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Gilded Monsters #2
Charming Devil
The painting that has kept Dorian Gray flawless for over a century is beginning to fall apart, saturated and rotted by his life of reckless decadence. Desperate, he seeks out the only person who might be able to save Baz Allard. She's a talented young painter who just inherited her aunt's house and studio in Charleston—and she happens to be a direct descendant of Basil Hallward, Dorian's first love, and the man who created the magical portrait. Baz has the same gift as her ancestor, but for deeply personal reasons, she has vowed never to paint anyone's likeness, and she refuses Dorian's commission.
As Dorian tries to persuade Baz that the money and prestige he offers are worth breaking her vow, he and Baz become aware of something else awakening in the coastal city. Dangerous forces, long dormant, have been stirred up by Baz herself…and perhaps by some mutual enemy hiding in the shadows. As tensions rise and desire flares ever-hotter, Baz and Dorian become enmeshed in a complex net of conflicting motives, messy mistakes, and a growing, desperate passion, with only one question burning between Does anyone, even the love seared deep into your very soul, deserve the burden of eternal life?
As Dorian tries to persuade Baz that the money and prestige he offers are worth breaking her vow, he and Baz become aware of something else awakening in the coastal city. Dangerous forces, long dormant, have been stirred up by Baz herself…and perhaps by some mutual enemy hiding in the shadows. As tensions rise and desire flares ever-hotter, Baz and Dorian become enmeshed in a complex net of conflicting motives, messy mistakes, and a growing, desperate passion, with only one question burning between Does anyone, even the love seared deep into your very soul, deserve the burden of eternal life?
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2025
106 people are currently reading
3238 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca F. Kenney
72 books2,861 followersRebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
February 23, 2025
Haven't read Dorian grey but this should be illegal.
I'm going to keep it short but this was honestly unbearable to read like I have no idea how I managed to make it this far. It was a little entertaining but that was it. The characters were not it. Dorian was such a disappointment and Baz did not click either and I did not feel the chemistry between them at all, the plot could be considered fun or intriguing enough for someone to continue but besides that nothing about this book was that gripping. I'm really bummed about it cuz I was expecting more from this book and I hoped to enjoy it.
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In the mood to read a retelling and this one is a retelling of 'The picture of Dorian Grey' (which I have not read 😝) im excited to start this!
*Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks for giving me an E-Arc*
I'm going to keep it short but this was honestly unbearable to read like I have no idea how I managed to make it this far. It was a little entertaining but that was it. The characters were not it. Dorian was such a disappointment and Baz did not click either and I did not feel the chemistry between them at all, the plot could be considered fun or intriguing enough for someone to continue but besides that nothing about this book was that gripping. I'm really bummed about it cuz I was expecting more from this book and I hoped to enjoy it.
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In the mood to read a retelling and this one is a retelling of 'The picture of Dorian Grey' (which I have not read 😝) im excited to start this!
*Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks for giving me an E-Arc*
October 20, 2025
noooooooope✋🏻 an abomination to dorian gray
TIKTOK🤡 why in the hell dorian gray would be making thirst traps and dance trends on tiktok✋🏻 plus he shows his skin care on there😭😭 pls why did the author wrote this and thought yeah that sounds good🤡
the jealousy from his other side pieces, random monsters, zero chemistry between dorian and baz and most importantly fmc being dorian’s one and only love basil’s great nephew✋🏻 gross thank you
TIKTOK🤡 why in the hell dorian gray would be making thirst traps and dance trends on tiktok✋🏻 plus he shows his skin care on there😭😭 pls why did the author wrote this and thought yeah that sounds good🤡
the jealousy from his other side pieces, random monsters, zero chemistry between dorian and baz and most importantly fmc being dorian’s one and only love basil’s great nephew✋🏻 gross thank you
February 25, 2025
It should be a crime to make a straight retelling of Picture of Dorian Gray.
Edit: I get it, they're queer. I posted the OG before release. Aside from only including the queer aspect in marketing after several people online pointed out that this is now the second time this past year that a "retelling author" has erased the MM plotline that is crucial to the original story. But something doesn't sit right changing a famous MM story to an MF just so it'll sit better with your audience. I personally don't like it, and that is my opinion. Maybe it would have been better in more experienced hands. Argue with the wall.
