Thank you to Maddie Martinez, TOR, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!

This is one of the tougher ARCS for me to review and here's why;

I didn't read the trigger warnings (my fault) and with the happenings of the world currently the religious and political discussions in the books could make it difficult for some.

As a visual person the world building was for me to imagine and that made it hard for me to get into this book.

That being said I could absolutely see someone loving this book. Reading is subjective just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it'll be like that for someone else. This is incredible written.

An incredibly rich, heartbreakingly dark reimagining of the golem myth. Although this was much harsher of a story than I usually read, the characters were so well-written and the plot was so compelling that I was glued to the pages from the first to the last. Highly recommend for fantasy lovers who enjoy darker stories with strong feminine protagonists.

First off, let me just say thank you to Maddie Martinez, TOR, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early! When I first heard about “The Maiden and Her Monster”, I was immediately intrigued and the book didn’t let me down. It was an amazing reading experience for me. It has so many of the elements that I typically love in storytelling, a connection to folklore rooted in real world history, a examination of violence as a tool of dismantling oppression, and a sapphic romance that was woven throughout the story seamlessly.

I’ve often struggled with fantasy novels that contain elements of romance in the past, but I loved the way this book makes the romance relevant to the plot and allows their feelings to really develop over time, rather than expecting us to believe two people with complex interconnected history would be able to immediately disregard years of trauma. For me, the romantic elements of the story always provided meaningful context to the larger conflicts surrounding faith-based oppression and societal change rather than distracting from them or feeling out of place beside them. Truly, if you’re a fan of sapphic yearning with a side of religious trauma (I am), this book is for you!!

Martinez is able to write with impressive clarity and emotion about the power of belief and holding to the parts of your faith that are inherent to who you are, even while being able to criticize those who use the tenets of that faith to do harm. The story also looks at how when religion and politics become intertwined, it usually results in the worst possible outcomes being forced on religious and ethnic minorities. It’s an incredibly timely read, for more reasons than one.

While I had some minor quibbles with pacing and would’ve loved to have learned more specifically about the magic system, overall this book absolutely hit for me and I can think of a lot of people who I’d eagerly recommend it to.

Man I wanted to love this book but by the end it was just okay for me.

Will I be telling others about it and suggesting it? Absolutely because I know many people who will enjoy it far more than I.

The plot was there, there characters were there. The romance, which was a huge selling point for me, could have been more.

My main issue was the world building was there but also not. I would have liked more but more in a way that was easier to understand. My list of words to look up grew very quickly with this book.

Overall I respect that it was a retelling of an established story and the sapphic element was just lovely. It was well done. But the story of the golem in general I think is just not for me. So I leave this book as an okay.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book filled with religion, politics and culture. It deals with heavy topics of oppression and grief. And while I understand the importance of such topics, which were not lost on me, the main plot became quite maudlin for me personally and is not something I’d typically gravitate towards. That being said, I could not invest myself as wholly as I would have liked.

The best part came in the tumultuous relationship between Malka and Nimrah. Watching their interactions go from hatred to reluctance to an inevitable pull was truly magical. Had the story focused more and on that aspect during the main plot, then perhaps it would have sold it better for me.

I have spent a fair amount of time figuring out exactly where I failed to connect with this, and I think one of the main points is that I wish it had been historical fantasy instead of second world fantasy. The mix of real and fake words, real religions going under pretend names was both confusing and distancing without, as far as I could tell, any real point except the convenience of making things up. The romance also felt strangely contemporary for the world-an instant bickering which seemed surprising given that one of them is magical and the other has consistently learned that speaking out can be dangerous. It felt more like a familiar shape of a romance than a real connection.

The idea was fantastic and the writing was strong enough that I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for what Martinez does next, even though this didn't land for me.

I truly wanted to love this book, I really did. The premise was intriguing, and I absolutely LOVED the idea of a dark fairytale retelling of the gollum of Prague. However, this book was extremely hard for me to get through. The world building felt underdeveloped, and I was anticipating the story to take place mostly in a dark forest, but it focused mostly 0n the capital city. The relationship between our two FMCs also just didn't feel believable to me. Where was the tension and the buildup??? I also found myself confused between the actual religious terminology and the words that the author made up. Perhaps a glossary of some sorts could be incorporated?

Thank you for the advanced eARC!

The Maiden and Her Monster is a dark fantasy with a sapphic romance. I thought I would love this.

Unfortunately, it desperately needs a glossary. The book is a tough read, I won’t lie. I don’t shy away from books that include other languages- they’re great! I can usually piece together the context from the surroundings of the rest of the story, or simply look it up. The Maiden and Her Monster certainly contains a lot of a Hebrew & Czech but also seemingly made-up and fantasy words, which made it difficult to digest or understand what was happening without constant rereading.

The book also does not shy away from tough moments. Malka and Nimrah both face a lot of difficulties that they are forced to overcome, but moreso than their character journeys, I was surprised to be reading depictions of gore that were a brutal read.

