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A review by annamickreads
Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah
5.0
4.5 for sure and what a debut this was!!
If you liked The Hunger Games, especially District 4 and all the oceanic elements, I have amazing news for you! "Monsters Born and Made" is definitely for anyone who loved Suzanne Collins' trilogy or "The Scorpio Races" by Maggie Stiefvater.
"Monsters Born and Made" follows our protagonist Koral, whose family, the Hunters (of the lower caste the Renters) have been responsible for wrangling creatures known as maristags. Maristags are used in a deadly chariot race by the ruling class (the Landers). Koral knows her family is in dire straits, especially with her younger sister Liria's illness, and she decides to enter the Glory Race for the prize money.
What Koral doesn't anticipate is how much her entry, while technically legal, will be met with rebellion and backlash even from everyone around her. She must work to (literally) keep her head above water, all while dealing with tensions at home, tensions between her friends, and a mysterious competitor who was once her childhood friend.
While I understand what some reviewers were saying about pacing and being thrown into a lot at once, I think the world building was phenomenal, inventive, and definitely continue to grow over time. Debut authors in my book should be given some grace and it seems like (no spoilers) this book will at least have a sequel so I look forward to see how things continue!
If you liked The Hunger Games, especially District 4 and all the oceanic elements, I have amazing news for you! "Monsters Born and Made" is definitely for anyone who loved Suzanne Collins' trilogy or "The Scorpio Races" by Maggie Stiefvater.
"Monsters Born and Made" follows our protagonist Koral, whose family, the Hunters (of the lower caste the Renters) have been responsible for wrangling creatures known as maristags. Maristags are used in a deadly chariot race by the ruling class (the Landers). Koral knows her family is in dire straits, especially with her younger sister Liria's illness, and she decides to enter the Glory Race for the prize money.
What Koral doesn't anticipate is how much her entry, while technically legal, will be met with rebellion and backlash even from everyone around her. She must work to (literally) keep her head above water, all while dealing with tensions at home, tensions between her friends, and a mysterious competitor who was once her childhood friend.
While I understand what some reviewers were saying about pacing and being thrown into a lot at once, I think the world building was phenomenal, inventive, and definitely continue to grow over time. Debut authors in my book should be given some grace and it seems like (no spoilers) this book will at least have a sequel so I look forward to see how things continue!