Maria Z. Medina

@mzmauthor.bsky.social

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You won't live forever, but your words might! MAKER OF GODS - Out December 8th! Repped by Dorian Moffei. She/Her mariazmedina.com https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61220759-mistress-of-bones

FFXIV house yard in Gridania, featuring green base grass with a flower panter, a small fountain-pond, a swing set, a bird bath, and colorful trees and plants
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Screenshot of a Lalafell in WHM robes with an otter backpack
Screenshot of MAKER OF GODS pass pages showing the first Cast of Characters page: Del Arroyo Siblings Azul: A young woman gifted with the ability to bring the dead back to life, constant companion of her eldest sister. Isadora: Firstborn in Del Arroyo’s family, proud troublemaker, and easy lover. De Guzmán Siblings Nereida: Will not start fights, but she will end them. The late queen’s mistress at one point, she has amassed a reputation for being cool and aloof. Sío: Only son in the family. Joined Cienpuentes’ City Guard to make a name for himself away from his sisters. Edine: Youngest sibling, closest to Sío and on the look out for her own fortune. Iriana: Oldest of the fourth and permanent resident in Cienpuentes.
MISTRESS OF BONES UK paperback stacked on top of two other paperbacks with a background of hardcover spines.
UK paperback edition of MISTRESS OF BONES featuring a gold-foiled title!
MAKER OF GODS cover with "6 months!" on top and release dates on the bottom: US/CA Dec 8th, UK Dec 3rd
UK ppb cover of MISTRESS OF BONES: A young woman with long dark brown hair in a blue dress holding a mask mirrored below by a young man with long blond hair holding a skull mask.
Two men hand-handshake, one scorpio, one taurus, under "never forget, never forgive"
Banner with a dark red background, skeletons, and castles with the text: The gods don't play fair... but neither does she.
MISTRESS OF BONES cover under a banner announcing Bookshop org's free shipping
An image showing an art print of MISTRESS OF BONES' main protagonists along with a bookplate to represent the goodies you can get if you purchase the book at the listed two Aussie bookstores.
A banner for the Barnes & Noble pre-order sale (use the code: PREORDER25), featuring the cover of MAKER OF GODS and a list of themes to be found inside the book: gods & mortals, games & rapiers, desperate people & bad decisions
BSFA nominees longlist including Mistress of Bones
In the swashbuckling finale to the Mistress of Bones duology perfect for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter and Six of Crows, a necromancer and the God of Death must outwit the Gods themselves—or end the world trying. Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wanted one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister's bones. But after inadvertently uncovering a plot to reawaken the gods and suffering a great loss, she feels further from her goal than ever. In exchange for a chance to save her sister, Azul's only choice is to work together with Death, now in Enjul's body, to uncover an underground group set on finding the rest of the gods in the blood-red city of Bremón. And with his mysterious motivations, silver tongue, and magnetic interest in Azul, Death does not make it easy. Determined to get revenge on the Faceless Witch, Nereida, the Count, and Esparza also find their way to Bremón to join Azul, only to discover that Death is not the only god who has already awakened...and the rest of the gods are not as merciful. Lies, games, and gods collide in Maria Z. Medina's masterful follow-up to Mistress of Bones, where the only thing stronger than the divine is human will.
Mistress of Bones hardcover next to Maker of Gods hardcover.
A man with long blond hair holding a skull mask mirrored by a woman with long brown hair holding a dagger, with a red background.
A picture of MISTRESS OF BONES hardcover under my tiny Christmas tree over a fleece blanket and surrounded by colorful tinsel and tiny red and gold wrapped gifts.
Several bunnies feeding from a human tagged with future book ideas: YA fantasy, cozy fantasy, cozy romantasy, random gothic, adventure fantasy, random historical, YA suspense, the idea I had 5 mins ago.
Screenshot of the first page of MISTRESS OF BONES with the following text: Chapter I - Death - Nine Years Earlier: Azul del Arroyo didn't fully know what would happen when she set out to bring her older sister back to life, but since she was ten, she didn't much care.
