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The Maiden and Her Monster
The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark.
As the healer’s daughter, Malka has seen how the forest’s curse has plagued her village, but the Ozmini Church only comes to collect its tithe, not listen to heretics with false stories of monsters in the trees.
When a clergy girl wanders too close to the forest and Malka’s mother is accused of her murder, Malka strikes an impossible bargain with a zealot Ozmini priest: bring the monster out and spare her mother from execution.
As she ventures into the shadowed woods, Malka finds a monster, but not the one she expects: an inscrutable, disgraced golem who agrees to implicate herself, but only if Malka helps her fulfill an ancient promise first and free the imprisoned rabbi who created her.
But a deal easily made is not easily kept. And as their bargain begins to unravel a much more sinister threat, protecting her people may force Malka to endanger the one person she left home to save—and face her growing feelings for the very creature she was taught to fear.
As the healer’s daughter, Malka has seen how the forest’s curse has plagued her village, but the Ozmini Church only comes to collect its tithe, not listen to heretics with false stories of monsters in the trees.
When a clergy girl wanders too close to the forest and Malka’s mother is accused of her murder, Malka strikes an impossible bargain with a zealot Ozmini priest: bring the monster out and spare her mother from execution.
As she ventures into the shadowed woods, Malka finds a monster, but not the one she expects: an inscrutable, disgraced golem who agrees to implicate herself, but only if Malka helps her fulfill an ancient promise first and free the imprisoned rabbi who created her.
But a deal easily made is not easily kept. And as their bargain begins to unravel a much more sinister threat, protecting her people may force Malka to endanger the one person she left home to save—and face her growing feelings for the very creature she was taught to fear.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 9, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 704 reviews
June 10, 2025
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.
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.
March 25, 2025
I had the absolute honor of reading an early draft of this book and I cannot sing its praises highly enough. Political, historical, Jewish, queer, romantic, adventurous, heart-wrenching, lyrical, ferocious, THE MAIDEN AND HER MONSTER is a masterpiece of a debut. This is one of the most impactful and close-to-the-heart stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and it brought me to tears with its profundity. Maddie has tapped into something inevitable, ancient, and eternal about the Jewish experience that feels so impossible, so bigger than itself that I can’t imagine it’s anything less than pure magic.
This book features a glorious canopy of Jewish folklore, sapphic romance, and the enchanting allure of a sentient forest, supported by a strong and meaty tale with rich characters, abundant commentary, and succulent prose. And buried deep in the story’s roots, you’ll find a beating heart that bleeds with grief, hope, and passion.
It’s an indescribable feeling to have a friend write a book and for it to end up being one of the most powerful and moving works you’ve ever read, and exactly the story your heart was yearning for. I’m full of so much gratitude and pride, and I can’t wait for you all to fall in love with Nimrah and Malka like I have.
This book features a glorious canopy of Jewish folklore, sapphic romance, and the enchanting allure of a sentient forest, supported by a strong and meaty tale with rich characters, abundant commentary, and succulent prose. And buried deep in the story’s roots, you’ll find a beating heart that bleeds with grief, hope, and passion.
It’s an indescribable feeling to have a friend write a book and for it to end up being one of the most powerful and moving works you’ve ever read, and exactly the story your heart was yearning for. I’m full of so much gratitude and pride, and I can’t wait for you all to fall in love with Nimrah and Malka like I have.
May 23, 2025
2.5 stars
At this point, I’m convinced my current reading list is cursed. 🥲
I’ve been struggling through every book lately. Thank goodness for AO3, it's the only thing keeping me happy during this slump.
That said, I really loved the atmosphere in this one. Jewish magic, rich lore (oh, the lore!!!), monsters, magical creatures. My toes curled with excitement. I adored all the myths and stories woven throughout. The writing is beautiful, and the descriptions are stunning. I really wanted to love this book. I truly did. But once again, this book just wasn’t for me.
The pacing felt slow. While the language wasn’t a problem for me (I Googled things when I needed to), I appreciated the many Hebrew words that helped build the atmosphere. Still, a glossary would have been so helpful. Not all the Hebrew terms were real, and some were invented for the story. That mix made it hard to stay fully immersed when I wasn’t sure what was what.
I also don’t know why, but I found it really hard to connect with the characters. No one truly stood out to me, and I didn’t feel emotionally invested in their journeys. That made it even harder to stay engaged.
By the halfway point, it just kept dragging. I’m all for deep worldbuilding and slow-burn storytelling, but it still needs to be interesting. I found myself zoning out and getting sleepy. And honestly, I trust my eyes. If a book can’t keep them open, it probably isn’t for me.
Please look to another dazzling review before deciding for yourself. This one just didn't work for me.
Note: Thank you to Tor Publishing for the ARC.
At this point, I’m convinced my current reading list is cursed. 🥲
I’ve been struggling through every book lately. Thank goodness for AO3, it's the only thing keeping me happy during this slump.
That said, I really loved the atmosphere in this one. Jewish magic, rich lore (oh, the lore!!!), monsters, magical creatures. My toes curled with excitement. I adored all the myths and stories woven throughout. The writing is beautiful, and the descriptions are stunning. I really wanted to love this book. I truly did. But once again, this book just wasn’t for me.
The pacing felt slow. While the language wasn’t a problem for me (I Googled things when I needed to), I appreciated the many Hebrew words that helped build the atmosphere. Still, a glossary would have been so helpful. Not all the Hebrew terms were real, and some were invented for the story. That mix made it hard to stay fully immersed when I wasn’t sure what was what.
I also don’t know why, but I found it really hard to connect with the characters. No one truly stood out to me, and I didn’t feel emotionally invested in their journeys. That made it even harder to stay engaged.
By the halfway point, it just kept dragging. I’m all for deep worldbuilding and slow-burn storytelling, but it still needs to be interesting. I found myself zoning out and getting sleepy. And honestly, I trust my eyes. If a book can’t keep them open, it probably isn’t for me.
Please look to another dazzling review before deciding for yourself. This one just didn't work for me.
Note: Thank you to Tor Publishing for the ARC.
November 5, 2025
Yearning is so back. Utterly atmospheric, littered with gory bits, rich in folklore, thick with political intrigue, and dripping in tortured love.
I’m going to have to reread and annotate bc the lines this mf says 🫠 this is how you do tortured love.
Seriously need another book by this author stat!
I’ve been putting off writing this review for a while now because I kept freaking out, thinking “how am I going to do this book justice” —so you’re getting my unhinged thoughts in a little list.
Thoughts…
- the PINING, the TENSION, the LONGING - top tier, no notes.
- atmospheric, gorgeous prose, and a vivid world.
- deeply rooted in folklore and history, a reimagining on the myth of golem, with an emphasis on mysticism
- I LOVED the gory bits and mild horror elements
- the plot moved a little slow, but I was super into what was happening so I didn’t mind even a little!
- This isn’t a romantasy but if you’re a fan of enemies to lovers or hate to love you’re going to find the romance within this book extremely satisfying. They are tortured by their attraction to each other and it’s delicious!
- Seriously stunning prose and there were so many quotable lines!
- It’s interesting that a few reviewers commented that they feelt lost bc the language used. I did not feel this way. I thought the author did a great job providing plenty of context clues to define the unfamiliar words.
- SLOW burn and totally worth the torture.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Give this narrator a raise! I want to read more books performed by her immediately! Literally everything about this audiobook was perfect and the voice range and variation is so good it almost felt like two separate narrators.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I’m going to have to reread and annotate bc the lines this mf says 🫠 this is how you do tortured love.
Seriously need another book by this author stat!
I’ve been putting off writing this review for a while now because I kept freaking out, thinking “how am I going to do this book justice” —so you’re getting my unhinged thoughts in a little list.
Thoughts…
- the PINING, the TENSION, the LONGING - top tier, no notes.
- atmospheric, gorgeous prose, and a vivid world.
