This book reminded me a lot of Naomi Novik's fairy tale retellings, a mix of Uprooted's plot and some of Spinning Silver's themes and strong character arcs, but I'm glad to say that it manages to be its own thing. What makes it shine is the focus on religion (Yahadism, an in-world stand-in for Judaism) in all its facets: personal faith versus established dogma, fanaticism versus acceptance, how hope is integral to faith, and the importance of stories in shaping people's beliefs in ways that can be empowering, but also easily exploited.

We explore most of these themes through the journey (physical and spiritual) the protagonist, Malka, goes through. At the start I sympathized a lot with her: a dutiful daughter and sister, susceptible to the wrongs her people were facing but acutely aware of her inability to change anything. Her family life and attachment to her culture were compelling and interesting to read, and made the first third of the novel a breeze to get through (though not less dark for it). Things changed when the plot gets moving, and she chooses to leave her life behind to enter the dark forest in an attempt to save her mother from execution. There she's forced to face a different aspect of her faith, and she reacts with so much close-mindedness that it was actually difficult to read at times. The prejudices that we've seen directed towards her people are mirrored exactly in her own thoughts toward Nimrah, the golem that has taken residence in the forest and represents what she dubs as heresy. Through the rest of the novel she's challenged and changes again and again, until by the end she's taken ownership of her faith and widened her views. I really liked how her character arc developed: she was not always easy to relate to, but that's the point the author was making. Fear-mongering rumors are sadly effective, and someone can end up being both a victim and a perpetrator at the same time.

All this however meant that the romance did not hit as hard as I would've wanted. While her initial hateful behaviour towards Nimrah made perfect sense in the context of her arc, it also made me doubt that they would be a good match. There were just not enough pages to have them work through their relationship in a way that I'd found believable after that, and so the romance ended up being a bit sudden and lust-based. (Though, there's a declaration scene where Nimrah references a story they had told each other as a way to confess her feelings that is absolutely top-notch.)

The shortness of the book also impacted the plot negatively. A lot of the events could only be understood in light of the larger geopolitical situation, but Malka is of course not aware of any of that, having lived isolated all of her life. So we end up learning everything through a different character, who regularly dumps information about people we never (or barely) see and how a certain action would help or hinder them, which made it difficult to stay invested. I feel like a larger page count could've allowed Malka to get personally involved in these plots, and for me to care and understand more as I experienced the political conundrums through her eyes and feelings.

The writing style was very readable, with some very moving reflections about faith and grief. Curiously, this author has a thing for creative similes. They ended up being the thing I highlighted the most as I read, just because I found them so particular. Most of them did not end up working for me, but I could always see what she was getting at, and they were always fun to read.

All in all, a very enjoyable read that would've benefited from more breathing room, but touched on themes of faith and hope in a way that I've rarely seen done and worth reading even if just for that! The beginning is a little heavy in in-world terms, but never in a way that hinders the understanding of the story, and the context always makes it clear what it's being talked about. But if like me you like to get all the nuances of culture, there's a useful glossary on the author's website to consult.

🌲 “The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark…”
That line pulled me in immediately. I was ready for a dark, atmospheric forest fantasy — monsters, curses, and a sapphic romance — and while those elements were present, the book ended up heading in a different direction than I expected.

The opening chapters were incredibly strong: moody, mysterious, and full of eerie fairytale tension. Malka’s small village, the looming threat of the forest, the feeling of being watched — it all felt rich and immersive. I genuinely thought I was in for a shadowy, magic-laced tale set entirely in the woods.

Instead, the narrative shifts into a city inspired by Prague, focusing on political, religious, and societal dynamics. While that pivot was unexpected based on the synopsis, it allowed for some thoughtful, layered commentary on prejudice, injustice, and how societies create monsters out of those who don’t conform. The book's deeper themes really resonated, and the writing often had a lyrical, modern folktale feel.

I appreciated that Malka wasn’t an all-powerful protagonist. Her vulnerability and limitations made her feel grounded, and the choices she made carried real emotional weight. My only real critique is that the romantic arc didn’t quite deliver the intensity or emotional development I’d hoped for — especially given the title’s implications.

