I really loved the folklore, magic, and religious themes in The Maiden and Her Monster. At many times early on it almost read like scripture to me.

"Kefesh are the prayers you utter to yourself when you think no one is looking... it is the love you share in your greatest joys.'

Beautiful!

I did find myself very overwhelmed with the worldbuilding despite appreciating parts of it. I was very intrigued by the "girls never returning from the woods" premise, which sadly didn't last long! The pacing was very slow and made it hard to feel invested.

I loved the sapphic rep, but also wanted more development. It felt like it took until 50% for the smallest glimmer that the characters didn't hate each other.

Overall, a promising debut, I just personally wanted a bit more of the characters and less vocab.

Certainly an interesting story. I truly wanted to like it more than I did.

I felt the pace was very slow while, at the same time, there was a lot going on.

I wasn’t necessarily rooting for Malka and Nimrah either.

Thanks NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Maddie Martinez for an eARC of this book.

I feel like the synopsis for this novel was perfectly written! It is a gorgeous and atmospheric fantasy novel, and I loved the Hebrew and Jewish traditions, language and mythology incorporated in the whole story. The Jewish myth of the Gollem isn’t a story known to me, so I had very little expectations going into the story, and was so intrigued with learning more.

Malka and her families story overall is really heartbreaking and filled with so much loss, suffering and grief. Tough place and time to live and I loved the overarching story of Malka growing up and learning that perhaps all she’s been told about her religion and those in power might not all be true. It was a powerful commentary on men in positions of power and how the people at the top shape history and often get to re-write it how they wish.

I appreciated the sapphic romance and was happy to see that represented in the story, but for me personally there wasn’t enough build up to the romance. I didn’t really believe their romance as they’d spent most of the novel not even friends, never mind lovers.

I was looking forward to this book since I heard about it and it did not disappoint. While slower paced, it was full of gorgeous details and powerful themes of faith, love, stories, and memories. My favorite part was the discussion of how important storytelling is to us as people and how it can connect us and separate us, teach us both good and evil, to encourage both peace and violence depending on who is doing the telling. The sapphic yearning was delicious, so deeply romantic and monstrous at the same time. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!!

I enjoyed the idea of the magic system and the incorporation of Jewish mythology and culture, however, it seemed a bit underwhelming and underdeveloped. There are other reviews I've read that this book could be greatly improved by including a map and/or glossary and I completely agree. The sceneries were portrayed beautifully, but I struggled with the pacing - I wanted this story to be deeper and more rich in the enemies to lovers and fantasy aspect.

The Maiden and Her Monster is a beautifully written story based on Jewish folklore. The maiden in this story is our main character, Malka. The Monster is a golem, but was she created to protect or destroy?

I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audiobook. The audiobook really increased my engagement with the novel. The narrator, Nikki Massoud, has a beautiful voice and made each character stand out. I appreciated her pronunciation of names, places, etc. that I would never been able to figure out on my own.

The novel explores various themes as Malka comes to terms with conflicting beliefs about religion, magic, enemies, and the stories she's grown up with. At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to a naive Malka who firmly believes she understands her world and religion. By mid novel, she is doubting everything she thought she knew.

I would recommend this book to those who like stories with folktales, magic, politics, and the abuse of religious power. While there were many parts of this book I thought were richly described and I enjoyed reading (mostly the stories, magic, and the complicated relationship between Malka and Nimrah) I found the sections of religious abuse and political scheming to be tiring to get through.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Publishing Group, and Maddie Martinez for an e-ARC and ALC in return for my honest review.

Absolutely loved this one! It was the perfect blend of history and fantasy with a dose of sapphic romance. Maddie Martinez’s prose was very evocative and left me with the same the story sucks you in feeling that Allison Saft and Rachel Gillig’s books do. I also enjoyed the way that Jewish folklore was woven into the story and thought this was a refreshing take on the story of the Golem. Finally, Nimrah and Malka’s relationship was a great example of slow burn enemies to lovers romance

If you enjoyed Deb Harkness’ Shadow of Night or any of Rachel Gillig’s books then I think this one will be right up your alley!

