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A review by e_flah
Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
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.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Death of parent