- deeply rooted in folklore and history, a reimagining on the myth of golem, with an emphasis on mysticism
- I LOVED the gory bits and mild horror elements
- the plot moved a little slow, but I was super into what was happening so I didn’t mind even a little!
- This isn’t a romantasy but if you’re a fan of enemies to lovers or hate to love you’re going to find the romance within this book extremely satisfying. They are tortured by their attraction to each other and it’s delicious!
- Seriously stunning prose and there were so many quotable lines!
- It’s interesting that a few reviewers commented that they feelt lost bc the language used. I did not feel this way. I thought the author did a great job providing plenty of context clues to define the unfamiliar words.
- SLOW burn and totally worth the torture.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Give this narrator a raise! I want to read more books performed by her immediately! Literally everything about this audiobook was perfect and the voice range and variation is so good it almost felt like two separate narrators.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 27, 2025
if monster bad why hot?
In The Maiden and Her Monster, Maddie Martinez reimagines the Jewish myth of The Golem of Prague, connecting the power of folklore, memory, and faith in one transformative fantasy debut. Now I know I am not the only one that has been eagerly awaiting this novel ever since Maddie Martinez first announced it. Sapphic romance intimately connected to folklore, a monstrous forest, and romantic yearning is like Cupid’s arrow aimed directly at my heart. Martinez more than delivers with The Maiden and Her Monster, as a Yahadi healer and a monstrous Golem bargain to save their people and uncover a love they will risk everything for. The Maiden and Her Monster intricately lays bare the conflicting facets of storytelling, from those that connect a larger community and its struggles, to those built, in effect, to justify violence and oppression. Scattered across the narrative, these folktales expand upon Martinez’s inquiry into identity and the long-lasting endurance of a people. Enveloped in history and folklore, The Maiden and Her Monster hides much behind the overgrowth of one twisted forest, if one is courageous enough to venture into its gaping maw.
thank you to tor books for providing me with an advance review copy!
Read my review
Bookstagram | Blog
In The Maiden and Her Monster, Maddie Martinez reimagines the Jewish myth of The Golem of Prague, connecting the power of folklore, memory, and faith in one transformative fantasy debut. Now I know I am not the only one that has been eagerly awaiting this novel ever since Maddie Martinez first announced it. Sapphic romance intimately connected to folklore, a monstrous forest, and romantic yearning is like Cupid’s arrow aimed directly at my heart. Martinez more than delivers with The Maiden and Her Monster, as a Yahadi healer and a monstrous Golem bargain to save their people and uncover a love they will risk everything for. The Maiden and Her Monster intricately lays bare the conflicting facets of storytelling, from those that connect a larger community and its struggles, to those built, in effect, to justify violence and oppression. Scattered across the narrative, these folktales expand upon Martinez’s inquiry into identity and the long-lasting endurance of a people. Enveloped in history and folklore, The Maiden and Her Monster hides much behind the overgrowth of one twisted forest, if one is courageous enough to venture into its gaping maw.
thank you to tor books for providing me with an advance review copy!
Read my review
Bookstagram | Blog
May 27, 2025
“Your stories don’t get everything right. It is easy to change history when you wish to forget the truth.”
a creative and dark blend of jewish history in medieval prague, the golem story, and sapphic romance, the maiden and her monster follows malka, who must venture into a monster-filled forest taking girls and women from her small village.
it's a slower paced read and v detailed, with a blend of real jewish terms and hebrew with a fictionalized version added. this is something you will want to walk with, not sprint through. i do think the first half is slower than the latter, where things really pick up with larger political schemes than i expected.
i found overall it was a very touching story about the resilience and hope of jewish people, and the sacrifices made for loved ones.
“I’m learning that stories are not merely stories at all. They are justifications. Ones we tell over and over to understand the decisions we make and those we will make.”
an honest arc review ♡
a creative and dark blend of jewish history in medieval prague, the golem story, and sapphic romance, the maiden and her monster follows malka, who must venture into a monster-filled forest taking girls and women from her small village.
it's a slower paced read and v detailed, with a blend of real jewish terms and hebrew with a fictionalized version added. this is something you will want to walk with, not sprint through. i do think the first half is slower than the latter, where things really pick up with larger political schemes than i expected.
i found overall it was a very touching story about the resilience and hope of jewish people, and the sacrifices made for loved ones.
“I’m learning that stories are not merely stories at all. They are justifications. Ones we tell over and over to understand the decisions we make and those we will make.”
an honest arc review ♡
May 15, 2025
In anticipation of review copies going out soon, I'm going to bow out from Goodreads, but 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/...
**A note to those reading physical UK proofs only: Due to a formatting error, please ignore the incorrect order of the Hebrew. This has been fixed for the final copy!
Additionally, I have added a glossary page for those who might find it helpful: https://www.maddiemartinez.com/books/...
**A note to those reading physical UK proofs only: Due to a formatting error, please ignore the incorrect order of the Hebrew. This has been fixed for the final copy!
September 19, 2025
A stunning blend of history and fantasy! I highly recommend the audiobook in particular. The narrator does a fantastic job bringing Maddie’s beautiful writing to life!
June 21, 2025
I absolutely loved this. My quote:
‘Beautifully written and bursting with detail, The Maiden and Her Monster is a dark, atmospheric and riveting debut, wreathed around a love story like no other’
‘Beautifully written and bursting with detail, The Maiden and Her Monster is a dark, atmospheric and riveting debut, wreathed around a love story like no other’
March 30, 2025
"Not only have you failed to meet your tithe, but you have taken an Ozmini woman to sacrifice. May she be with Triorzay now. You'll die a death worthy of your sin and have no one left but the devil to beg for mercy."
It's with a heavy heart that I say this is absolutely one of the hardest books I've ever had to read. The Maiden and Her Monster is a sapphic retelling of the legend of the Golem of Prague.
The forest has been eating girls who wander out after dark, and Malka—our protagonist and the village's healer—is determined to figure out why.
From the beginning, I had assumed there would be words in other languages, simply because it's a cultural retelling, and that's a given! I was prepared to not know things, and to have to research while reading to fully comprehend the story.
I was, arguably, very excited to read about the parts the author had weaved into the story from her own life or lived experiences. My struggles began when the author would use real words in Hebrew, while also conjuring up a seemingly fantasy language for storytelling purposes. This made the book damn near impossible to read.
Imagine this: races, religions, dishes, clothing, buildings, settings, characters: all in a made-up language that simply... is not elaborated on! There's not even a glossary! Is this normal in fantasy? Presumably so, but using 3 fictional words in one sentence without any definition or previous context clues?
I thought maybe I was just ignorant—so every time there was a word I didn't know or was simply in a different language—I'd look it up. That's when I realized that the author had created her own language alongside using real ones. To say I was fighting for my life is an understatement.
I fell down a rabbit hole of reading the (to be frank, surprisingly scarce) low ratings. Specifically one from someone whose native tongue isn't English. She stated that this book was impossible for her to read because of the language barrier.
Dear Reader, when I tell you that I have never been more frustrated with myself while reading a novel—I mean that. I had to take my own notes. Every time a new term would appear, I'd want to cry. Whenever there was a word in a real language (Hebrew or Czech)... I heard angels singing. I wanted to love this book so bad, and I tried so very hard to!
I got to a point in the middle of the novel where I didn't even care about the sapphic romance anymore. A butch golem who saves the protagonist from a monster in the forest? I should've been sat! Instead I felt zero connection to Malka nor Nimrah. The story dragged on, and on, and on. I never thought I'd finish it.
"'And I told you I would always be the monster you hate. And that was fine, as long as you knew the truth.'"
TLDR: Was this book good? I have no idea. Perhaps I would've liked it more had I been able to understand it a little better. Am I in any way, shape, or form saying the author is a bad writer? Absolutely not. However, I do think that this book could've benefited from a glossary at the beginning, or at least a page in the back for reference!