Edit: I get it, they're queer. I posted the OG before release. Aside from only including the queer aspect in marketing after several people online pointed out that this is now the second time this past year that a "retelling author" has erased the MM plotline that is crucial to the original story. But something doesn't sit right changing a famous MM story to an MF just so it'll sit better with your audience. I personally don't like it, and that is my opinion. Maybe it would have been better in more experienced hands. Argue with the wall.
February 27, 2025
I enjoyed this one more than i did the first. One of the things i like about retellings is the fact that i get to learn more about mythology that i never knew. This is a Dorian retelling and i had no idea what to expect but i liked it and the lore behind it. We have the fmc who is an upcoming painter with magic so she doesn’t paint portraits and people. The mmc is this bisexual immortal being whose life span is dependent on a portrait. When the portrait starts to deteriorate he goes to the fmc to try to get her to paint him another one of himself.
I thought the romance was and progressed well, yes they are attracted to each other which of course since the mmc us like the most beautiful man in the world 😂. I liked how they were working to find out the history between the painting and the magic in the fmc. I also liked that the fmc did not agree to the deal and the conversations on immortality that she forced the mmc to have. It really helped to show his character development towards the end. Overall a cute and steamy retelling that was not too long. Thanks to sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc!
I thought the romance was and progressed well, yes they are attracted to each other which of course since the mmc us like the most beautiful man in the world 😂. I liked how they were working to find out the history between the painting and the magic in the fmc. I also liked that the fmc did not agree to the deal and the conversations on immortality that she forced the mmc to have. It really helped to show his character development towards the end. Overall a cute and steamy retelling that was not too long. Thanks to sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc!
November 26, 2025
I started out by listening to the audiobook on Libby but I finished the book by reading the ebook on Kobo. As always, my honest thoughts and opinions are directly below.
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This is a modern-day retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray based in Charleston, SC. The FMC is Baz, who is asked by Dorian Gray to replace his portrait when he realizes that it's starting to decay. However, she's not going to make convincing her to help very easy.
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I rated this book on Fable as 3.5 stars instead of 4 stars because of Dorian himself. I know he's supposed to be an douche canoe but I feel like he was a bit too much for me. I know the man is supposed to be a jerk but that was just...too much for me.
I was not a fan of Dorian at all and my opinion of him went downhill as time went on. I was hoping Baz would stay away from him but I knew better than to hope for that. I knew she would eventually go back to him but I wasn't expecting anything that happened at the end of the book.
I should have seen Vane's idiocy at the end and should have seen it coming from a mile away. I feel bad for the man, honestly, since he felt like he was jilted at every turn but did he really need to go so far to ruin Dorian's life for what he did?
I mean, I understand the need to harm him, I really do. I understand why he wanted to harm the one thing that means more to Dorian than anything else in the world but did he really need to put Baz in the middle of it? It just doesn't add up to me.
I still wonder if there was more at play when it comes to what made Vane try to kill Dorian. I wonder if someone else may have pushed him into taking action like that other than being on a boat-load of drugs.
I don't think he would have thought to take matters into his own hands like that if someone else hadn't pushed him toward it. Well, someone other than Lloyd-Henry. I still wonder if that man is going to come back as well.
I felt like his demise was too easy and he's going to come back in a future book. There's no way he won't come back with the way things happen in book #3 in this series, which I've already read as an ARC. I wouldn't be surprised if Lloyd-Henry makes another appearance in book #4, honestly.
I honestly wished more happiness for Baz than what she got and felt so bad when she found Ms. Dunwoody right before her death. I cried at that part since Ms. Dunwoody reminded me a little of my paternal grandmother. I can't imagine the horror of finding her in the state she was in.
Honestly, I'd say I prefer book #1 over this book. I don't know why but I think it's just because I liked the characters in book #1 more than I liked Dorian and Baz. That may just be me, though. I wouldn't recommend this book, honestly, just because I hate Dorian with a passion.
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This is a modern-day retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray based in Charleston, SC. The FMC is Baz, who is asked by Dorian Gray to replace his portrait when he realizes that it's starting to decay. However, she's not going to make convincing her to help very easy.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
I rated this book on Fable as 3.5 stars instead of 4 stars because of Dorian himself. I know he's supposed to be an douche canoe but I feel like he was a bit too much for me. I know the man is supposed to be a jerk but that was just...too much for me.
