Maddie Martinez was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has a BA in Political Science from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC. You can now find Maddie in New York City, filling her tiny apartment with an unwieldy number of books. The Maiden and Her Monster is her first novel.

"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."--Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

"A dark and endlessly enchanting fairy tale, unfurled in frost and wood-smoke, the kind that is whispered by candlelight and brushes up against history itself. I adored every page."--Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Told with exquisite yearning and gorgeous prose, The Maiden and Her Monster is a dark, poignant fairy tale about resilience, faith, and redemption. Martinez's debut will enspell you." --Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide

"Reminiscent of the folktales of old, The Maiden and Her Monster is a beautifully haunting debut with sharp teeth. Maddie Martinez weaves words like a magic spell, ensnaring readers with her poignant prose and beguiling atmosphere."―Chelsea Abdullah, award-winning author of The Stardust Thief

"The Maiden and Her Monster is an evocative, harrowing, and deeply romantic dark fantasy debut that will move so many readers the way it did me. Maddie Martinez is an incredible talent and definitely one to watch."--Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching and An Academy for Liars

"A gorgeous dark fantasy rendered in detail sharp as a tailor's needle, threaded through with longing, resilience, and enchantment."--S.T. Gibson, #1 Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of A Dowry of Blood

"A taut and delicious debut, threading a sultry romance and tense political intrigue through an atmospheric and haunting world inspired by Jewish myth."--Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins on Their Bones

"Blending tradition, faith, and folklore with a deft hand, Martinez crafts a profound tale of self-acceptance and the bittersweet price of progress, woven through on a thread of unyielding hope."--K. M. Enright, international bestselling author of Mistress of Lies

"An exquisite debut about an eldest daughter and how far she would go to protect her family. Malka's journey toward finding confidence in herself and falling in love with a certain surly golem is as legendary as the myths peppered throughout the story. This book is an instant classic."--Kamilah Cole, bestselling author of So Let Them Burn

"In Martinez's debut, the writing is beautiful, and the story is fantastic. Highly recommended for readers who love the work of Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, Natasha Siegel, and Allison Saft."--Library Journal, starred review

Publisher: Tor Books

Pub date: 2025-09-09

Length: 352 pages