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest, and... much too long review!
It's with a heavy heart that I say this is absolutely one of the hardest books I've ever had to read. The Maiden and Her Monster is a sapphic retelling of the legend of the Golem of Prague.
The forest has been eating girls who wander out after dark, and Malka—our protagonist and the village's healer—is determined to figure out why.
From the beginning, I had assumed there would be words in other languages, simply because it's a cultural retelling, and that's a given! I was prepared to not know things, and to have to research while reading to fully comprehend the story.
I was, arguably, very excited to read about the parts the author had weaved into the story from her own life or lived experiences. My struggles began when the author would use real words in Hebrew, while also conjuring up a seemingly fantasy language for storytelling purposes. This made the book damn near impossible to read.
Imagine this: races, religions, dishes, clothing, buildings, settings, characters: all in a made-up language that simply... is not elaborated on! There's not even a glossary! Is this normal in fantasy? Presumably so, but using 3 fictional words in one sentence without any definition or previous context clues?
I thought maybe I was just ignorant—so every time there was a word I didn't know or was simply in a different language—I'd look it up. That's when I realized that the author had created her own language alongside using real ones. To say I was fighting for my life is an understatement.
I fell down a rabbit hole of reading the (to be frank, surprisingly scarce) low ratings. Specifically one from someone whose native tongue isn't English. She stated that this book was impossible for her to read because of the language barrier.
Dear Reader, when I tell you that I have never been more frustrated with myself while reading a novel—I mean that. I had to take my own notes. Every time a new term would appear, I'd want to cry. Whenever there was a word in a real language (Hebrew or Czech)... I heard angels singing. I wanted to love this book so bad, and I tried so very hard to!
I got to a point in the middle of the novel where I didn't even care about the sapphic romance anymore. A butch golem who saves the protagonist from a monster in the forest? I should've been sat! Instead I felt zero connection to Malka nor Nimrah. The story dragged on, and on, and on. I never thought I'd finish it.
"'And I told you I would always be the monster you hate. And that was fine, as long as you knew the truth.'"
TLDR: Was this book good? I have no idea. Perhaps I would've liked it more had I been able to understand it a little better. Am I in any way, shape, or form saying the author is a bad writer? Absolutely not. However, I do think that this book could've benefited from a glossary at the beginning, or at least a page in the back for reference!
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest, and... much too long review!
August 22, 2025
The forest ate the girls who wandered out after dark.
A folklore retelling of the Jewish golem with tender, raw, monstrous sapphic romance.
After the Ozmini Church comes to collect their tithes, they imprison Malka’s mother, only to be released if Malka can bring back the monster killing maidens in the forest.
This is predominantly a story about faith. How politics can warp and twist belief to suit their agenda. To control and fear monger.
I read this whilst also listening to the non-fiction ‘A Fever in the Heartland’ which was about the rise of the KKK. Reading a mythical reimagining and a historical narrative we can see echoes of in today’s climate was rough. Scary. Enlightening.
The sapphic romance is enemies to ‘oh no, this was something worse than hate’.
The prose was beautiful, the internal conflict raw.
”You said I was a monster. And you were right. There is nothing holy about the way I think of you. There are only wicked thoughts, which plague me night and day. I think they will plague me until I am dust again.”
I do think the first half was strongest. I also did struggle with all the lore and words thrown at you which immerses you, but can make for a challenging, frustrating start.
Ultimately, this is about how stories shape narratives which shapes stories…
I would recommend this to fans of The Wolf and the Woodsman, Where the Dark Stands Still, and The Bear and the Nightingale.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
A folklore retelling of the Jewish golem with tender, raw, monstrous sapphic romance.
After the Ozmini Church comes to collect their tithes, they imprison Malka’s mother, only to be released if Malka can bring back the monster killing maidens in the forest.
This is predominantly a story about faith. How politics can warp and twist belief to suit their agenda. To control and fear monger.
I read this whilst also listening to the non-fiction ‘A Fever in the Heartland’ which was about the rise of the KKK. Reading a mythical reimagining and a historical narrative we can see echoes of in today’s climate was rough. Scary. Enlightening.
The sapphic romance is enemies to ‘oh no, this was something worse than hate’.
The prose was beautiful, the internal conflict raw.
”You said I was a monster. And you were right. There is nothing holy about the way I think of you. There are only wicked thoughts, which plague me night and day. I think they will plague me until I am dust again.”
I do think the first half was strongest. I also did struggle with all the lore and words thrown at you which immerses you, but can make for a challenging, frustrating start.
Ultimately, this is about how stories shape narratives which shapes stories…
I would recommend this to fans of The Wolf and the Woodsman, Where the Dark Stands Still, and The Bear and the Nightingale.
Physical arc gifted by Tor.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
August 24, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and McMillan Audio for an advanced copy of this book!
It's rare but, sometimes I wonder if I read the same book as everyone else. I normally don't look at other reviews while I'm reading an ARC. This one I did however, and I've got to say I'm a little surprised. I had a really good time here. Normally I'm content to let others have their opinions.... But not always 🙃.
Lol but na, in all seriousness it's always love over here, we all have different tastes and opinions. I just like making sure people are aware of everything before making the final call.
I feel as if I might be able to clear some things up for future readers, to maybe enhance the experience. YES, this is 1000% a Folklore story. But it's more of a full circle Folklore story. Because let's be real, what's behind at least 60-75% of Folklore? A tainted government and or church, that would rather have people believing in monsters than knowing how crooked sed establishment really is. And that's what we have here. Yes there's magic, creepy woods, and stories passed down by generations. But there's also "real time" life occuring simultaneously.
As far as our FMC goes, no, she's not the MOST lovable character, but she's not designed to be. She's designed to be real. And realistic. And realistically any "ignorance" she has is a perfect matching to that of a girl growing up on stories & Folklore and not much else. You're obviously going to think someone, or something is a "monster", if that's what you've been told you're whole life a monster is. That's why the romance in this is important and not "random", it's our FMC's growth. After decades of one-way thinking.
Overall I thought this was a pretty solid read. The atmosphere is mystical, dense, and lush. It's steeped in beautiful cultural history and Folklore. It keeps a steady pace from start to finish.
I would personally recommend this to anyone who is tired of reading the "same ole thing"
It's rare but, sometimes I wonder if I read the same book as everyone else. I normally don't look at other reviews while I'm reading an ARC. This one I did however, and I've got to say I'm a little surprised. I had a really good time here. Normally I'm content to let others have their opinions.... But not always 🙃.
Lol but na, in all seriousness it's always love over here, we all have different tastes and opinions. I just like making sure people are aware of everything before making the final call.
I feel as if I might be able to clear some things up for future readers, to maybe enhance the experience. YES, this is 1000% a Folklore story. But it's more of a full circle Folklore story. Because let's be real, what's behind at least 60-75% of Folklore? A tainted government and or church, that would rather have people believing in monsters than knowing how crooked sed establishment really is. And that's what we have here. Yes there's magic, creepy woods, and stories passed down by generations. But there's also "real time" life occuring simultaneously.
As far as our FMC goes, no, she's not the MOST lovable character, but she's not designed to be. She's designed to be real. And realistic. And realistically any "ignorance" she has is a perfect matching to that of a girl growing up on stories & Folklore and not much else. You're obviously going to think someone, or something is a "monster", if that's what you've been told you're whole life a monster is. That's why the romance in this is important and not "random", it's our FMC's growth. After decades of one-way thinking.
Overall I thought this was a pretty solid read. The atmosphere is mystical, dense, and lush. It's steeped in beautiful cultural history and Folklore. It keeps a steady pace from start to finish.
I would personally recommend this to anyone who is tired of reading the "same ole thing"
April 30, 2025
The Maiden and Her Monsters is an atmospheric debut steeped in Jewish folklore, centering on a girl who strikes a dangerous bargain to save her mother, only to uncover secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew. It promises haunting forests, golem myths, and a sapphic romance but unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the richness of its premise.
