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Portret wiedźmy
Kiedyś magia była dla niej czymś instynktowym. Teraz traci przez nią kontrolę nad własnym umysłem.
Maeve Ryan była najpotężniejszą wiedźmą swojego pokolenia. Przez jedno źle rzucone zaklęcie zrujnowała jednak swoją reputację i została naznaczona dziką magią. Siłą, która powoli odbiera wiedźmom rozum i zamienia je w przerażające zjawy.
Jedyne, czego dziewczyna pragnie, to pozbyć się swojej mocy. Na zawsze.
Próbując dociec, dlaczego nieudane zaklęcie zaczęło wyniszczać Maeve, jej przyjaciółka Ash trafia na ślad nierozwiązanej od dziesięcioleci zagadki kradzieży dzieł sztuki. Gdy znika w pustej ramie skradzionego obrazu, Maeve musi zaryzykować wszystko i podążyć za nią.
Maeve Ryan była najpotężniejszą wiedźmą swojego pokolenia. Przez jedno źle rzucone zaklęcie zrujnowała jednak swoją reputację i została naznaczona dziką magią. Siłą, która powoli odbiera wiedźmom rozum i zamienia je w przerażające zjawy.
Jedyne, czego dziewczyna pragnie, to pozbyć się swojej mocy. Na zawsze.
Próbując dociec, dlaczego nieudane zaklęcie zaczęło wyniszczać Maeve, jej przyjaciółka Ash trafia na ślad nierozwiązanej od dziesięcioleci zagadki kradzieży dzieł sztuki. Gdy znika w pustej ramie skradzionego obrazu, Maeve musi zaryzykować wszystko i podążyć za nią.
456 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
K.S. Shay
3 books112 followersK.S. Shay is a writer and lover of all things strange, creepy, and magical. Find her online at ksshaywrites.com or hang out with her on social media @ksshaywrites everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews
September 3, 2026
Witchy loveliness.
August 24, 2026
does k.s.shay know how to describe a character’s appearance without mentioning their race?
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Thirteen stolen works of art. One haunted marsh.
And a Boston witch willing to risk everything for the friend she’s already failed.
An atmospheric, eerie debut for readers of Starling House and A Discovery of Witches, Isabella Stewart Gardner art heist aficionados, witchy girls, burnt-out former gifted kids, New England history buffs, the coven curious, ride-or-die friends, folklore fanatics, and anyone who’s ever wanted to wander through the looking glass.
Once, Maeve Ryan was the strongest witch of her generation. But Maeve messed up a spell to contact the Lady of the Fens, an eerie Revenant who lures the unwary to their deaths in the brackish marshlands of the North Shore. Maeve destroyed her reputation, hurt her best friend Ash, and tainted herself with unbound, wild magic that transforms witches into insane Revenants.
With unbound power eating away at Maeve’s mind, all she wants is to get rid of her magic. Forever. But Ash’s research into how the spell went awry leads in an unexpected direction: the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and a link between the Lady and a decades-old art theft worth $500 million. When Ash disappears through a stolen painting’s empty frame, Maeve has to follow.
Inside is the Other Marsh, a haunting, deadly realm where only the Lady’s rules apply. Within this half-world lie secrets about North Shore’s history, Maeve’s failure, and the fate of the masterpieces that disappeared over three decades ago. But as Maeve fights toward the truth, she risks her friendship, her coven, and her life against enemies hiding in plain sight.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: The hardcover might be preferable to order, y'all:
Are these endsheets to die for or what?
And then there are the seven maps that this bloody program will not let me upload; just know that they'll enhance your reading experience for the mappish among you, like me. They're there because this is an undertaking to explain the long-ago, still unsolved, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. After almost forty years, I think it's safe to say the solution presented here...it's magic...might as well become the final word. Nothin' else but the death of some powerful people will bust open the truth and maybe not even then, so heck...why not magic?
Maeve, all of twenty-three during this story, is a really interesting magical practitioner. She's filled with insecurity after very publicly failing at an important working that unintentionally hurts her bestie in the Salem coven. This is the woman who still comes to her rescue when the cursed apartment she lives in is overrun by frogs...without harming the frogs. It was refreshing. Not a frog-fancier, me, but I do get the joke about witches who famously use frogs in magical working that don't turn out well for the frogs subverting that silly stereotype. Also subversibe of stereotypes is the way these witched actually *fly*on*their*brooms* and still don't play it for a cheap snigger.
There's a male main character. He is Maeve's "love interest." Nothing about this part of the plot adds anything very interesting to the story. I'm moving on. The interplay among the coven members really exemplifies the use...bordering on overuse...of the miscommunication amomg people who have one big thing in common but little else drawing them together. It's a problem as the mystery of the art heist steadily takes over the coven's activities; the stolen artworks are, like much art, imbued with magical cpability of being bridges between worlds. Maeve is forced to do her best magic in the scenes where she's working to focus everyone on the common goal of redaining these stolen portals. May not be all spells but it's for sure magic.
Maeve has the chops innate in her to be a leader, but she's twenty-three. The action spins out of her control as we-the-reader watch, amused and bemused, while the coven attempts solving the heist for their own, not-law-enforcing, purposes. It is clear Maeve could become the focus of a series with her coven as they redress imbalanes and resolve mysteries. I hope they all come back soon. I also hope potential futire lovely, fun reads will show Maeve grow into her leadership and not rely on the chaos that comes from poor communication again. Magic carries in its basis the wildness and chaos of Life, untrammelled; Maeve can shape that, can form it...if she's written that way.
Debuts seldom come with this much promise. Hope it's pointed in a positive way.
The Publisher Says: Thirteen stolen works of art. One haunted marsh.
And a Boston witch willing to risk everything for the friend she’s already failed.
An atmospheric, eerie debut for readers of Starling House and A Discovery of Witches, Isabella Stewart Gardner art heist aficionados, witchy girls, burnt-out former gifted kids, New England history buffs, the coven curious, ride-or-die friends, folklore fanatics, and anyone who’s ever wanted to wander through the looking glass.
Once, Maeve Ryan was the strongest witch of her generation. But Maeve messed up a spell to contact the Lady of the Fens, an eerie Revenant who lures the unwary to their deaths in the brackish marshlands of the North Shore. Maeve destroyed her reputation, hurt her best friend Ash, and tainted herself with unbound, wild magic that transforms witches into insane Revenants.
With unbound power eating away at Maeve’s mind, all she wants is to get rid of her magic. Forever. But Ash’s research into how the spell went awry leads in an unexpected direction: the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and a link between the Lady and a decades-old art theft worth $500 million. When Ash disappears through a stolen painting’s empty frame, Maeve has to follow.
Inside is the Other Marsh, a haunting, deadly realm where only the Lady’s rules apply. Within this half-world lie secrets about North Shore’s history, Maeve’s failure, and the fate of the masterpieces that disappeared over three decades ago. But as Maeve fights toward the truth, she risks her friendship, her coven, and her life against enemies hiding in plain sight.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: The hardcover might be preferable to order, y'all:
Are these endsheets to die for or what?
And then there are the seven maps that this bloody program will not let me upload; just know that they'll enhance your reading experience for the mappish among you, like me. They're there because this is an undertaking to explain the long-ago, still unsolved, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. After almost forty years, I think it's safe to say the solution presented here...it's magic...might as well become the final word. Nothin' else but the death of some powerful people will bust open the truth and maybe not even then, so heck...why not magic?
Maeve, all of twenty-three during this story, is a really interesting magical practitioner. She's filled with insecurity after very publicly failing at an important working that unintentionally hurts her bestie in the Salem coven. This is the woman who still comes to her rescue when the cursed apartment she lives in is overrun by frogs...without harming the frogs. It was refreshing. Not a frog-fancier, me, but I do get the joke about witches who famously use frogs in magical working that don't turn out well for the frogs subverting that silly stereotype. Also subversibe of stereotypes is the way these witched actually *fly*on*their*brooms* and still don't play it for a cheap snigger.
There's a male main character. He is Maeve's "love interest." Nothing about this part of the plot adds anything very interesting to the story. I'm moving on. The interplay among the coven members really exemplifies the use...bordering on overuse...of the miscommunication amomg people who have one big thing in common but little else drawing them together. It's a problem as the mystery of the art heist steadily takes over the coven's activities; the stolen artworks are, like much art, imbued with magical cpability of being bridges between worlds. Maeve is forced to do her best magic in the scenes where she's working to focus everyone on the common goal of redaining these stolen portals. May not be all spells but it's for sure magic.
Maeve has the chops innate in her to be a leader, but she's twenty-three. The action spins out of her control as we-the-reader watch, amused and bemused, while the coven attempts solving the heist for their own, not-law-enforcing, purposes. It is clear Maeve could become the focus of a series with her coven as they redress imbalanes and resolve mysteries. I hope they all come back soon. I also hope potential futire lovely, fun reads will show Maeve grow into her leadership and not rely on the chaos that comes from poor communication again. Magic carries in its basis the wildness and chaos of Life, untrammelled; Maeve can shape that, can form it...if she's written that way.
