Tor acquires a dazzling fantasy by debut author Maddie Martinez
Tor, one of the leading international publishers of SFF, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Maiden and Her Monster, plus a further standalone fantasy, by debut author Maddie Martinez. Editorial Assistant Grace Barber at Tor UK and Senior Editor Stephanie Stein at Tor US acquired World English rights, in a pre-empt, via Victoria Marini at High Line Literary.
Tor, one of the leading international publishers of SFF, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Maiden and Her Monster, plus a further standalone fantasy, by debut author Maddie Martinez. Editorial Assistant Grace Barber at Tor UK and Senior Editor Stephanie Stein at Tor US acquired World English rights, in a pre-empt, via Victoria Marini at High Line Literary.
The Maiden and Her Monster is a sapphic fantasy reimagining of the Jewish myth of golem for fans of Katherine Arden, Naomi Novik, and Ava Reid. When a young woman is forced to venture into a cursed forest to capture the monster hunting the girls of her village, she discovers a disgraced golem ready to confess, but only if she agrees to help fulfil an ancient promise first – a bargain that unravels a much more dangerous threat to her people, and forces her to face growing feelings for the very creature she was taught to fear. Tor UK and Tor US will publish The Maiden and Her Monster simultaneously in autumn 2025.
Maddie Martinez says: ‘This story has lived inside me since before I could shape it into words. Though this novel is second world, it is deeply inspired by the Jewish tales I grew up hearing, and my own family history of fleeing pogroms in Europe. The Maiden and Her Monster was my attempt to preserve a hidden history, and explore the danger and resiliency of stories and faith. At its core, this is also a story of two unlikely allies – Malka and Nimrah – both deprived of their agency and burdened with responsibility, finding solace and strength in each other when the world attempts to break them. I’m deeply thrilled to be working with the Tor team on both sides of the Atlantic to bring this book to readers!’
Grace Barber comments: ‘A cursed forest, an exiled golem, and an unlikely alliance – I fell in love with The Maiden and Her Monster from the very first page. This is a gorgeously dark, evocative and healing tale rooted in history and myth, and readers are bound to be enchanted by maiden Malka and golem Nimrah. Maddie is such an exciting new talent and I am so honoured to be publishing her debut on the Tor UK list next year.’
Stephanie Stein says: ‘This stunning debut fantasy is a dark folk tale of power, corruption, faith, rage, and love – a story about the stories we tell about ourselves, those others tell about us, and the way they all can be wielded for good or ill. It will creep into your heart like the creatures of its cursed forest and linger with you long after it’s done. I could not be more thrilled to introduce Malka, golem Nimrah, and their gorgeous story to readers on the Tor list.’
Victoria Marini adds: ‘Impossible bargains, forbidden romance, haunted forests – this checked all my boxes, and I read it through in one sitting, stunned to find that Maddie Martinez wrote the impossible; an aching romantic gothic that is at once a satisfying and propulsive fantasy and a keen examination of corruption, faith, and identity.’
About the author
Maddie Martinez was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where her love of stories began with desert plumes and watermelon sunsets. She holds a BA in Political Science and International Affairs from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and an MA in Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC. The Maiden and Her Monster is her first novel. You can find her on social media @maddiesmartinez or on her website www.maddiemartinez.com.
About Tor UK
Tor UK specializes in speculative fiction and is a destination for the best in imaginative storytelling. A sister company to Tor Books in the US, Tor UK publishes an impressive array of award-winners, bestsellers, household names and talented debut authors. Tor’s mission is to publish out-of-this-world genre fiction and bring readers books that spark joy. It strives every year to increase the diversity of its list, publishing authors from minority backgrounds and increasing positive representation of gender issues through fiction.
About Pan Macmillan
Pan Macmillan is an international consumer book publisher based in the UK, publishing a very broad range of books in all formats, including print, ebook and audio, for today’s readers. Its adult book imprints include Bluebird, Macmillan, Macmillan Business, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Collector’s Library, Mantle, One Boat, Pan, Picador and Tor. Children’s Book imprints include Macmillan Children’s Books, Campbell, Kingfisher and Two Hoots. (www.panmacmillan.com)
Pan Macmillan is part of Macmillan Publishers International Ltd (MPIL), a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group (www.holtzbrinck.com), a large family-owned media company based in Stuttgart.