Let’s start with the positives: the concept is incredibly compelling. The dark fairytale tone and the Jewish myth reimagining were what initially drew me in, and when the author leaned into the horror and gore, the writing shone. Those were the moments the book finally felt dark, suffocating, and frightening as it was clearly meant to be. Unfortunately, those moments were few and far between. For a story about monsters, moral ambiguity, and survival, the rest of the prose often read too much like YA: simplified and emotionally shallow, which weakened the impact of the darker themes.
The main character, Malka, is… a hard sell. I don’t need my heroines to be likable, but I do need to understand them. Malka is selfish, angry, and cruel, not only to strangers, but to Nimrah, the supposed love interest throughout the entire book. She calls her "monster" and refuses to use her chosen name. The relationship between them felt forced, and honestly? Emotionally manipulative. I didn’t believe for a second that what they had was love, it read more like Stockholm syndrome. Then, right at the end, they start throwing poetic declarations at each other and I was left wondering, when did this happen?
The transition to Malka’s decision to go into the forest and save her mother, arguably one of the most pivotal moments in the story, was rushed. One paragraph she’s in shock, and the next she’s sacrificing her life. We never get the internal monologue that justifies such a huge and dangerous choice. It made the whole setup feel unearned.
A major structural issue is how many themes this book tries to juggle: antisemitism, generational trauma, religious persecution, violence in the home, poverty, queerness, sexism, grief. These are massive topics, and none of them are explored in depth. They’re mentioned, briefly touched, then pushed aside for plot convenience. For example, violence in the household is brought up and resolved with a neat little bow at the end that felt dismissive and emotionally hollow. Same goes for queer identity, the book doesn’t explore it at all. For the majority of the story, I wasn’t even sure if being gay was “allowed” in this world. The sapphic romance felt more like a straight dynamic with the genders swapped, there was no real reflection on queer identity or experience.
Then come the plot conveniences. There are a lot of them. Secret map when you need one? Of course. A hidden tunnel? Naturally. Every time things get hard, the solution shows up just in time. It pulled me out of the story more than once.
On a more practical note: this book desperately needs a glossary and a map. There are so many invented terms and unfamiliar references that even as an experienced fantasy reader, I found myself flipping back or just skimming through confusion. I imagine many English-speaking readers will struggle, especially without context.
Finally, the ending. Without spoiling anything: it felt like emotional manipulation for the sake of it, with a character's suffering used as a cheap way to create a sense of tragedy. And worst still, later in the ending, something else happens that completely undermines the message of accountability, offering a hollow redemption arc to a character who could have prevented so much pain, but didn’t. It reinforces a troubling double standard: when a man commits a horrific act and lets peoples die, he gets turned into a legend of hope. But when a woman is in the same situation, she’s remembered only as a monster. It left a bitter, deeply unsatisfying taste that soured the entire reading experience, which was not so great to begin with.
This book wanted to be powerful and queer and dark. But queerness here felt more like a checkbox than a lived experience. I genuinely wanted to love this book, it has the bones of something special, but in trying to be about everything, it ends up saying very little.
(1.5 stars rounded down)
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Let’s start with the positives: the concept is incredibly compelling. The dark fairytale tone and the Jewish myth reimagining were what initially drew me in, and when the author leaned into the horror and gore, the writing shone. Those were the moments the book finally felt dark, suffocating, and frightening as it was clearly meant to be. Unfortunately, those moments were few and far between. For a story about monsters, moral ambiguity, and survival, the rest of the prose often read too much like YA: simplified and emotionally shallow, which weakened the impact of the darker themes.
The main character, Malka, is… a hard sell. I don’t need my heroines to be likable, but I do need to understand them. Malka is selfish, angry, and cruel, not only to strangers, but to Nimrah, the supposed love interest throughout the entire book. She calls her "monster" and refuses to use her chosen name. The relationship between them felt forced, and honestly? Emotionally manipulative. I didn’t believe for a second that what they had was love, it read more like Stockholm syndrome. Then, right at the end, they start throwing poetic declarations at each other and I was left wondering, when did this happen?
The transition to Malka’s decision to go into the forest and save her mother, arguably one of the most pivotal moments in the story, was rushed. One paragraph she’s in shock, and the next she’s sacrificing her life. We never get the internal monologue that justifies such a huge and dangerous choice. It made the whole setup feel unearned.
A major structural issue is how many themes this book tries to juggle: antisemitism, generational trauma, religious persecution, violence in the home, poverty, queerness, sexism, grief. These are massive topics, and none of them are explored in depth. They’re mentioned, briefly touched, then pushed aside for plot convenience. For example, violence in the household is brought up and resolved with a neat little bow at the end that felt dismissive and emotionally hollow. Same goes for queer identity, the book doesn’t explore it at all. For the majority of the story, I wasn’t even sure if being gay was “allowed” in this world. The sapphic romance felt more like a straight dynamic with the genders swapped, there was no real reflection on queer identity or experience.
Then come the plot conveniences. There are a lot of them. Secret map when you need one? Of course. A hidden tunnel? Naturally. Every time things get hard, the solution shows up just in time. It pulled me out of the story more than once.
On a more practical note: this book desperately needs a glossary and a map. There are so many invented terms and unfamiliar references that even as an experienced fantasy reader, I found myself flipping back or just skimming through confusion. I imagine many English-speaking readers will struggle, especially without context.
Finally, the ending. Without spoiling anything: it felt like emotional manipulation for the sake of it, with a character's suffering used as a cheap way to create a sense of tragedy. And worst still, later in the ending, something else happens that completely undermines the message of accountability, offering a hollow redemption arc to a character who could have prevented so much pain, but didn’t. It reinforces a troubling double standard: when a man commits a horrific act and lets peoples die, he gets turned into a legend of hope. But when a woman is in the same situation, she’s remembered only as a monster. It left a bitter, deeply unsatisfying taste that soured the entire reading experience, which was not so great to begin with.
This book wanted to be powerful and queer and dark. But queerness here felt more like a checkbox than a lived experience. I genuinely wanted to love this book, it has the bones of something special, but in trying to be about everything, it ends up saying very little.
(1.5 stars rounded down)
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 8, 2025
Truthfully, I spent the majority of this book wanting to DNF it which is such a bummer because I really wanted to love this one. It seemed like it would have all of the makings of the perfect book for me.
I'll start with the positives and say that the first few chapters really had me intrigued. The line about how the forest eats the girls had me hooked!! I also did really enjoy the writing in this book. I thought it was well done, easy to read, and the prose was lovely. And as a horror lover, there were some gruesome scenes which scratched that itch for me.
That being said, I struggled with the actual plot content within this book. I couldn't connect with the characters and therefore found myself not really liking or caring about any of them. The sapphic romance was a huge reason that I gravitated towards this book, but yet I felt it was severely lacking and it almost felt forced to me. The romance didn't progress naturally, nor did it satisfy me. As I mentioned, the first few chapters really had me hooked and I thought that this was going to be a home-run for me, but unfortunately it really dropped off for me. I thought some parts of this were confusing, slow, and mundane.
This was a book that had it not been an ARC, I think I would've DNF'd it. Thankfully the beautiful writing did save the rating for this book a bit. I will definitely give this author another try in the future because I did love her writing and I think I have the potential to enjoy her works. Sadly, this book just didn't end up being for me but I can envision a lot of people loving this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
CW: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
I'll start with the positives and say that the first few chapters really had me intrigued. The line about how the forest eats the girls had me hooked!! I also did really enjoy the writing in this book. I thought it was well done, easy to read, and the prose was lovely. And as a horror lover, there were some gruesome scenes which scratched that itch for me.
