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lothtor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Monster Born and Made was so freaking good. Maybe it's because I just watched all of Stranger Things this week or maybe, just maybe, this was just really hard to put down. Either way, I'm so happy that I got the chance to jump into this and I'm secretly hoping we get another book.
In this, you will meet Koral. She is a monster hunter and has a huge mission: to save her family. The creatures throughout this kept me intrigued. Seriously, after meeting the first one I was completely hooked. It was also pretty interesting to see Koral travel and grow throughout this world as well. The Lander and the Renters could easily annoy and frustrate me. Yet, Koral seemed to handle them with more grace than I could muster into one of my pinky fingers.
Not even going to lie here. I would have punched one of the Landers pretty early on. My adventure would have been nonexistent after that. Besides the drama, we do get some sparks for a romantic interest. It's not the main focus, though, but I would have liked to see more of it. Just saying.
In the end, I wasn't prepared for that ending. Again, I'm secretly hoping and wishing that we get another book. I might cry if we don't because it just can't end like that. It feels like there's more room to grow and potential for a great sequel.
Monster Born and Made was so freaking good. Maybe it's because I just watched all of Stranger Things this week or maybe, just maybe, this was just really hard to put down. Either way, I'm so happy that I got the chance to jump into this and I'm secretly hoping we get another book.
In this, you will meet Koral. She is a monster hunter and has a huge mission: to save her family. The creatures throughout this kept me intrigued. Seriously, after meeting the first one I was completely hooked. It was also pretty interesting to see Koral travel and grow throughout this world as well. The Lander and the Renters could easily annoy and frustrate me. Yet, Koral seemed to handle them with more grace than I could muster into one of my pinky fingers.
Not even going to lie here. I would have punched one of the Landers pretty early on. My adventure would have been nonexistent after that. Besides the drama, we do get some sparks for a romantic interest. It's not the main focus, though, but I would have liked to see more of it. Just saying.
In the end, I wasn't prepared for that ending. Again, I'm secretly hoping and wishing that we get another book. I might cry if we don't because it just can't end like that. It feels like there's more room to grow and potential for a great sequel.
actuallyahorsereads's review against another edition
3.0
Man, if the politics and some of the back story in this has been fleshed out a bit more, and the world a bit more developed, this would have been a knock out read
thiccandired's review against another edition
3.0
3.0 / 5.0
Monsters Born and Made is a dystopian fantasy of human kind on another planet, where a caste system of society designates people into jobs and prevents movement between social tiers. It is Hunger Games meets The Scorpio Races and a heavy dose of colonial oppression. And it just ends?
I had read the book while listening to the audio, and the narrator on the audiobook doesn’t pace their reading in a way I enjoy listening too. I stopped listening after about 30% and read the remainder of the book. It’s good, descriptive but leaves enough open to the imagination that you don’t feel forced into a perspective. I was a little lost on some of the politics, I thought it was moving well enough that more would be explained later, but then it wraps quickly and just ends?
It is a satisfying ending until it’s not, and I am already looking forward to Berwah’s next book, but I am uncertain if it’s the sequel to this or a new character all together. Overall, this is very well paced, the world building is strong and has room for more depth, the characters could use some work (they are rather one note), and the plot is engaging until it’s not, because it just ends…
Until Next Time,
MC
Monsters Born and Made is a dystopian fantasy of human kind on another planet, where a caste system of society designates people into jobs and prevents movement between social tiers. It is Hunger Games meets The Scorpio Races and a heavy dose of colonial oppression. And it just ends?
I had read the book while listening to the audio, and the narrator on the audiobook doesn’t pace their reading in a way I enjoy listening too. I stopped listening after about 30% and read the remainder of the book. It’s good, descriptive but leaves enough open to the imagination that you don’t feel forced into a perspective. I was a little lost on some of the politics, I thought it was moving well enough that more would be explained later, but then it wraps quickly and just ends?
It is a satisfying ending until it’s not, and I am already looking forward to Berwah’s next book, but I am uncertain if it’s the sequel to this or a new character all together. Overall, this is very well paced, the world building is strong and has room for more depth, the characters could use some work (they are rather one note), and the plot is engaging until it’s not, because it just ends…
Until Next Time,
MC
angelwriter428's review against another edition
2.0
First book of the year and oh goodness....it just had to be this one.
I see a lot of reviews comparing this to Scorpio Races and I have to say that this was also my first thought. Water horses that have to be taken from the water, raised, bred, and ridden (or in this case pulling chariots) in deadly races. It's like Scorpio Races, Greek/Celtic Mythos, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament all had a baby and we're left with this book. (Which this book is supposed to South-East Asian inspired, and maybe I'm not worldly enough to see it, but I super went with old Celtic myths and not Asian folklore.)
Sadly, this book didn't live up to the hype for me. After reading the description, I was like, YAS, but it ended up leaving me feeling like I wasted 11 hours and 4 minutes of my life. It was predictable to the point of boredom with no twists or turns that surprised me even a little.
So, with that, I rate it 2 stars, since I did finish the book and didn't absolutely hate it, but I don't think I'd recommend it.
I see a lot of reviews comparing this to Scorpio Races and I have to say that this was also my first thought. Water horses that have to be taken from the water, raised, bred, and ridden (or in this case pulling chariots) in deadly races. It's like Scorpio Races, Greek/Celtic Mythos, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament all had a baby and we're left with this book. (Which this book is supposed to South-East Asian inspired, and maybe I'm not worldly enough to see it, but I super went with old Celtic myths and not Asian folklore.)