I was not a fan of Dorian at all and my opinion of him went downhill as time went on. I was hoping Baz would stay away from him but I knew better than to hope for that. I knew she would eventually go back to him but I wasn't expecting anything that happened at the end of the book.
I should have seen Vane's idiocy at the end and should have seen it coming from a mile away. I feel bad for the man, honestly, since he felt like he was jilted at every turn but did he really need to go so far to ruin Dorian's life for what he did?
I mean, I understand the need to harm him, I really do. I understand why he wanted to harm the one thing that means more to Dorian than anything else in the world but did he really need to put Baz in the middle of it? It just doesn't add up to me.
I still wonder if there was more at play when it comes to what made Vane try to kill Dorian. I wonder if someone else may have pushed him into taking action like that other than being on a boat-load of drugs.
I don't think he would have thought to take matters into his own hands like that if someone else hadn't pushed him toward it. Well, someone other than Lloyd-Henry. I still wonder if that man is going to come back as well.
I felt like his demise was too easy and he's going to come back in a future book. There's no way he won't come back with the way things happen in book #3 in this series, which I've already read as an ARC. I wouldn't be surprised if Lloyd-Henry makes another appearance in book #4, honestly.
I honestly wished more happiness for Baz than what she got and felt so bad when she found Ms. Dunwoody right before her death. I cried at that part since Ms. Dunwoody reminded me a little of my paternal grandmother. I can't imagine the horror of finding her in the state she was in.
Honestly, I'd say I prefer book #1 over this book. I don't know why but I think it's just because I liked the characters in book #1 more than I liked Dorian and Baz. That may just be me, though. I wouldn't recommend this book, honestly, just because I hate Dorian with a passion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2025
Excuse me while I read every book by @rebeccafkenneybooks because this was art 🤌🏻
As someone who has loved the Dorian Gray story for as long as I can remember, this dark and spicy modern retelling was EVERYTHING. I loved how Dorian was an influencer on TikTok and had an OnlyFans 😂 and Baz was such an amazing FMC, she was a goth artist that stood firm on her word and I loved it!
I can’t wait to dive into more of the Gilded Monsters universe, next up is the Gatsby retelling! This book was a spicy meatball so you have been warned!
As someone who has loved the Dorian Gray story for as long as I can remember, this dark and spicy modern retelling was EVERYTHING. I loved how Dorian was an influencer on TikTok and had an OnlyFans 😂 and Baz was such an amazing FMC, she was a goth artist that stood firm on her word and I loved it!
I can’t wait to dive into more of the Gilded Monsters universe, next up is the Gatsby retelling! This book was a spicy meatball so you have been warned!
January 17, 2025
2025 is the year of trying brand new authors to find some gems,
“Charming devil” was a fun read! I’m always skeptical about retellings (especially hades and Persephone because we have one too many of those thank yeewww),
However the gothic vibes to the Dorian Gray story has always intrigued me so I wanted to take a chance on this one and it payed off!
The characters were fun, I liked how Baz character had a bit of a gender reversal feel to her character with her independent and boss lady style whilst keeping her anonymity amongst the majority of the art scene with her unusual naming.
Dorian was of course arrogant and charming and I couldn’t help like him from the start 🫠😂
I also enjoyed the concept or magic abilities and beings in the modern day world it had a nice contrast to the everyday mundane of first world problems.
If you want fun reading experience vibes I’d recommend giving this a try!
**I actually didn’t realize this was book number 2 in a series so upon looking back this can definitely be read as a stand-alone and I believe entails a total different storyline and set of characters**
Thank you to sourcebooks and Rebecca Kenney for the EARC!
Publish date - February 11th 2025
“Charming devil” was a fun read! I’m always skeptical about retellings (especially hades and Persephone because we have one too many of those thank yeewww),
However the gothic vibes to the Dorian Gray story has always intrigued me so I wanted to take a chance on this one and it payed off!
The characters were fun, I liked how Baz character had a bit of a gender reversal feel to her character with her independent and boss lady style whilst keeping her anonymity amongst the majority of the art scene with her unusual naming.
Dorian was of course arrogant and charming and I couldn’t help like him from the start 🫠😂
I also enjoyed the concept or magic abilities and beings in the modern day world it had a nice contrast to the everyday mundane of first world problems.