That being said, I struggled with the actual plot content within this book. I couldn't connect with the characters and therefore found myself not really liking or caring about any of them. The sapphic romance was a huge reason that I gravitated towards this book, but yet I felt it was severely lacking and it almost felt forced to me. The romance didn't progress naturally, nor did it satisfy me. As I mentioned, the first few chapters really had me hooked and I thought that this was going to be a home-run for me, but unfortunately it really dropped off for me. I thought some parts of this were confusing, slow, and mundane.
This was a book that had it not been an ARC, I think I would've DNF'd it. Thankfully the beautiful writing did save the rating for this book a bit. I will definitely give this author another try in the future because I did love her writing and I think I have the potential to enjoy her works. Sadly, this book just didn't end up being for me but I can envision a lot of people loving this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
CW: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
September 10, 2025
One of my favorite oddly specific tropes is a malevolent, dangerous forest. Mix in dark whimsical fairytale vibes and a sapphic slow-burn romance, and you’ve got a recipe for a story I’ll absolutely devour and you will too!
There were so many things I loved about this book. The forest was creepy and ruthless, and even though I’ve read this trope before, I was still surprised by what happened there. The political dynamics were fascinating, especially the way they tied into the magic system and different religions. No spoilers here but I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a magic system quite like this one. The book also had a ton of stories within the story, which created such an interesting layer to the plot. I found that aspect especially thought-provoking.
The romance element was so well done. It’s very slow burn, finely nuanced, and while this book is definitely fantasy first, the romance pushed the story forward in such a satisfying way.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was a solid four-star read for me.
Thank you so much Tor Books for the gifted free copy!
There were so many things I loved about this book. The forest was creepy and ruthless, and even though I’ve read this trope before, I was still surprised by what happened there. The political dynamics were fascinating, especially the way they tied into the magic system and different religions. No spoilers here but I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a magic system quite like this one. The book also had a ton of stories within the story, which created such an interesting layer to the plot. I found that aspect especially thought-provoking.
The romance element was so well done. It’s very slow burn, finely nuanced, and while this book is definitely fantasy first, the romance pushed the story forward in such a satisfying way.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was a solid four-star read for me.
Thank you so much Tor Books for the gifted free copy!
October 5, 2025
dnf halfway
the slow pacing really killed this. that’s not usually a gripe for me but the writing didn’t make up for it…literally nothing happens. every character tells stories, fables, legends, you name it about OTHERS, but our central story is severely lacking.
i thought reading along with the audiobook would help but the narrator switches pronunciation every two seconds and relays these characters like angsty teens in a comedy rather than an adult fantasy setting (which this also did not read as adult!)
thank you to netgalley and tor for the arc
the slow pacing really killed this. that’s not usually a gripe for me but the writing didn’t make up for it…literally nothing happens. every character tells stories, fables, legends, you name it about OTHERS, but our central story is severely lacking.
i thought reading along with the audiobook would help but the narrator switches pronunciation every two seconds and relays these characters like angsty teens in a comedy rather than an adult fantasy setting (which this also did not read as adult!)
thank you to netgalley and tor for the arc
September 3, 2025
Book Stats:
📖: 336 pages
Genre: Gothic Fantasy/Fairytale
Publisher: Tor
Format: Physical ARC from publisher
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 13 hours and 6 minutes
🎤: Nikki Massoud
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Single POV/ Singular narrator
I enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. The voice was pleaseing to listen to and I never had to adjust my speed unless I wanted to.
Themes:
💫: Religion, Faith and Politics
💫: Corruption within the church
💫: Oppression and rebellion
Representation:
🪽: Jewish Mythology/Folklore
🪽: Reimagining of the Golem of Prague
🪽: Latinx/Jewish Author
🪽: Sapphic Romance
Tropes:
💗: Enemies to lovers
🥵: Spice: mild/closed door
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.
General Thoughts:
This was such an unexpected and refreshing surprise. I know nothing of Jewish folklore or mythology and this was so accessible and well done. I really enjoyed learning about all of the different stories that were interwoven throughout this book.
This book was very fairytale-esque, yet wonderfully dark with a gothic feel. There was some fantastic imagery and body horror woven throughout this book that I was not expecting. I really enjoyed the thread of sapphic romance broken up by the political intrigue, as well as the various forms of monsters and mythical creatures.
A few storylines within this novel were pretty predictable. But I am OK with predictability if it's revealed in a fun and refreshing way and this fit the bill. There were other storylines that did remain a mystery to me until the reveal.
I enjoyed our main character, Malka. Her character felt relatable and realistic. Numerous decisions and choices she made I understood the motivation and reasoning. She read to me as an older sister and an older 20s aged woman. I did enjoy the thread of romance that was in this novel. But I also liked that the fairytale and the story came first and the romance was secondary. I think it was because of this choice that the story was able to maintain its darker nature.
I'm absolutely feral for anything else that this woman writes at this point. This was a great debut. Dark, vivid and unique. The imagery and body horror balanced great with the darker fairytale aspects and the political intrigue kept everything suspenseful. Can't go wrong with this one.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher and a gifted audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
📖: 336 pages
Genre: Gothic Fantasy/Fairytale
Publisher: Tor
Format: Physical ARC from publisher
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 13 hours and 6 minutes
🎤: Nikki Massoud
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Single POV/ Singular narrator
I enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. The voice was pleaseing to listen to and I never had to adjust my speed unless I wanted to.
Themes:
💫: Religion, Faith and Politics
💫: Corruption within the church
💫: Oppression and rebellion
Representation:
🪽: Jewish Mythology/Folklore
🪽: Reimagining of the Golem of Prague
🪽: Latinx/Jewish Author
🪽: Sapphic Romance
Tropes:
💗: Enemies to lovers
🥵: Spice: mild/closed door
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.
General Thoughts:
This was such an unexpected and refreshing surprise. I know nothing of Jewish folklore or mythology and this was so accessible and well done. I really enjoyed learning about all of the different stories that were interwoven throughout this book.
This book was very fairytale-esque, yet wonderfully dark with a gothic feel. There was some fantastic imagery and body horror woven throughout this book that I was not expecting. I really enjoyed the thread of sapphic romance broken up by the political intrigue, as well as the various forms of monsters and mythical creatures.
A few storylines within this novel were pretty predictable. But I am OK with predictability if it's revealed in a fun and refreshing way and this fit the bill. There were other storylines that did remain a mystery to me until the reveal.
I enjoyed our main character, Malka. Her character felt relatable and realistic. Numerous decisions and choices she made I understood the motivation and reasoning. She read to me as an older sister and an older 20s aged woman. I did enjoy the thread of romance that was in this novel. But I also liked that the fairytale and the story came first and the romance was secondary. I think it was because of this choice that the story was able to maintain its darker nature.
I'm absolutely feral for anything else that this woman writes at this point. This was a great debut. Dark, vivid and unique. The imagery and body horror balanced great with the darker fairytale aspects and the political intrigue kept everything suspenseful. Can't go wrong with this one.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher and a gifted audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 12, 2025
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.