Debuts seldom come with this much promise. Hope it's pointed in a positive way.
August 30, 2026
A magical heist goes wrong in this witchy paranormal thriller ✨
The premise of this book was amazing 🤩 As an artist myself I always love stories about art, so I really enjoyed how the paintings stolen from the Gardner Museum in the 90s play a crucial part here. I found that the real life heist was seamlessly woven into the fictional plot of the book.
I really enjoyed the writing, the author manages to bring to life a truly magical and whimsical world that I could believe is hidden in plain sight. I also thought the Other Marsh was so cool, the dreamy otherworldliness of the place was depicted so well.
Even if we never learn much about how magic is present in this world other than witches and revenants, the world building was intriguing and satisfying. I felt we could easily have many other stories happening in this same universe.
I found Maeve a bit frustrating at times, but I really liked that she eventually becomes aware of her flaws. Her growth as a character is satisfying and believable.
Maeve and Ash's friendship and dynamic was so interesting and nuanced, their strengths and insecurities playing a part in their falling out and making up
I liked the slow burn of the tiny bit of romance that we get, and I actually liked that the romance is just a sub plot.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and the audio version was really good. I'm definitely keeping an eye on future works from this author!
Thanks to Erewhon Books via NetGalley for providing an eARC
Thanks to Recorded Books via NetGalley for providing anALC
The premise of this book was amazing 🤩 As an artist myself I always love stories about art, so I really enjoyed how the paintings stolen from the Gardner Museum in the 90s play a crucial part here. I found that the real life heist was seamlessly woven into the fictional plot of the book.
I really enjoyed the writing, the author manages to bring to life a truly magical and whimsical world that I could believe is hidden in plain sight. I also thought the Other Marsh was so cool, the dreamy otherworldliness of the place was depicted so well.
Even if we never learn much about how magic is present in this world other than witches and revenants, the world building was intriguing and satisfying. I felt we could easily have many other stories happening in this same universe.
I found Maeve a bit frustrating at times, but I really liked that she eventually becomes aware of her flaws. Her growth as a character is satisfying and believable.
Maeve and Ash's friendship and dynamic was so interesting and nuanced, their strengths and insecurities playing a part in their falling out and making up
I liked the slow burn of the tiny bit of romance that we get, and I actually liked that the romance is just a sub plot.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and the audio version was really good. I'm definitely keeping an eye on future works from this author!
Thanks to Erewhon Books via NetGalley for providing an eARC
Thanks to Recorded Books via NetGalley for providing anALC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
big thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts are my own.
✨️ 4.5
🕯soundtrack🕯
slowdive - avalyn II
tori amos - bells for her
death cab for cutie - meet me on the equinox
roadkill ghost choir - everywhere
wolf alice - moaning lisa smile
...and you will know us by the trail of death (yes that's the bandname lmao) - don't look down
radiohead - everything in its right place
the twilight sad - there's a girl in the corner
folly and the hunter - moth in the porchlight
florence + the machine - witch dance
agnes obel - stretch your eyes
halsey - bells in santa fe
radiohead - climbing up the walls
the cure - plainsong
halsey - people disappear here
skullcrusher - maelstrom
florence + the machine - rabbit heart (raise it up)
bright eyes - when the curious girl realizes she is under glass
the smiths - this night has opened my eyes
loathe - is it really you?
the national - light years
radiohead - street spirit (fadeout)
bat for lashes - moon and moon
poe - haunted
mazzy star - blue light
witch post - spell
🔮 my thoughts 🔮
"there is magic everywhere."
literally started jumping up and down my room in excitement when i got approved for the ARC, because the premise sounded like the coolest thing i have laid my eyes upon in a long long time. witchcraft, creepy marshlands, a connection to a REAL UNSOLVED ART HEIST IN THE 1990s ???? i love witches, i love heists, i love art - sign me tf up already !! i literally cancelled a few plans for the weekend because all i wanted to do was dive headfirst into "portrait of a witch undone" (incredible title btw, i'm obsessed with it). and as it turns out, that was a very wise decision on my part - because i could not put this book down. it pulled me in, swallowed me whole, swept me away into the marshlands.
this genuinely has one of the most unique concepts i've ever encountered in a book. i don't even want to explain it too much, because i don't think i can, but i am in awe of k.s. shay for coming up with this insanely cool idea of combining witchcraft and art, and for being willing to get so weird and creative with it. the descriptions and the way things work can get a little chaotic and confusing at times, but i still was fully along for the ride every second. this also threw me down the fascinating rabbit hole of the real gardner museum heist (a place i really really want to visit now), although i gotta say that i like what this book does with it much better than the most likely explanation of what really happened. the strongest leads all point to the mafia, which is just so... lame lol. i choose to believe in the witchy version :)
🔮
other things i really appreciated in this book:
🕯the strong emphasis on friendship and platonic bonds between characters (there is romance, but the non-romantic relationships are just as significant, if not more so)
🕯 speaking of the romance: i wasn't sure how to feel about it at first, but in the end i was surprised how much i grew to love maeve and her love interest together! there were a few scenes of these two just being there for each other and keeping each other company in the midst of all the chaos around them that really did it for me (he helps her save the frogs that infiltrated her cursed marsh-apartment - and they say romance is dead!)
🕯 there is one theme that all of the central characters grapple with in different ways: the feeling of not being enough, of being unable to live up to the expectations of others. i really loved how the book handles this, and how each character individually learns to grow and come into their own.
🕯 i'm obsessed with how eerie and unsettling and gross this book gets occasionally.
🕯 the writing is very descriptive and atmospheric and whimsical !!
🕯 very random but i love that the witches in this book actually ride on broomsticks. it's something we barely see in most modern depictions of witches and that's a damn shame imo. if i were a witch, i'd probably do nothing but fly around on my broom all day and look cool
🔮
the only tiny criticisms i have is that it occasionally does get a bit hard to follow what's happening because there's just SO MUCH happening all the time, also the dialogue feels a bit clunky and repetitive here and there. but since this is a very early copy, this might get edited further down the line.
all in all, this really was such a fun, immersive read with an incredibly original concept! i can very much see myself revisiting this during the autumn months, at dusk, when the air is full of whimsy and weird magic.
✨️ 4.5
🕯soundtrack🕯
slowdive - avalyn II
tori amos - bells for her
death cab for cutie - meet me on the equinox
roadkill ghost choir - everywhere
wolf alice - moaning lisa smile
...and you will know us by the trail of death (yes that's the bandname lmao) - don't look down
radiohead - everything in its right place
the twilight sad - there's a girl in the corner
folly and the hunter - moth in the porchlight
florence + the machine - witch dance
agnes obel - stretch your eyes
halsey - bells in santa fe
radiohead - climbing up the walls
the cure - plainsong
halsey - people disappear here
skullcrusher - maelstrom
florence + the machine - rabbit heart (raise it up)
bright eyes - when the curious girl realizes she is under glass
the smiths - this night has opened my eyes
loathe - is it really you?
the national - light years
radiohead - street spirit (fadeout)
bat for lashes - moon and moon
poe - haunted
mazzy star - blue light
witch post - spell
🔮 my thoughts 🔮
"there is magic everywhere."
literally started jumping up and down my room in excitement when i got approved for the ARC, because the premise sounded like the coolest thing i have laid my eyes upon in a long long time. witchcraft, creepy marshlands, a connection to a REAL UNSOLVED ART HEIST IN THE 1990s ???? i love witches, i love heists, i love art - sign me tf up already !! i literally cancelled a few plans for the weekend because all i wanted to do was dive headfirst into "portrait of a witch undone" (incredible title btw, i'm obsessed with it). and as it turns out, that was a very wise decision on my part - because i could not put this book down. it pulled me in, swallowed me whole, swept me away into the marshlands.
this genuinely has one of the most unique concepts i've ever encountered in a book. i don't even want to explain it too much, because i don't think i can, but i am in awe of k.s. shay for coming up with this insanely cool idea of combining witchcraft and art, and for being willing to get so weird and creative with it. the descriptions and the way things work can get a little chaotic and confusing at times, but i still was fully along for the ride every second. this also threw me down the fascinating rabbit hole of the real gardner museum heist (a place i really really want to visit now), although i gotta say that i like what this book does with it much better than the most likely explanation of what really happened. the strongest leads all point to the mafia, which is just so... lame lol. i choose to believe in the witchy version :)
🔮
other things i really appreciated in this book:
🕯the strong emphasis on friendship and platonic bonds between characters (there is romance, but the non-romantic relationships are just as significant, if not more so)
🕯 speaking of the romance: i wasn't sure how to feel about it at first, but in the end i was surprised how much i grew to love maeve and her love interest together! there were a few scenes of these two just being there for each other and keeping each other company in the midst of all the chaos around them that really did it for me (he helps her save the frogs that infiltrated her cursed marsh-apartment - and they say romance is dead!)
