Portrait of a Witch Undone

by K.S. Shay

For fans of Starling House and A Discovery of Witches with a Thomas Crown Affair twist: a contemporary New England coven hides the mysteries that lurk in the marshes north of Boston—and how they are connected to the largest unsolved art heist in modern history.

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Witches, Historical, Magical Realism

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 25, 2026

About the author

K.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.

Reviews

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

⋆˚꩜｡

pre-read : my request for an arc at netgalley and edelweiss was approved!! here goes to witches and mysterious museum paintings ⭑.ᐟ

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[fiona ☁️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kylie Niedermeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The comps to Harrow and Kingfisher don’t lie, Shay is a *gorgeous* writer. I loved this book 🥹♥️

[Sonia Koss · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up) This was such a unique contemporary fantasy, centered around the 13 paintings stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. The way the author blends witches and magic into a real life unsolved heist felt seamless and incredibly original. I genuinely haven’t read anything quite like it before.

My one critique is that there were moments where I struggled to fully picture the scenery. The writing is gorgeous and very intricate, but at times it felt almost too intricate, and I found myself rereading a few paragraphs just to be sure I was following what was happening. That said, it’s still a beautifully written, thoughtfully crafted story, and I’m so grateful I had the chance to read an eARC of it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Erewhon for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Jean Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Fun, twisty, original.

[Kourtney L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating world and character building that made for a book that I couldn’t put down.

It addressed some serious topics (namely loss, navigating relationships, decisions that aren't black and white) in a way that is digestible to adults or to teenagers/YA. The story felt fully fleshed out, incorporating real-world research about native people and covens. AND the (no spice) romance was catching and flowed with the plot.

Thank you, K.S. Shay for the opportunity to read this work of art prior to release! I loved it!

[Michelle R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maeve is a witch who, for some reason, is trying to keep herself from using magic. She is described as being in her early 20s, but she often reads more like a self-centered, brooding teenager. She is oppositional because she feels insecure about her ability to use magic. The narrative conveys this in a way that seems intended to make the reader share in her sense of risk or sadness, but those stakes are never fully explained, and her behavior comes across as more bratty than compelling.

Right away, you get the strong impression that Maeve’s version of events may not be entirely accurate because it’s clear she does not have all the information. This made it hard to trust her or relate to her, but she was still presumptuous, which made me find her rather unlikable. Maeve experiences strong fear and shame, but the danger in the present rarely feels pressing, and the past never feels particularly significant until the very, very end. This means that her initial fears seem unfounded, and her actions feel reckless rather than understandable.

A lot is thrown at the reader at the beginning with the assumption it will make sense later, but it never entirely does. On top of that, character development is unbalanced, and important information is not revealed in a way that helps the story along. So much is withheld that it makes it hard to invest emotionally for much of the book. While this may be intentional and meant to preserve an air of mystery, it doesn’t land and makes for a frustrating experience.

The coven conflict introduced early on is not anchored in enough context to make it impactful. Her parents are detached, her mother has ulterior motives, and her grandmother is cruel, which feels extreme and hard to believe without more context. Characters express disappointment in Maeve’s choices, and she is positioned as the Black Sheep of the coven, yet it feels arbitrary because the system or rules she supposedly violated haven’t been fully established. You keep waiting for it all to click, and by three-quarters of the way through, you realize you’re still waiting.

Gabriel’s character throughline is also uneven. At first, his presence seems like it will eventually make sense, but it never does. Information given about him is inconsistent, and we are misled about his motivations several times. Again, this may have been intended as misdirection, but Gabriel ends up feeling like a character who is not fully fleshed out.

The progression of his relationship with Maeve feels rushed, and for a third of the book, it isn’t clear why he’s even there. The lack of trust between them is overemphasized initially, and then the story pivots abruptly into romantic framing without sufficient buildup. Plus, he spends much of the book sketching a picture he doesn’t intend to show her — unsurprisingly, it’s a picture of her. But when did we go from neither of them trusting each other to catching feelings? A proper transition was needed.

Emmett is introduced as a clear villain, yet there’s little explanation for why the coven trusts him or takes his word over Maeve. Given how much the narrative emphasizes that covens are meant to be families who protect one another, this undercuts the worldbuilding. Since this is the only coven we see, their extreme fragility becomes the default model. Emmett arrives with his own group of witches, who are attempting to harness unbound magic — and may even be using it, though that’s never entirely clear — and yet he’s trusted anyway.

Maeve’s refusal to use magic is another source of frustration. If a character is powerful but restrained, there needs to be a compelling reason — especially when her abilities could resolve key conflicts. Otherwise, the reader is left watching characters struggle unnecessarily, which can feel more tedious than suspenseful. And when she eventually taps into unbound magic — which doesn’t happen until the final ten pages — it doesn’t serve as an effective deus ex machina; it lands flat.