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.
dnf
May 15, 2025dnf 25%
this was supposed to be good, but it got too tangled and chaotic. i was very interesting and in the mood for that kind of read, but I'm too tired to even finish it
why? because it's so f hard to read. listen, I'm a lifelong high fantasy reader and i can go thru anything, but what was this??? many other low opinions are saying that it was hard, because of the made up words in diffrent language without any explanation and I agree, but what icked me more was just how chaotic the writing style is, we're jumping from infodump to some rumor, to plot, to other story, thru random people and places and i just couldn't read it for long, cus I got bored and my 5 min phone breaks suddenly became 1 h, because i didn't want to go back to this
also because of all this i did not feel that atmosphere that was promised everywhere, there's some forest killing girls? okey, they find field of corpses? not cool, but idc, two characters immidiately offed? couldn't care less
main character was lowkey annoying and even thru that 25% her pov, did not make me want to stay
and the plot was just jumping thru places, very nice premise, but very poor execution
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
this was supposed to be good, but it got too tangled and chaotic. i was very interesting and in the mood for that kind of read, but I'm too tired to even finish it
why? because it's so f hard to read. listen, I'm a lifelong high fantasy reader and i can go thru anything, but what was this??? many other low opinions are saying that it was hard, because of the made up words in diffrent language without any explanation and I agree, but what icked me more was just how chaotic the writing style is, we're jumping from infodump to some rumor, to plot, to other story, thru random people and places and i just couldn't read it for long, cus I got bored and my 5 min phone breaks suddenly became 1 h, because i didn't want to go back to this
also because of all this i did not feel that atmosphere that was promised everywhere, there's some forest killing girls? okey, they find field of corpses? not cool, but idc, two characters immidiately offed? couldn't care less
main character was lowkey annoying and even thru that 25% her pov, did not make me want to stay
and the plot was just jumping thru places, very nice premise, but very poor execution
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
October 7, 2025
This was a dark fairytale-esque story steeped in jewish folklore with an eerie gothic atmosphere, theres heavy themes of religion and politics and I'd say this is less plot driven and more "for the vibes" but that's not a bad thing IMO, it was beautifully written, lush, romantic, fierce with rich worldbuilding, I look forward to reading whatever this author writes next!
July 16, 2025
While I loved the rich folklore and the fantasy Jewish mysticism (known as Kefesh in this novel), the story was just... okay.
The summary only describes the first half of the novel, so just a heads up if you were hoping for a magical forest type of story for the entire book.
Nothing really stood out to me honestly. The storyline wasn't gripping. I didn't even care about the FMC and her problems.
The sapphic romance wasn't all that interesting either. There was a lot of tension, but not the romantic kind. I wasn't even sure why they liked each other, other than the fact that this was basically a forced proximity trope.
The first half of the novel was just Malka and co. traipsing through the creepy woods on a manufactured quest that lost its focus halfway through the story. Then there was a tonal shift in the second half of the book when the main plotline switches up. That was a lot more interesting than the forest stuff. It kept me entertained, so at least there's that.
I really liked the magic and lore surrounding Nimrah's creation story and her life since then. Hell, I wish this novel was written in Nimrah's POV. Or the Maharal's POV. Or a specific character in the second half (no spoilers). Sorry, Malka. You're not that interesting or compelling.
But alas, here we are.
The story itself was a 2 star. But the cool folklore stuff bumped it up another star. I actually wished this was a book of short stories about the Kefesh folklore instead. Do note that some of the folklore storytelling portions were pretty much infodumps. But I found them enjoyable.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this arc.
The summary only describes the first half of the novel, so just a heads up if you were hoping for a magical forest type of story for the entire book.
Nothing really stood out to me honestly. The storyline wasn't gripping. I didn't even care about the FMC and her problems.
The sapphic romance wasn't all that interesting either. There was a lot of tension, but not the romantic kind. I wasn't even sure why they liked each other, other than the fact that this was basically a forced proximity trope.
The first half of the novel was just Malka and co. traipsing through the creepy woods on a manufactured quest that lost its focus halfway through the story. Then there was a tonal shift in the second half of the book when the main plotline switches up. That was a lot more interesting than the forest stuff. It kept me entertained, so at least there's that.
I really liked the magic and lore surrounding Nimrah's creation story and her life since then. Hell, I wish this novel was written in Nimrah's POV. Or the Maharal's POV. Or a specific character in the second half (no spoilers). Sorry, Malka. You're not that interesting or compelling.
But alas, here we are.
The story itself was a 2 star. But the cool folklore stuff bumped it up another star. I actually wished this was a book of short stories about the Kefesh folklore instead. Do note that some of the folklore storytelling portions were pretty much infodumps. But I found them enjoyable.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this arc.
June 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to review this ARC!
Sadly, this is a DNF for me at 26% (I’ve been wanting to DNF since 7%).
The first 2 chapters were actually alright and drew me in. But after this the writing became insanely chaotic. The main plot is set up - but then it’s just endless jumping through different stories and rumours, and different characters here and there. And quite frankly, I just couldn’t care about the characters… or the interactions. The plot was easily brushed aside and that hindered my reading experience.
The FMC was extremely ignorant. Instead of acknowledging her mistakes she just stays in her ways. When she decides to ask questions, she doesn’t reflect on her actions or the consequences of it. Combine an awful FMC with the chaotic writing and you just get a mess. And that part about her touching herself? I was just massively icked out. The entire interactions with Alexi & his brother with the FMC made me entirely uncomfortable. Also, please check the trigger warnings before reading this.
I will say that the author successfully set up a really dark, horror-like and grim world. Props for the atmosphere. The premise was SO interesting and I had never read anything inspired by those myths so I was curious about it. Sadly, it didn’t work for me.
As always, reading is subjective and you have to try it out to know if it’s for you!
Sadly, this is a DNF for me at 26% (I’ve been wanting to DNF since 7%).
The first 2 chapters were actually alright and drew me in. But after this the writing became insanely chaotic. The main plot is set up - but then it’s just endless jumping through different stories and rumours, and different characters here and there. And quite frankly, I just couldn’t care about the characters… or the interactions. The plot was easily brushed aside and that hindered my reading experience.
The FMC was extremely ignorant. Instead of acknowledging her mistakes she just stays in her ways. When she decides to ask questions, she doesn’t reflect on her actions or the consequences of it. Combine an awful FMC with the chaotic writing and you just get a mess. And that part about her touching herself? I was just massively icked out. The entire interactions with Alexi & his brother with the FMC made me entirely uncomfortable. Also, please check the trigger warnings before reading this.
I will say that the author successfully set up a really dark, horror-like and grim world. Props for the atmosphere. The premise was SO interesting and I had never read anything inspired by those myths so I was curious about it. Sadly, it didn’t work for me.
As always, reading is subjective and you have to try it out to know if it’s for you!
May 21, 2025
I read an early version of this book and fell so deeply in love already. This story is lush and dark and romantic and fierce, and contains such a beautiful depiction of faith right alongside the sapphics yearning in the confession booth😶
September 10, 2025
I love Tor Publishing with an unabashed passion, and so I am forever requesting ARCs from them on NetGalley. A lot of the time, the books are great, just like sometimes a book won’t hit the same way. Enter this book. I’m always down to read a book about folklore, no matter its origin. The blurb from this one was pretty irresistible to me.
The setting, at least at first, is similar to Naomi Novik’s “Uprooted” and “Spinning Silver”, which are two of my all-time favorites. Poor village, ostensibly in Eastern Europe, malevolent forest, warring religions, etc. In this case, a monster in said forest started taking females about five years before the book begins, and a sickness began to ravage the villagers shortly thereafter. Enter the oppressive dominant religious overlords, who in their greed, have increased the frequency of tithes, and you have a powder keg about to explode.
The MC, Malka, is 23 and has put her life on hold for those five years in order to help her mother heal the sick, but when a tragedy occurs, Malka must enter the forest and bring the monster back as proof that it is behind the brutal murders.
The book up until then is great. I have no problems there. Unfortunately, the story became less interesting once the setting changes to the city. Two characters don’t jive well, and the “romance” is not really believable. It’s hard to keep reading something when the characters are not super likeable. Still, I can appreciate many things about the story itself, and I’ll always clamor for more folklore tales. This gets a 3.5 from me, rounded up. The extra half star is for the stellar first part of the book.
Thank you very much to Tor Books and NetGalley for the eARC. I am writing this review entirely voluntarily.
The setting, at least at first, is similar to Naomi Novik’s “Uprooted” and “Spinning Silver”, which are two of my all-time favorites. Poor village, ostensibly in Eastern Europe, malevolent forest, warring religions, etc. In this case, a monster in said forest started taking females about five years before the book begins, and a sickness began to ravage the villagers shortly thereafter. Enter the oppressive dominant religious overlords, who in their greed, have increased the frequency of tithes, and you have a powder keg about to explode.
