First and foremost, I love the reference to any "classic" book, particularly on the darker side, such as "The Portrait of Dorian Gray." I was very speculative about how the story would unfold from the beginning. When I thought the story was going in one direction, it pleasantly shocked me as an avid reader who can usually predict how a plot will resolve.

I will not deny I was rooting for Mae and Dev in a platonic sense at the beginning and found the "tension" and romance to be a little bit forced halfway through my reading of the story. Yet, midway through the second part of the story, their relationship and chemistry were believable. As for the twist of the brothers, Dev and Ravi's motives switched, and my jaw dropped in disbelief and sadness, especially with Nik and Dev's love thrown into the mix.

From a plot narrative, the story was compelling and well thought out; the only caveat I have is that the story towards the end was written to feel like a cliffhanger and a continuation of the story. As the reader, I would be content with a more tragic yet romantic ending, which allows for a more intriguing end to the character's journey.

In my opinion, the most fascinating and terrifying character was "the woman in the shadows." Visually and narratively, she was the character I saw the most in my imagination; I would've loved more background on her and her motives or her relationship with the painting. I could feel her presence from the beginning of the story and through the title of the story itself.

Overall, this story was written meticulously, and its strengths come from the mysteries of the painting itself and the horrors and tragedies that lie ahead for its characters.

I also enjoy any mention of Florence + The Machine, and I think the mention of her song, My Boy Builds Coffins, is the perfect theme song to this story in every single way!

A missing sister. A mysterious boy. And a painting that holds the truth beneath its peeling edge...

Great Y.A. horror! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Portrait of a Shadow is one of the best books I've read lately! I binge read this in one setting. I was hooked to find out what was the secret behind the white painting, what happened to Inez and could Mae solve this? The characters were easy to connect to and be betrayed by. The questioning of the line between good and evil made this novel a bit more than my traditional junk thrillers. A must read.

A big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mae hasn't given up on looking for her missing big sister Inez and can't believe she would just disappear like that. So when the opportunity to go into Inez's apartment to search for clues presents itself, Mae jumps on it. She runs into her sister's neighbor, Dev, and works with him to figure out what happened to Inez and they run into a cast of characters on their adventure.

What I liked:
-This was quick, entertaining read that draws you into the mystery aspect
- I really loved Mae as a character as well as the other characters we meet along the way. They truly have multiple layers to them and are relatable
- My favorite parts of the book were when we got to see the background and foundations for some of the characters and how they ended up being how they are. The historical fiction aspects were interesting and I loved learning about Dev's background and, being of South Asian descent myself, I enjoyed the inclusion of Hindi throughout his story.

Some things I didn't like:
- It has an open ending so if you like those then this book will be a satisfying read. I personally don't like open endings but it didn't take away from the story. I just wanted to be able to get some more answers
- There are some chapters that hint to the creation of the painting and its powers but then we never get a follow up on that. We never get to know how this painting and its powers came to be (unlike Dorian Gray where we know), why one of our characters is the only one who gets something from the painting and no one else, who the lady who made the painting even was, and what happened to her?

This book is marketed as YA horror but I would categorize it more as a mystery/historical fiction. It's loosely based on The Picture of Dorian Gray but I felt more of a mystery/investigative/adventure theme than horror. We did get one chapter of the POV of the painting but it still didn't quite finish the job. I still enjoyed the book but just as a different genre than what it was proposed to be.

Overall, this was a great read and I recommend giving it a try if this sounds like it's up your alley!

*3.5 stars*

Portrait of a Shadow was an intriguing read. It had the potential to be so much more, but it was still a very good book.

These characters are written so well and very complex. I liked the flashbacks and interlude chapters, they added so much depth to the story. However, it felt very rushed. If this book had many been a bit longer and more fleshed out, it would have been a 5 star read. I also wouldn’t classify this as a horror. There were nothing really creepy or scary. It reads more like a thriller or mystery.

While there were some faults with this book, I did ultimately enjoy reading it. The writing style was captivating and I really didn’t want to put it down.