The romance also left a bit to be desired. Enemies to lovers (or, begrudging acquaintances to lovers, in this case) can be tricky to nail correctly. And this it seemed, did not do it. Malka and Nimrah do not seem to like each other in the slightest to start, and are only working together to benefit something else entirely. Then, suddenly, they’re in love! I felt like I missed something entirely while I was reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Martinez has crafted a fairytale for the ages, feeling both ancient and modern. “The Maiden and Her Monster” intertwines queer identity into a tale that will live in your thoughts long after you put down the book. This was a highly anticipated read for me and I was blown away.

3.75 stars! ⭐

this was a lush, immersive story inspired by jewish history and culture. i honestly can't believe that this is the author's debut novel, because the writing was absolutely fantastic. whilst reading, i was consistently blown away by maddie martinez's prose.

in the maiden and her monster, martinez explores themes such as religious oppression, the dangers of the 'us vs. them' mentality, and what it truly means to be a monster. the struggles of the yahad in this fictional world are a direct reflection of the difficulties faced by the jewish people in our world—right down to the mandate that requires them to wear a patch on their cloaks so that they are easier to single out. the comparison between the two was not subtle in the slightest, but that was the whole point.

the first half of the novel is quite slow—there's a healthy dose of worldbuilding thrown in there, so you really just need to hold on and let the author take you on a ride. there were also a lot of new terms for me, so i spent a good chunk of time sorting through all of the vocabulary. i imagine that jewish readers likely won't have this problem, since they'll already be familiar with many of the customs practiced by malka and her village.

the second half of the book is where things really start to ramp up. that's when i fully locked in and became invested in the characters and their fates. the last half is definitely far more propulsive than the first, so much so that it almost felt like i was reading two separate books. so if you find that you aren't vibing with the story at the beginning, give it time—you might change your mind!

be warned now: despite its gorgeous cover, this book does not shy away from both violence and gore. it contains depictions of things like decapitation, dismemberment, and a few other nasty bits. however, i think it was a solid story that worked very well as a fantasy standalone, and i'm looking forward to seeing what this author puts out next.

I wrote this book so I think it's pretty good! I wanted to share that content warnings for The Maiden and Her Monster are available on my website if you are in need of them. Please read with care and I hope you enjoy my debut!

Additionally, I have added a glossary page for those who might find it helpful: https://www.maddiemartinez.com/books/the-maiden-and-her-monster/glossary

The Maiden and her Monster is, at its core, a story of devotion - to family, to one’s people, and to one’s values.

The forest claims the women of the village for its own and the hunt for the monster that lurks within it consumes the minds of the men. It wasn’t always like this, and now the people live and die by the bell that marks curfew. When a visitor to the village is found mutilated in the early mourning, the village healer is blamed for her death. The healer’s daughter, Malka, offers herself as a sacrifice - if she goes into the woods, finds the monster, and brings it back, she can save her mother’s life. What, or rather who, she finds in the twisted woods will change her life forever.

While beautifully written and a creative blend of Jewish folklore and fantasy, The Maiden and her Monster also completely rewrites the scope of Jewish history for its own purposes. The anachronistic use of language and distortion of the Golem of Prague are enough to leave the reader’s head spinning. The narrative is bereft of any Yiddish dialect that one would expect for the region, instead replaced with a mixture of biblical and modern Hebrew, Czech, and what seems to be a language of the author's own invention. I wanted to love this novel - I was hooked the moment I saw it was a queer Jewish fantasy. There was so much that I enjoyed, but it left an overwhelmingly sour taste in my mouth. This could have benefited from a sensitivity reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Tor for this e-galley!

**4.5 stars on storygraph**
thank you to netgalley for the eARC.

although i was interested in the premise of this book, i was also hesitant to read it considering it’s religious ties as i try to steer clear of the topic, but i really adored the read. i’ve been looking forward to reading this and was excited to see i was approved for the ARC.

the main character got on my nerves in the way when you see yourself too much in someone you meet. i really appreciated her as a character who knew her place as the eldest was vital to her siblings’ lives and as someone who’s grown up being told warped stories that they don’t think to question.

the world building was phenomenal. i do plan to go back and listen to the audiobook when it’s out as there were a lot of words that i wasn’t sure how to pronounce. there were also a few different moments where i was like oh my god ???!

it did take me a few chapters to get into the story, but i was hooked after that.

First of all, I would like to thank Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this book early!

The biggest thanks should go, though, to Maddie Martinez for the masterpiece she wrote. I find it hard to believe this is a debut book, it is so incredibly well written and beautifully executed that truly left me longing for more. I will eagerly be waiting for more books from her!

It was my first time coming into contact with Jewish Folklore and Mythology, I was positively impressed and will definitely educate myself more on the topic.

The world building was phenomenally written, left me overly impressed and I got attached to characters pretty quickly.

My biggest problem when starting a book
is the writing style. I am very picky and I am hardly satisfied by it. This book left me positively delighted, it had everything I look for in a good quality book.


Will definitely recommend this to everyone I know (especially my girlfriend).

The Maiden and Her Monster feels like the kind of story you grow up hearing in fragments—half fairytale, half warning, and entirely unforgettable. It’s steeped in folklore, faith, and longing, with writing that’s lush and lyrical in a way that makes you want to slow down and sit with every line.