The MC, Malka, is 23 and has put her life on hold for those five years in order to help her mother heal the sick, but when a tragedy occurs, Malka must enter the forest and bring the monster back as proof that it is behind the brutal murders.
The book up until then is great. I have no problems there. Unfortunately, the story became less interesting once the setting changes to the city. Two characters don’t jive well, and the “romance” is not really believable. It’s hard to keep reading something when the characters are not super likeable. Still, I can appreciate many things about the story itself, and I’ll always clamor for more folklore tales. This gets a 3.5 from me, rounded up. The extra half star is for the stellar first part of the book.
Thank you very much to Tor Books and NetGalley for the eARC. I am writing this review entirely voluntarily.
April 16, 2025
4⭐
Thank you Maddie Martinez, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 is gorgeous, atmospheric debut fantasy that reimagines the Jewish myth of golem in a tale rooted in history, folklore, and sapphic romance—perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid, Hannah Whitten, and Naomi Novik.
Martinez weaves a rich and folkloric fantasy that delves inspiration from Jewish tradition and mysticism. The glorious canopy of Jewish folklore and sapphic romance, supported by the allure of an enchanting and dangerous sentient forest.
The lush and folkloric backdrop is supported a diverse cast of characters, with strong and unique latest, mysterious purposes and willed minds. Underneath the roots of the forest you'll find that this is not just a fantasy romance novel, but also a story that is deep rooted with grief, hope, survival, anger, rage and passion.
The unique magic system is rooted in faith and mysticism --- where magic becomes stronger with faith and intent, not the matter of skill or study. Martinez woven tales within a great tale, which added depth to the roots of magic and the history of the world.
The pacing threw me off a bit because of its uneven movement. Some parts and descriptions were overly ornate, which made it difficult to continue reading. I wished there was more development or visual on Malka and Nimrah's relationship. These are my only critiques for the book.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading The Maiden and Her Monster. It reminded me very much of Ava Reid's The Wolf and the Woodsman.
Thank you Maddie Martinez, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 is gorgeous, atmospheric debut fantasy that reimagines the Jewish myth of golem in a tale rooted in history, folklore, and sapphic romance—perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid, Hannah Whitten, and Naomi Novik.
Martinez weaves a rich and folkloric fantasy that delves inspiration from Jewish tradition and mysticism. The glorious canopy of Jewish folklore and sapphic romance, supported by the allure of an enchanting and dangerous sentient forest.
The lush and folkloric backdrop is supported a diverse cast of characters, with strong and unique latest, mysterious purposes and willed minds. Underneath the roots of the forest you'll find that this is not just a fantasy romance novel, but also a story that is deep rooted with grief, hope, survival, anger, rage and passion.
The unique magic system is rooted in faith and mysticism --- where magic becomes stronger with faith and intent, not the matter of skill or study. Martinez woven tales within a great tale, which added depth to the roots of magic and the history of the world.
The pacing threw me off a bit because of its uneven movement. Some parts and descriptions were overly ornate, which made it difficult to continue reading. I wished there was more development or visual on Malka and Nimrah's relationship. These are my only critiques for the book.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading The Maiden and Her Monster. It reminded me very much of Ava Reid's The Wolf and the Woodsman.
January 28, 2025
Will try to formulate some more coherent thoughts beyond ‼️‼️‼️ soon but for now - my jaw is on the floor. beautiful and heart wrenching in equal measures. couldn’t recommend this book more 💛
September 4, 2025
*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
I don’t hate this, and I’m not willing to call it a bad book. But the prose started bothering me almost immediately, and I was already wary after a Goodreads friend reviewed it thusly (if you don’t want to go read their review: only the first third of the book is about the forest and the romance appears very jarringly towards the last third or so).
The writing…it’s like someone is working very hard to make their prose ‘pretty’, but the phrasing is always just a little odd, a little off. (The telling-not-showing is pretty heavy-handed, too.)
‘spoiled deep red’? You know exactly what the author means here, but the wording makes me twitch.
A pop?
Again, I understand what you mean, but why would you put it that way?
Ma’am. Ma’am sheep are tame though???
See, I think this is a brilliant image, but it’s very jarring when that is so well-known as one of Jesus’ miracles and the characters are Jewish.
Why would you say ‘similar to’? Why not ‘just like’, or ‘so like’? Or break it into two sentences: ‘flowering on them. They looked very nearly the same as the ones on her own wrists’. Etc.
And so on.
If these quotes don’t bother you – and you know going in that the marketing for this one is kind of misleading – then you’re good! But I’m tapping out.
I don’t hate this, and I’m not willing to call it a bad book. But the prose started bothering me almost immediately, and I was already wary after a Goodreads friend reviewed it thusly (if you don’t want to go read their review: only the first third of the book is about the forest and the romance appears very jarringly towards the last third or so).
The writing…it’s like someone is working very hard to make their prose ‘pretty’, but the phrasing is always just a little odd, a little off. (The telling-not-showing is pretty heavy-handed, too.)
She did not cry even when the rope split her skin and her dress spoiled deep red.
‘spoiled deep red’? You know exactly what the author means here, but the wording makes me twitch.
the cleaver cut through Minton’s hand with a pop.
A pop?
Faces of sorrow had overtaken the villagers
Again, I understand what you mean, but why would you put it that way?
untamable as a bleating sheep adrift from its shepherd.
Ma’am. Ma’am sheep are tame though???
brazen and ready to make wine from water; to conjure up a connection when there was none.
See, I think this is a brilliant image, but it’s very jarring when that is so well-known as one of Jesus’ miracles and the characters are Jewish.
Malka couldn’t look away from the bruises flowering on them, similar to the marks banding her own wrists
Why would you say ‘similar to’? Why not ‘just like’, or ‘so like’? Or break it into two sentences: ‘flowering on them. They looked very nearly the same as the ones on her own wrists’. Etc.
And so on.
If these quotes don’t bother you – and you know going in that the marketing for this one is kind of misleading – then you’re good! But I’m tapping out.
Read
September 13, 2025The Maiden and Her Monster is a sapphic retelling of Jewish golem mythology set in a secondary fantasy world. It's not super plot driven, more folklore vibes and recreating some of the oppression Jewish people have faced historically. There's a gothic forest, a slowburn sapphic romance that wasn't what I expected, and religious themes around different modes of belief. A great pick if you're here for the vibes and the themes! The audio narration is nicely done. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
September 1, 2025
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You know when you get a book thinking it is going to be one thing and then it is completely different than you expected. Sometimes that is a good thing and I've gone on wild rides and visited crazy places enjoying the ride. Sometimes it means the book doesn't capture my interest and keep it. Unfortunately A Maiden and Her Monster falls into the second category. A lot of it has to do with what I find interesting and probably timing of when I read the story. There are going to be a lot of people who this was exactly what they were looking for. However, I was hoping for a world with subtle magics and lore that builds a rich backdrop to a complex relationship. For me, those are not the features the story delivers.
The set-up of the story started pretty strong. Malka is a healer's daughter and devout in her religion. The small village she lives in is plagued by a haunted forest "The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark". The men from the village who hunt the monster in the forest have all become haunted and changed in ways that have affected Malka personally. The village becomes more poor as the years go by. They are required to tithe to the church when they come through. But the church, who persecutes them based on their different beliefs, takes more and more every time and the violence each time is escalating. After one of the church's female guards is killed by the monster in the woods, Malka's mother is accused of killing her and Malka volunteers to go into the woods and bring the monster back to prove her mother's innocence. And the adventure begins and then dies for me 10% later.