I really appreciated the stories within the story and I loved getting to hear the folklore of the Yahadi people throughout this book, which reminded me a bit of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries because of the sharing of folklore between the characters. I also really enjoyed how adventurous the story was with the main character learning to take more risks than she would have previously and learning to challenge her own preconceptions and beliefs.

Honestly I was really excited about the premise of this book but overall unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. I was pulled in by the description of a forest that eats girls but we didn't really spend that much time in the forest, and I didn't feel as immersed in the forest as I hoped. I also feel that the characters felt a little flat for me and didn't have enough dimension. The relationship between Malka and Nimrah didn't feel developed enough for me and as a result didn't feel as believable as I hoped it would.

Overall I feel like it was a solid story with an extremely intriguing premise but it really let me wanting more from it than I got.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for letting me read an e-ARC of The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez! I've rated this book 4.5 stars, but have rounded up to 5 stars for this review.

You would not know that this is Martinez’s debut book by reading it. She has done an absolutely amazing job of weaving Jewish folklore into a fantastical plotline that only vaguely resembles its origins. Her tapestry includes a memorable cast of characters who breathe life into this story featuring diverse, rich backgrounds, and a lush, gorgeous setting to top it all off. The sapphic romance was gorgeous – filled with yearning, tenderness, and warmth. Readers will contend with grief, belonging, identity, religion, and so much more within these pages. If you’ve enjoyed books like Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott, you will likely enjoy Malka and Nimrah's tale.

Thankyou so much to Maddie Martinez, Tor Publishing Group/Tor Books, & NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The village where Malka & her family live is suffering under impossible tithes, sickness, & the ever present threat of the Rayga, a monster that comes from the forest to take women & girls. When Malka's Imma is falsely accused of a murder the monster has committed, Malka & her friend Amnon venture into the forest to find the Rayga & prove Imma's innocence.
A sapphic retelling of the Jewish myth of the golem, The Maiden & Her Monster was so much more than I expected. The central storyline, romance, & the relationships between the characters are exceptional, but the layers of religion, politics, history, language, myth, magic, & the way they intertwine make the story so much richer. I went in expecting a sweet YA love story, but instead got a brutal examination of corruption & persecution that had my heart in my throat.

Maiden follows young Malka as she loves with her family in their village. Her mother heals the ill, her sisters irk her to no end, and the soldiers come to demand a tithe too often. During the day, things seem ordinary, if scarce. At night however, a curfew reminds the village of the nearby forest that takes the lives of the young girls who dare to entire it's dark depths. Mangled bodies are found repeatedly as the forest consumes it's victims.
One day, Malka has no choice but to step into the depths of the forest and try to locate this monster which prays on women. Armed only with her faith and her best friend, she does not expect to ever leave the forest.
Martinez truly does weave an Atmospheric tale. Part one of this story provides vibrant imagery and new experiences. As the tale continues on however, it feels a bit lethargic and lagging. Gruesome depictions break up the monotony as do the romantic underpinnings.
Maiden ends with a satisfying conclusion and lingering in the minds of it's readers.

Okay. DNF at 37%. This was not for me - I think fans of Ava Reid's Wolf and the Woodsman and their Juniper and Thorn; and Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf may like this, though.

Vague spoilers to follow, so be warned.

Ugh. I hate that I really didn't like this. I got 37% of the way through - and was firmly convinced this book wasn't for me. Then I read on social media it's sapphic... so maybe I could be convinced to try again, perhaps when the book is out and I have access to the audio? But for now, it's a no for me.

The MC was the biggest reason why. I don't think she was characterized well - upon opening the book, she felt 10 years old, then immediately changed to a petulant 13/14 year old, only for me to find out she's supposed to be the eldest sister at 18? didn't fit. She was also... weak, as a character. not as a person; but also as a person? but mostly as a character. She felt so actionless at the beginning, just kind of wafting through her life; but as soon as she starts making choices and decisions and reacting to things, it felt entirely out of character because up until that point, we didn't have much of a character within Malka. Then she shifts into this petulant, awfully naive girl who drove me NUTS with her reactions/questions/statements that seemingly came out of plot necessity, not actual character building. This book would have been much stronger if we had a clearer picture of who Malka was right from word go; not 100+ pages in.