What a fun and unique story. The concept of this really intrigued me and it did not disappoint. This wasn't quite as scary as I had hoped for, but overall a fun read. This is in your wheelhouse if you like: diverse characters, mysteries, lgbtqia+ friendly, POC friendly, open endings, difficult family dynamics, cursed objects

I’m going to be in the minority for this one but I just didn’t love it. For being horror, it didn’t have a creepy vibe and most of the time I had to force myself to read it even with how short it was. I was just kind of bored. I was pretty disappointed with this. I think it would have been better for the main character to learn information and then we go back in time to see what happened instead of being told what happened and know before the main character. I was really hoping to like this. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review.

Portrait of a Shadow had an interesting storyline premise but ultimately just didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't slow per say but there just also wasn't a lot going on. It also definitely didn't have the horror vibes I was hoping for.

3 stars

I find myself very frustrated with this book. It has all the elements that could come together to make a great and unique story. But it just didn’t.

I do want to clarify that this could just not be the story for me. I feel like fans of the characterizations and writing in books like Belladonna and Fourth Wing would not have the same problems with this that I do.

The biggest issue I have with this is the way the story is structured. We often find out most of the vital information before our main character, Mae, does. This takes all the tension and mystery out of scenes as the reader is now waiting on our main character to learn what we already know. In addition to this, there are certain parts that are added in that don’t add at all to the characterization, plot, or world building. I found myself asking what the point of the scenes were if not just to add to the overall word count. Because otherwise they added nothing relevant.

So much of the story takes place in the past, and off screen. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But in this kind of story, where we are meant to feel a lot of tension, and this deep lingering sense of horror over what is going on, it led to a lack of a lot of life and depth. I don’t know who these characters are, and because of that I don’t really care what happens to them.

Much of the story involves Mae’s sister, Inez. I almost feel like we should be focused on her story in this book instead of Mae’s, and might’ve gotten a more interesting story through her point of view. The romance between Mae and Dev felt very surface level, we really didn’t get to know Dev at all, and so I didn’t really feel connected to him. All we knew about him in the present is that Mae considers him to be extremely attractive and he knows her sister. Concerning May, I also didn’t feel very connected to her, and I felt very frustrated that she was letting a lot of things go, and trusting this very strange boy, simply because she found him attractive. It’s one thing if she was a more naïve teenage girl, but Mae is 19, still young, but old enough to know she is making very concerning decisions. It doesn’t help that the the main plot only covers about two days in the present, which does not leave much time for us to get to know the characters or for them to develop opinions and feeling for each other.

*Spoilers Ahead*

There are many unanswered questions after the story concludes. Open ended or unanswered questions are completely fine, but this book centers around a painting that we know very little about in the end. We have no idea what happened to the original artist, and why her painting of all white paintings became a cursed object. We also never find out the connection between the shadow woman and her connection to the painting or artist. The most frustrating part of this book is that I actually really liked the surprise twist at the end, but again, because of the way the book was structured, it did not have the impact it was meant to. We find out the truth from a flashback scene in 1891 instead of with our main character, Mae, in the present. So we again already know the big reveal, while our main character has no idea. We’re just waiting on her to figure out what we already know. It’s very frustrating when I can see just how good this could have been.

I really struggled with this book, having to drag myself back to it despite it being so short, and I find myself disappointed with the end result. I wouldn’t count this author out though. She is clearly clever and has unique ideas. I do think I would give her next book a try.

thank you to netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for allowing me to read this book. I loved the elements of this book.

Overall rating: 3.75

Mae, a young woman fresh out of high school, refuses to give up on her missing sister, Inez. As she delves deeper into Inez’s world and final moments, she is drawn into a complex mystery involving uncovered clues, Inez’s neighbor, Dev, and a blank, white painting.
_____

Honestly, going into this novel virtually blind was a great decision. Not knowing what to expect definitely allowed me to be drawn further into the mysterious aspects. It’s important to note that the book, while interesting, is not what I would consider to be a horror or romance. The book definitely leans into the paranormal, but has romantic and horror undertones instead of a full fledged horror and romance. These aspects don’t take away from the novel, but the addition of suspense would help fit the “horror” narrative more accurately.

