I read this and it felt like I was constantly running, stumbling over my feet to keep up with the action. There was a lot going on all the time, and sometimes I wondered if it was all going to get resolved. I like the premise, everyone loves an underdog.

A fantastic debut from an author to watch!! So many strengths across this book: the world building and setting (post-apocalyptic Hunger Games vibes), an all encompassing competition / race with great pacing and exciting action, warring factions and a main character caught up in the struggle between them, and SEA CREATURES! Loved the author's exploration of caste and relationships--thought it was brilliantly done. Overall, a great addition to the YA fantasy genre from a fabulous new voice.

Unfortunately I DNF'd this only a few chapters in....and it was one of my most anticipated books. It has an interesting premise but the execution was lackluster and overall the story felt really generic.

DNF at ~45%

I think the main character is quite well thought-out and I liked her. I also liked the incorporation of maristags and the caste system for the worldbuilding. I just didn't care about the plot, the other characters or the competition.

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.

A great concept with okay execution. There are similarities to The Hunger Games (but swapping the caste of participants) and Scorpio Races. I loved both of these books but I only liked Monsters Born and Made which is not to say it’s not a worthwhile read, it really is, I just didn’t click with it as I did others. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an egalley.

In this book, we get to explore a fascinating world where different groups of people have their own unique ways of life. The first group races monsters caught in the sea every four years, while the second group are second-class citizens who have to fight the elements. In between these two groups is a family known as the Hunters, who capture and raise the monsters from the sea. The story centers around the main character, who belongs to this family and sneaks into the big race to get money to help her sick sister. This act of rebellion catches the attention of the rebels, who want to use her against the elite. However, she is conflicted because she believes the rebels are bad, even though she is rebelling against the elite herself, but only for her family. This aspect of the story can be seen as an exploration of the complex nature of rebellion and its motivations.

Despite the interesting premise, some have criticized the book for feeling like a rip-off of The Hunger Games. While the book has its own unique elements, the similarities cannot be ignored. Additionally, some readers may find the main character's self-centeredness frustrating. Her lack of awareness of the potential consequences of her actions can come across as naive or even irresponsible. Furthermore, some may feel that the ex-boyfriend storyline is unnecessary and detracts from the main plot.

However, overall, the book is still a worthwhile read for young adults. The monsters are definitely a highlight, and the exploration of rebellion and its complexities can be thought-provoking. Although it's not a completely original story, it still has its own merits.

I tried really hard to get in to this one. Every time I pick it up, I just struggle with it and put it back down again. I am not a big fan of this one and the characters were really hard to love. I just felt no connection to this book.

This was a decent debut but it left little impression on me. I think some of the character dynamics could have been better developed.

A book that I delved into with glee and came out feeling like I'd really had a chance to get to the heart of the story and experience a great world where Renters struggle with their place under the Landers bootheels and one girl will do anything to save her sister. I found Monsters Born and Made to be a little Scorpio Races mixed with Hunger Games with a lot of twists and turns and action that drove the story forward. Not all monsters are the ones we think we see before us. Some are the people we're taught to respect. And sometimes the grit of one person willing to stand up and say enough will spark a fire. A deadly adventure awaits as Koral and Dorian battle to be crowned Champion of the Glory Race. Koral is fierce and independent, aspects that made her character relatable and able to survive all the wrongs she suffers. I enjoyed this book from page one, and wouldn't mind another book or three set in this world.

Scorpio Races meets the Hunger Games in an intense race with monsters from the sea in a race that could change everything. The themes found in this book's pages are fierce competition, underdog main characters from low-income families, class warfare, revolution, a forbidden love interest from a family of high status, and a young sibling struggling for her life.
Koral is from a family that only goal is to be hunters of the sea for these monsters of the ocean called Maristag. Once captured, they are to be raised and sold to the rich for the Glory race. So we have Landers vs. renters, and renters have never entered a Glory race today. Monsters Born and Made is an intense, bloody story about a race that can change Koral's life if she succeeds and is not killed. Like all tales, her victory may happen, and it maybe is destroyed just as quickly. I am unsure if we get more stories from this author in this tale, but it does end like we could get more.

This was honestly such a good book! I forgot I needed to review it here so it's been like a whileeeee but I liked this one!!! It was lovely!!! The characters were sweet and I thought the world building and whole premise of the plot was just spectacular.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced copy of this book.

While the premise of this book was certainly interesting, I found that the games weren’t the hunger games comparison I was looking for and never quite reached the point of social relevance and commentary HG did. It’s fine book but it lacked some elements that would really make it stand out amongst Game-fantasy YAs.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC. I tried multiple times to read this but could not get into the plot or the pacing of the story. Abandoned around 5%. This is a fantasy story about Koral and her brother Emrik who have to capture the maristags living in the surrounding waters around their island. She is racing against other contenders for the Glory Race which is a chariot tournament. It was an intersting premise but ultimately I could not find myself engaged in the characters or the setting.

As I get older I am becoming more and more of a boring English teacher, because I read this whole book wondering what it was trying to say. Not every book needs to add to the conversation - but I think this one wanted to. In the end I wasn’t sure who the good guys were - surely not just our heroine but also maybe just our heroine. I also wish we’d learned more about the creatures in the book.

Koral and her family risk their lives to capture creatures that their society uses for sport, a glory race that promises the winner unimaginable fortune and fame. The danger is intense and the action is intense but the characters and magic were a little confusing. It wrapped up nicely but wasn't the heart stopping adventure it started out to be.

I'm thankful to lonely pages booktours for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. This young adult fantasy book is set in a dystopian world where the elite and low class individuals are constantly in a fight- one for supremacy and other for daily living.Koral , our main character belongs to a family of maristag ( monster)hunters and is on the verge of not meeting daily needs and her sisters medical needs since the last maristag has escaped. She must now cheat her way into the glory race to save her sister.
This debut fantasy has a savage heroine, page turning narrative and a brilliant storyline.The tale brims with adventure and explores different family relationships, a forsaken romance , betrayals and class differences in the society. This parallel world is quite action packed and has harrowing monsters , ravaging seas and edge of the seat moments,
The other characters are also memorable , especially Koral's sister and her friend. This adrenaline surging adventure Is bound to keep the readers glued to the book .the climax of the book was unexpected and there's a scope for a duology. The author has proved beyond doubt that she is a masterful storyteller.
T/w: gore/ violence/chronic illness
Rating: 3.5/5

I just couldn't get into this book. The premise sounded like something I would really enjoy, and I can't quite put my finger on why it didn't work for me. I tried the print first and even tried the audiobook. I think too much was happening and too many characters were introduced right away, before the world-building was established. Who knows - I may give it another try eventually!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a free copy of Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah. All opinions are my own.

I tried to read this before publishing date and put it down, then tried to read again over half a year later and it’s still not doing it for me! Going to give up on this one.