🕯 there is one theme that all of the central characters grapple with in different ways: the feeling of not being enough, of being unable to live up to the expectations of others. i really loved how the book handles this, and how each character individually learns to grow and come into their own.
🕯 i'm obsessed with how eerie and unsettling and gross this book gets occasionally.
🕯 the writing is very descriptive and atmospheric and whimsical !!
🕯 very random but i love that the witches in this book actually ride on broomsticks. it's something we barely see in most modern depictions of witches and that's a damn shame imo. if i were a witch, i'd probably do nothing but fly around on my broom all day and look cool
🔮
the only tiny criticisms i have is that it occasionally does get a bit hard to follow what's happening because there's just SO MUCH happening all the time, also the dialogue feels a bit clunky and repetitive here and there. but since this is a very early copy, this might get edited further down the line.
all in all, this really was such a fun, immersive read with an incredibly original concept! i can very much see myself revisiting this during the autumn months, at dusk, when the air is full of whimsy and weird magic.
August 29, 2026
Premise: The mystery of who stole thirteen works of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has perplexed many over the years, but perhaps the secrets can only be revealed by New England's modern witch covens.
If I hadn't been so intrigued by the plot description, I wouldn't have clicked request. However, once it came time to read it, I wasn't that engaged. The writing was beautiful, but I was bored.
#PortraitofaWitchUndone #NetGalley
Publication Date 25/08/26
Goodreads Review 29/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
If I hadn't been so intrigued by the plot description, I wouldn't have clicked request. However, once it came time to read it, I wasn't that engaged. The writing was beautiful, but I was bored.
#PortraitofaWitchUndone #NetGalley
Publication Date 25/08/26
Goodreads Review 29/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 5, 2026
✨🔮 Portrait of a Witch Undone 🔮✨
Overall I liked this book and the concept was interesting. I do wish the flow had been stronger, but I liked how in depth the relationship building was. There was a strong focus on platonic relationships, even more than the romantic ones, which I appreciated.
That said, every single character was unlikable, toxic, and honestly pretty power hungry. That is not always a deal breaker for me, but they were constantly betraying each other throughout the story and I didn’t love that.
There was also quite a bit of info dumping and filler scenes. The ending was basically nonstop, and I honestly wish she had ended up on her own. I hated the MMC.
🖤 What to Expect
• Witch coven
• Toxic friendships
• New England
• Portal elements
• Supernatural
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.25 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
📝 Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Overall I liked this book and the concept was interesting. I do wish the flow had been stronger, but I liked how in depth the relationship building was. There was a strong focus on platonic relationships, even more than the romantic ones, which I appreciated.
That said, every single character was unlikable, toxic, and honestly pretty power hungry. That is not always a deal breaker for me, but they were constantly betraying each other throughout the story and I didn’t love that.
There was also quite a bit of info dumping and filler scenes. The ending was basically nonstop, and I honestly wish she had ended up on her own. I hated the MMC.
🖤 What to Expect
• Witch coven
• Toxic friendships
• New England
• Portal elements
• Supernatural
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.25 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
📝 Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
November 2, 2026
love when my niche special interests merge together in literature
November 1, 2026
Ta książka wyciągnęła mnie z czytelniczego dołka 🥹🖤
Świetna historia, która w świeży i nieoczywisty sposób łączy motyw wiedźm ze sztuką 🖼️ 🐦⬛Ogromny plus za wątek zaginionych obrazów, który nadał całej opowieści dodatkowej głębi! To również piękny list miłosny o przyjaźni 🫂, akceptacji własnych słabości i odkrywaniu, że to, co postrzegamy jako nasze ograniczenia, możemy przekuć w siłę 🤍
August 10, 2025
Part Piranesi, part witchy coven sisterhood story that will steal your heart. The marsh-filled museum is a crazy (read: CRAZY) setting that is its own strange character seeping throughout the pages of this book just as it seeps through the empty, stolen frames from the very real Gardner heist. Truly one of the most unique books I've read in a long time!
I was lucky the author let me read an early copy, and this checks all the boxes of my favorite kind of book: contemporary fantasy, biting prose, nature magic, action and adventure, stolen paintings, a dash of body horror? Shut up and take my money! If you loved The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, or Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs, you won't want to miss K.S. Shay's debut.
I was lucky the author let me read an early copy, and this checks all the boxes of my favorite kind of book: contemporary fantasy, biting prose, nature magic, action and adventure, stolen paintings, a dash of body horror? Shut up and take my money! If you loved The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, or Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs, you won't want to miss K.S. Shay's debut.
September 12, 2026
Thanks to the author and publisher for my arc. The opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed this the magic system felt so believable and real and the stakes kept me on the edge of my seat. Characters and their arc were phenomenal really enjoyed this.
Really enjoyed this the magic system felt so believable and real and the stakes kept me on the edge of my seat. Characters and their arc were phenomenal really enjoyed this.
March 8, 2026
this story concept felt like a very unusual bridge between fantasy and reality✨
i honestly haven’t read something quite like this in a long time and that originality was one of the strongest parts of the book!
however, there was also a lot of information to absorb. at times i really wished for a clearer glossary or maybe a place where all the mentioned images and references were collected together. by the very end i felt quite confused, which unfortunately affected my final rating.
i was also surprised that the main character is 23. many of her thoughts and decisions felt much younger to me
romance storyline worked, but personally i was craving a little more depth there
overall, this story holds massive potential and has a very unique idea at its core. for me the ending became a bit chaotic, which is why it lands at 3 stars, but it was still an interesting and memorable read
big thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review🤍
i honestly haven’t read something quite like this in a long time and that originality was one of the strongest parts of the book!
however, there was also a lot of information to absorb. at times i really wished for a clearer glossary or maybe a place where all the mentioned images and references were collected together. by the very end i felt quite confused, which unfortunately affected my final rating.
i was also surprised that the main character is 23. many of her thoughts and decisions felt much younger to me
romance storyline worked, but personally i was craving a little more depth there
overall, this story holds massive potential and has a very unique idea at its core. for me the ending became a bit chaotic, which is why it lands at 3 stars, but it was still an interesting and memorable read
big thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review🤍
August 27, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Witchy. Swampy. Magical. Suspenseful. Haunting. Art history.
“The marsh house appears to be deserted. I slide open the back door and tip toe through the parlor on mist quiet feet. A lifetime of muscle memory guides me up the stairs. To reach the office, I have to pass their room…I hover at the threshold but do not enter, like a vampire who hasn’t been let in. “
Vintage would be the best word to describe this book. As if you put “The Da Vinci Code” mixed with Alice Hoffman themes and writing style and a sprinkle of “One Dark Window” and mixed them together.
I had a hard time rating this since I think the idea and setting were so good.
The writing style is beautiful, descriptive and vivid and 100% my biggest compliment of the book. But I did get lost. I kept going back thinking I missed something and getting confused as to why they were in the situations they were in. This issue started a little later in the book when there was a lot of moving parts and info. There’s also a large chance this is a me problem. Lol.
I 100% recommend if you like a different, throwback style witch story!
Witchy. Swampy. Magical. Suspenseful. Haunting. Art history.
“The marsh house appears to be deserted. I slide open the back door and tip toe through the parlor on mist quiet feet. A lifetime of muscle memory guides me up the stairs. To reach the office, I have to pass their room…I hover at the threshold but do not enter, like a vampire who hasn’t been let in. “
Vintage would be the best word to describe this book. As if you put “The Da Vinci Code” mixed with Alice Hoffman themes and writing style and a sprinkle of “One Dark Window” and mixed them together.
I had a hard time rating this since I think the idea and setting were so good.
The writing style is beautiful, descriptive and vivid and 100% my biggest compliment of the book. But I did get lost. I kept going back thinking I missed something and getting confused as to why they were in the situations they were in. This issue started a little later in the book when there was a lot of moving parts and info. There’s also a large chance this is a me problem. Lol.
I 100% recommend if you like a different, throwback style witch story!
August 7, 2026
3.75 stars! The witchy/spooky vibes in here were absolutely immaculate and this had such a unique story line - I can’t say I’ve read anything quite like it! I loved the eerie marsh setting and the art heist story woven into the coven’s deep dark secrets - it was quite clever the way everything came together. I also enjoyed the small romantic subplot!
The reason this wasn’t a higher rating was because I felt it could’ve been fleshed out better overall. I found the world and the magic underdeveloped, I found the plot a bit bumpy and hopping from scene to scene, and I needed a bit more character depth to really feel the tension and emotional impact between the covens and the three main characters.
Overall though, this was really fun and a perfect book to read during the fall time!
