Cover Reveal!
The dark, folkloric cover of my dreams!
Cover reveal for The Maiden and Her Monster!
I could not be more excited to reveal the cover of The Maiden and Her Monster, my sapphic adult fantasy inspired by Jewish mythology. It comes out September 9, 2025 with Tor Books and September 11, 2025 with Tor UK.
The cover was designed by Leslie Worrell and illustrated by Christin Engelberth. When I found out Christin was my cover artist, I jumped for joy—truly a dream come true!
I could not be more thrilled with this ABSOLUTELY enchanting, intricate, and moody cover inspired by the lost Jewish folk art tradition of paper cutting. Christin’s illustration took my breath away. So many Easter eggs hidden within the art, I can’t wait for people to discover them!
To be completely honest, in my heart, I had always dreamed that the cover of TMAHM would be stylized like a Jewish paper cutting. They’re so significant to the story, and the idea of playing a small role in the revival of a lost folk art made me so emotional.
But when I decided to traditionally publish this book, I knew that I had to keep my mind open with covers. It’s ultimately up to the publisher what the cover direction will be. When I found out Tor loved the paper cutting idea for the cover just as much as I did, I shed many, many tears. It’s like they reached inside of my brain and pulled out the cover I had always dreamed of for this book. Is this real life?
The UK cover is below—same art, but more vibrant than moody! I love them both so much.
Preorder Links
Bookshop.org (US) | Amazon (US) | Barnes & Noble | Books a Million
Amazon (UK) | Waterstones | Blackwell’s | Foyles | WH Smith | Wordery | Bookshop.org (UK)
…Or, anywhere you like to buy your books!
If you do preorder, be sure to save your receipts! I’ll post about a preorder campaign a little closer to publication. But I have some great goodies in mind :)
Why Preorder?
Preorders are the #1 way to show support for debut novels pre-release (but not the only way, of course!). Preorders show the publisher there is interest in the book, which can help determine print runs, marketing plans, and other forms of publisher support. They alert retailers and booksellers that the book is in demand, which can help determine where and how many books are stocked. It particularly means a lot to marginalized authors, who are already facing an uphill battle in the publishing industry!
Plus, it’s a little present to future you. (This is my favorite part of preordering!)
Can’t preorder just yet? Add it on Goodreads or share with a friend! :)
Pitch
A gorgeous, atmospheric debut fantasy that reimagines the Jewish myth of golem in a tale rooted in history, folklore, and sapphic romance—perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid, Hannah Whitten, and Naomi Novik.
The forest eats the girls who wander out after dark.
As the healer’s daughter, Malka has seen how the curse of the woods has plagued her village, but when the Ozmini Church comes to collect their tithes, they don’t listen to the warnings about a monster lurking in the trees. After a clergy girl wanders too close to the forest and Malka’s mother is accused of her murder, Malka strikes a bargain with a zealot Ozmini priest. If she brings him the monster, he will spare her mother from execution.
When she ventures into the blood-soaked woods, Malka finds a monster, though not the one she expects: an inscrutable, disgraced golem who agrees to implicate herself, but only after Malka helps her free the imprisoned rabbi who created her.
But a deal easily made is not easily kept. And as their bargain begins to unravel a much more sinister threat, protecting her people may force Malka to endanger the one person she left home to save—and face her growing feelings for the very creature she was taught to fear.
Want to hear from me more often? Follow me on social media!
I’M SICKKKKKKK OVER HOW STUNNING OMG
YELL AHHHH