian world. The excerpt left me eager to read more!
I read the e-arc and listened to an alc, but unfortunately it got to a point where I was frustrated with the book because story never really took off.

I felt an overwhelming sense of frustration with myself for not getting hooked on this dystopian. The novel contains so many elements that make for exciting fantasy adventures. Perhaps, the utilization of so many elements at once inadvertently overwhelmed my imagination. There’s so much going on in the story that it’s easy to get lost if you aren’t paying attention.

To be fair, I expected to soar through Monsters Born and felt myself tripping over the storyline to keep up with the fast-paced adventure. The book isn’t slow moving. It feels like the first 25 or 30% needs to be condensed a bit more. It’s a a little redundant.

Overall, this is a nice debut. The writing is good in this book. Actually, it’s quite impressive. I can’t wait to see what the author creates next.

DNF'd at 33%

I wanted the trials! I wanted more action but I just didn't see where this was going and lost interest completely eventually.