The reason this wasn’t a higher rating was because I felt it could’ve been fleshed out better overall. I found the world and the magic underdeveloped, I found the plot a bit bumpy and hopping from scene to scene, and I needed a bit more character depth to really feel the tension and emotional impact between the covens and the three main characters.
Overall though, this was really fun and a perfect book to read during the fall time!
Want to Read
February 6, 2026⋆˚꩜｡
pre-read : my request for an arc at netgalley and edelweiss was approved!! here goes to witches and mysterious museum paintings ⭑.ᐟ
pre-read : my request for an arc at netgalley and edelweiss was approved!! here goes to witches and mysterious museum paintings ⭑.ᐟ
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Zawód roku. Książkę otrzymałam we współpracy z wydawnictwem lumivera - książka za recenzję. Dzięki.
Maeve była najpotężniejszą wiedźmą swojego pokolenia, dopóki nie została naznaczona przez dziką magię, która która powoli odbiera jej rozum. Teraz chce tylko jednego: uwolnić się od własnej mocy. Jednak gdy jej przyjaciółka trafia na ślad nierozwiązanej zagadki kradzieży dzieł sztuki i znika w pustej ramie skradzionego obrazu, Maeve musi zaryzykować wszystko i podążyć za nią. Początkowo byłam przekonana, że trafiłam na kandydatkę do miana jednej z ulubionych książek roku. Podróżowanie w głąb obrazów będących więzieniem dla czegoś złego? Brzmi szalenie interesująco, szczególnie, że książka czerpie z realnej nierozwiązanej zagadki. Niestety, na świetnej koncepcji się kończy.
Sugerując się opisem, okładką, a nawet samą kampanią marketingową, spodziewałam się mrocznej fantastyki balansującej gdzieś na granicy lekkiej grozy. Jakież było moje zaskoczenie, gdy otrzymałam książkę w stylu dość naiwnego paranormal YA romance. I nie byłoby w tym nic złego, gdyby nie fakt, że zupełnie nie na to się pisałam.
Zacznijmy od największej siły nośnej każdej historii – głównej bohaterki.
Owszem, Maeve ma już ponad dwadzieścia lat, ale trudno jest dostrzec w jej irracjonalnym zachowaniu jakąkolwiek dojrzałość.
Niejednokrotnie sprawia wrażenie nastolatki, która dopiero rozpoznaje swoje emocje. Wiek nie jest gwarancja dojrzałej kreacji, tak samo jak magia nie zastąpi psychologicznej głębi. A tej, niestety, bardzo tu zabrakło. Maeve nie przekonała mnie do siebie jako bohaterka, ponieważ jej reakcje były zbyt powierzchowne, nawet w odpowiedzi na dość traumatyczne doświadczenia. A trudno zaangażować się emocjonalnie w czyjąś historię, kiedy za fasadą dramatycznych wydarzeń nie dostrzega się równie interesującego wnętrza.
Niestety, Maeve nie jest w tym problemie odosobniona, bo reszta bohaterów również cierpi na niedobór charakteru. I jasne, nie oczekuję, że każda postać będzie drugim Raskolnikowem, ale skoro mam spędzić z bohaterami te naście stron, chciałabym dostać coś więcej niż zbiór fabularnych funkcji
z przypisanymi im imionami.
Co z worldbuildingiem? Chociaż uważam się za dość wnikliwą czytelniczkę, która potrafi wyłapywać nawet drobne szczegóły i składać je w większą całość, momentami czułam się zwyczajnie zagubiona. Informacji o świecie jest ogrom, często niezbyt subtelnie przemycanych w dialogach. Natłok objaśnień i pobocznych wątków nie zawsze idzie w parze z klarownością, co niestety tworzyło dość duży chaos informacyjny.
I pewnie, polskie wydanie jest ładne – z wyklejką, barwionymi brzegami i piękną okładką. Szkoda tylko że więcej pieniędzy zamiast w ozdóbki nie włożono w korektę tekstu. Bo o ile estetyka wydania zachęca do lektury, to nic nie uratuje błędnie pogubionych pauz dialogowych, które w pewnym momencie zaczęły żyć własnym życiem.
Jedyną rzecza, która mi się naprawdę spodobala, była atmosfera. Blocko, mokradła, dzikie ptaki… znacie ten klimat.No wiecie, ten klimat. Gdybym miała wskazać element “Portretu wiedźmy”, który faktycznie potrafił mnie kupić, byłoby to właśnie tło. I przyznam, że sporo mówi o książce poświęconej wiedźmom, kiedy najbardziej podobały mi się w niej mokradła.
A skoro już o rozczarowaniach mowa, przejdźmy do głównego konfliktu — i tutaj uwaga na spoilery.
Przez większą część powieści Maeve zmaga się z dziką magią, która stopniowo wyniszcza jej umysł i to dlatego chce się pozbyć własnej magii, wyciąć kawałek swojej duszy. Stawka jest więc całkiem wysoka, a sam konflikt ma potencjał, by dostarczyć zarówno emocji, jak i interesujących dylematów, czyli coś, co uwielbiam najbardziej. Ale mój problem pojawia się wtedy, gdy w końcówce Maeve odkrywa, że może korzystać z tej samej dzikiej magii, która miała ją zniszczyć. I co robi? Opanowuje ją za pierwszym podejściem, bez większych trudności i bez pomocy kogokolwiek z zewnątrz (no dobra, jedna osoba jej mówi, że może spróbować. i Maeve próbuje).
Czyli przez całą książkę budujemy napięcie wokół problemu, który ostatecznie okazuje się zaskakująco łatwy do rozwiązania xd bo nagle okazuje się, że coś, co miało stopniowo odebrać Maeve rozum, można opanować niemal od ręki, to trudno nie zadać pytania: no to po co to wszystko? Konflikt, który powinien stanowić emocjonalny fundament historii, zostaje w moim odczuciu rozbrojony przez zbyt łatwe rozwiązanie. Zabrakło mi prób, konsekwencji, ryzyka i poczucia, że Maeve rzeczywiście musi o coś zawalczyć.
Nie lepiej wypada dla mnie finał. Wątki związane z siostrami, gorsi niż same zło, karykaturalni złodupcy oraz ujawnienie prawdziwej tożsamości wiedźmy z moczar również nie przyniosły satysfakcjonującego rozwiązania. Po drodze nagromadzono tajemnice, które obiecywały mocne domknięcie historii, ale kiedy wreszcie otrzymałam te odpowiedzi, nie poczułam ani oczekiwanego zaskoczenia, ani emocjonalnego spełnienia. Zamiast efektu „o, to dlatego!” dostałam bardzo słabe wzruszenie ramionami. “Portret…” ma jakieś pomysły, mniektóre całkiem ciekawe, ale wykonanie leży już na pełni.
Maeve była najpotężniejszą wiedźmą swojego pokolenia, dopóki nie została naznaczona przez dziką magię, która która powoli odbiera jej rozum. Teraz chce tylko jednego: uwolnić się od własnej mocy. Jednak gdy jej przyjaciółka trafia na ślad nierozwiązanej zagadki kradzieży dzieł sztuki i znika w pustej ramie skradzionego obrazu, Maeve musi zaryzykować wszystko i podążyć za nią. Początkowo byłam przekonana, że trafiłam na kandydatkę do miana jednej z ulubionych książek roku. Podróżowanie w głąb obrazów będących więzieniem dla czegoś złego? Brzmi szalenie interesująco, szczególnie, że książka czerpie z realnej nierozwiązanej zagadki. Niestety, na świetnej koncepcji się kończy.
Sugerując się opisem, okładką, a nawet samą kampanią marketingową, spodziewałam się mrocznej fantastyki balansującej gdzieś na granicy lekkiej grozy. Jakież było moje zaskoczenie, gdy otrzymałam książkę w stylu dość naiwnego paranormal YA romance. I nie byłoby w tym nic złego, gdyby nie fakt, że zupełnie nie na to się pisałam.
Zacznijmy od największej siły nośnej każdej historii – głównej bohaterki.
Owszem, Maeve ma już ponad dwadzieścia lat, ale trudno jest dostrzec w jej irracjonalnym zachowaniu jakąkolwiek dojrzałość.
Niejednokrotnie sprawia wrażenie nastolatki, która dopiero rozpoznaje swoje emocje. Wiek nie jest gwarancja dojrzałej kreacji, tak samo jak magia nie zastąpi psychologicznej głębi. A tej, niestety, bardzo tu zabrakło. Maeve nie przekonała mnie do siebie jako bohaterka, ponieważ jej reakcje były zbyt powierzchowne, nawet w odpowiedzi na dość traumatyczne doświadczenia. A trudno zaangażować się emocjonalnie w czyjąś historię, kiedy za fasadą dramatycznych wydarzeń nie dostrzega się równie interesującego wnętrza.
Niestety, Maeve nie jest w tym problemie odosobniona, bo reszta bohaterów również cierpi na niedobór charakteru. I jasne, nie oczekuję, że każda postać będzie drugim Raskolnikowem, ale skoro mam spędzić z bohaterami te naście stron, chciałabym dostać coś więcej niż zbiór fabularnych funkcji
z przypisanymi im imionami.