The second half does improve as some elements are clarified, but the magic system is unclear, the story of the two sisters never fully coheres, the feather plotline is hard to track, and the paintings arc is confusing. The backstory of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum paintings is based on a true story and could have provided a fascinating narrative anchor. But it is discussed as if the reader already knows all the details, which I didn’t, and it didn’t give me any reason to really care. The repeated mentions of these paintings mostly felt like noise.

There are things that were enjoyable. While I don’t feel the story was perfect, it was still entertaining. I really liked Imani, and I felt like I understood her character fairly well even though she had a smaller role, because she was given a clear, singular focus throughout the book. Sam’s backstory was interesting, even if also vague, and I was intrigued by the use of gender-neutral pronouns with no explanation or introduction — very cool. Ultimately, the book contains intriguing ideas, but they are buried beneath underdeveloped characters and unclear explanations. I wanted it to work, and I kept hoping it would click, but it didn’t. There’s definitely some excitement here, and while this particular writing style may not have been for me, I would still encourage people to give it a try. That said, more of the book needs to be fleshed out before it feels complete enough to be satisfying.

[Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.]

[Leanne Poussard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches and art heists and the Power of Friendship!! Checked all my boxes. This novel had me on the edge of my seat, it was one of those rare ones that kept me up until 4am to finish it. I was thrilled to be able to read the early drafts and I’m so excited for everyone else to get to read it.

[Majestia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the release so I can relive the magic all over again! ✨ Thanks for kicking off my new obsession with art heists and the Gardner Museum. 💖

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for my review.)

Overall Rating: 4.2/5
Spice Level: 0.5/5
Character Growth: 3.5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Humor: n/a

Maeve, granddaughter of the coven's matriarch and the presumptive successor, has been struggling with her magic since a spell gone wrong. She's becoming unbound—a threat to her coven and those she loves. Maeve has a plan to fix the problem, but things go awry when her best friend thinks she can bring great power to their coven and find the missing Isabella Stewart Gardner paintings as well.

I had fun reading this. I was incredibly interested in the story and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to all of our characters. The plot was incredibly unique, and I liked that there wasn't a ton of worldbuilding or explanation of how their magic worked in order to understand the story. The author did an excellent job creating characters that weren't necessarily good, bad, or "morally gray". They simply were human, with human emotions and desires. Nobody was written as a caricature character—everyone had nuance.

One of the issues I had while reading was the author introducing every. Single. Character. By race/ethnicity. "A white woman with a black hat...a white boy with floppy hair...a black girl my age...a white lady...a white guy..." I think this was the author's attempt at being inclusive, but it was very jolting and in a novel that required a lot of imagination to follow the plot, it felt like the author didn't want us to have any imagination when thinking about the characters. The first chapter of the book used incredibly vivid language, but that style of writing faded quickly and made way for some seriously lame character descriptions.

The second issue I had with the story was that it was a little difficult to follow at times. The plot was strong, but there were a lot of moving pieces. I thought to myself at one point, "This reads like the author knows exactly what's happening and the back story of every single character, but they're having a hard time clearly relaying information to us." I was still able to enjoy the book a lot, but this isn't a book to read in a place with a lot of distractions.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portrait of a Witch Undone is the kind of novel that wraps you in its atmosphere from the first page—a lush blend of New England folklore, art‑world intrigue, and the aching vulnerability of a witch who has lost faith in her own power. Maeve Ryan is a wonderfully complex protagonist: once brilliant, now fractured, carrying the weight of a spell gone wrong and the wild, unbound magic slowly consuming her. Her desperation to rid herself of that power gives the story a poignant emotional core.

The world‑building is exquisite. The marshlands north of Boston feel alive—brackish, eerie, and threaded with the presence of the Lady of the Fens, a Revenant whose mythology is both chilling and strangely beautiful. The way the novel ties this supernatural lore to the real‑world Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist is clever and seamless, giving the story a fresh, unexpected edge. When Ash disappears through the empty frame of a stolen painting, the narrative shifts into something even more enchanting and dangerous.

The Other Marsh is a standout creation: a half‑world that feels dreamlike and deadly, full of secrets that echo through Maeve’s past and her coven’s history. Every step Maeve takes there feels weighted with consequence, and the tension builds with elegant restraint. The stakes—her sanity, her friendships, her very identity—are always palpable.

What lingers most is the novel’s emotional depth. This isn’t just a story about magic gone awry; it’s about forgiveness, the fragility of trust, and the courage it takes to face the parts of ourselves we’d rather abandon. The writing is lyrical without ever losing clarity, and the mystery at the heart of the stolen masterpieces unfolds with satisfying precision.