Character wise, I’m 50/50. To me, Mae is a perfect embodiment of a young, determined 18 year old. While she’s dead set on finding her sister, it’s also clear that she’s just a budding young adult, and may respond and act as such. One of my favorite aspects is that Mae is not only working to find her sister, but she is also working to find herself. I’m a sucker for character development, and I love how Mae learns to establish herself. She realizes how complacent she’s been in her own life and reality, conforming to the needs and desires of everyone else but herself, which influences her actions at the end of the novel. Dev!! I absolutely refuse to spoil anything about him, but just know his background and history is really really interesting, and was actually one of the main factors that kept me reading. However, some characters, like Ravi and even Inez, felt like they were added to further the plot instead of existing as fully fleshed out people. Even after the book, I continue to have questions about Inez’s motives/actions and Ravi’s emotions. These questions do point to an air of mystery, which might be the idea (?)

Some areas are open ended and leave room for interpretation, harping on the ~mystery~ and leaving room for a sequel. Would definitely recommend to those looking for a quick, fast-paced read with elements of secrets, mystery, and paranormal influences.

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and Meriam Metoui for this arc to read and review.

Regarding the comparisons to "The Picture of Dorian Gray," I agree, Having read Dorian Gray, I sensed a shared vibe and theme. The narrative immediately caught my interest, especially with Mae's compelling personality and the diverse characters introduced along the journey. While I appreciated the storyline and its subplots exploring other characters, I hesitate to categorize the book as horror. It failed to evoke a profound sense of creepiness or fear. Anticipating the final version, I hope for heightened suspense. My only reservation lies in the cliffhanger and open-ended conclusion, a feature that doesn't particularly resonate with me. Despite these shortcomings, the process of piecing together the story's elements was enjoyable. The potential for a sequel is evident, and I'm inclined to explore it, hoping to find the closure I seek.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC for my honest review.

Portrait of a Shadow is a book with such an intriguing plot and can we talk about that stunner of a cover!? Because WOW!

This book is a real quick read with a great pace and likeable characters (and unreliable, which I love). While I’m still not sure I believe it should be considered a horror, it was still enjoyable. On the other side, I love open-ended endings, but I still wish there was a little bit more explanation for the Lore. There is also a train sequence that felt like it was out of left field maybe in an attempt for more horror/action, but this plot progression missed its mark if it was supposed to add to the lore/sense of suspense. At least for me.

That being said, the build-up to the climax was well done as well as the climx itself. It actually was my favorite part with regards to the writing and tone. I would have liked more of it scattered throughout the book, particularly in the scenes with the painting. There were so many opportunities to do so, but instead it was more of a quiet mystery. Which is fine, but I think if you are going to market the book as a horror, readers should be able to expect a darker tone than what was actually in the writing. For me, the horror missed the mark here. But for a sophomore book, Meriam Metoui did a great job and YA readers looking for a great mystery book will definitely enjoy it. So for that reason I will round my rating up to 4 stars.

NetGalley review//
When I finally found the time to sit down and read this book, I finished it in a few days which I think is a testament to the easy to follow writing that encompasses an intriguing storyline. You're immediately thrown into a scavenger sort of hunt for Mae's missing sister, Inez. Along the way you have a parallel story of two brothers and a mystery that ends up not being as predictable as you might think. There's hinting clues as to what it could be with a 'Picture of Dorian Gray' spin that keeps the pages turning. It hits every mark with characters that are complex, diverse, and complicated but easy to enjoy. Only critique would be that this didn't really hit the horror aspect it was advertised as and it takes a moment to get going with certain side plots such as a suspected romance feeling tiresome or not really making sense with the urgency of everything. However, the ending is worthwhile, making it an overall quick and enjoyable read.