There were also plot choices I was confused by; mainly the choice at the beginning by Malka to sit and have a drink with her oppressors. It was way too friendly of an interaction with these people who are supposed to be awful and terrorizing her village?? I still don't understand her reasoning for actually sitting down with them and not continuing on her way.

And the boy who goes with her (who I thought originally was the love interest, he's not fun fact) is a bland overprotective little bitch. He does nothing to actually protect her tho, he's just there.

Anyways. I may try to continue it at some point, because finding out its Sapphic is... very intriguing (I love a good feral sapphic book, usually). And I really enjoy the author and her presence on social media; I always want to support debut authors, especially from one of my fave publishers.

I'm conflicted. Anyways. If I do pick it up to give it another chance, I will report back.

The Maiden and Her Monster is a sapphic read I definitely enjoyed reading. The yearning and the relationship between these two was so well done. While not familiar with Jewish folklore, this story captivated me. Unfortunately, the pacing for this story was off for me. The first half of the book felt strong, but after that I felt like I was reading to say I finished the book.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for a review!

I really thought this would be up my alley - I generally love books inspired by folklore, and the premise of this sounded reminiscent of Where the Dark Stands Still which I enjoyed. I can’t really put my finger on why this book didn’t work for me, but I honestly think it was me and not that the author necessarily did something wrong.

The way the author wrote this book gave a pretty clear sense of the world around our main character - I think the atmosphere and setting was very strong, and you fully feel every bit of the Jewish folklore roots in the words used, the struggles they’re enduring, the towns and cities, the culture. It was technically very well written! It could use a glossary or some context early on for certain words (ex. Some cultural clothing item names) just to lower the barrier to entry a tad, or to make it easier to really get sucked in without needing to google, but I also think the inclusion and use of the words contributes to the overall feeling that you’re really steeped in folklore/this specific world.

Unfortunately I just didn’t ENJOY the reading experience. I wanted to know how some storylines were going to resolve, and again the writing is well done so it wasn’t painful to read or a struggle, but I also just… didn’t really like the characters or most of their decisions. It’s really hard to explain, because I am not usually someone who needs to like a character or agree with their decisions to enjoy a book. I quite enjoy the feeling of wanting to shake a character for being so dumb. But in this case, there just wasn’t really anyone that I was truly rooting for except for the very clearly not end game love interest. I would’ve liked to see an “Aha!” moment in the enemies to lovers storyline, because I think we’re slightly missing the moment it goes from hatred to something more, and it kept me from really feeling invested or from feeling like there was any yearning the way I’d hoped.

Ultimately, I will definitely try out the next thing this author writes, because there was a lot technically that I could commend in this book, I just didn’t personally enjoy this reading experience as much as I hoped. Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I'm giving The Maiden and Her Monster 3 stars because it wasn't the book I'd hoped it would be, but I do want to read more from this authors and understand why many readers found it compelling.

The promo material for the novel really pulled me in. Fantasy with Jewish folklore (including a golem!) a wood that "eats" girls, and Sapphic romance. That's a three-ring Venn diagram with major overlap, highlighting some of my favorite reading elements.

But I just could not get into it. The world of the novel is built richly, slowly, carefully, but there were more descriptive details than I needed and a lose, episodic plot.

Read some reviews besides this one. I'm an outlier. And even with my mixed appreciate, I'm definitely looking for more work from Maddie Martinez.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

The Maiden and Her Monster
Maddie Martinez
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book: 64
Favorite Quote:
"The greatest threat to her and her people were those who wielded their beliefs like weapons. Who sought to eradicate those whose beliefs were different from theirs—beliefs that threatened their supremacy."

Thank you to NetGalley, Maddie Martinez, Macmillian Audio, and Tor Publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Maiden and Her Monster.

This book was so good. It took me forever to get through but that is because I got hit with the WORST book slump right in the middle of it. My brain has felt quite preoccupied but that is not the story's fault. I had a hard time picking a favorite quote because there was just so many good lines throughout the book. This book is rife with strong women who are willing to stand up for what they believe in and take down the powers that be for being hateful and unfair. The vibe I got from the story whenever Malka, Nimrah, and Amnon make it to the city and Malka meets Sevren gives me Hunchback of Notre Dame and Judge Frolo.