Co z worldbuildingiem? Chociaż uważam się za dość wnikliwą czytelniczkę, która potrafi wyłapywać nawet drobne szczegóły i składać je w większą całość, momentami czułam się zwyczajnie zagubiona. Informacji o świecie jest ogrom, często niezbyt subtelnie przemycanych w dialogach. Natłok objaśnień i pobocznych wątków nie zawsze idzie w parze z klarownością, co niestety tworzyło dość duży chaos informacyjny.
I pewnie, polskie wydanie jest ładne – z wyklejką, barwionymi brzegami i piękną okładką. Szkoda tylko że więcej pieniędzy zamiast w ozdóbki nie włożono w korektę tekstu. Bo o ile estetyka wydania zachęca do lektury, to nic nie uratuje błędnie pogubionych pauz dialogowych, które w pewnym momencie zaczęły żyć własnym życiem.
Jedyną rzecza, która mi się naprawdę spodobala, była atmosfera. Blocko, mokradła, dzikie ptaki… znacie ten klimat.No wiecie, ten klimat. Gdybym miała wskazać element “Portretu wiedźmy”, który faktycznie potrafił mnie kupić, byłoby to właśnie tło. I przyznam, że sporo mówi o książce poświęconej wiedźmom, kiedy najbardziej podobały mi się w niej mokradła.
A skoro już o rozczarowaniach mowa, przejdźmy do głównego konfliktu — i tutaj uwaga na spoilery.
Przez większą część powieści Maeve zmaga się z dziką magią, która stopniowo wyniszcza jej umysł i to dlatego chce się pozbyć własnej magii, wyciąć kawałek swojej duszy. Stawka jest więc całkiem wysoka, a sam konflikt ma potencjał, by dostarczyć zarówno emocji, jak i interesujących dylematów, czyli coś, co uwielbiam najbardziej. Ale mój problem pojawia się wtedy, gdy w końcówce Maeve odkrywa, że może korzystać z tej samej dzikiej magii, która miała ją zniszczyć. I co robi? Opanowuje ją za pierwszym podejściem, bez większych trudności i bez pomocy kogokolwiek z zewnątrz (no dobra, jedna osoba jej mówi, że może spróbować. i Maeve próbuje).
Czyli przez całą książkę budujemy napięcie wokół problemu, który ostatecznie okazuje się zaskakująco łatwy do rozwiązania xd bo nagle okazuje się, że coś, co miało stopniowo odebrać Maeve rozum, można opanować niemal od ręki, to trudno nie zadać pytania: no to po co to wszystko? Konflikt, który powinien stanowić emocjonalny fundament historii, zostaje w moim odczuciu rozbrojony przez zbyt łatwe rozwiązanie. Zabrakło mi prób, konsekwencji, ryzyka i poczucia, że Maeve rzeczywiście musi o coś zawalczyć.
Nie lepiej wypada dla mnie finał. Wątki związane z siostrami, gorsi niż same zło, karykaturalni złodupcy oraz ujawnienie prawdziwej tożsamości wiedźmy z moczar również nie przyniosły satysfakcjonującego rozwiązania. Po drodze nagromadzono tajemnice, które obiecywały mocne domknięcie historii, ale kiedy wreszcie otrzymałam te odpowiedzi, nie poczułam ani oczekiwanego zaskoczenia, ani emocjonalnego spełnienia. Zamiast efektu „o, to dlatego!” dostałam bardzo słabe wzruszenie ramionami. “Portret…” ma jakieś pomysły, mniektóre całkiem ciekawe, ale wykonanie leży już na pełni.
March 12, 2026
3,75 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!
The concept of this book was amazing. I’ve honestly never read anything quite like it before, which is rare, because most stories draw inspiration from somewhere and I can usually tell which book or idea something evolved from.
But here, I couldn’t. The idea of the museum and the paintings containing spells that allow you to step inside them, each with its own world, was absolutely fantastic.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the book made it a bit difficult for me to fully immerse myself, so I ended up taking a small reading break. In the first chapter I noticed two spelling or grammatical mistakes and some word repetitions, which prematurely made me assume that the book might not turn out very good.
I was wrong though. When I picked it up again and started reading, it kept getting better and better.
The romance was very subtle and didn’t take over the story, which is something I always appreciate. The friendship was also portrayed well, although it definitely would have benefited from a bit more communication between the characters.
The middle part of the book felt slightly long at times, but I think that was necessary for the story. Without it, the events probably wouldn’t have carried the same emotional weight.
The ending was a little chaotic and somewhat over the top, but honestly that happens in many books and has become a bit of a recurring issue I’m almost used to by now.
All in all, it was a lovely story and definitely a book I could see myself buying just to have it sitting on my bookshelf. The cover certainly plays its part in that as well hehe
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!
The concept of this book was amazing. I’ve honestly never read anything quite like it before, which is rare, because most stories draw inspiration from somewhere and I can usually tell which book or idea something evolved from.
But here, I couldn’t. The idea of the museum and the paintings containing spells that allow you to step inside them, each with its own world, was absolutely fantastic.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the book made it a bit difficult for me to fully immerse myself, so I ended up taking a small reading break. In the first chapter I noticed two spelling or grammatical mistakes and some word repetitions, which prematurely made me assume that the book might not turn out very good.
I was wrong though. When I picked it up again and started reading, it kept getting better and better.
The romance was very subtle and didn’t take over the story, which is something I always appreciate. The friendship was also portrayed well, although it definitely would have benefited from a bit more communication between the characters.
The middle part of the book felt slightly long at times, but I think that was necessary for the story. Without it, the events probably wouldn’t have carried the same emotional weight.
The ending was a little chaotic and somewhat over the top, but honestly that happens in many books and has become a bit of a recurring issue I’m almost used to by now.
All in all, it was a lovely story and definitely a book I could see myself buying just to have it sitting on my bookshelf. The cover certainly plays its part in that as well hehe
May 14, 2026
If you’re anything like me, the 13 pieces of art stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner became an obsession at some point in your life so when I heard the pitch of this book I was more than excited. A young witch performs a spell that goes awry, and to save her coven, friends, and herself she must figure out the connection to this infamous art heist.
I’d like to start by emphasizing there’s a great book in here. The narrative is incredibly creative, and I applaud the author’s ability to seamlessly weave in this real life event into their book. I found the parts where the art and magic intersected most intriguing to read. Also, the nature imagery leapt off the page capturing the marshes of the North Shore with pretty prose.
Unfortunately this story just did not hook me, and it took about a month to complete which is not usual for me. I think the problem starts with a lack of solid characterization. The main character, Maeve, lacks a personality outside of her anxiety. We are told not shown her relationships with her friends, family, and coven. The villains appear cartoonish in their ‘pure evil’ motivations. I wanted more depth from it, and the whole book seemed surface level in its exploration of identity, isolation, and self-acceptance. I think this might’ve fit better if written for a YA audience, or had a few more edits!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the arc!
I’d like to start by emphasizing there’s a great book in here. The narrative is incredibly creative, and I applaud the author’s ability to seamlessly weave in this real life event into their book. I found the parts where the art and magic intersected most intriguing to read. Also, the nature imagery leapt off the page capturing the marshes of the North Shore with pretty prose.
Unfortunately this story just did not hook me, and it took about a month to complete which is not usual for me. I think the problem starts with a lack of solid characterization. The main character, Maeve, lacks a personality outside of her anxiety. We are told not shown her relationships with her friends, family, and coven. The villains appear cartoonish in their ‘pure evil’ motivations. I wanted more depth from it, and the whole book seemed surface level in its exploration of identity, isolation, and self-acceptance. I think this might’ve fit better if written for a YA audience, or had a few more edits!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the arc!
November 1, 2026
Dla mnie ta historia była doskonała 🤌🖤
Wiedźmy, zaginione obrazy, magia, poszukiwanie swojej tożsamości, ciężar dziedzictwa.
Nie jest to przyjemna historia o poszukiwaniu zaginionych skarbów, momentami ta opowieść jest okrutna i bolesna. Jest to również opowieść o sile przyjaźni i siostrzanej miłości. Momentami nie mogłam się od niej oderwać, cały czas coś się działo.
Wiedźmy, zaginione obrazy, magia, poszukiwanie swojej tożsamości, ciężar dziedzictwa.
Nie jest to przyjemna historia o poszukiwaniu zaginionych skarbów, momentami ta opowieść jest okrutna i bolesna. Jest to również opowieść o sile przyjaźni i siostrzanej miłości. Momentami nie mogłam się od niej oderwać, cały czas coś się działo.
November 5, 2026
to była tak solidna książka omg!!!
August 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the eARC.
This sadly did nothing for me.
I was super intrigued by the premise and was really expecting to love this one, so I'm very disappointed!
