Maiden

by Georgia Leighton

THIS PRINCESS IS GOING TO SAVE HERSELF

Discover a world of forbidden magic, court politics and sacrifice in this enchanting new myth retelling, perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik.

The small, land-locked nation of Corfuia is known for its strict customs, historic battles and mountainous borders. And for its dragons.

On the first day of Spring each year, a young woman chosen by lot from the towns and villages is sacrificed to the dragons in a legendary treaty known as the Maiden Sacrifice.

As spring approaches, and the Maiden Sacrifice with it, the fates of three women are called into question. Between them, Maelle, Cressyda and Alinore hold the key to breaking free of the centuries-old treaty that hangs over Corfuia.

But first, they must face the dragons...

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Dragons

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 4, 2026

About the author

Georgia Leighton lives in London with her family. Her debut adult novel, SPELLBOUND, is a reimagining of the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Her brand new novel, MAIDEN, will be published in June 2026 - available to pre-order now in hardback and special editions.

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from the author/publisher.

There’s dragons, lady knights and princesses saving themselves - what more do we need?!

This book was incredibly easy to get into and incredibly difficult to put down!

Just like Spellbound, the chapters are short and gripping. Georgia’s writing really does make you say “just one more chapter” and that coupled with those short chapters makes it so easy to inhale the book. I think it’s testament to Georgia’s writing style that although the action and main crescendo of the story didn’t happen until 300 pages in, I was still kept engaged as a reader. The build up to that moment and the character development through the book was essential in making that sequence as pivotal as it was.

The story is told over a number of years from multiple POVs (which you know I love) and having the story written in this way allowed for more natural character development. I like that rather than be told who the characters are and the author having to prove it to us, this method if story telling allows us to see these characters become who they are supposed to be. I was really rooting for all of the characters in this book and it was lovely watching them grow within the pages of the story. Well, all except one who instantly reminded me of Hoath from ODW and I hated him instantly.

Maiden is based in the same world as Spellbound and one of the characters even got a name drop which I loved as I really wanted to know more of their story after the book ended and it gave a little insight into that. I can’t believe how much joy that one line brought me!

I simply adored the ending, it really did make me smile.

If you enjoyed Spellbound, or even if you just enjoy fairytale retelling (especially those with a feminist twist) this is definitely a book for you.

Thank you again Georgia for sharing Maiden with me, it really has been such a privilege to read it. You are most definitely an auto-buy author for me!

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, this was good!

Georgia Leighton’s MAIDEN is a daring and enthralling read. Brutal but not gratuitous, Leighton portrayed the exploitation of women for power in an honest, heartbreaking way. Despite the prophecy not specifying gender, it is girls as young as 18 who are the sacrifices.

Alinore and Cressyda are both fantastic protagonists, and I loved finding their similarities within all their differences. Both girls are just ultimately trying to do what’s best to ensure their survival, even if now they do it looks different. Leighton brings privilege to the forefront and questions how much privilege there is within what is still a cage — bound by a prophecy, by a monarchy, by a substitute mother.

I really liked the lore of the Dragons, however I wish we got to see more of it! I found it severely underutilised. I also found myself confused with some inconsistencies (or I suppose a character is just lying, as there is some ambiguity there around his honesty) saying that “no dragon had been slain in 300 years” but a characters Father was known as a Dragon Slayer.

I loved that we got different POV chapters in this. Alinore, Cressyda and Maylie all offered complimentary perspectives to each other. Giving the audience a bit of extra information there, like backstory or world building lore. All three perspectives worked well towards the ultimate climax.

I do wish we had a bit more time with the characters as the ending felt quite rushed and incomplete. While I felt we led up to everything well, the pay off wasn’t all there for me. It felt very quick and I think the character development fell flat with quick decisions. I wish we had a little more time to settle with the decisions and the impact.

Overall, a really enjoyable read. I just wish the book was fleshed out a little bit more, both with the world building and the character development.

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for the e-arc

[JadesNovelNook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again Georgia Leighton did not disappoint!!

Maiden reminded me exactly why I’ll never get tired of a good fairytale/ legend retelling—especially one that dares to shift the focus back onto the women at the heart of the story.

I loved how the story unfolded in layers, which surprised me because I bought I’d find it confusing but I wasn’t. The time jumps could have been difficult to follow, but instead they felt purposeful and gradually revealed a narrative far richer than it first appears. It’s the kind of book where each new piece of the timeline deepens your understanding rather than pulling you out of the story.