That said, the book shines in its exploration of family, friendship, and quiet resistance. It’s a unique, haunting story that lingers after the final page, and I’ll absolutely be keeping an eye out for what Maddie Martinez writes next.

4.5⭐️

A spellbinding story combining Gothic fantasy, political intrigue, captivating prose, and sapphic romance. This has been one of my most anticipated books since I first heard about it, and it did not disappoint. If this is what she can do with her debut, I don’t think it will be long until Maddie Martinez is one of my favourite authors, if she isn’t one already!

This was such a beautiful story, managing to unite Jewish mythology and far-reaching politics with a tender story of family, resistance, and sapphic romance. All this set against the backdrop of a Gothic, almost horror-esque atmosphere, and prose dripping with sensuality and magic, made this a completely enthralling tale I struggled to put down. The commentary on social injustice and parallels with Jewish history was written with so much care and passion, and I loved how complex the side characters that were central to this aspect of the plot were.

The sapphic romance was likewise so well-written and developed. Malka and Nimrah's slow progression from reluctant allies, to friends, to lovers was so beautiful to read, and I was obsessed with the yearning, angst, but ultimately tenderness that surrounded their relationship.

The one minor issue I would like to mention is that the overarching plot could be a little unfocused, and the stakes in particular sometimes felt somewhat dubious, which undermined the tension and momentum of the story. Places I would have liked more exposition were moved through quickly, while subtler details were over-explained, which lessened their mystique and prevented the reader from feeling as much satisfaction from piecing things together themself.

That being said, similar plot issues are very common in debut books, and considering the beautiful prose, fantastic world-building, and incredibly moving and enchanting story of sapphic love, folkloric darkness, and resistance, they are a small price to pay. They were only barely an issue in this book, and I am so excited to read this author’s future work, where I am sure she will refine her craft that little bit further to create the most gorgeous, captivating tales.

This is one of my favourite books of this year, and if you enjoy fantasy with a hint of horror, political and historical elements woven into personal stories, complicated and well-written characters, as well as sapphic yearning as far as the eye can see, I very much recommend giving this one a read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this eARC in return for my honest review.

I really truly wanted to love this book. A dark, sapphic golem story, rich in Jewish history and myth, is exactly my type of book and with such a gorgeous cover, too, how could I not be immediately sold. When I saw I had been accepted for an ARC I was thrilled.
Sadly this was a disappointment and from the start it was a real struggle for me to get into it. The writing felt stilted, both in substance and in structure. Very glaring and frequent repetition as well as even grammatical issues just made it difficult to get drawn in. (I am aware that, as an ARC, the final text may change but I have never seen an ARC before with so many issues)
I also struggled with the fantasy terms. I know it is common enough to make up terms for fantasy analogs to real world places, peoples, etc., but in this case they were often so close to the actual terms that it seemed redundant and just jarring.
Although the book already starts with some pretty significant events, the writing and aforementioned issues made it very hard for me to really feel anything about what I was reading. I couldn't get into the story or really bring myself to care about the characters in any meaningful way and ended up not finishing the book. I really wish I had been able to enjoy this book more as I had such high hopes going in and really did want to like it but it is just not for me.
Out of respect for the author and publisher, as I have not finished reading the book, I will not be rating this book on other sites.

3,5⭐️

"The Maiden and Her Monster" is a story that mistakenly may be approached as another folk retelling. With the atmospheric beginning in a small village laying in shadow of the mysterious woods and bloodthirsty beings living in it, Maddie Martinez creates an illusion that you know where the story is going from there. But you don't.

It is a rather mature approach to the topic, twisting the narration of monstrosity into a commentary about prejudice and injustice. It quickly develops into a grim reflection of reader's reality, rooting from historical treatment of minorities. From folk tale it evolvs into a political discussion, admitting that the story is much bigger than one Malka we meet. I must praise how Martinez avoids the trope of giving the main character too much power, instead of following the well-known path of her becoming the unstoppable force, she opts to different approach. Quite refreshing, must admit.

The story is interesting, and the reading time was a pleasure. Writing was good, even if sometimes the narration felt a bit simplified – not a flaw, just place left for improvement, as it is debut. Martinez is on a right path. Similarly looks the case of worldbuilding; do not get me wrong, it is already rich and well thought through, however what was lacking for me was rooting the story in it. In some places it felt like the connection could have run deeper, the atmosphere could have been more impactful instead of lingering in the background. But those are just small details.