The world building of the Other Marsh was the coolest part of this book, but sadly we don't spend very much time there in comparison to the rest of the story. The rest of the time is just every character having disagreements and fights that all lean very YA-feeling (couldn't stand the dialogue in this), or our main character having the same internal self-doubting thoughts on repeat. If anyone at any point had just communicated and not kept secrets, things could have been resolved so much faster. The entire plot hinges on the characters not communicating well, or constantly being interrupted just as they're about to share information with someone else. It was an extremely frustrating read for me.
I did not find any of the reveals to be particularly shocking or exciting, and I was not sold on the romance at all.
Overall I feel very let down by this book and will probably never think of it again.
This sadly did nothing for me.
I was super intrigued by the premise and was really expecting to love this one, so I'm very disappointed!
The world building of the Other Marsh was the coolest part of this book, but sadly we don't spend very much time there in comparison to the rest of the story. The rest of the time is just every character having disagreements and fights that all lean very YA-feeling (couldn't stand the dialogue in this), or our main character having the same internal self-doubting thoughts on repeat. If anyone at any point had just communicated and not kept secrets, things could have been resolved so much faster. The entire plot hinges on the characters not communicating well, or constantly being interrupted just as they're about to share information with someone else. It was an extremely frustrating read for me.
I did not find any of the reveals to be particularly shocking or exciting, and I was not sold on the romance at all.
Overall I feel very let down by this book and will probably never think of it again.
August 26, 2026
Portrait of a Witch Undone has an incredibly unique premise that for me, *almost* delivers.
I did enjoy many aspects of this book, hence the 3 stars. The atmosphere was top-tier. For Summerween, it had an awesome witchy spooky vibe complete with witches on broomsticks (hell yeah!). The heist aspect was also so intriguing. The scenes in the marsh were so atmospheric and made me want to curl up with a pumpkin latte while reading. I also really loved the fact that nearly every character had their own motivations and ambitions, as opposed to just the FMC having a goal and everyone else being along for the ride.
What made me take off stars? First, I didn't enjoy how the author introduced Imani as the unlikable and seemingly power hungry rival, with Maeve as the underdog who should definitely become matriarch. There aren't many POC characters in this book to begin with, so it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that not only does the Black character get painted as an antagonist, but also undeserving of the title and only really getting it because Maeve's powers are uncontrollable. Be so for real. Also I get that by the end they become friends but I hate when the Black characters are introduced as some sort of nemesis. And while we are on the topic of race, it annoyed me how many times the author mentioned someone's race. Like I get it, there's only so many ways to describe someone but it felt so clunky and repetitive to me.
There were also so many times I got lost and confused, which I credit to the rather convoluted plot (there's so much going on in this book). I do love a book with a lot of action, but I felt kind of confused at times and had to go back and reread to figure out what was going on at times.
Overall, I'd rate this 3 stars. It was a decent witchy book, but probably not one I will remember half of the plot of in a few weeks (as of writing this review I already forgot the FMC's name and had to look it up).
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I did enjoy many aspects of this book, hence the 3 stars. The atmosphere was top-tier. For Summerween, it had an awesome witchy spooky vibe complete with witches on broomsticks (hell yeah!). The heist aspect was also so intriguing. The scenes in the marsh were so atmospheric and made me want to curl up with a pumpkin latte while reading. I also really loved the fact that nearly every character had their own motivations and ambitions, as opposed to just the FMC having a goal and everyone else being along for the ride.
What made me take off stars? First, I didn't enjoy how the author introduced Imani as the unlikable and seemingly power hungry rival, with Maeve as the underdog who should definitely become matriarch. There aren't many POC characters in this book to begin with, so it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that not only does the Black character get painted as an antagonist, but also undeserving of the title and only really getting it because Maeve's powers are uncontrollable. Be so for real. Also I get that by the end they become friends but I hate when the Black characters are introduced as some sort of nemesis. And while we are on the topic of race, it annoyed me how many times the author mentioned someone's race. Like I get it, there's only so many ways to describe someone but it felt so clunky and repetitive to me.
There were also so many times I got lost and confused, which I credit to the rather convoluted plot (there's so much going on in this book). I do love a book with a lot of action, but I felt kind of confused at times and had to go back and reread to figure out what was going on at times.
Overall, I'd rate this 3 stars. It was a decent witchy book, but probably not one I will remember half of the plot of in a few weeks (as of writing this review I already forgot the FMC's name and had to look it up).
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC
Witches and art heists is such a specific niche I feel was made just for me.
The use of human-made art as a portal between dimensions is such an interesting concept, especially the conversation regarding art’s power to touch one’s soul to the point where the two are deeply connected. I also recommend researching the actual 1990 heist at the Gardner, which definitely adds to the intrigue. I definitely do not exclude the use of magic.
That being said, the actual worldbuilding, which theoretically should describe how this bridge between magic and art is created, is at first a bit overwhelming. There are, some rules that take a bit of time to fully understand and for this reason it starts slow. It does however pick up in the middle, and it then goes smoothly towards a compelling inale. The last scenes are, in my opinion, the most engaging part of the story, as they do a pretty good job at untangling the MANY threads that the author lays out throughout the book. We follow the story of Maeve, a tormented young witch whose past mistake is haunting her every thought. Her relationship with magic. This complex connection is at the very heart of the story, and it is very well developed as we follow Maeve's thoughts, her romantic subplot is also so sweet. However, if Maeve’s character is greatly depicted, the other characters not so much. I would have liked for instance a better insight especially regarding Ash and Imani, who I think had such underdeveloped potential. The run for matriarch could have been a great opportunity to do that, since it was already a very compelling plot line.
Nevertheless, I still greatly recommend the book to everyone who always finds magic in art :)
Witches and art heists is such a specific niche I feel was made just for me.
The use of human-made art as a portal between dimensions is such an interesting concept, especially the conversation regarding art’s power to touch one’s soul to the point where the two are deeply connected. I also recommend researching the actual 1990 heist at the Gardner, which definitely adds to the intrigue. I definitely do not exclude the use of magic.
That being said, the actual worldbuilding, which theoretically should describe how this bridge between magic and art is created, is at first a bit overwhelming. There are, some rules that take a bit of time to fully understand and for this reason it starts slow. It does however pick up in the middle, and it then goes smoothly towards a compelling inale. The last scenes are, in my opinion, the most engaging part of the story, as they do a pretty good job at untangling the MANY threads that the author lays out throughout the book. We follow the story of Maeve, a tormented young witch whose past mistake is haunting her every thought. Her relationship with magic. This complex connection is at the very heart of the story, and it is very well developed as we follow Maeve's thoughts, her romantic subplot is also so sweet. However, if Maeve’s character is greatly depicted, the other characters not so much. I would have liked for instance a better insight especially regarding Ash and Imani, who I think had such underdeveloped potential. The run for matriarch could have been a great opportunity to do that, since it was already a very compelling plot line.
Nevertheless, I still greatly recommend the book to everyone who always finds magic in art :)
August 26, 2026
This was such a cool and genuinely different take on a witchy fantasy. K.S. Shay somehow took witches, a creepy marsh, dangerous magic, AND the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist and made them all belong in the same story. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it.
Maeve was probably my favorite part of the book. She used to be one of the strongest witches of her generation, and now she's carrying around the consequences of one very bad magical decision—along with unbound magic that is literally threatening to consume her. I really liked that her story wasn't about discovering that she was powerful. She already knew she was. It was about what happens when you stop trusting that power and, honestly, stop trusting yourself.
I also loved how important Maeve and Ash's friendship was. Their relationship has history, hurt, guilt, and so much love underneath all of it, and I appreciated seeing a female friendship given just as much emotional weight as the romantic storyline. And Gabriel? I really enjoyed what he brought to Maeve's story. Their slow-burn connection never took over the larger plot, which worked really well for me.
But the Other Marsh was where this book really got me. The Lady of the Fens, the Revenants, the stolen paintings, stepping through an empty frame into this eerie half-world—it was atmospheric and unsettling without feeling like the same witch story I've read a hundred times. I also loved the way the magic is connected to place and how Shay weaves real art history into the fantasy.
There were a few stretches where I felt like there was a lot of information coming at me, and some of the middle could have been a little tighter, which is really what kept this from being a five-star read for me. But as a debut?? K.S. Shay absolutely has my attention. This was imaginative, weird, witchy, emotional, and ambitious in a way I really appreciated.
🎧 AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lily Ganser, and I thought her narration fit Maeve and the overall atmosphere of this book really well. Her delivery is grounded and natural, but she still brings out Maeve's anxiety, guilt, anger, and determination without making the emotional moments feel overperformed.
I especially liked listening to the Other Marsh scenes because Ganser's narration added to that eerie, slightly something-is-not-right-here feeling. She also gives the dialogue enough differentiation that conversations between Maeve, Ash, Gabriel, and the other characters were easy to follow without the voices feeling exaggerated.