The multiple POVs really stood out to me. Being female focused, each one carries her own struggles, her own voice and her own kind of strength. There’s no waiting to be saved here just resilience, complexity and quiet defiance. It felt like a true reclaiming of a legend, told through a feminist lens that gives space to different kinds of power, even the quiet kind of person.

I also really enjoyed the undercurrent of courtly intrigue and politics, which added tension without overwhelming the emotional core of the story. The ending was fast-paced, sharp and full of tension and was incredibly satisfying, bringing everything together in a way that felt fluid.

I’d definitely recommend Maiden to readers who love layered, female-driven retellings with a touch of political intrigue, especially fans of The Rose Bargain and Spellbound.

I can’t wait to see was Georgia does next 🐉 🐎 🗡️

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Headlines:
Lady knight
Family found and foul
Dragons

This feminist tale was striking and satisfying in all the good, fantastical ways. Women were at the fore, leading quietly and then pushing forward saving the kingdom. Three women told their stories, Alinore the knight's daughter left with a king while he fought, Cressyda the adopted princess and Maylie, a mountain woman.

Pervading this story was a gift of the mountain folk, to see, hear and communicate with the hidden people (fey). The hidden people were mostly in the shadows, feared but Cressyda could hear them. I thought Alinore was the most interesting voice, until I got to know Cressyda and then Maylie drew me in too.

The time phases of the POVs was clever and different. How we saw these women evolve from childhood to women was a different journey for each, steeped in tragedy but also resillience. There were some rotten men causing trauma, no more than Samsel. In balance to this, was Chrisanie.

I did see the foreshadowing of where the main plot was going by half way but I still enjoyed the development immensely. Still, there was plenty I hadn't expected along the way.

Georgia Leighton has a natural, appealing narrative style. I love her empowerment of women in these stories. They aren't women waiting to be saved, they will always save themselves.

Thank you to Bantam Books for the review copy.

[Lizzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I initially gave this book two stars, but after a week or so has passed, I’ve dropped that down to one. The more I think about this book, the more I realise that there wasn’t much I enjoyed at all. There were things at the start that bothered me a bit, such as half-baked backstories, a drawn-out first act, or too much of the action happening off-screen. At the time they didn’t particularly bother me, as I assumed things would pick up, but they never really did.

It wasn’t a particularly slow read, but more than half of the book passed before anything much happened. I do generally love a character-driven book, and I was enjoying getting to know these characters lives, but we did have a dragon to defeat. There was so much mundane information about Cressyda and Alinore’s childhood, but very little actual detail. The first half of the book could have been trimmed down significantly and still been just as effective.

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My bigger issue, however, was with how the story was resolved. We have a ruling class, and we have the Mountain folk. There is an unbending class and cultural divide between the two, and while it’s unclear as to whether it’s an ethnic divide as well, there is clearly a sense of heritage that is strong enough for the ruling class to be exempt from the agreement that one of the Mountain people would be surrendered to the dragon.

Spoiler time! Cressyda is a Mountain girl who is adopted by the queen. When the king dies and her older brother takes the throne, he forces her to become the sacrifice. She and Alinore negotiate with the dragon for the new king to be taken instead, and for a new treaty to be agreed. Cressyda’s second oldest brother then takes the throne, and they all live happily ever after.

Issue one: the whole selling point of this book was that ‘the princess saves herself’. If Cressyda saves herself by selling the king to the dragon, is she really saving herself? Is she just doing the exact same bad thing her brother and father did, except because he’s a meany boy and she’s an underestimated girl, that makes it okay? Is feeding people to dragons okay, as long as it’s a woman doing it to a man and not the other way around? It didn’t really feel like she was outwitting the dragon, or using any particular skill or even brute force to resolve the situation. Who was the real villain all along? Was it the dragon, or was it the ruling class?

Which brings me to issue number two. After the dragon was defeated, I was hoping/expecting that Cressyda would take over as ruler. After all, she was raised a royal, but she is descended from the Mountain folk, and could potentially unite these two classes for a new and brighter future. But no! That would involve structural change, and facing the underlying problems existing in the kingdom! So instead, her other brother takes over as king, but it’s okay because he’s nice so everything’s okay now.