Shamefully I will admit, I did expect something quite different from the blurb, therefore my expectations lied somewhere else. But for what I received, I must say it was quite good, with a breath of fresh air in a world of retellings that all follow the same disciple.

I was so incredibly hyped for The Maiden and the Monster and now that I have finished it, it's safe to say I've found one of my favourite reads of the year. I've been looking forward to this book for ages, literally from the moment it was announced, and suffice to say, it was everything that I wanted and then some. Lush worldbuilding, incredible descriptions, gothic vibes, scary monsters, a sapphic romance...just give it to me hehe.

One of my favourite parts of the book was the description of the deadly forest and the monsters that reside within it. I honestly had chills, especially during one scene where Malka finds herself trapped in the forest with a monstrous creature. The way it was described elicits a visceral reaction. It was reading the scenes in the forest that the horror aspect of the story truly struck me. The way the forest is described, a poisoned malevolent being of its own, made it a million times scarier. Every word grounds you into the setting of the story and the writing is sharp and succinct.

Admittedly, my knowledge about Jewish folklore is neglible, but the way Maddie Martinez intertwines folklore with fantasy and creates a unique, powerful narrative is nothing short of a masterpiece. I love religious symbolism in stories and this book is packed full. From differing beliefs to the power of prayer, the religion in the book is talked about in a very artful way and makes for a very thrilling reading experience.

Malka, as a protagonist, was one of the highlights of this book. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but let me just mention that her character and development? Pure art. From when we first meet her to the story's end, she's a changed person. Brave in the face of great adversity, Malka goes through a lot of challenges (and I mean a lot), but doesn't waver from her goal - saving her mother from execution. Even if it means making a deal with the Golem, a monster who is half human girl and half stone. There's some tension packed scenes between Malka and Nimrah that left me screaming, especially that one scene in the church...ifykyk. There's not a lot I can say, without unintentionally spoiling, but just know Malka and Nimrah serve sapphic enemies-to-lovers excellence and have a very close bond (emphasis on very).

All in all, this was such an enjoyable read and I hope there's going to be a million special editions because oh my god, this book deserves them.

The Maiden and Her Monster is an absolutely incredible debut and I am truly obsessed. I cannot wait to have a physical copy in my hands so that I can annotate every page. And I can't wait to read what Maddie Martinez writes next; I have a feeling I'm gonna love it just as much as this one!

This seems to be one of those books that you either love or just can’t finish, often ending with a one-star rating. I definitely lean more toward the “loved it” side, but I also see where the issues are.

At its heart, this book has a really ambitious concept, and you can tell the author put a lot of effort into research. It draws heavy inspiration from Jewish traditions, particularly the Golem myth, which serves as the foundation for the story. However, it’s more than just a reimagining of the legend — it’s set in a world strongly resembling medieval Central Europe, particularly the Czech lands of the early 15th century.
The story follows Malka, the daughter of a healer. In a desperate attempt to save her mother from execution, she strikes a deal with Nimrah – a golem hiding in the forest, thought to be a monster that terrorizes Malka’s village. But here’s the thing: even though it sounds like a forest-based fantasy, the majority of the book takes place in a city inspired by Prague, and the focus shifts toward political intrigue rather than enchanted forest elements. So, if you’re expecting a whimsical, magical vibe, that might be a bit of a letdown.

What I really liked about the book was how the author weaved in Jewish mythology and real historical events to construct both the world and the magic system. The world feels rich because it’s not just about made-up places and people – it pulls from real history. There are characters inspired by historical figures like King Wenceslas IV and the religious reformer Jan Hus, or objects such as the Prague Astronomical Clock attached to the Town Hall. The book also strongly grounds itself in the struggles of the Jewish community during medieval times. It vividly portrays the ghettoization, segregation, and pogroms experienced by Jews, all based on true historical events. I found this historical research-based aspect of the book really engaging – though I admit that I’m familiar with Central European history myself, as I come from the region. Still, I can see how many Anglophone readers might struggle with some of the Slavic-based names and references.