This isn't an audiobook where the performance tries to become bigger than the story—it lets Shay's writing and atmosphere do their thing while giving Maeve a really believable voice. Definitely a good one to experience on audio, especially if you love immersive, witchy fantasy.
Overall: witches + female friendship + complicated magic + an unsolved art heist + walking through paintings into a creepy magical marsh?? K.S. Shay had a VISION, and I was very happy to go along with it.
Maeve was probably my favorite part of the book. She used to be one of the strongest witches of her generation, and now she's carrying around the consequences of one very bad magical decision—along with unbound magic that is literally threatening to consume her. I really liked that her story wasn't about discovering that she was powerful. She already knew she was. It was about what happens when you stop trusting that power and, honestly, stop trusting yourself.
I also loved how important Maeve and Ash's friendship was. Their relationship has history, hurt, guilt, and so much love underneath all of it, and I appreciated seeing a female friendship given just as much emotional weight as the romantic storyline. And Gabriel? I really enjoyed what he brought to Maeve's story. Their slow-burn connection never took over the larger plot, which worked really well for me.
But the Other Marsh was where this book really got me. The Lady of the Fens, the Revenants, the stolen paintings, stepping through an empty frame into this eerie half-world—it was atmospheric and unsettling without feeling like the same witch story I've read a hundred times. I also loved the way the magic is connected to place and how Shay weaves real art history into the fantasy.
There were a few stretches where I felt like there was a lot of information coming at me, and some of the middle could have been a little tighter, which is really what kept this from being a five-star read for me. But as a debut?? K.S. Shay absolutely has my attention. This was imaginative, weird, witchy, emotional, and ambitious in a way I really appreciated.
🎧 AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lily Ganser, and I thought her narration fit Maeve and the overall atmosphere of this book really well. Her delivery is grounded and natural, but she still brings out Maeve's anxiety, guilt, anger, and determination without making the emotional moments feel overperformed.
I especially liked listening to the Other Marsh scenes because Ganser's narration added to that eerie, slightly something-is-not-right-here feeling. She also gives the dialogue enough differentiation that conversations between Maeve, Ash, Gabriel, and the other characters were easy to follow without the voices feeling exaggerated.
This isn't an audiobook where the performance tries to become bigger than the story—it lets Shay's writing and atmosphere do their thing while giving Maeve a really believable voice. Definitely a good one to experience on audio, especially if you love immersive, witchy fantasy.
Overall: witches + female friendship + complicated magic + an unsolved art heist + walking through paintings into a creepy magical marsh?? K.S. Shay had a VISION, and I was very happy to go along with it.
October 31, 2026
Kupiłam "Portret wiedźmy", ponieważ po opisie czułam, że może mi się spodobać. Przeczytałam "Portret wiedźmy" i byłam zaskoczona, że TAK mi się spodobało! (Ironic, isn't it?)
"Kliknęło" między mną a tą książką już po pierwszym rozdziale, a przy setce stron poczułam całym sercem, że jeśli poziom się utrzyma, znalazłam nowego ulubieńca. I tak też się stało. Ogromnie podszedł mi styl pisania autorki. Jakbym płynęła przez książkę. Sam pomysł na fabułę jest oryginalny i przyciągający, a w połączeniu z całą fabułą i jego wykorzystaniem, książka jest genialna i nietuzinkowa.
Poznajemy historię Maeve, wiedźmy, która przez jedno spaprane zaklęcie lęka się swojej magii, która połączyła się z dziką magią, złą magią. Nie umie jej kontrolować, ta przejmuje nad nią kontrolę, dlatego nie używa jej, jeżeli tylko nie musi. Jej droga jest pełna wzlotów i upadków. Na skutek zaginięcia przyjaciółki, musi zmierzyć się ze swoimi demonami, przezwyciężyć strach. Jedno zdarzenie prowadzi jednak do kolejnego, sprowadzając niebezpieczeństwo na jej bliskich i cały kowen.
Uwielbiam jej przyjaźń z Ash. Sama Ash jest bardzo ciekawą postacią, choć poznajemy ją tylko z perspektywy Maeve. Obie inaczej postrzegały siebie w tej przyjaźni, jednak skoczyłaby dla siebie w ogień. Ash przechodzi też pewnego rodzaju przemianę w książce, co obserwowałam z zapartym tchem, jej walkę, jej upór, wytrwałość.
Zresztą przemianę przeszła też Maeve. Nie mogę za wiele o tym powiedzieć, żeby nic wam nie zaspojlerować, więc może powiem o tym, że gdyby zabrać z tej książki magię, można ją przełożyć na nasze zwykłe życie. Nie dosłownie, ale czytając dostrzegłam, że to także książka o przeciwnościach losu, walki ze sobą, odtrąceniu, strachu przed nieznanym. Dołóżmy do tego magię, a powstanie nad najwspanialsza książka o wiedźmach!
Zanim o samej magii, to jeszcze muszę wspomnieć o Gabrielu. Również interesująca postać. Nie jest jednoznaczna, a namalowana wieloma odcieniami szarości. Nie mogłam uformować sobie o nim opinii, zmieniałam ją tak jak Maeve.
Poczułam z bohaterami więź, od samego początku. Dziwnego rodzaju przyciągnie, które sprawiło, że po prostu poczułam - to "moje" postacie.
Kooooocham koncept magii w "Portrecie wiedźmy". Kowen, rytuał, mokradła, zjawa w postaci Damy. Puste ramy obrazów, które okazują się portalem. Dzika magia, która jest nieobliczalna. Żółte tęczówki. Natura atakuje, ptaki śledzą każdy twój ruch. Ubóstwiam tą magiczną otoczkę, ciężki klimat i żarty o czapli ✨️
W tym mamy jeszcze wykorzystaną kradzież dzieł sztuki z muzeum Isabelli Stewart Gardner - kocham ten wątek! Genialne użycie tej historii!
Na końcu książki znajdują się też pytania do refleksji po przeczytaniu i szczerze? Cała ta książka skłoniła mnie do myślenia, jeszcze zanim zobaczyłam te pytania. Dawno z żadną książką tak nie miałam, ale co się dziwić - "Portret wiedźmy" zdecydowanie trafia do mojej topki tego roku! Pozwólcie, że poświęcę jeszcze minutę na uhonorowanie naszego polskiego wydania, które jest przepiękne i jest wisienką na torcie 🛐 CZYTAJCIE!
"Kliknęło" między mną a tą książką już po pierwszym rozdziale, a przy setce stron poczułam całym sercem, że jeśli poziom się utrzyma, znalazłam nowego ulubieńca. I tak też się stało. Ogromnie podszedł mi styl pisania autorki. Jakbym płynęła przez książkę. Sam pomysł na fabułę jest oryginalny i przyciągający, a w połączeniu z całą fabułą i jego wykorzystaniem, książka jest genialna i nietuzinkowa.
Poznajemy historię Maeve, wiedźmy, która przez jedno spaprane zaklęcie lęka się swojej magii, która połączyła się z dziką magią, złą magią. Nie umie jej kontrolować, ta przejmuje nad nią kontrolę, dlatego nie używa jej, jeżeli tylko nie musi. Jej droga jest pełna wzlotów i upadków. Na skutek zaginięcia przyjaciółki, musi zmierzyć się ze swoimi demonami, przezwyciężyć strach. Jedno zdarzenie prowadzi jednak do kolejnego, sprowadzając niebezpieczeństwo na jej bliskich i cały kowen.
Uwielbiam jej przyjaźń z Ash. Sama Ash jest bardzo ciekawą postacią, choć poznajemy ją tylko z perspektywy Maeve. Obie inaczej postrzegały siebie w tej przyjaźni, jednak skoczyłaby dla siebie w ogień. Ash przechodzi też pewnego rodzaju przemianę w książce, co obserwowałam z zapartym tchem, jej walkę, jej upór, wytrwałość.
Zresztą przemianę przeszła też Maeve. Nie mogę za wiele o tym powiedzieć, żeby nic wam nie zaspojlerować, więc może powiem o tym, że gdyby zabrać z tej książki magię, można ją przełożyć na nasze zwykłe życie. Nie dosłownie, ale czytając dostrzegłam, że to także książka o przeciwnościach losu, walki ze sobą, odtrąceniu, strachu przed nieznanym. Dołóżmy do tego magię, a powstanie nad najwspanialsza książka o wiedźmach!
Zanim o samej magii, to jeszcze muszę wspomnieć o Gabrielu. Również interesująca postać. Nie jest jednoznaczna, a namalowana wieloma odcieniami szarości. Nie mogłam uformować sobie o nim opinii, zmieniałam ją tak jak Maeve.
Poczułam z bohaterami więź, od samego początku. Dziwnego rodzaju przyciągnie, które sprawiło, że po prostu poczułam - to "moje" postacie.