It’s not that I expect all fantasy books to be overtly political (not that you can really write truly apolitical sci-fi or fantasy, but that’s a discussion for another day). I just think authors should have the self-awareness to know when they have created a political allegory, and follow it through to the end. When a book is deliberately written to go against the status quo (in this case by being very clear that this is a story where the princess saves herself), it’s incredibly disappointing when it fails to do more than the bare minimum.

Perhaps most frustratingly of all, if the author had actually engaged with the political aspects of the world she’d created, I think it would have made for a much stronger and more interesting story. Yes, the princess saved herself, and many others too. There was just scope for so much more.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 stars, Maiden takes the story of Saint George and the Dragon and tells it from the perspective of three women, rewriting the tale to focus on the women who save themselves. Having enjoyed Spellbound, when I saw Georgia Leighton was going to write about dragons and have a lady knight, well, say no more, I was in.

And for the most part, I really enjoyed this! It was well-written and had such a fantastic idea behind it, all while making the story very much her own. We got to see the story develop over a matter of years as all of our main characters age, and that narrative choice helped to build the world, giving the reader a lens into the world over a wider period of time.

We have Alinore, the country lady left at a foreign court where she doesn't fit, especially as she is desperate to become a knight; Cressyda, the princess whose past ensures she'll never quite be seen as a true member of the royal family; and Maylie, a mountain healer working to balance her past and her family along with the magic she's seen all of her life. We follow both Alinore and Cressyda from childhood into their teen years, and Maylie from her own childhood all the way into adulthood over the course of a couple of decades.

I liked all three main characters and felt that I had a pretty good feel for them as people. However, I felt that only Maylie only got natural development as we saw her story play out. For both Alinore and Cressyda, yes, we had less time with them so they of course wouldn't grow as much, but so much of their arcs were told, not shown. For example, even their friendship developing, we didn't get to actually see that happen. Some of the jumps from year to year felt too rushed, robbing the story from being able to let the characters grow on the page. As such, I found it hard to care much about Alinore or Cressyda, as they just didn't feel fully fleshed out to me. It didn't help much that much of their stories were kind of predictable, which would have been offset if you got to see them more as characters of their own as opposed to vessels for this story to happen to.

This book is marketed as adult, but is definitely perfectly fit for a YA reader. In fact, I think this is the type of book I would have loved and would've helped define me as a reader when I was a pre-teen/early teen. This isn't a knock on the book at all, but the writing was good yet simple, and Alinore and Cressyda, the two characters we spent the most time with, had coming-of-age type of stories and we spent time with them from ages 12-18. While I personally wish this book had been more adult, more brutal, and much more complex with its character development and presentation, it would be a strong crossover book, one that I'll earmark for if my niece one day becomes a voracious reader (at 2, I don't think this could quite crossover to her just yet!).

When I look back at this book, I look back fondly, but with a wish that it could've been just a little bit more for me personally. However, Georgia Leighton has found her niche in multi-POV retellings and I'll be very happy to see her continue to explore such stories in years to come.

Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Librow0rm Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maiden by Georgia Leighton is a magical, feminist, folktale retelling of George and the Dragon set in the same world as Spellbound. If you loved Spellbound or love stories that are so easy to read and worlds that you just find yourself falling in to then you will most definitely want to get your hands on Maiden!

The Mountainfolk are compelled to sacrifice one of their own to the Dragon in accordance with a treaty between their Princess and the Dragon nearly two hundred years earlier, when in exchange the Dragon saved them and their kingdom from an invading enemy. You will soon note that there was no definition of which gender the sacrifice should be but, this soon became The Maiden Sacrifice and each year an 18 year old girl/woman from the Mountain region is chosen to be sent to the Great Dragon.

Now if that doesn’t give you a hint of the feminist element, I’ll add in the bonus there isn’t just one, there are three brilliant female protagonists in this story. Cressyda is the ‘adopted’ child of the Queen Flavria, ‘sister’ to the heir (Prince Samsel) and spare (Prince Ottone,) hated by one and adored by another, her status wholly dependent on the whims and favour of the Queen. Alinore is the daughter of a military man who initially came to the castle for a temporary period whilst her father served but following his death is now Cressyda’s maid/companion and then there is Maylie, a married woman of the mountain region who lives a quiet life away from the capital with her husband and sons but, there is far more to each of these characters than meets the eye.

I absolutely love how Georgia Leighton puts women front and foremost in her stories, as they lead the way towards saving the kingdom and most importantly, themselves. This wonderful focus is so strong and so needed in the world we live in today, especially when you consider the skill it takes to write a story that leaves the reader never wanting to put the book down…yes, Georgia’s writing is the stuff of ‘just one more chapter.’ Her worldbuilding and magic system are beautifully woven into the story, this you will see when you discover the inherent magical ability of the mountain folk to see shadow people.

There is so much I could tell you about this book and so much I want to tell you but, rather than risk spoiling a brilliant tale, I will say that if you love dragons, if you love stories that put women at the forefront, if you love found family – good and bad, and most definitely adore wonderfully written prose and narrative, then rush to pick up Maiden as soon as it is released.

Thank you Bantam, Transworld Publishers, Random House UK and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Sian Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous, fairytale-esque story that was gripping and gorgeous.

Alinore comes to visit the royal household with her father, only to find she is staying there as a member of the court. Cressyda is the princess, although she is regarded as the Queen’s “pet” since everyone she’s not royal by blood. And Maylie is a mountain woman who lives a simple life but has a story to tell from her past. Once a year, a maiden in her 18th winter is given as a sacrifice to the great dragon to protect the United Kingdoms. But strange magic is afoot and things are changing, and the three women have something to do with it.

The magic is this story is somewhat hidden and not particularly celebrated; and dragons are feared. It was an interesting world, one which we’ve been introduced to in the author’s previous book, Spellbound, although this stands totally alone.

We see the world through the eyes of each of the women at different times in their lives which built up a gorgeous depth to the story. Each has her own distinct voice.

The focus of the story being on women saving themselves without needing a man was, of course, excellent. All the main characters are women, including one who is training herself to be a lady knight, and men feature either as background players to support the story or as villainous figures.

This book was so close to 5 stars for me, it just missed the mark because it took a little while to really get into a solid storyline. I get that there needed to be some character building and background setting, but the time it took felt like it would have fitted better with a novel that was the first in a series rather than a standalone. I wish we had a little more of the high tension and action that came towards the end of the book.

The ending was brilliant, I especially loved the epilogue which gave me chills. It was told like the ending of a folkloric fairytale, it was nicely rounded up but wasn’t a 100% happily ever after for everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

[Ulrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the age of twelve, Alinore comes to the court of Calestra, where she grows up alongside Princess Cressyda and her brothers, Ottone and Samsel. According to an ancient pact with the Great Dragon, an eighteen-year-old maiden from the mountain folk must be sacrificed each year to protect the kingdom. While Alinore dreams of becoming a warrior and slaying a dragon like her father, Cressyda must carefully maintain her place as the queen’s pet. As she is not the queen’s biological daughter, her position at court depends entirely on royal favour – and Crown Prince Samsel never misses an opportunity to show his contempt. But who is Cressyda really, and what does the sacrifice of the maidens have to do with her own fate?
The story alternates between the perspectives of Alinore and Cressyda and spans six years, allowing the reader to explore the inner lives of both young women in depth while gradually getting to know their world. Only in the final third does a third major character appear: Maylie, whose perspective reveals the backstory behind Cressyda’s life at court. Although this additional viewpoint ultimately fits well into the narrative and proves important for the plot, it briefly disrupted the flow of the story for me at first.
Overall, however, I greatly enjoyed the novel. The characters are well developed, and the story unfolds in a compelling and logical way. Alinore in particular stands out as a strong and determined protagonist who consistently follows her own path. At the same time, Cressyda’s situation is portrayed with great sensitivity: even though she is constrained by expectations and obligations, she gradually finds ways to reclaim her own agency.
A captivating fantasy novel about three women whose fates are deeply intertwined – and about courage, identity, and breaking free from the rules imposed by others. Highly recommended.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ate this book up. This is the second book I have read from Georgia Leighton, and she has become one of my auto-buy authors.

Three young women are living in a time of the Maiden Sacrifice. Every year, an eighteen-year-old woman from the mountain regions is chosen to be sacrificed to the Great Dragon. They have been doing this for many generations, but this year, it will be very different.

This book takes you on a sensational journey with FMC's that keep you turning pages. What could be better than three fantastic FMC's. Three!

Cressyda is a Princess who wasn't born into the Royal Family. Because of this, her place in the family is always tenuous, especially given that the heir to the throne, Prince Samsel, hates her. She is only there at the insistence of the Queen Flavria, who sees her as the daughter she never had. She feels totally out of place in the castle. Could it just be because she wasn't born a Royal, or is there more to it? What is it that she can see in the shadows of the palace?