That said, there were a few things that left me wanting more. First off, I was kind of hoping for more romance. I know the author said romance was meant to be a secondary subplot, but I still think the relationship between Malka and Nimrah could’ve been explored more. The romance is basically hinted at by the title (The Maiden and HER Monster – come on!!!!), and yet it doesn’t really have the emotional weight to make you fully care. It doesn’t drive the story the way it could have. I think making the romantic arc more fleshed out would have raised the stakes and ultimately make the book more emotionally satysfying. On the plus side, the book does a great job of showing the importance of family and friendship. Malka’s sisters and her best friend actually play a pretty big role in the story, sometimes even more than Nimrah.

The pacing was mostly good – there’s always something happening, and it kept me turning pages. That said, there were moments when some plot solutions felt a little too convenient, and a few of the characters, especially Malka, acted in ways that felt pretty immature. Honestly, I pictured Malka as being around 17 years old at most, which made me feel like this book could’ve easily been a YA novel if not for the darker, more violent scenes. So, it’s kind of a YA story with a grown-up edge.

In the end, even though I pointed out some of the things that didn’t quite work for me, I do think this is a really solid debut. It’s not going to be for everyone. The book has a bit of a high entry point, and the grand historical/folkloric influences don’t always translate into deep character moments. But for me, it was an enjoyable read – especially since I’m always looking for fantasy novels that draw on Central European history and folklore. I’m curious to see what Maddie Martinez does next.

The Maiden and Her Monster begins with a hauntingly lush tone and a premise I was instantly drawn to, including but not limited to; Jewish folklore, cursed forests, sapphic tension. And in the early chapters, it delivers: the world feels eerie and immersive, and the golem myth is beautifully reimagined.

But as the story shifted away from the forest and deeper into a politically driven plot, I started to lose the thread. The pacing lagged, the stakes didn’t always land, and certain plot points felt too convenient. The romance, while full of potential, felt underdeveloped and unearned... it was more of a narrative expectation than an organic connection.

Still, the cultural depth and historical inspiration give the novel a unique and poignant foundation. If you’re looking for a slower, folkloric story rich in myth and history, this debut may still resonate. Just know it’s more spiritual allegory than dark fantasy or romance.

Loved lots of parts of this! The golem myth is so cool and I feel like it doesn't get explored in fantasy nearly as much as it should do. Also was a bit fan of our two very different settings: isolated village on the edge of the forest and the sprawling city.
The way the magic in this book came from the holy language was so interesting and I was very invested in how our protagonist wrestled with her personal ethics over using it.
Two downsides for me personally: from the blurb I thought venturing into the forest was The Novel but really that's just our opening! I also disagreed with some side-character decisions at the end of the novel, but I don't want to be a hater and obviously the author can do whatever she likes with the characters 😭

Thank you to TorBooks UK and NetGalley for approving me for this E-ARC.

5⭐️

I'm honestly struggling to think of an eloquent way to start this review because I'm still in awe over this book and lost for how I can command words to explain just how much I loved this. I had a feeling going into this that it was going to be something incredible, and I am so glad to have been right.

In the best of ways, this book was not exactly what I was expecting. I went into this expecting folklore and a magical, deadly forest (which did still happen brilliantly), but there was so much more than this. This book travelled beyond this deadly forest into a fraught city, divided by prejudice, governed by corrupt politics and religion, and a rebellion of desperate people vying to save it. I love books that examine and dissect politics in fantasy settings, and I especially love book with rebellions against corrupt regimes, so I was delighted when this book turned in this direction! And I thought this element of the book was done masterfully, with a great deal of nuance and picking apart of concepts such as religious power, the necessity of violence, and protest. A lot of this book was focused on exploring the political power of stories, and how the lens through which they are told can shift perceptions and shape history, and, combined with the religious and folkloric tales told throughout this book, this concept was masterfully done.

Whilst I adored this rebellion and political element of this book, the folklore aspect was just as strong! The myth of the golem - and the others explored so beautifully in this book - is one I was unfamiliar with, but I was fascinated by how this story and history was reimagined and so intricately woven into this dark yet luscious tale. In a similar vein, I really enjoyed how faith was explored in this book. I'm someone who is not religious in anyway, and yet I was fascinated by how Martinez explored it in this book. I found that really interesting questions were posed around religion and hope and how everyone experiences faith differently, and I thought that the weaving of the intricate magic system with the Yahadi religion and language provided a great deal of depth and enhanced this aspect of the story. I also really enjoyed and wish to praise the darker side that came with this exploration of religion, as Martinez unpicked religious biases, and fought back against politicised religion and the oppressive rule of the church. This concept/plotline was, again, approached with so much nuance, and added a thought-provoking depth to the conversations held in this book.

