We’re thrilled to announce The Haunting of Lady Death, a deliciously dark sapphic retelling of The Phantom of the Opera from author Maddie Martinez—available February 2027 from Tor Books and Tor UK.
A tale of obsession and desire…
The city of Larzég glitters as bright as its famous Nectar Performance House, where violinist Kasia has worked her fingers to the bone to chase one dream: becoming Perła, the theater’s prestigious concertmaster. When the current Perła mysteriously dies during a performance, Kasia refuses to be distracted by whispers of a phantom in the theater’s wings. All she sees is her chance to replace the fallen star—until the orchestra director refuses her an audition because of her Azjarian heritage.
Devastated, Kasia is desperate enough to strike a bargain with the phantom of the theater—revealed to be Death herself. Behind her dark veil, Lady Death is prepared to help Kasia in her quest to become Perła, if Kasia becomes her companion. But one cannot be companion to Lady Death without bearing her mark, and soon Kasia discovers that her music is entrancing, capable of bending the audience to her will.
This alluring new gift thrusts Kasia into the spotlight, but also into the city’s highest circles of power, where influential men seek to control her, Lady Death’s demands grow increasingly dangerous, and Kasia finds herself falling further into the thrall of a master who promises her everything… as long as Death can call Kasia hers.
From author Maddie Martinez:
“This book was born of my deep love of the Gothic genre and my obsession with The Phantom of the Opera. I definitely stepped outside of my comfort zone with this one, but I wanted to honor the themes of the original story: obsessive love, enticing power, beauty and monstrosity, agency and submission to the dark… with a sapphic twist. Like my debut, this book is filled with folklore, politics, and the power of stories. But it is much darker, sexier, and toxic to its core. I can’t wait to share it with readers!”
From Tor Books editor Stephanie Stein:
“Prepare to be seduced by the devastating allure of Maddie’s next gorgeous, Gothic novel. Like a strain of a melody that won’t leave your mind as you descend from the steps of the theater, this is a reimagining that will linger with you long after its final page! I am so thrilled to be working with Maddie to bring more folklore-rich, beautifully told sapphic fantasy to the Tor list.”
From Tor UK editor Michael Beale:
“Lush, dark, and impossible to resist. Maddie handles the darkest corners of desire and obsession with extraordinary delicacy, and the romance at the heart of this novel is deliciously toxic. Lady Death will have your heart and eat it, too. I’m delighted to be publishing Maddie on Tor UK’s list with another extraordinary sapphic fantasy.”
From Victoria Marini, of High Line Literary:
“The Haunting of Lady Death is remarkably transporting—one of those books that leaves you feeling like you’re regaining consciousness when it’s over. It’s romantic and beautiful, of course, but it’s really a visceral exploration of fear, love, and power.”
Maddie Martinez is the USA Today bestselling author of The Maiden and Her Monster and the forthcoming novel The Haunting of Lady Death. She has a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s in international peace and conflict resolution, which greatly inspire her writing. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, you can now find Maddie in New York City, filling her tiny apartment with an unwieldy number of books.
YAYYY TY GUYS FOR ANNOUNCING <3