If you want fun reading experience vibes I’d recommend giving this a try!
**I actually didn’t realize this was book number 2 in a series so upon looking back this can definitely be read as a stand-alone and I believe entails a total different storyline and set of characters**
Thank you to sourcebooks and Rebecca Kenney for the EARC!
Publish date - February 11th 2025
Want to read
July 25, 2024The painting that has kept Dorian Gray flawless for over a century is beginning to fall apart, saturated and rotted by his life of reckless decadence. Desperate, he seeks out a talented young painter who happens to be a direct descendant of Basil Hallward, Dorian's first love, and the man who created the magical portrait.
October 19, 2025
I'm sorry, but who thought this was a good idea? 😭
July 15, 2025
This story kept me invested from cover to cover. Idk what it was about it but I just couldn’t stop reading it.
The fmc, Baz, was so relatable lol. The mmc ,Dorian, was a deplorable character omg 😭 like he was a real morally grey mmc until he wasn’t. Which I’m glad for tbh lmao. Seeing him grow was satisfying.
The fantasy element low-key didn’t make any sense to me. Like I got the part about his painting and baz’s role in it but beyond that, the vampires and Lloyd and the sea creature??? It was a mess.
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC! ♥︎
The fmc, Baz, was so relatable lol. The mmc ,Dorian, was a deplorable character omg 😭 like he was a real morally grey mmc until he wasn’t. Which I’m glad for tbh lmao. Seeing him grow was satisfying.
The fantasy element low-key didn’t make any sense to me. Like I got the part about his painting and baz’s role in it but beyond that, the vampires and Lloyd and the sea creature??? It was a mess.
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC! ♥︎
January 17, 2025
⭐️3.5 🌶️2
I really loved aspects of this book and thought that others could use some work. It was definitely a slow start and I thought I was stuck in an intro for a very long time. The actual story for me didn’t really seem to start or really come together until the last 15% or so. I think that was intentional, but I needed a bit more earlier on to really stay engaged in the characters and story line.
🌹retelling
🌹only you can save me
🌹only one bed
🌹dislike to lovers
🌹supernatural power
Baz:
“I’m not really a coaster girl” ??? This part was odd. She started out trying to be the “I’m not like other girls” girl, but she did grow on me. I ended up liking her at the end.
Dorian: I really didn’t care for Dorian the whole time and he was kind of a little b*tch. Even at the end I still didn’t think there had been enough proof that he was worth it or even a decent character. And I say this being someone who prefers the MMC to be morally grey or black.
I also don’t like it when the characters smoke, gives me the ick.
I do love a retelling though and, while I’m not an expert in the original story, this one seemed pretty good!
Thank you NetGalley and Rebecca Kenney for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved aspects of this book and thought that others could use some work. It was definitely a slow start and I thought I was stuck in an intro for a very long time. The actual story for me didn’t really seem to start or really come together until the last 15% or so. I think that was intentional, but I needed a bit more earlier on to really stay engaged in the characters and story line.
🌹retelling
🌹only you can save me
🌹only one bed
🌹dislike to lovers
🌹supernatural power
Baz:
“I’m not really a coaster girl” ??? This part was odd. She started out trying to be the “I’m not like other girls” girl, but she did grow on me. I ended up liking her at the end.
Dorian: I really didn’t care for Dorian the whole time and he was kind of a little b*tch. Even at the end I still didn’t think there had been enough proof that he was worth it or even a decent character. And I say this being someone who prefers the MMC to be morally grey or black.
I also don’t like it when the characters smoke, gives me the ick.
I do love a retelling though and, while I’m not an expert in the original story, this one seemed pretty good!
Thank you NetGalley and Rebecca Kenney for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2025
I haven’t read the classic. I know absolutely nothing about it. Did I want to read the retelling? Absolutely! Did I devour it? Oh yes I did!
I love the twisted way Rebecca reimagines the classics. The supernatural vibe is exquisite, the action is riveting, the connections, powerful.
I loved to discover Baz and Dorian, loved to share a part of their lives for a small period of time. And I cannot wait for the next instalment (and can’t say more without spoiling myself…. Let’s just say that this ending is cliffhanging!)!!