Trigger Warnings: antisemitism, religious oppression, violence, death

From the opening pages, Maddie Martinez’s The Maiden and Her Monster drew me in with its darkly atmospheric tone. As someone new to Jewish folklore but deeply interested in it as a Jewish convert, I found this story both haunting and profoundly meaningful. The novel balances its folkloric roots with themes of survival, identity, and resilience, and it lingers in the mind like a whispered tale around a fire. One of its great strengths is how it renders history and myth inseparable, bringing the golem legend into a living, breathing character in Nimrah.

The book’s atmosphere is gorgeously crafted, steeped in shadows, religion, and longing. Malka’s journey as daughter, healer, and reluctant hero resonates with the weight of both duty and desire, while Nimrah’s stoic, guilt-ridden nature makes her a fascinating foil. Their relationship, which begins with suspicion and grows into something more tender, captures both the danger and vulnerability of connection. The weaving of Jewish history, folklore, and sapphic romance makes this debut feel original and striking.

That said, the pacing occasionally lags, especially once the narrative shifts away from the ominous forest and into more political settings. At times the momentum slows, but the novel’s atmosphere and thematic richness more than compensate. The writing itself is lyrical and evocative, often pausing on sentences that feel worth rereading for their beauty.

In the end, this book is a worthwhile and memorable read. It honors Jewish resilience, reimagines folklore with emotional depth, and provides a sapphic fairy tale that feels both timeless and new. Readers who enjoy dark fantasy, stories rooted in history and myth, and romances born in unlikely places will find much to love here.

Ava Reid wishes she had written this instead of The Wolf and the Woodsman.

In comparison to The Wolf and the Woodsman, which this book is most similar to, The Maiden and Her Monster does it all but better. This book has a vision and sticks to it until the end, without any unnecessary side quests. Everything is tied together and thoughtfully considered, with every moment having purpose. By the time we reach the end, the beginning with the forest felt so far away, but the author was able to pull it back, keep it relevant, and provide a meaningful conclusion to it. I will say the explanation of the origins of the monsters in the forest felt a little too neat since it wasn't even hinted at, but I'm not mad about it.

I also loved the relationship between Malka and Nimrah. The unwanted attraction between them was perfectly written, and the tension was beautiful. I also thought it was well done how it all played out while playing a significant role in the conclusion of the story and it wouldn't have been the same without it.

I will say I wish Malka's mother, Imma played a larger role/was incorporated better. The story kicks off with Imma being accused of murder, but we don't see enough of her beforehand. Malka's whole purpose throughout the novel is to prove her mother's innocence and free her from the Ozmini priest, and while Imma's presence looms over the narrative, we don't have a clear idea of who Imma is beyond Malka's mother. She doesn't come off as anything more than a name. I also think the novel dropped the ball with Malka and Imma's reunion. Even though Imma is the reason Malka embarked on her journey to hunt the monster in the woods, the book is really about Malka and Nimrah, and at the end, it felt like Imma was shoved to the wayside in favor of a longer and stronger conclusion to Malka and Nimrah's relationship.

Overall, though, I loved this book and I'm already thinking about rereading it in the future.

this is one of those book where the author plops you down in the middle of a world w/multiple different languages and doesn't really explain much. the start was kind of slow and i wasn't really into it, but as the story progressed i found myself wanting to see what would happen next. i liked the ending. i thought it was sweet and they deserved something good fr. i don't know that i'd recommend this book to just anyone, i think if the themes speak to you and you like a smattering of enemies to lovers mixed in with your political uprisings you'll enjoy this book.

Maddie Martinez fits a bit of everything into this story, mixing folklore, religion, family, adventure, death, betrayal, and magic into an atmospheric read. The world building and writing pulled me in right away, and the sapphic romance subplot was a lovely touch. The beginning reminded me of The Village with its eerie and unsettling vibe.

With so much lore, I think a glossary or map could have helped keep everything straight, but overall I appreciated how layered the story was. I was fortunate to receive both an ARC and an ALC, and I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator. She was clear and expressive, and I felt fully immersed in the world.