A captivating, atmospheric read perfect for fans of Starling House, A Discovery of Witches, and anyone who loves their fantasy infused with art, folklore, and a touch of the uncanny.

My thanks to KS Shay, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Abbi :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of this novel was one of the most unique that I have seen in a while. It is a fun combination of historical fiction and fantasy. The story is based around the largest unsolved art heist in America at the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston, Massachusetts. While this story is fictional, it was very cool to involve a real life event so prominently in the story.

Our FMC , Maeve, is a disgraced witch from the North Shore witch coven, which is one of the many witch covens spread around the states. There was an incident last year with her best friend, Ash, and she refuses to practice magic to the disgrace of her family. One day, Ash thinks she made of discovery regarding the missing artwork from the museum leading her to be involved in a dangerous plot. With the help of Gabriel, an uncovened witch from another coven, Maeve embarks on a journey to save her.

The heist vibes were immaculate. I love how we had a group of people that did not fit together whatsoever initially come together to find a way to save their coven. I am a sucker for found family. The lore of the coven was also explained fairly well in a simplistic manner that was easy to follow. I thought the pacing was great as well with a great balance of action sequences.

The only thing that left a little to be desired was the romance. I never felt much a spark with the characters, and I feel as if it didn't add much to the story. It could've been entirely omitted and I still would gave enjoyed the story just the same.

Really enjoyable witchy story. Perfect to read in the fall months!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review!! All thoughts are my own.

[kellylikestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC!

I had a pretty fabulous time reading this book, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't cause of the cold medicine. I started off by listening to it, which made me fall asleep, but that's a "I can't to audiobooks" thing and not a "it's so boring thing." I think. It did feel a bit slow to pickup but once I got into it, I was in. I loved that platonic and familial love is the driving factors for several points, rather than romantic love. We need more of that.

The way that witches were explored was very different, and I enjoyed the marsh setting. It felt very unique to me.

I think the main reasons I'm not rating this as 5 stars is because of the way characters are initially described, as well as a copious amount of punctuation errors. I remember listening to the first character introduction and then having to snap back to it cause I wasn't sure if what I heard was right. It was right. It was a bit icky.

I also didn't even cry so obviously can't give it 5 stars! (slight sarcasm. I'm sick and emotions are not something I have at the moment so maybe I would have on a regular day)

All in all, very enjoyable. If this gets turned into a film or something, it needs to be 2D animated. Only the squash and stretch of 2D animation could pull off some of the things described.

[Shani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.


I enjoyed this book, but at the same time, I struggled with it. I read it over the course of a week, flying through half of it in a single day and then finding it hard to push through the rest. I’m not sure if that was on me or the book itself. It’s definitely a unique story—the basic plot (though there’s nothing basic about it) centers on a witch, the granddaughter of the Coven’s matriarch, whose magic has recently started feeling wrong—“unbound,” as it’s called. Unbound magic is dangerous; it can transform you into a strange creature that feeds on magic, which is essentially the main “villain” of the story. There were plenty of elements I really liked, such as the incorporation of the real-world theft of paintings, which was an interesting touch, and the setting, which worked well. However, toward the end, when the action really picks up, it feels like there’s both too much information and not enough at the same time. This might be one of those books that benefits from a second read to fully take in all the details, but unfortunately, it’s not one I feel compelled to revisit

[Sam Rude · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is difficult to succinctly review as I firmly believe there’s a good book in there somewhere but nevertheless I did not have as good of a time as I was expecting. The connection between art and magic is where this books shines, especially in the initial foray into the art but the characters (especially our protagonist Maeve) were a bit of a let down. Maeve is painfully passive and her refusal to communicate with her best friend Ash (and everyone else’s refusal to communicate with everyone else) started to really grate on me in the latter half of the book. The timeline and everything felt so compressed that it started to lessen the tension for me.

This books is for you if world building outranks character work, if you have a connection to Degas and/or Rembrandt or passive characters don’t bothMaeve does grow as a character as the story progresses and I was satisfied by the end. This just wouldn’t be my top recommend of the year (although maybe just the initial trip into the Other Marsh is worth a recommend.).

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC through netgalley.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I made it 108 pages in before deciding this book is not for me. I’m still not sure if it’s me or the book.

I really enjoyed the premise of the novel, somewhat modern day witch craft meets a real life art heist, and a missing best friend. There is a lot of unique world-building in this book that I haven’t seen before. That being said, I think there was a lot of information and not all of it was helpful to the reader. The writing, at times, seemed like a steam of consciousness, which caused confusion and boredom on my part. I noted based on other reviews that I am alone in this opinion. I really felt like I was forcing myself to get through the book and it failed to capture my interest.