This book was also atmospherically beautiful, haunting, and eerie, at times viscerally dark and heavy with grief and loss, and if I had to describe this book in just one word, I would chose 'powerful'. From tearing down corrupt political and religious regimes, to rewriting narratives and finding faith, hope, and endurance in spite of suffering, this book was incredibly hard-hitting and moving. Malka was an incredible protagonist to tell this story, as an older sister, a protector, and a character who doesn't shy away from her anger and darker feelings, and instead allowed herself to feel and grieve and forge her own path. Nimrah was equally strong as the secondary main character and love interest, woven from fascinating mythology and so nuanced and distinct in her characterisation. I praise the characterisation of the other side characters too, and deeply appreciated the depth that came with every person to grace these pages. And the YEARNING with Malka and Nimrah was incredible. I adored their romantic journey so much, adored the depth that their differences and struggles brought to their bond.

I think I've said everything I can coherently say about this book, but oh my goodness just know how incredible this was. I absolutely adored this and am so very excited to see what Maddie Martinez will write next.

A sapphic romantasy reimagining of the Jewish myth of the golem of Pragur from debut author Maddie Martinez. A rich and interesting magic system within a unique and developed world, but overall not a particularly engaging novel. For a romantasy the chemistry between Malka and the golem Nimrah was lacking, and the enemies to lovers trope felt very forced. There are an endless number of characters who all blend together and have very little personalities outside of their relationships with Malka. There's also a lot of telling now showing, particularly through the fables which are excessively used to illustrate plot points or how a character is feeling. Not one for me.

First of all, many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m the #1 fan of monstrous (sapphic) girls so I was really hoping this was a book I was gonna absolutely devour. Sadly it didn’t deliver.

While the writing was beautiful, and the sceneries were painted so vividly, I almost felt like I was right there along with them, the pacing completely threw me off.

I’m usual very neutral about slowburns but this one just confused me? I was unable to exactly pinpoint the moment malka’s hatred towards Nimrah shifted to longing? I’m all for enemies to lovers but honestly it felt like Malka still hated Nimrah’s guts until the very end??

I really tried but I was unable to connect myself to any of the characters, which made it extremely hard to stay engaged. Definitely felt my eyes growing heavier a few more times than I would’ve liked. Sadly this one just wasn’t for me

“𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡.”

I think I’ve fallen in love with Maddie’s writing. The Maiden and Her Monster is a book about love, about grief, about doing the right thing and about finding yourself. All whilst telling the story of a Jewish myth - which I loved to explore. There’s a romance subplot which was so touching to read. I honestly 100% recommend this debut coming to you in September!

the vibes ™:
- deadly forest
- monsters
- unique magic system
- Jewish lore
- found family

🩶🪾🪨

I have had my eyes on this since I heard Maddie had written a sapphic jewish fantasy, and I could not believe my luck when I was granted a physical arc as an own voice reader. Steeped in the mysticism of Kabbalah magic (named Kefesh within our tale), it contains several mythical creatures of Jewish folklore such as dybbuk and golem and with beautiful prose its hard to if not impossible to put down until you are done.

Our main characters often have traditional Hebrew names which is so nice to see in literature, as many are steeped with meaning and are often meant to represent the name bearer and their qualities. Our main character Malka is a great representation of the Jewish community, from modesty represented in her uses of a kerchief like those who wear tichel/mitpachat to cover their hair. Maddie does a great job of presenting reflections of antisemitism, from harmful stereotypes that are still perpetuated today and persecution like we saw during the Holocaust.

Interestingly, the romance was more of a subplot in this tale, with the main focus actually being the manipulation of a protector into a monster. As we follow Malka in her mission to prove her mothers innocence, she crosses paths with the golem, Nimrah. With twisted tales and untold truths, this leads to a mission to prove more than just Malka's mom's innocence and rights wrongs being committed in the Capital.

The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark...

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up.

I was so excited for this book. An adult dark fantasy with folklore elements, a cursed forest and a sapphic romance? YES PLEASE.
And to begin with, it did feel like my kind of book. The atmosphere was eerie and immersive, the lore rich with texture, and I loved the reimagining of the golem’s origin. But as the book went on, I found myself slowly pulling away from it.

The forest slips out of focus fairly early, and with it, most of the tension.
The plot becomes more political, which I don't mind in theory, but the pacing felt uneven, and the stakes didn't fully land for me. Things also often worked out a little too easily for Malka, our main character, even when she had no clear plan, and I started to feel like the story was being pushed forward by convenience rather than consequence.

The romance was another struggle. I enjoy a slow burn or even an enemies-to-lovers trope, but Malka and Nimrah’s connection never felt earned. Their relationship is marked more by cruelty than chemistry, and the shift from hostility to longing didn’t sit right with me. Honestly, I think the story might have worked better without the romance at all.

I also wish there had been a glossary included in the book itself as the frequent use of untranslated Hebrew and made up words made parts harder to follow, and I often found myself confused.

There’s a lot to admire in what this book tried to do, especially for a debut.
(there is cultural depth here, and the story is ambitious)
But despite its strong start, I just didn’t feel connected to the heart of the story. (Which I'm extremely saddened by, considering this was one of my most anticipated reads this year)

If you go in expecting myth and religious beliefs rather than romance or horror, it might still speak to you.

The Maiden and Her Monster is a stunning sapphic retelling of the myth of the Golem of Prague - rich with yearning, faith, grief, and resilience. At its heart, this is a dark political fantasy woven with threads of persecution, hope, survival, and the complexities of belief in a world plagued by antisemitic hatred and violence.

We follow Malka, a devout Yahad (Jewish-inspired) girl living in a world that feels all too familiar in its hostility. The way Maddie explores faith, both personal and institutional, is deeply nuanced, showing how religion can be both a balm and a weapon, depending on the hands that wield it. The darkness in this book isn’t gratuitous; it reflects the raw edge of history, and echoes chilling truths of our present.

Malka’s journey is incredible. Watching her grow from someone clinging tightly to the teachings she’s always known into someone who begins to question, to reach, to feel - it’s incredibly moving. Her arc feels both intimate and universal, as she learns that belief doesn’t always have to mean rigidity, and that strength can be found in change.

Nimrah is also a beautifully layered character. Her dynamic with Malka unfolds slowly and tenderly - from tension and wariness to shared stories, reluctant respect, and eventually, aching affection. The yearning is palpable, and their bond is crafted with patience and depth that makes it so rewarding. Her relationship with her creator is also handled with remarkable care. There's a haunting, father-daughter quality to it - a bond steeped in loneliness, devotion, and the ache of being made for a purpose you didn’t choose. The love between them is quiet and profound, tinged with sadness and hope, and it adds another layer to Nimrah’s already compelling presence.

The writing is richly atmospheric, with a vividly imagined world that blends real cultural elements with original language and lore. It can be a little dense at first - the mix of invented terms and grounded history takes a moment to settle into - but once you're in, it’s immersive and rewarding.

The magic system, rooted in prayer, is unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s deeply tied to intent, faith, and the strength of belief - not just in the divine, but in oneself. It’s a beautiful reflection of the story’s themes, and it adds a quiet, reverent power to the narrative.

Overall, The Maiden and Her Monster is a powerful, unflinching, and tender story. It’s the kind of book that lingers - not only because of its romance and magic, but because of what it has to say about humanity, belief, and the courage it takes to question what you’ve always been told.

As an atheist, I wasn’t expecting the religious core of this story to resonate with me as deeply as it did, but Maddie’s writing is so compassionate, so powerful, and so full of truth, I found myself completely moved. Every aspect of this book - the pain, the love, the faith, the fight - reached straight into my chest and stayed there.