TW for drug use, alcohol, death, murder, blood and gore, ageism, death of a parent, suicide (off-page), kidnapping.
Many thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I love the twisted way Rebecca reimagines the classics. The supernatural vibe is exquisite, the action is riveting, the connections, powerful.
I loved to discover Baz and Dorian, loved to share a part of their lives for a small period of time. And I cannot wait for the next instalment (and can’t say more without spoiling myself…. Let’s just say that this ending is cliffhanging!)!!
TW for drug use, alcohol, death, murder, blood and gore, ageism, death of a parent, suicide (off-page), kidnapping.
Many thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 16, 2024
Received the NetGalley ARC for Charming Devil and I absolutely couldn’t put it down. I love me some morally grey and this Dorian Gray retelling was 😘🤌🏼🩶 I enjoyed the paths both main characters trudged thru, seeing each POV and how they each dealt with their own trauma while the story intertwined them hooked me. Rebecca penned so many layers of magic and emotions. Can’t wait for books 3 and 4! I’m here for the gothic vibes!
February 21, 2025
I pretty much flew through this book because I really enjoyed the writing style. I never read anything about Dorian Gray so I dont have anything else to compare this character to but I had a love hate relationship with him just like Baz and of course in the end I loved him! When Rebecca described Dorians original painting I couldnt help but laugh not because it sounded dumb but because reading the stark differences between the portrait and the living Dorian was insane. The teeth is what made me chuckle lol
November 9, 2025
3.5 stars rounding up!
It does have a lot of modern day pop culture references which put me off a bit at first, but once we got into the story, I didn't mind it. The characters were fascinating and I can't wait for the new addition to the series coming next year!
It does have a lot of modern day pop culture references which put me off a bit at first, but once we got into the story, I didn't mind it. The characters were fascinating and I can't wait for the new addition to the series coming next year!
January 23, 2025
For me, another winner from this author. I just really jive with her writing, characters, romance, you name it. I really enjoy her takes on classics, fairy tales, and the fae.
While this does stand lonely very well, it does sit within the same world as the first book in this series and I love how things are connected.
This is a modern take on Dorian Gray. I admit, I haven’t read the classic but am very familiar with it. This was very enjoyable, so I hope people who are familiar with the original classic will give this one a try. (And for the record Dorian is NOT straight lol. Great pan/bi rep in this book with our MCs!)
I also loved the blend of fae folklore with the magic and modern setting.
This was fun, un-put-downable, steamy, and a great romance escape for me.
I received an arc from the publisher. My thoughts are known.
While this does stand lonely very well, it does sit within the same world as the first book in this series and I love how things are connected.
This is a modern take on Dorian Gray. I admit, I haven’t read the classic but am very familiar with it. This was very enjoyable, so I hope people who are familiar with the original classic will give this one a try. (And for the record Dorian is NOT straight lol. Great pan/bi rep in this book with our MCs!)
I also loved the blend of fae folklore with the magic and modern setting.
This was fun, un-put-downable, steamy, and a great romance escape for me.
I received an arc from the publisher. My thoughts are known.
February 1, 2025
If you’re a fan of spicy fantasy retellings Rebecca Kenney is an absolute must read! I’ve now read four of her books and she never disappoints. Kenney knows how to write the most evocative, thoughtful prose, taking the details (e.g. Sibyl, Vane, “Lloyd-Henry”) and essence of the original subject matter and spinning it something totally unexpected and unique.
Baz is trying to make a new life for herself in Charleston, SC, away from her traumatic past, and her gift she’s vowed never to use again. Enter the gorgeous, debaucherous Dorian Gray who has other plans for her. Swept into his orbit of excess, she must decide if his soul is worth saving, and possibly destroy her own in the process.
The mystery was interesting especially paired with the setting. From restaurants to beaches, Charleston is described in great loving detail, a unique blend of Southern Gothic vibes and Irish folklore that kept me guessing on the plot all the way until the end. Baz’s magic built upon the conceit of the classic source material in really inventive ways.
I loved how grounded and practical Baz was, how she wasn’t a moral paragon either - she had darker impulses herself, and could admit to being sucked in by Dorian’s world and charms, while still maintaining her integrity. Also her identity as an artist really leapt off the page, without feeling overdone. Dorian however was my favorite, watching him go from vain, manipulative and absolutely terrified of growing old to maybe not CHOOSING death but choosing Baz. The philosophical conversations felt evocative of the source material while also being modern.