Main female character from MISTRESS OF BONES book shown from the nose up wearing a purple pointed witchy hat
MISTRESS OF BONES hardcover on a table at Barnes & Noble surrounded by other fantasy books such as Yuli by S. Jae-Jones, Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie, and By Invitation Only by Alexandra Brown Chang among others.
A 3D mockup of MISTRESS OF BONES hardcover with arrows pointing at different things you can find in the book: Multi-pov, bone magic, rapier duels, fickle gods, epic worldbuilding, twists, intrigue, necromancy
Cover of Mistress of Bones being waved back and forth to show the foil effect on the title.
Open cardboard box full of hardcover editions of Mistress of Bones.
"Confident prose, strong characterizations, and imaginative Spanish-tinged mythology blend to deliver a rich and intricately crafted fantasy world. Descriptions of powerful characters struggling to navigate the actions of brutal yet self-sacrificing gods further enrich this sprawling series opener.” - Publishers Weekly
Mistress of Bones hardcover and ebook mockups against a light background with a design of outlined roses and a rapier, announcing the Barnes & Noble sale (July 8th-11th) and the promo code: PREORDER25
MISTRESS OF BONES hardcover image with the following blurb: "Medina’s high-concept world building permeates the story in fascinating detail... A compelling read, ending with a cliff-hanger sure to draw readers back for the rest of the duology." - Booklist
MISTRESS OF BONES hardcover with text indicating you can get 15% off with the code PARTY2025 at participating indie bookstores.
An art print depicting a young woman with brown hair in shirtsleeves and breeches unsheathing a dagger while being suspicious of a tall man with long blonde hair standing menacingly behind her.
An art print of a young woman with brown hair in shirt and breeches holding a dagger glaring at a tall man with blonde hair holding a sword. A bookplate design with roses, bones, and a rapier. The following text: (Receive these) when you pre-order MISTRESS OF BONES at Mysterious Galaxy! www.mystgalaxy.com
Goodreads synopsis for MISTRESS OF BONES: This debut fantasy from author Maria Z. Medina invites readers to a world of floating continents, absent gods, flashing rapiers, and swashbuckling adventure. Using flashbacks and multiple POVs, Medina tells the story of Azul del Arroyo, a modest young necromancer who just wants to bring her sister back from the dead. Look for lots of atmospheric tragedy and romance, with a love interest who happens to be the Emissary of the Lord Death. Release date: August 5
Art of a young woman with long brown hair and olive skin in a loose shirt, blue vest holding a dagger with the heading "Meet Azul"
MISTRESS OF BONES cover next to a text indicating the preorder sale 25% off April 23rd-25th using the code PREORDER25
An epic, multi-POV debut fantasy, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wants one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister’s bones. But the Emissary of the Lord Death will do anything to stop her, no matter how alluring he finds her . . . As their paths collide, they’re drawn into a deadly game of pawns and power with a count who begrudgingly works for a child king, a faceless witch who transforms the bones of gods into dreams she can peddle, and a long-lost half-brother with a secret of his own—and soon realize the fate of the lands is hanging in the balance. For long ago the gods raised the continents, binding them with their own bones to keep humanity alive. But in an era when the gods’ sacrifice has been forgotten, Death might not be the only resentful god Azul must defy. Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss start to a duology about love, loss, and, of course, death.
MISTRESS OF BONES hardcover mockup with several arrows announcing things to be found in the book: Enemies to sort of allies but they still hate each other to...?, swashbuckling gothic, dead people become alive and alive people become dead, multi PoV, necromancer FMC, midnight talks, rapiers, masks, and banter. Coming August 5th 2025
A small dark pink cherry blossom tree in bloom.
FLOWER AND THORN's book cover (Pink and violet flowers against a lighter pink background) with the caption "One girl. One boy. A promise broken. A magic stolen."
"Mistress of Bones is a richly imagined, high stakes fantasy steeped in intrigue, magic, myth, and necromancy. From the memorable cast to the lush worldbuilding, I couldn't put this book down." - Rati Mehrotra, author of NIGHT OF THE RAVEN, DAWN OF THE DOVE
A young man with long dark blonde hair and gold-violet eyes wearing a loose short and breeches unsheathing a sword
Banner with MISTRESS OF BONES cover indicating at 25% off sale for new releases on preorder.
