Book Review: The Maiden and her Monster by Maddie Martinez

In a quest to save her mother after she is accused of committing a murder, Malka ventures into the woods, known for abducting and eating the girls who wander in after dark, and finds the supposed monster-culprit, who may be more than she seems.

4/5 Stars

I have been so incredibly excited for the release of this book! The talented Maddie Martinez has created a magical world where fantasy meets Jewish mythology in her debut novel released through TOR. That's right- TOR! If that doesn't entice you in terms of her skill, Maddie was raised in New Mexico, making her a local author for the bookstore I work at! She was gracious enough to come sign copies of her book recently, and she was genuinely one of the nicest people to stop by the store and give her time to her future fans. Which I fully consider myself one of, by the way!

The Maiden and her Monster follows the story of Malka, the town healer's daughter. Set in a world where Malka's people are treated as inferior to the ruling class, Malka is focused on trying to save the life of her mother, who was sentenced to death after a member of the ruling class' clergy is killed by the forest. She and a friend wander into the forest to find the beast that is killing the women in an attempt to prove her mother's innocence. Though young and naive, Malka is determined and willing to go to any length, or so she thinks. When she discovers the monster she has been taught to hate is actually a Golem named Nimrah, and that Nimrah is trying to save her creator, they strike a deal and continue on their quest together. What follows is the trio getting swept up into the political chaos of people fighting back against the ruling class, from the triumphant to the tragic. And it is a ride!

In addition to the main plot that focuses on antisemitism, Malka and Nimrah spend a lot of time together. Their arc feels like an enemies-to-lovers set-up, but in my humble opinion, I wanted more of them in the "friends" phase. If my only feedback is that I wanted more, I still consider that a great read. I think this book is a wonderful debut by a fantastic author that I am so excited to follow for projects to come! I give this book a solid 4/5 stars for all the high fantasy fans out there.