So to end my review, I would say if the plot intrigues you, definitely give it a go! Witchcraft x Art Heist is really unique and I can see how others might enjoy this.

[Natalie Johanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing and had me guessing for most of the story. The writing was lyrical and descriptive. I ended up rooting for characters I didn't expect to. The story of sisterhood and family was a great theme throughout the story that I really enjoyed.

The bad guy, if you can say she's the bad guy, was fleshed out and well developed. The main character, Maeve, was wonderfully written and her struggles felt real and weighted.

As someone who does not particularly enjoy art history or...art heists... this story was so well written I loved every aspect of it.

It was spooky and creepy and touched just a toe into horror. The magic system and world building was excellent. I loved the aspect of spell crafting that leaned into memories and feelings.

The ending opened the door for a sequel and I really hope we get one!

[Katie Story · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 3⭐️)

When I saw this book on NetGalley, I was very excited for the premise; however, I ended up with mixed feelings. The concept is strong and genuinely unique, blending witchcraft with a real-life art heist. I especially enjoyed how much art and art history were incorporated into the story and the fact that the heist is inspired by an actual event added an engaging layer of realism.

I moved quickly through the first part of the book, then struggled with the pacing in the latter half. While the coven lore and magic was interesting, the last half felt both rushed and overloaded with information. The romance also didn’t fully work for me and didn’t add much to the overall story.

Overall, this is a creative and ambitious novel with some compelling elements, particularly for readers interested in witchy stories and art history, but pacing issues kept it from fully landing for me.

[Sid · Rating 5 out of 5]

{4.75}

I was so excited to get approved for this ARC because the premise sounded right up my street. I LOVE a witchy story. I’m very happy to say I absolutely devoured this. I didn’t know anything about the Gardner Museum heist going in, but it was fascinating and added such an interesting layer to the story.

The plot felt really well thought out, and I was hooked pretty much the entire time. All of the characters stood out in their own way and felt compelling, and I loved how the magic system was handled. It was unique but still really easy to understand, which made it super immersive. The threat throughout the book felt genuinely intimidating too, so I was basically on edge the whole way through (in a good way).

It’s also just really well written, which made it such an enjoyable reading experience overall. I’m genuinely so grateful I got approved for this ARC because I had such a great time with it!

[afreenreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pre read 💌

This book completely enchanted me easily one of the most distinctive and imaginative stories I’ve read in a long time. From the very first page I was pulled into a world that feels alive , damp, eerie, and humming with secrets beneath the surface.The concept alone had me hooked art tangled with magic, witchcraft woven through marshlands, and the mystery of an unsolved painting heist. The writing is whimsical, richly descriptive, and magical. There’s wild magic stolen masterpieces and
the story unfolds like a painting being carefully restored. I especially loved the emphasis on friendship and sisterhood. The romantic thread is there too but it’s quiet and steady built on small sincere moments rather than grand gestures. It feels real.This was atmospheric and completely immersive. I truly loved every moment of it. ✨

[Betsy Fulmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. There were times when I felt like I was very lost in the story and had to go back and reread an entire section because I found myself distracted and didn't take in anything I read because I completely lost interest. I do feel like parts were unnecessarily long. I loved the scene development. I could really picture the museum and the other museum. The characters were well developed. The story itself was just a little off at times for some reason. I didn't know if it was the style of writing or just the topic in general that I just couldn't stay engaged with. Overall, it was good. I would recommend for young adults maybe. Definitely not written for a more mature audience.

[rachel x]

"For fans of Alix E. Harrow and T. Kingfisher, a contemporary fantasy about best friends and ambitious witches who investigate a dangerous entity who lurks in the marshes of Boston's North Shore—only to discover a magical connection to the most famous unsolved art heist in the United States, when 13 artworks were taken from the Isabella Gardner Museum in the 1990s."

[LoveYourShelf (LAB☺) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(ARC provided by the publisher; opinions are my own).

Witches, a museum heist, and a creepy fable come to life. Written with stunning prose, a contemporary fantasy with twists and turns that will have you staying up late reading.

[Mrytle Savo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and nicely paced. It’s a fantasy with cleverly added true crime elements. The main characters are likable, mostly avoiding tropes typical of this genre. Some minor romance elements are present but are not the focus relationships. Overall an enjoyable read.

[Chloe]

I am absolutely in love. This was the best kind of atmospheric, and made me ache in all the best ways. Utterly gorgeous.

[D. Dux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covens, art history, moody broody men and more—this book has absolutely everything you’d ever want in a fantasy based on the biggest art heist in history. The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the stunning prose hit straight to your heart.

I was so lucky to read an early copy of this book and K.S Shay is an author to watch because this debut is stunning! ❤️

[Emma]

*sees reference to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum*
*slams add to TBR button*