MISTRESS OF BONES' book cover with "Six Months" written over it.
Gandalf being very confused in Moira
A dark green background card with golden leaves around the edges with the quote: "My hands are his hands. My reasons, his reasons."
A graphic showcasing four books: Higher Magic by Courtney Floyd October 7 First gen grad student, Dorothe Bartleby, has one last chance to pass her Magic qualifying exams––but her students are disappearing and she might be the only one who can help. The Changeling Queen by Kimberly Bea October 28 In 14th c. Scotland, a half-mortal changeling discovers she is queen of a dying Faery in this feminist reimagining of Tam Lin. The Whisper of Stars by Cristin Williams November 6 An imprisoned anarchist searches for an ancient relic to overthrow the Bolshevik regime. The Sacred Space Between by Kalie Reid November 20 A devout iconographer must paint an exiled saint in this sumptuous gothic romantasy full of slow-burn tension and windswept moors
A graphic showcasing four books: A Match Made in Hell by Charlotte Ingham September 11 A girl makes a deal with the devil to escape hell - only to fall for him instead. Fallen's First by Kassidy Coursey September 19 When the first demon Saer falls in love, the Hells shriek—and he's woefully unprepared for his beloved to endure the deadliest of punishments for his sins. This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth September 23 Popular but haunted Briar Winters must untangle the horrifying secrets of her picture-perfect coastal town in order to save the boy she loves after he disappears from time itself. A Game of Fallen Stars by S. E. Berkeley September 30 The living embodiment of magic crashes into a heartbroken tech exec's life, tempting him to give love another chance while inadvertently ensnaring him in a cosmic horror’s sadistic game, leading sea creatures & a secret society to hunt them across California.
A graphic showcasing four books: Seven Recipes for Revolution by Ryan Rose July 22 The Bear meets Attack on Titan in this exhilarating, food-based epic fantasy filled with high stakes and monster steaks, perfect for fans of Pierce Brown and Jay Kristoff. Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina August 5 A young necromancer’s quest to bring her sister back to life, and the Emissary of the Lord Death bent on stopping her. Her Soul for a Crown by Alysha Rameera August 12 For readers of Sarah J Maas, Scarlett St. Clair, and Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne, this epic, slow-burn romantasy inspired by Sri Lankan mythology follows a fierce orphaned young woman with an affinity for poisons and revenge who would do anything to end the reign of heartless rajas—even sell her soul to the most dangerous cursed god of all—the Blood Yakka, Reeri. The Book of Autumn by Molly O'Sullivan August 26 A dark academia set at an enchanted school tucked among the red mesas of the New Mexico desert, where a pair of formidable magicians are summoned to pursue an alleged killer, for fans of Ninth House and The Atlas Six.
A graphic showcasing four books: The Ground That Devours Us by Kalla Harris June 3 The Coldest Girl in Coldtown meets the Last of Us in this YA post-apocalyptic paranormal romance, in which a sharp-tongued vampire hunter must team up with a deadly (and, unfortunately, hot) vampire to save her newly-turned sister from the clutches of their human compound. Soulgazer by Maggie Rapier July 8 With their freedom on the line, a young woman and a rakish pirate take their fate into their own hands as they attempt to find a lost mythical isle with the power to save their entire world. Moonrising by Claire Barner July 8 A near future romance, told against the backdrop of the Moon’s first lunar colony, about a cynical American agronomist and charming Emirati businessman who fall in love and battle eco-terrorists. Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge July 17 A hopeful phoenix tamer and her arrogant rival must team up to win deadly phoenix races, while untangling a conspiracy that could burn their world to the ground.
