The Maiden and Her Monster is a dark fantasy novel, written by Maddie Martinez and published by TOR. An ambitious debut that draws inspiration from the Jewish myth of the Golem of Prague, using it as the basis for a highly atmospherical proposal that connects folklore and faith together in a plot that is also drenched in political intrigue, spiced with a dash of sapphic romance that borders the slow burn territory.

Malka, the healer's daughter, has seen how the curse of the woods has slowly impoverished her village; everybody knows to not wander the forests. However, when the Ozmini Church comes to collect their tithes, they ignore the warnings about a monster lurking in the trees, resulting in the death of a clergy girl. With Malka's mother accused of her murder, she won't have other option that bargaining with an Ozmini cleric: she must return with the monster and her mother will be spared.
However, what she finds in the forest is not what she expected: yes, there's a disgraced golem named Nimrah that agrees to help Malka, but only if she collaborates with her to free the rabbi that created the golem. A second bargain that takes Malka to discover more of the world and imply herself into something bigger, deepening her understanding of her faith, and also having to face the growing feelings she's experiencing for Nimrah, a creature she was supposed to hate.

From the start, we can see the parallels with the real world and certain historic moments, such as the pogroms and the persecution suffered by the Jewish people in many European Kingdoms; even if the names are changed, we are still being spectators of a conflict where the Church is trying to gain the monopoly of power. In that context, Martinez starts with a setting (the village inside the forest) that also leans towards the atmosphere and the darkness, that clash as a result of the fanaticism (also including a thought about how wise women were persecuted) that kick start the journey of our main character.
Later in the book, it is true that the conflict is taken to a bigger city, putting a bigger spotlight on the political struggles and the fight for power; a situation that is threatening people outside of Ozmini's faith (and the reason of why the Rabbi created Nimrah, to protect his people). 
Alongside all the story, we can also distinguish a central theme focused on Malka: how she lives her faith and how, even after such a dark journey, it even grows, especially as she goes deeper into the equivalent of Kabbalah. It's not an easy spiritual growth, and her struggles are clearly shown (similarly to how she doubts with Nimrah), making it a really relatable journey for many people.

The romance adds an extra layer to the already rich proposal: a sapphic slowburn that starts as a necessity collaboration; it might feel a bit abrupt at moments, especially with how direct Malka and Nimrah might be, but all those disagreements and fights are part of what makes this relationship worthy of mention. There's also the preconceived idea that Malka had about Nimrah's creation and her past, a barrier that eventually will be broken.

In terms of pacing, it is true that this novel takes its sweet time to submerge the reader into the atmosphere and the setting, but it rewards them with a story that is also full of clever and elegant details (which are a bit spoily, but I promise you will enjoy it).

The Maiden and Her Monster is an excellent dark historical fantasy proposal, a debut that puts Maddie Martinez as a voice to continue reading in the future; if you are looking for a Jewish inspired fantasy with complex politics, a highly atmospherical setting and a dash of sapphic romance, TMaHM is the perfect choice.