I can't shake the feeling that this book is being mismarketed. From the cover and synopsis I expected it to be a fantasy novel that focuses on a monstrous forest steeped in Jewish folklore. "The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark." Yes, it does, but only for the first third of the book, then it's out of the picture entirely. Title and synopsis made me excited for a sapphic romance, which is good, because I would have never guessed so from reading the book alone. Someone needs to explain to me where their romance came from, because these two women could not stand each other for the majority of the book. Not in the casual enemies-to-lovers way, but in a fully-despise-each-other's-existence way or a deeply-betray-the-other's-trust way. There was no romance whatsoever until the 60% mark, when there was lust all of a sudden. In my opinion the "romance" should have been cut entirely from this book, not only because it didn't make sense but also because it just didn't fit into the story.

Back to the beginning and to what this book is actually about. The story starts as promised. Malka is a young healer living close to a forest that claimed more than one life recently. The forest however is not the biggest threat the villagers face. They are under the oppression of the church, constantly mistreated and forced to tithe almost everything they have. Maddie Martinez says in the author's note that the story is heavily inspired by the history of Jews in medieval Prague and that is what this book is actually about, in my opinion. It's a heavy story that's depicting antisemitism and the many cruel actions that Malka's people have to endure. On the other hand the story highlights the Yahadi (Jewish) culture through storytelling and the reimagining of myths. This must be the first book I've ever read that had a golem as an actual character, and the whole magic surrounding her creation was truly fascinating to read about. I would describe this book as culturally rich, but I also know that it isn't that easy to get into. Many Hebrew and Czech words are used without much of an explanation. I wasn't too bothered by that, but I saw many reviews mentioning it. By now the author has provided a helpful glossary and maybe it will be integrated into the final version of the book. A map would be nice too, because I was a bit lost every time different places were talked about.

The story itself was slow and completely changed focus after the 30% mark or so. The first part is about Malka entering the forest to save her mother. There were monsters and dark vibes, and it was everything I wanted from this book. Malka is saved by Nimrah, the golem, and they strike a deal that will save Malka's mother and Nimrah's creator. Unfortunately, they leave the forest soon after and a somewhat political plot in a bigger city starts. The book just lost me there. Malka is still in a hateful surrounding, but many things just work out for her without problem. She gets lost in the city, but luckily a friendly stranger not only finds her but also brings her to a person that she knows. Come on, what are the chances? Malka needs to get into the palace? No problem whatsoever, they even have a map at hand. Malka is a character that never has a plan and a lot of luck. She is pretty unlikable, but that is never that much of a problem too me. Her hate towards Nimrah was reasonable, because she was taught her entire life to be apprehensive towards magic as the root of all evil. But what I don't understand is why there then had to be a romance between Malka and Nimrah. Yes, your opinion of someone can change drastically, but there are also things that you can't take back. Malka calls Nimrah a monster long after she learns her name, and she says so with her whole heart and full of hate, and that was just nothing later? I don't understand it. So, I wouldn't recommend reading this book for the romance. The book does have other strengths and the writing was good, especially for a debut. If you actually know what you're getting into, you will probably not be disappointed.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan/Tor for providing an eARC in return for an honest review!

I've very much enjoyed reading "The Maiden and Her Monster".
We follow Malka, a young girl from a rural village, part of a minority religion that is being repressed, close to a forest, which once so sustaining their livelehoods, has turned on them and has started killing young women who are in the forest after dark. Malka leaves her village to save her healer mother from suspicion of crime, and ventures into the forest to find the monster that is killing the women.
Malkas development through the story is slow but steady, she is often hindered by her belief,superstitions and naivity, which can be grating occasionally, but gives her character necessary depth.
The "Golem" / Monster is introduced pretty quickly after they venture in the forest. I loved how the relationship between the Golem and Malka progresses (and regresses) slowly as well.
The atmosphere in this story is deliciously gothic and dark. There is violence and gore, but not in a gratitious way, which I was rather thankful for. The writing itself was lovely, although in the beginning rather difficult to follow, with a lot of specialised cultural words. I really appreciated the glossary that came with the eARC (also available on the authors website!). The amount of research that must have gone into this book must have been astonishing. I was capitvated by the description of the landscape, the villages and later on the city - i was easily able to picture everythign in my mind. The descriptions of the Golem were hauntingly beautiful.

Sadly, the plot felt a little convoluted and around 2/3rds in I occasionally lost track of who was who and which side was "the good" and "the bad side". The political intricacies also flew a bit over my head as well. A few happenings and resolutions to conflicts were a tad too easy and coincidential to me - it did dampen my enjoyment a little.