My issue is that I was looking forward to exploring the lore and the magic of this world and finding the Golem or monster of the wood. We spend a little time doing that but then the story shifts as they find the Golem and then go to the capitol city to save Nimrah's (the Golem's) creator. And then there is the romance...ugh. Look I'm a harder sell on sapphic (F/F) romances. For me to buy into them there has to be a solid foundation, a building and then the culmination to the romance. I would have struggled with the romance even if the Golem were male in the book because there was no depth to the relationship, no building, it was all vitriol and hate and then it wasn't. Malka had more chemistry with one of the Church's soldiers in the woods that was in the book for maybe twenty pages. Everything that happens in the city was just too easy and convenient and I was beyond board with it.
This is Maddie Martinez's debut novel and she is a good writer. The gothic dark woods, the change in behavior of the men in the village, the settings and scenery were done well. There was so much detail and interest there. I think she still has some growth and will be an excellent writer. However, in A Maiden and Her Monster I also think she took on too many different issues and then failed to execute them well. They ended up all being surface level with no depth. The romance also was not needed. I know Romantasy is huge right now but not everything needs to be one to sell. I believe there was a missed opportunity to explore some of the implications of wanting to sacrifice the Golem to save Malka's mother and does a magical creature deserve a sentient life or are they basically a slave.
I barely made it through this entire story and almost gave up multiple times but really wanted to give it a shot. However, there was too much violence for violence sake with no explanation other than the Church is bad and they do bad things. The plot points that should have added tension were all resolved really easily within short periods of time. Malka never really has a strategy or plan and just lucks into every part of the story.
I think if you are really into Jewish lore and know a lot about it, you can fill in some of the gaps I had with the story. Like I said, for some they will be more interested in the political type intrigue and will like that portion of the book and be glad it wasn't all in the haunted wood. I'm just not one of them.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: none
Nikki Massoud is a new to me narrator. She did well with the story performance and I was able to tell the main characters apart easily. Her voice was a good fit for Malka who was the PoV and had most of the narrative in her voice. Her inflections, intonation and delivery of the story were solid. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You know when you get a book thinking it is going to be one thing and then it is completely different than you expected. Sometimes that is a good thing and I've gone on wild rides and visited crazy places enjoying the ride. Sometimes it means the book doesn't capture my interest and keep it. Unfortunately A Maiden and Her Monster falls into the second category. A lot of it has to do with what I find interesting and probably timing of when I read the story. There are going to be a lot of people who this was exactly what they were looking for. However, I was hoping for a world with subtle magics and lore that builds a rich backdrop to a complex relationship. For me, those are not the features the story delivers.
The set-up of the story started pretty strong. Malka is a healer's daughter and devout in her religion. The small village she lives in is plagued by a haunted forest "The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark". The men from the village who hunt the monster in the forest have all become haunted and changed in ways that have affected Malka personally. The village becomes more poor as the years go by. They are required to tithe to the church when they come through. But the church, who persecutes them based on their different beliefs, takes more and more every time and the violence each time is escalating. After one of the church's female guards is killed by the monster in the woods, Malka's mother is accused of killing her and Malka volunteers to go into the woods and bring the monster back to prove her mother's innocence. And the adventure begins and then dies for me 10% later.
My issue is that I was looking forward to exploring the lore and the magic of this world and finding the Golem or monster of the wood. We spend a little time doing that but then the story shifts as they find the Golem and then go to the capitol city to save Nimrah's (the Golem's) creator. And then there is the romance...ugh. Look I'm a harder sell on sapphic (F/F) romances. For me to buy into them there has to be a solid foundation, a building and then the culmination to the romance. I would have struggled with the romance even if the Golem were male in the book because there was no depth to the relationship, no building, it was all vitriol and hate and then it wasn't. Malka had more chemistry with one of the Church's soldiers in the woods that was in the book for maybe twenty pages. Everything that happens in the city was just too easy and convenient and I was beyond board with it.
This is Maddie Martinez's debut novel and she is a good writer. The gothic dark woods, the change in behavior of the men in the village, the settings and scenery were done well. There was so much detail and interest there. I think she still has some growth and will be an excellent writer. However, in A Maiden and Her Monster I also think she took on too many different issues and then failed to execute them well. They ended up all being surface level with no depth. The romance also was not needed. I know Romantasy is huge right now but not everything needs to be one to sell. I believe there was a missed opportunity to explore some of the implications of wanting to sacrifice the Golem to save Malka's mother and does a magical creature deserve a sentient life or are they basically a slave.
I barely made it through this entire story and almost gave up multiple times but really wanted to give it a shot. However, there was too much violence for violence sake with no explanation other than the Church is bad and they do bad things. The plot points that should have added tension were all resolved really easily within short periods of time. Malka never really has a strategy or plan and just lucks into every part of the story.
I think if you are really into Jewish lore and know a lot about it, you can fill in some of the gaps I had with the story. Like I said, for some they will be more interested in the political type intrigue and will like that portion of the book and be glad it wasn't all in the haunted wood. I'm just not one of them.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: none
Nikki Massoud is a new to me narrator. She did well with the story performance and I was able to tell the main characters apart easily. Her voice was a good fit for Malka who was the PoV and had most of the narrative in her voice. Her inflections, intonation and delivery of the story were solid. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
September 14, 2025
2025 reads: 250/300
i received a complimentary audio copy from the publisher, macmillan audio, as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
as the healer’s daughter, malka has seen firsthand how the curse of the woods has plagued her village. when the ozmini church comes to collect their tithes, though, they don’t heed the village’s warnings about the monster lurking in the trees. soon enough, a clergy girl wanders too close to the forest, and the blame for her murder falls on malka’s mom. desperate to protect her, malka makes a deal with the ozmini priest: she’ll bring him the monster, and he’ll spare her mother from execution. the monster malka finds, though, is not what she expects: she finds nimrah, a disgraced golem who’s strangely agreeable to implicate herself, if malka helps her free the imprisoned rabbi who created her. as their bargain begins to unravel, malka is faced with increasingly difficult decisions, including having to choose between her people and her mother, all while facing her growing feelings for the monster she was taught to fear.
this was such a beautiful book! i’ve been drawn to this ever since i first heard of it (before it even had a cover!), and this was well worth the wait. i love jewish fantasies, and i definitely don’t get enough of them. the lore is so rich. what i loved about this book, specifically, was its exploration of religious imposition and actively choosing to still follow your own in the face of that. this was the main conflict, and i liked how martinez handled this. i was glad i read this via audiobook, narrated by nikki massoud, who seemed to know the proper pronunciations of hebrew terms a lot better than i did. this helped me further immerse myself into the story. i highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a sapphic jewish fantasy.
i received a complimentary audio copy from the publisher, macmillan audio, as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
as the healer’s daughter, malka has seen firsthand how the curse of the woods has plagued her village. when the ozmini church comes to collect their tithes, though, they don’t heed the village’s warnings about the monster lurking in the trees. soon enough, a clergy girl wanders too close to the forest, and the blame for her murder falls on malka’s mom. desperate to protect her, malka makes a deal with the ozmini priest: she’ll bring him the monster, and he’ll spare her mother from execution. the monster malka finds, though, is not what she expects: she finds nimrah, a disgraced golem who’s strangely agreeable to implicate herself, if malka helps her free the imprisoned rabbi who created her. as their bargain begins to unravel, malka is faced with increasingly difficult decisions, including having to choose between her people and her mother, all while facing her growing feelings for the monster she was taught to fear.
this was such a beautiful book! i’ve been drawn to this ever since i first heard of it (before it even had a cover!), and this was well worth the wait. i love jewish fantasies, and i definitely don’t get enough of them. the lore is so rich. what i loved about this book, specifically, was its exploration of religious imposition and actively choosing to still follow your own in the face of that. this was the main conflict, and i liked how martinez handled this. i was glad i read this via audiobook, narrated by nikki massoud, who seemed to know the proper pronunciations of hebrew terms a lot better than i did. this helped me further immerse myself into the story. i highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a sapphic jewish fantasy.
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