I found "Portrait of a Shadow" on NetGalley and the cover immediately caught my attention. A few chapters in and the story of Dorian Gray popped into my mind, weirdly enough the book is found in the possession of the missing sisters studio.
This is a great YA mystery involving a young girl named Mae who's older sister (Inez) goes missing. A white canvas painting found in her sister's closet is the focus of this journey that Mae finds herself on.
Along the way she meets Dev, a boy around her age, who lives next door to Inez and offers to help with her search.
Is Dev someone she can trust?
Portrait of a Shadow has lots of twists and turns, the history of the white painting takes you back and forth in time and it all comes to a crazy head at the end.
Poor Mae doesn't know who to trust, and your left wondering if she'll ever find her sister.
I highly recommend this book to both young readers and adults who love mystery and suspense!

I wouldn’t necessarily think horror when reading this book. But it was honestly a thrill to the end with quite an open ending. I really liked the main character and the general plot of the story plus the fast paced movement. I think this is something to really sit for and you’ll be done before you know it. Fantastic representation as well.

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

Her sisters disappearance is wrapped around a mysterious painting.

I got this ARC free from netgalley so my review will be my own and honest.
I ended up DNF'ing this book. I dont want to bash the book so I gave it a 3 star rating for room to improve. I wanted to finish it and I kept pushing myself to do so but I got a little more than 50% and I just couldn't do it. The premise of this book has so much potential, portrait of dorian grey vibes, but my problem was with the 2 characters. Their relationship was rushed and awkward from the very beginning and it didn't get better as the book went on. The flashbacks were nice at first but became slightly repetitive and really didn't help with the story line.

I’m not going to lie, I requested this arc because of the cover because I definitely judge covers. This one caught my eye solely because being captured in mirrors and paintings seems terrifying to me and I was intrigued.

I saw many reviews saying it was loosely based on the Picture of Dorian Gray, I would agree. I have listened to the audiobook of Dorian Gray and I would said it has the same vibe/theme.

Mae does not believe her missing sister, Inez, would have left without a trace. Mae travels to her abandoned apartment in NYC for clues. She meets Dev, her sister’s neighbor and together, they go on a hunt to find answers about her sister’s disappearance and how this abandoned portrait frame ties into the whole story.

The book captured my attention from the start and I did really enjoy Mae’s personality, and the characters we were introduced to along the way. I liked the story and the subplots we get from the background of other characters however I wouldn’t say the book itself is a horror story. I wasn’t terribly creeped out nor scared throughout. I do hope the final copy will be a bit more scarier and I’d love to read the final version when it comes out! The only thing I don’t love is a cliffhanger/open ended scenario, which you do get with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Meriam Metoui for the opportunity to read this arc! I look forward to reading other material by this author!

What an enchanting story!

The story revolves around Mae, who refuses to accept her older sister Inez's disappearance as a lost cause. As the police investigation stalls and her parents move on, Mae's determination to find Inez leads her to an intriguing discovery - a mysterious white canvas hidden in Inez's studio. The closer Mae gets to the painting, the more it seems intertwined with her sister's vanishing.

Metoui's storytelling is spellbinding. The layers of mystery and intrigue that surround the canvas and Inez's last steps create an atmosphere of suspense that is both eerie and romantic. Mae's decision to follow her sister's path, accompanied by a mysterious boy who claims to have been Inez's neighbor, sets the stage for a thrilling scavenger hunt.

As the story unfolds, secrets from the past resurface, and Mae becomes entangled in a web of questions that should have remained unanswered. 'Portrait of a Shadow' explores the lengths we are willing to go to uncover the truth and the sacrifices we make for the ones we love.

My experience reading 'Portrait of a Shadow' was nothing short of enthralling. Meriam Metoui has crafted a story that keeps readers guessing, with characters you can't help but root for. If you're a fan of romantic and eerie mysteries that delve into the depths of human determination and love, this book is a must-read.