Sadly, this book didn't live up to the hype for me. After reading the description, I was like, YAS, but it ended up leaving me feeling like I wasted 11 hours and 4 minutes of my life. It was predictable to the point of boredom with no twists or turns that surprised me even a little.
So, with that, I rate it 2 stars, since I did finish the book and didn't absolutely hate it, but I don't think I'd recommend it.
wendyk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the writing, but I did feel like so much was missing from the story.
Koral lives on an island surrounded by monsters. Her family's livelihood relies on her and her brother's hunting and capturing one of these monsters for the elite to race in the Glory Race every four years. But when they come up empty-handed, Koral decides to enter the race herself. That sets off a chain of events that could destroy everything she's ever known.
I enjoyed the world-building and Koral as a protagonist, but I was left with so many unanswered questions: a relationship with a past that's never really fleshed out; why some of the upper-class racers are suddenly willing to help; the ending?!? To just name a few. I'm not saying an ending has to wrap up perfectly, but this one needs another novel!
Koral lives on an island surrounded by monsters. Her family's livelihood relies on her and her brother's hunting and capturing one of these monsters for the elite to race in the Glory Race every four years. But when they come up empty-handed, Koral decides to enter the race herself. That sets off a chain of events that could destroy everything she's ever known.
I enjoyed the world-building and Koral as a protagonist, but I was left with so many unanswered questions: a relationship with a past that's never really fleshed out; why some of the upper-class racers are suddenly willing to help; the ending?!? To just name a few. I'm not saying an ending has to wrap up perfectly, but this one needs another novel!
hmbb99's review against another edition
3.0
The idea of the Monsters Born and Made was very intriguing for me. However, the execution did not pan out as well. The world was immensely designed and creative. Unfortunately, I could not relate to the characters and the action was too slow for me. I felt as though the author put a lot of thought into creating the world but not as much thought into the characters behind the story.
It wasn't for me but someone else who enjoys slow burn type stories may enjoy it more.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
It wasn't for me but someone else who enjoys slow burn type stories may enjoy it more.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
twstdtink's review against another edition
3.0
A wonderful debut novel that delves into a new world, established after the fall of civilization as we know it, with its own hierarchy, dangerous creatures and untold mysteries. I loved the main characters and the multiple twists to the story. My only complaints were that I found it hard to picture the maristags and certain sections of the story dragged with too many technical details and others jumped around chaotically. I’d love to see this adapted into a graphic novel!
ansch05's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I really wish this book was better but I gotta be real I didn't understand what was going on half the time!!
I really wish this book was better but I gotta be real I didn't understand what was going on half the time!!
emily_loves_2_read's review against another edition
4.0
Monsters Born and Made
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 9/6/22
Author: Tanvi Berwah
Publisher: RB Media
Narrator: Deepa Samuel
Goodreads Rating: 3.87
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and RB Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Koral and her older brother Emrik risk their lives each day to capture the monstrous maristags that live in the black seas around their island. They have to, or else their family will starve. In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite, have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others―if they're lucky―survive.
When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race.
But every step of the way is unpredictable as Koral races against contenders who have trained for this their whole lives and who have no intention of letting a low-caste girl steal their glory. When riots break out and rogues attack Koral to try and force her to drop out, she must choose―her life or her sister's―before the whole island burns.
My Thoughts: I am not usually a fantasy person but I kept seeing this book and wanted to take a go at a fantasy novel. The cover is so amazing and this drew me to the book. The premise is to be guided by South Asian mythology however, the actuality is more on classical mythology. The world building was what hooked me in, I would liked to have learned more about maristags, but that may be more revealed in a later novel. The characters had depth, strength, chemistry, and I loved how they were portrayed. The author’s writing style was complex, intriguing, magical, and worked well. This book has been compared to Hunger Games, I believe two books can have a similar plot, but be vastly different; I believe this fit that different category. I would recommend preordering this book that releases early next month.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 9/6/22
Author: Tanvi Berwah
Publisher: RB Media
Narrator: Deepa Samuel
Goodreads Rating: 3.87
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and RB Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Koral and her older brother Emrik risk their lives each day to capture the monstrous maristags that live in the black seas around their island. They have to, or else their family will starve. In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite, have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others―if they're lucky―survive.
When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race.
But every step of the way is unpredictable as Koral races against contenders who have trained for this their whole lives and who have no intention of letting a low-caste girl steal their glory. When riots break out and rogues attack Koral to try and force her to drop out, she must choose―her life or her sister's―before the whole island burns.
My Thoughts: I am not usually a fantasy person but I kept seeing this book and wanted to take a go at a fantasy novel. The cover is so amazing and this drew me to the book. The premise is to be guided by South Asian mythology however, the actuality is more on classical mythology. The world building was what hooked me in, I would liked to have learned more about maristags, but that may be more revealed in a later novel. The characters had depth, strength, chemistry, and I loved how they were portrayed. The author’s writing style was complex, intriguing, magical, and worked well. This book has been compared to Hunger Games, I believe two books can have a similar plot, but be vastly different; I believe this fit that different category. I would recommend preordering this book that releases early next month.