Alinore is living with the Royal Family after her father's death. She and Princess Cressyda are close, but she also has a special friendship with the youngest Prince Ottone. But she wants more than a life at the Royal Court.

Maylie is a young woman living in the mountains with her husband and children. It's a quiet life, and one that she enjoys, but there is something hidden behind her smiling eyes. Something from her past that no one else knows, and that could change the course of history.

Georgia has a beautiful way of writing that makes her books nearly impossible to put down. She explains the worlds we are in so wonderfully that you almost feel like you are there.

If you love fantasy, romantasy, dragons, and three badass FMCs, then I think this book is one you will love.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This was an entertaining read that I found myself compelled to keep turning pages. It’s inspired by the tale of George and the Dragon, but it’s very much its own story. We follow two girls of a similar age, one an adopted princess, the other a lady who is a ward of the family while her father is fighting for the king. They grow up together and the story jumps forwards several times as we experience the key and pivotal moments of their teenage years.

Their lives are dominated by the annual maiden sacrifice, where an eighteen year old with mountain blood must be sacrificed to the dragon. I saw where this story was going to go very early on but it didn’t diminish the tension at all as I felt it edging ever closer to the inevitable.

There is cruelty and nastiness in this book. Neither of the girls is treated well, both struggling with the callous behaviour of the eldest son and the feeling of being trapped in their positions. It may be worth checking content warnings as there was some content around disordered eating and cruel behaviour of a character among other triggers.

However there’s also female support and friendship alongside another character who brings joy and care to the lives of these two girls. There’s a journey of self discovery that takes them in different directions and a sense of taking control of your own destiny.

An enjoyable read with dragons, fantasy and female leads.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this early copy to review.

I’m not sure if all my Netgalley reading has just made me a faster reader or if it was something about this book that made me absolutely zip through it - but this is again one of the speediest rates I’ve got through a book this big in a while.

It’s a feminist retelling of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon but it also feels like a book version of the film (which I know was also based on a book) with Millie Bobby Brown called Damsel. That film had its issues but the main plot idea of female sacrifices to a dragon eventually being discovered to be a long elaborate lie perpetrated by the Kingdom itself has its parallels here.

This book had a fairytale feel to it, and the shifting of times back and forth and between characters made that feeling even stronger. I love a good fairytale vibes book so this was great.

Alinore also reminded me of one of the main characters in Lady’s Knight - a retelling of the film A Knight’s Tale but with sapphic women. (Also amazing, honestly go check out any dragon and knight themed book that even seems vaguely similar to this one and you won’t be disappointed.

I loved the characters, the story and the whole vibe of the book. Maybe one niggle for me was the villain felt a bit flat and could have had some grey or nuance to him potentially, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book itself.

[Chronically Bookish Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous, feminist fairy tale with some incredible characters and a satisfying ending.

I really enjoyed how deeply we dove into the characters history, and seeing snapshots of their lives through the years meant I really felt like I’d gotten to know them well and was fully invested in finding out what would happen next. So invested that I read the whole book in one sitting!

Alinore and Cressyda were both fascinating, flawed characters with such different personalities and so their relationship felt very real, and I loved the addition of Maylies pov as an older woman in a very different situation which allowed us to explore the world of the mountain folk as well as the castle politics.

The three characters and story arcs were brought together really well leading up to the climax and what I felt was a very satisfying ending. My only (very slight) disappointment being that we didn’t get to see a little bit more of the aftermath.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking out for more from this author in the future as well as checking out their previous book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this eARC.

[Lydia-Marguerite Mannering · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had everything you need - epic fantasy, strong and amazing female leads who you will root for till the end and (of course) dragons! Leighton has taken the myth of George and the Dragon and written an epic fantasy that I fell completely in love with. I did not want the book to end as I wanted to stay in the world Leighton had created!

The three female leads all feel distinct and real, with their own fears, strengths, and growth arcs, and watching their stories unfold was incredible (and at times stressful!). The bond that forms between them is powerful and emotional and utterly beautiful.
What I loved most was how epic and immersive everything felt—the danger was real, the world was vivid, and I could not get enough! This is the kind of fantasy that reminds you why you love the genre in the first place. I absolutely want to read more set in this world, and I’d jump on a sequel without hesitation. Highly recommend to anyone who loves brave heroines, legendary monsters, and stories with heart.

[organisedchaosbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Spellbound I already knew I adored Georgia’s writing, but Maiden absolutely blew me away. This is a story built on hard choices, resilience, love, friendship, family, hidden strength, loss, hate, sacrifice, and perseverance. For 300 years, maidens have been sacrificed to the dragon for protection, and that history shapes everything.

We follow a royal family with two sons (one kind, one cruel), their adopted daughter, and her closest friend, alongside two sisters from the mountains. Among the mountain folk, some have the sight and can speak to the hidden people, which adds such a rich layer to the world. Their lives intertwine in a way that feels both inevitable and deeply emotional. The fantasy elements are beautifully crafted and incredibly easy to fall into: historical fantasy with dragons, magic, and a sense of ancient power.

The romance is a true slow burn, full of yearning that feels earned and tender. The girls completely stole the show for me, and I loved the hidden meanings threaded through their journeys.

[Dawn Aytoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley and georgia leighton for the opportunity to read and review this ARC audiobook.

A centuries old deal with the Great Dragon requires a maiden from the mountain folk to be sent up the mouantains every year to meet their grisly, but important fate. The royal family ensure this maiden is recognised for their sacrifice with ceremony.

A princess, loved in great but strange ways by the queen, lives a lonely life, watching and unsettled by this yearly tradition.

When friendship finds her, she struggles with the balance of secrets and sharing. And her secrets are big and scary. But when the kingdom changes very quickly. Can she figure out how to trust who she is meant to be, and survive?

The character development and settings in this book are absolutely great, and I thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue around how the characters learn to be who they want to be.

I found the pace a little odd, with almost 85% of the book being build up, leaving the final scenes to feel a little rushed. I would have loved more time on the big climax and to learn more about the resolution.

[A Bookworm Crafts · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, we follow three women: Cressyda is a princess trapped by the expectations of court, Alinore dreams of becoming a knight, and Maylie carries secrets from her past. Their lives are shaped by the Maiden Sacrifice, an ancient ritual in which one young woman is chosen each year to be given to the Great Dragon.

I really enjoyed this modern fairytale retelling, which seems inspired by the tale of George and the Dragon. The book contains all the traditional tropes of dragons, forbidden magic, castle libraries, and political intrigue, but brings a feminist twist to the story.

I found the pacing a little uneven, as was the case with the author's previous book, Spellbound. I would have liked a little more time with the dragons and the magic!

A recommended read for fans of Georgia Leighton, Damsel by Evelyn Skye, and feminist fairytale retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Bantam for the preview. All opinions are my own.

If you love character driven stories with feminine rage, dragons, lady knights, a princess that will save herself, and the most satisfying villain death ever, then Maiden is for you. Just like Spellbound, Leighton focuses on the women in a mythology story, and creates something so fresh and meaningful that will absolutely stick with you.

Alinore was probably my favorite character. Who doesn't love a girl determined to be a knight despite what anyone around her thinks. Cressyda was harder for me to like initially because she was just so determined to keep her head down and stay safe by staying small. But she's actually brilliant, and the way she outthinks the villain AND the dragon at the end was amazing. My heart just ached for Maylie, and I'm so happy things turned out well for her in the end.

Like I said, this is a very character driven story. There's a lot of action at the end with the climax, but up to that point, we're following first just Cress and Alinore, then also Maylie as they navigate lives that are not easy. There are palace politics and schemes, a terrible prince I hated, and a prince that was just so nice. There's a very subplot m/f romance that was sweet.

Highly recommend, and I can't wait to see what Leighton writes next!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgia Leighton offers another imaginative retelling, this time revisiting the myth of George the dragon slayer with some fantastic and unexpected twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for the ARC. My review is voluntary.
The story’s familiar feel, clear narrative, and simple, lyrical language make it an easy and comforting read.
By breaking away from traditional storytelling, this retelling challenges the reader.In Maiden, three women take charge, rescuing themselves and the Kingdom of Calestra.
The detail and originality show that the author truly enjoyed bringing this magical world and its inhabitants to life; she is fully immersed, and the reader is carried along. The result is a joyful epic that delves into themes of female identity and independence.
A great read for fans of modern fairy tales and strong female characters.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enchanting feminist fairytale where the heroines rewrite the ending to weave a spellbinding tale of courage, rebellion, and sisterhood.