Malka is stubborn, scared, and fiercely loyal, and I loved her instantly. Her relationship with the golem is tender and strange in all the best ways. It builds slowly, layered with mistrust, quiet yearning, and that aching sense of being seen for the first time. It’s not showy, but it’s deeply felt, and I was fully invested in every moment between them.

The world is vividly drawn, from the cursed forest to the weight of generational trauma and myth. I loved how the story tangled with questions of belief, survival, and who gets to be called monstrous. It’s sharp, aching, and full of hard-won hope. I closed the final page feeling both gutted and held.

I’ll be reading whatever Maddie Martinez writes next without hesitation.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

DNF @ 53%

Thank you netgalley for this arc

I would like to say, the author’s prose was very lush and beautiful. However, this book struggled to hold my attention for every chapter I read, until I eventually gave up. I found the plot to lack the tension that I require to be engaged, and felt no interest in the happenings of any character. The plot twist I remained for was immensely predictable and the sapphic romance was feeling forced (mostly just physical attraction for no real reason). It felt like a journey meandering nowhere.

"What are humans without stories, Malka?"

4.5/5 stars!

I honestly don't know how to start this review except to say that if you, too, had this on your list of most anticipated reads of 2025, you are not going to be disappointed. This is an absolutely beautiful fever dream of a fairytale, rich with folklore, beautiful prose, and so many incredible female relationships. As a certified Naomi Novik fangirl, this felt like Uprooted's little sister -- and I mean that in the best conceivable way possible.

I'm going to be honest -- this book took me a bit of time to get into, and for a second there, I was worried. The pacing was just a little bit unexpected; I was captured by village life, but felt things slow down as we entered the forest (me?? A forest loving girly???). Something about the forest felt fuzzy to me, a little underexplored and difficult to follow. I wonder if this was intentional, trying to mimic the way the forest seems to steal time and sanity from its visitors -- but the plot explodes about a 1/3 of the way in, and I read the last 2/3s feverishly, finding it difficult to do anything else!

This book does so much in its tender exploration of grief and hope, in its excavation of oppression and resilience, but it never preaches. The characters feel incredibly real, and I was abolutely in love with all the ways female relationships were explored here. For me, the romance was not even secondary, but tertiary -- I was so taken by Malka's love for her mother, her sisters, her best friends. These were the beating hearts of the story, though the romance did hook me in the end. I also love a magic system rooted (!) in nature, always, and the simplicity and sacredness of this one was just perfect. And can I just say how wonderful it was that MOST of the key players fighting back were women? There were fantastic male support characters, but Martinez really let women shine here! So many shades of what it means to be a strong female character.

I did find a few little langauge things challenging -- I really respect code-switching and pushing back against English translation, especially in a novel that is so clearly holding sacred specific religious linguists. But the slipping from real Hebrew words to fantastical ones was a bit jarring, and early in the book I felt like a lot of the info-dumping didn't make sense and needed more context. I also found myself taken out of the work a few times, which was so beautifully crafted, with colloquialisms like "let's touch base" or someone saying "it's tough" which felt distinctly out of place in this incredibly imagined world that spent such time building and lingering on details around the setting.

This book will live on my shelf next to Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, and Ava Reid. What a stunning debut!

This just didn't hit right got me. 20% in before we meet the 'monster' and ugh it's one of those enemies-to-lovers tropes that I just can't get into.

Thank you to NetGalley, Maddie Martinez, and Tor Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

I do truly love any book reminiscent of folklore or folklore adjacent. Maddie has done an excellent job turning a fascinating blurb into an even better story.

Malka, the oldest daughter and main character, lives in a village with a monster in the forest. After losing her best friend, her anger and frustration with this forest grows. When circumstances align, she and several other characters decide to venture into the dark wood to capture the monster— For good.

The sapphic twist on the age old monster vs human is fabulous, and I personally believe it is incredibly difficult to find a good sapphic read these days. Especially in the fantasy realm.

I gave this book a 4 star because at times, things move a little slowly. While I generally don’t mind slow burn, or overall slow pace, there were several points in the story (namely approx 40% through) that I very much wanted things to get moving.

I look forward to seeing what else Maddie will release.

Where to begin. I know Hebrew so understanding the text wasn't the issue, but a lot of the world building here reads really off. In places the Hebrew is incorrect ("simcha shachar" is not grammatically correct, "Baba" is not grandfather in Hebrew) and I cannot get over the fact that one of the "nicknames" for Malka is "Yedid Nefesh," it was distractingly silly. For context, "Yedid Nefesh" is not a pet name, it's a liturgical poem traditionally sung on Shabbat. It winds up reading like, "Hi, my name is Christina, but my sister calls me O Come All Ye Faithful," with zero irony. There were a bunch of things in this vein that I think most Jewish readers will clock as off, and I think if you're going to use a language people speak and a living culture as the basis for an SFF story, authenticity and accuracy should matter a bit more. The book would have benefitted from a sensitivity reader