The sapphic romance was very much to my taste, no insta lust, and no immediate resolution to their animosity. Only i could have done without the addition of the village boy tagging along, although i understand why it was necessary.

Overall, i'll award 4/5 stars to this. I definitely want more sapphic fantasy novels!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of The Maiden and Her Monster. Unfortunately, I'm DNFing at 63%.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 (I pre-ordered it months ago!), so I'm hugely disappointed that I didn't enjoy it.

***The Positives***
The Maiden and Her Monster is a book about religious faith, anti-Semitism, storytelling, and desire. More specifically, it's about desiring something that's forbidden but that turns out to be the holiest and most truthful option.

On paper, it has everything that I want: Jewish folklore, atmosphere, an enchanted and dangerous forest, slowburn Sapphic relationship, stories within stories...

And there were moments when I really enjoyed the book. But unfortunately, they were mostly at the beginning. I would have loved to have read a more polished version of this story, because when it does something well, it's phenomenal. It really shines in its use of folklore and the way it creates atmosphere, and at the beginning, I thought this was easily going to be a 4-5* read for me.

***The Negatives***
Unfortunately, as I kept reading, this book became such a struggle. I really had to force myself to read another paragraph.

Among other things, the political manoeuvring lacked cunning and was also overly explained, the secondary characters had no nuance, I found I connected less and less with the protagonist as time went on, and the prose needed more editing.

Sometimes it feels like the book is prioritising the message over the story, and this makes it tedious and challenging to connect with the characters.

One of the ways this shows up for me is in way that many of the chatacters are cartoonishly evil. And don't get me wrong, I'm aware that many of the things that happened are historically accurate, but the way it's written feels like a cartoon instead of something that chills my blood. I've read similar scenes in other fantasy books and have felt sick to my stomach at how evil people can be. But I needed this book to pull me into the scene more, to convince me that these characters were real, to identify what makes these moments truly terrifying.

Speaking of characters, I need to talk about the main character, Malka. At the beginning, I really connected with her, but she also has a dogmatic hatred of the golem Nimrah that gets tiring so quickly. Malka justifies it by blaming Nimrah for her friend's death, even though she knows that Nimrah didn't kill her friend. Her friend's suspected death was due to Nimrah's forced imprisonment — but Nimrah didn't choose that! Nimrah didn't kill Chaia. And Malka knows that. Maybe it would have worked better had the book shown more of Malka's grief, had made me feel Malka's grief. But instead, well... for a book about how people are intolerant of Malka's culture and people, Malka is really very intolerant.

The developing attraction between Malka and Nimrah also really amped it up once they were magically bound to each other. This trope can work, but imo, only if the author is careful with consent and autonomy. Maybe this was addressed later on in the book, but I still had question marks over this topic when they almost got it on in a chapel confessional — in fact, Malka even tells herself that her desire is only due to the spell.

As for the prose, there are moments when the writing is beautiful. But more often than not, it's either awkward or badly written. It feels like a first draft, with numerous phrases that I had to re-read to make sense of, words that are just used incorrectly, and lots of repetition of words and phrases (e.g. a character having a sly eye or sly smile multiple times in one scene, or the narrator literally repeating the previous sentence). And sometimes, the dialogue is jarringly modern in comparison with the rest of the book. One moment they're talking about what ails them, and the next they sound like a pair of American 20-somethings.

***The Neutral***
While it's not a bad thing, I also want to highlight that this is a very religious fantasy novel. It's about the importance of connecting with God, walking with God, being held by God. As the characters go from enemies to lovers, one of the first compliments Nimrah gives Malka is that she is deeply religious, and her faith gives her strength, motivates her to be brave, and lights a fire in her heart.

Also, just a heads-up that while this is a fantasy world, it's basically set in and around Prague. Even the Prague astronomical clock, the Czech Republic's most iconic site, is described in faithful detail.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc. The Maiden and her Monster is a lush dark fantasy story, it weaves stories within stories in a beautiful way. It is such an atmospheric story and makes the setting and the folklore a haunting character following Malka and Nimrah on their journey. It is a beautiful standalone story and I cannot wait to read more from Maddie!