I flew through this book! I couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of the three women’s stories - while each of them have very different beginnings, they all feel powerless and have experienced helplessness at the hands of men. The descriptions of the kingdom were beautiful - I spotted some crossovers with Spellbound! - and I really enjoyed the way each woman grew and developed. The story unfolds over the lives of the three main characters before building up over the week before the sacrifice, so I felt that I knew them well. Towards the end I was absolutely gripped, as the threads came together for an explosive finale!

[Camilla_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Maiden is such an easy read, totally digestible and almost simplistic in its storytelling - but this isn't a criticism. It reads like a traditional fairytale, and it pulls you in right away. Multi POV chapters mean you're getting different angles of the same story - a lonely Lady, a pampered Princess and a mountain-dwelling healer. All connected in different ways. There's a slight romance subplot for one character, a mystery to solve for another, and secrets long ago buried for the third. I would have loved to spend more time with the dragons, and to have expanded on the intriguing Lady Knight subplot, but all in all an enjoyable fantasy I'd recommend if you're looking for a quick and easy fantasy read.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A defining element in the identity of the Kingdom of Calestra, the Maiden Sacrifice involves an ugly bargain. Each year, the Dragon receives a sacrifice of the life of a human girl - a price believed to be necessary for the continuing prosperity of the land and its people.

But this year, things are going to change. Because the maidens are no longer willing to be used for dragon pacification purposes...

An engaging and clever fairy tale retelling, this will appeal to those who like magical stories with a bite. It easily earns 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Sarah Higginbottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

After receiving Spellbound as an ARC previously and loving it I had high hopes for Leighton's next book Maiden. I was not disappointed. This book has everything you would want from a fantasy novel, it is epic fantasy with expertly written female characters. It is a fast paced read that keeps you interested. The author has a superb knack for retelling fairy tales and making them epic fantasy. If you like dragons, princesses, knights and magic this is a high recommendation for you!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Georgia Leighton and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

[Karen Mannering · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher. I read quite widely fiction and non-fiction, but would not really choose magic/fantasy/romantasy books - but this is so much more. In fact it is an exciting adventure that kept me turning the pages to the end. I usually guage a book by how much it 'lives' with me while I am reading it, and this delivered. Would defiitely recommend.

[Milly Percival · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, Maiden was a decent story with some good moments, but it just felt like it dragged in the middle - I enjoyed the ending, but we took too long to get there.

Also, PSA for Fantasy writers - not all names need to be whimsical or hard to pronounce. The mountain people's names all having to end in 'ie' drove me mad.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Princess certainly didn’t need a prince to safe her. I enjoyed reading this. I liked the different pov’s and storylines that linked together

[Charline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 review to come later.

[Kit Vickery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love. Iconic and we love a feminist retelling.

[Bubs Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was a huge fan of the author's first book so I had high hopes here but unfortunately this one was just too slow a build up for me. I can see what the author was going for and the idea was super interesting to begin with but I felt that honestly not too much happened until the half way mark. It's a shame because there was for sure a good story there but the beginning just felt so slow (to the point I would have DNF'ed if it wasn't an ARC) and then the second half so much happened I felt I had whiplash trying to keep up after such a slow beginning.

I enjoyed Cressyda's story but Alinore could have been fleshed out so much more - instead she felt whiney to me.

Overall it didn't hit the mark for me but I know some people will love this and I really hope they do!

2.5/5

[Chili87 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bantam Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Maiden is a retelling of the legend of St. George and the Dragon, and takes place in the world of the author's other book, Spellbound, but it is an absolutely independent story, and it is not necessary to know it. The story was very exciting, I threw myself into the world of Maiden with curiosity.

It was interesting to see how the fates of Alinore, Cressyda and Maylie are intertwined. The book is written from a different perspective, so I could see into everyone's thoughts.

It was good to read about brave girls who did not wait for a savior, but took their fate into their own hands. The author created very human characters, I experienced a variety of emotions with them while reading. I was waiting with bated breath to see who the next Maiden victim would be, and when Cressida would stand up for herself. The ending was very strikingly written, so I was happy with it. My favorite character is Alionre. She worked for years to achieve her goal. All my respect goes to her.

Prepare for…

🔥ancient dragons🐉
⚜️lady knights
👸cunning princesses
🏰castle libraries
🧚‍♀️fierce fairy folk
✨forbidden magic

and much more!

Blog: https://chili87sworld.blogspot.com/20...