A graphic showcasing four books: The Divide that Binds Us by Michelle J May 16 Alice Reid investigates the source of the dragon deaths; but when she clashes with an enemy from a rival group, they uncover a looming conspiracy threatening the world’s survival. Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle May 20 A grieving chef discovers that his food can bring spirits back from the Dead for one last meal with their Living, and sets out to open an NYC restaurant serving closure. Behooved by M. Stevenson May 20 A chronically ill noblewoman enters an arranged marriage to seal a peace treaty, but when she accidentally turns her husband into a horse on their wedding night and is framed for his murder, she must work with him to reverse the curse and uncover a plot against the throne before she loses both the kingdom and the husband she’s unexpectedly falling for. The Whisperwood Legacy by Jo Schulte May 27 Knives Out-esque YA contemporary fantasy about an amusement park, shrouded in dark secrets—and the family desperate to inherit at any cost.
A graphic showcasing four books: Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell April 8 We Were Liars meets The Raven Boys in this mind-bending YA debut about dark revenge, twisted desire, and the sinister secrets lurking behind the walls of an elite boarding school. Manzakar by R. Laham April 29 Brown queer people overthrow a fascist ruler and stop a genocide. The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire May 6 A girl in small-town Indiana must bring together two (handsome) rivals to break a deadly curse before it claims her mother's life. The Art of Exile by Andrea Max May 13 A teen girl infiltrates a secret school for the descendants of exiled Renaissance masters to steal their long lost arts and sciences and gets tangled in a web of romance and betrayal.
A graphic showcasing four books: The After Hours by Aspen Andersen March 4 Sloane knows you’re not allowed to change the past, but when Sloane has a chance to stop a killer- and get her exBFF back- altering the future seems like a small price to pay. The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara March 18 A prince who rejects violence and a witch seeking revenge come together to dismantle his father's empire Of Wolves and Stags by Ria Parisi March 25 Using her healing magic to save a dying man, Dalia Arrowood is exposed to a world where she’s either seen as a weapon to be used or a monster to be feared. A Desert of Bleeding Sand by Lucia Damisa March 27 Mr. & Mrs. Smith but as elite students on a deadly mission to a sentient Sahara Desert palace.
A graphic showcasing four books: Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian January 30 A Discovery of Witches meets The Atlas Six in which Aurelia Schwartz, a Cambridge medievalist, must team up with her academic rival to investigate a threat to the witches around them, a pursuit that brings her closer to him and dangerous questions about her own nature. Ricochet by Kellyn Carni February 4 Anastasia Romanov and her brother Alexei survive their family's execution when a bullet strikes Anastasia's necklace and transports them to an alternate Russia on the brink of its own revolution. The Beasts We Bury by D. L. Taylor February 4 A teenage heir has the power to summon beasts and is trying not to become one. Her Dark Grace by Rae Valtera March 4 A queer-norm fantasy about shadow-marked Eirlys who accepts her birthright to rule a nation that wants her dead in order to defeat their gods and stop the north's religious sacrifice of others like her.
A graphic showcasing four books: Tavern Tale by Kristina W. Kelly January 7 What if the side quest is the main quest? The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold January 7 Two teen girls fall in love and fight for survival in an abandoned bookstore weeks before another cataclysmic storm threatens to bring about the end of the world. Lightfall by Ed Crocker January 14 An epic fantasy in a world of immortals: vampires, werewolves, and sorcerers - but no humans. In the Name of Honor by Courtney and Clarke Collins January 27 A half-elven princess and her loyal guardsman must save her father, the king, from a fate worse than death: total corruption.
A graphic with stars and firework bursts that reads Most Anticipated Fantasy & Sci-Fi Debuts of 2025.
Opening the ARC for MISTRESS OF BONES, flipping the pages until it stops at the title page.
A brown carton box with Advance Reader Copy paperback of Mistress of Bones, featuring a painting of a young woman with dark hair holding a white mask on the top half and a dark blonde man holding a skull mask on the lower half.
A simple light-wood rectangular desk on a beige carpet with a laptop, notebooks, and sets of tarot cards on top with a foot rest underneath. In front stands a green office chair with a fleece blanket draped on top. The space is flanked by white curtains on the right.
The River TV show season one cast promotional photo
Chapter 1 - Death. Nine Years Earlier. "Azul del Arroyo didn't fully know what would happen when she set out to bring her older sister back to life, but since she was ten, she didn't much care."
"MISTRESS OF BONES - A novel. Maria Z. Medina" printed in pretty fonts on a while title page.