Kooooocham koncept magii w "Portrecie wiedźmy". Kowen, rytuał, mokradła, zjawa w postaci Damy. Puste ramy obrazów, które okazują się portalem. Dzika magia, która jest nieobliczalna. Żółte tęczówki. Natura atakuje, ptaki śledzą każdy twój ruch. Ubóstwiam tą magiczną otoczkę, ciężki klimat i żarty o czapli ✨️
W tym mamy jeszcze wykorzystaną kradzież dzieł sztuki z muzeum Isabelli Stewart Gardner - kocham ten wątek! Genialne użycie tej historii!
Na końcu książki znajdują się też pytania do refleksji po przeczytaniu i szczerze? Cała ta książka skłoniła mnie do myślenia, jeszcze zanim zobaczyłam te pytania. Dawno z żadną książką tak nie miałam, ale co się dziwić - "Portret wiedźmy" zdecydowanie trafia do mojej topki tego roku! Pozwólcie, że poświęcę jeszcze minutę na uhonorowanie naszego polskiego wydania, które jest przepiękne i jest wisienką na torcie 🛐 CZYTAJCIE!
November 1, 2026
fajny pomysł, jednak world building ssie; sposób prowadzenia narracji i rozwijanie samej historii pozostawiają sporo do życzenia, w pewnym momencie wszystko jest tak zawiłe i niezrozumiałe, że zaczęłam myśleć, że jestem debilem lol
bohaterzy . ??? bez koma, brak komunikacji, zero głębi i wgl nwm z dupy
plus za klimat, bo tylko dlatego nie dropnelam
bohaterzy . ??? bez koma, brak komunikacji, zero głębi i wgl nwm z dupy
plus za klimat, bo tylko dlatego nie dropnelam
August 27, 2026
All the witchy vibes! A great kick off to spooky season for sure (but not scary) just lots of magic and adventure.
July 28, 2026
| rating: 4 ★
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
✎ᝰ.ᐟ review
I love witches! Give me sisterhood! Give me a connection to nature! Give me messed up matrilineal dynamics!
Portrait of a Witch Undone is rooted in real historical events, specifically 1990 Isabella Gardner Museum heist, where 13 works of art were stolen and have never been recovered. In Portrait, K.S. Shay ties these missing paintings to a powerful coven of witches and a dark story about sisterhood and the things we would do for the power to protect our loved ones.
Maeve Ryan is the granddaughter of the current matriarch of the North Shores coven and its undisputed heir until a ritual-gone-wrong leads to her best friend, Ash, getting injured and Maeve getting corrupted by unbound magic. Afraid of turning into a Revenant, a powerful but mindless and malevolent being of magic like the Lady, Maeve swears off doing magic. However, Ash—obsessed with what had happened—believes that she might know how to bring Maeve back into the magical fold. When Ash disappears, Maeve is led to the Isabella Gardner Museum, where she is entangled with the true reason why the paintings have never been recovered—they were being used as a seal to imprison the Lady and prevent her from killing witches of the marsh. Now, Maeve must find a way to fix the magic behind the seal, all while grappling with coven politics and confronting her fear of her magic.
I really liked this. I am incredibly easy to please when it comes to witches and magic. The atmosphere was very small-town spooky, especially considering that this is set in the marshes. There was romance in this, but I felt that it was a natural progression for the characters and their stories. I could see this as a movie or a limited TV series, it would be perfect for adapting to screen.
The pacing wasn’t too bad. I felt like there were places that required more depth—Ash and Maeve’s ritual; Constance and Rowena; Maeve’s grandmother and mother; Gabriel, his family, and his relationship with Maeve; Imani as a character. Imani, especially, felt underdeveloped and utilized to me. We get this impression that she is Maeve’s closest rival and is more deserving of the position of matriarch. I think we lose a bit of that emotional connection to her because she isn’t necessarily a part of the adventure until the end. I did like her monologue about how her race affects how the rest of the coven sees her and I wish we delved into that a little more. I think we lost out on a lot of depth and context because we were solely in Maeve’s POV and that was extremely clear during the final confrontation with Constance. Constance, it seemed to me, was more of a foil for Ash and Imani than to Maeve. Maeve was more a parallel to Rowena, who was literally haunting the narrative. I felt like the ending was a bit anti-climactic, especially the final confrontation with Constance, but I liked how the story was resolved! I generally had a great time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-ARC!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Started: July 27, 2026
Finished: July 28, 2026
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
✎ᝰ.ᐟ review
I love witches! Give me sisterhood! Give me a connection to nature! Give me messed up matrilineal dynamics!
Portrait of a Witch Undone is rooted in real historical events, specifically 1990 Isabella Gardner Museum heist, where 13 works of art were stolen and have never been recovered. In Portrait, K.S. Shay ties these missing paintings to a powerful coven of witches and a dark story about sisterhood and the things we would do for the power to protect our loved ones.
Maeve Ryan is the granddaughter of the current matriarch of the North Shores coven and its undisputed heir until a ritual-gone-wrong leads to her best friend, Ash, getting injured and Maeve getting corrupted by unbound magic. Afraid of turning into a Revenant, a powerful but mindless and malevolent being of magic like the Lady, Maeve swears off doing magic. However, Ash—obsessed with what had happened—believes that she might know how to bring Maeve back into the magical fold. When Ash disappears, Maeve is led to the Isabella Gardner Museum, where she is entangled with the true reason why the paintings have never been recovered—they were being used as a seal to imprison the Lady and prevent her from killing witches of the marsh. Now, Maeve must find a way to fix the magic behind the seal, all while grappling with coven politics and confronting her fear of her magic.
I really liked this. I am incredibly easy to please when it comes to witches and magic. The atmosphere was very small-town spooky, especially considering that this is set in the marshes. There was romance in this, but I felt that it was a natural progression for the characters and their stories. I could see this as a movie or a limited TV series, it would be perfect for adapting to screen.
The pacing wasn’t too bad. I felt like there were places that required more depth—Ash and Maeve’s ritual; Constance and Rowena; Maeve’s grandmother and mother; Gabriel, his family, and his relationship with Maeve; Imani as a character. Imani, especially, felt underdeveloped and utilized to me. We get this impression that she is Maeve’s closest rival and is more deserving of the position of matriarch. I think we lose a bit of that emotional connection to her because she isn’t necessarily a part of the adventure until the end. I did like her monologue about how her race affects how the rest of the coven sees her and I wish we delved into that a little more. I think we lost out on a lot of depth and context because we were solely in Maeve’s POV and that was extremely clear during the final confrontation with Constance. Constance, it seemed to me, was more of a foil for Ash and Imani than to Maeve. Maeve was more a parallel to Rowena, who was literally haunting the narrative. I felt like the ending was a bit anti-climactic, especially the final confrontation with Constance, but I liked how the story was resolved! I generally had a great time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-ARC!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Started: July 27, 2026
Finished: July 28, 2026
August 27, 2026
I was really intrigued by the idea of combining witchcraft with a real art heist, and the beginning definitely grabbed my attention. Unfortunately, around the halfway point, the pacing started to drag.
The FMC also came across as younger than I expected for 23.
I really liked the originality of the premise, but it ended up being just an ok read for me.
3 stars
The FMC also came across as younger than I expected for 23.
I really liked the originality of the premise, but it ended up being just an ok read for me.
3 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars. portrait of a witch undone is an urban fantasy that follows maeve, a witch who messed up a spell and is on the verge of going unbound, whose her best friend, ash, has recently disappeared. what makes the story really interesting is how the author incorporated a real unsolved art heist into the plot and the magic system.
reading about the use of the museum as an integral part of the world's magic system was such a wonderful experience but that said i have to admit: it did take me some time to really immerse myself and understand the world and workings of the magic system. given how much its tied to the heist (and unlike anything i've read before), it took me a couple of re-reads (of select sections) and alot of time to truly immerse myself in the book.
maeve's characterization and relationships slightly bothered me as well. i felt they weren't fleshed out to their fullest potential but they were still fun to read about.
all in all, the story has a very interesting premise and those interested in very unique magical worlds, especially those that sit at the intersection of witchcraft and art heists, might really enjoy this one. despite the 3.5 stars, i definitely will NOT be forgetting this one any time soon!
thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review
reading about the use of the museum as an integral part of the world's magic system was such a wonderful experience but that said i have to admit: it did take me some time to really immerse myself and understand the world and workings of the magic system. given how much its tied to the heist (and unlike anything i've read before), it took me a couple of re-reads (of select sections) and alot of time to truly immerse myself in the book.
maeve's characterization and relationships slightly bothered me as well. i felt they weren't fleshed out to their fullest potential but they were still fun to read about.
all in all, the story has a very interesting premise and those interested in very unique magical worlds, especially those that sit at the intersection of witchcraft and art heists, might really enjoy this one. despite the 3.5 stars, i definitely will NOT be forgetting this one any time soon!
thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews