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.
Plot
While the plot of Monsters Born and Made is a familiar one, it’s a formula that works well for this story and genre. The author does introduce some new elements, which I appreciated for some slight twists. However, overall I felt the pacing was slower than I would expect from a competition-style plot. I would have loved to see the race come sooner or seen more conflict leading up to the race to hold my interest.
Characters
Koral is the protagonist of the book and her character works well. She’s smart, determined, and slightly unpredictable. However, I struggled to connect to the other characters in the story. While Koral felt well-rounded and relatable, her best friends, her family members, and her fellow riders seemed to fall into their distinct tropes and didn’t hold my attention the way I had hoped they would.
Setting
The setting of this book is where the story really shines. The author has created a complex, detailed world with a caste system that is easy to understand but still unique to the genre. I also loved learning about the maristags, which felt very new and fresh to me. Similarly, the monsters that are seen as well as the roles these beasts play within the plot and world were well done.
My Recommendation
Monsters Born and Made is a great read for those who loved The Hunger Games and similar competition-based YA stories. Koral is a strong protagonist that readers will be able to relate to and the world that author has created is vibrant and exciting. I did struggle with the pacing of the story and the secondary characters but this would still be a great read for those who are fans of the genre.