Of course unlike in the original novel this is romance, and Dorian and Baz get at least a partial HEA. I was surprised though how much was left unresolved! This may be a standalone but it’s definitely a part of a bigger narrative.
Baz is trying to make a new life for herself in Charleston, SC, away from her traumatic past, and her gift she’s vowed never to use again. Enter the gorgeous, debaucherous Dorian Gray who has other plans for her. Swept into his orbit of excess, she must decide if his soul is worth saving, and possibly destroy her own in the process.
The mystery was interesting especially paired with the setting. From restaurants to beaches, Charleston is described in great loving detail, a unique blend of Southern Gothic vibes and Irish folklore that kept me guessing on the plot all the way until the end. Baz’s magic built upon the conceit of the classic source material in really inventive ways.
I loved how grounded and practical Baz was, how she wasn’t a moral paragon either - she had darker impulses herself, and could admit to being sucked in by Dorian’s world and charms, while still maintaining her integrity. Also her identity as an artist really leapt off the page, without feeling overdone. Dorian however was my favorite, watching him go from vain, manipulative and absolutely terrified of growing old to maybe not CHOOSING death but choosing Baz. The philosophical conversations felt evocative of the source material while also being modern.
Of course unlike in the original novel this is romance, and Dorian and Baz get at least a partial HEA. I was surprised though how much was left unresolved! This may be a standalone but it’s definitely a part of a bigger narrative.
January 13, 2025
This book is way better than the first one—which isn’t saying much because I really didn’t like the first. And if you’re wondering why I even read this one, it’s because I already suffered through the first book and figured, why not? Might as well see if it improves. Spoiler alert: it does…kind of.
The story feels like it’s stuck on a loop. It keeps circling the same territory, and just when you think something big is about to happen, it goes right back to where it started. It’s predictable, but not bad enough to put down. My biggest gripe? Bringing Gatsby back into this mix. He feels like the literary equivalent of gum stuck to your shoe—impossible to ignore and somehow always there. Without him, this book would’ve been miles better.
If you’re a fan of the first book, though, this is probably going to be a five-star read for you. For me, it was just okay—a fun enough distraction but not the kind of story I’ll be recommending or revisiting.
The story feels like it’s stuck on a loop. It keeps circling the same territory, and just when you think something big is about to happen, it goes right back to where it started. It’s predictable, but not bad enough to put down. My biggest gripe? Bringing Gatsby back into this mix. He feels like the literary equivalent of gum stuck to your shoe—impossible to ignore and somehow always there. Without him, this book would’ve been miles better.
If you’re a fan of the first book, though, this is probably going to be a five-star read for you. For me, it was just okay—a fun enough distraction but not the kind of story I’ll be recommending or revisiting.
November 17, 2024
The idea of this book was quite clever. Dorian Gray has done so many bad things that his portrait is deteriorating: so he needs Baz to use her magical abilities to paint a new portrait that is bound to his soul. They strike an agreement that he has two weeks to convince her to do it, and of course, feelings start to get in the way.
There’s a subplot that at times feels almost like it is more important than the main plot, and the end is almost entirely dedicated to this subplot. This is a standalone with connections to other standalones, and for the final, official resolution, it seems like you might need to read another book in the series. That being said, this book does have a conclusion, so you don’t need to read multiple books in the series to get just about everything you need.
I both liked and hated Baz and Dorian. Dorian is Dorian, so he’s exactly as expressed for him. Baz, however, can be a little annoying because she tries to force her ideas on other people while simultaneously beint disgusted when other people try to force their ideas on her.
Theres some supernatural elements involved in this story aside from the magic of Dorian Gray’s painting.
If you really liked The Picture of Dorian Gray, you might not like this book, but if you’re a fan of fantasy romance, supernatural beings, and a dark love story, this one is for you.
Thank you very much to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Rebecca Kenney for an ARC of this book.
There’s a subplot that at times feels almost like it is more important than the main plot, and the end is almost entirely dedicated to this subplot. This is a standalone with connections to other standalones, and for the final, official resolution, it seems like you might need to read another book in the series. That being said, this book does have a conclusion, so you don’t need to read multiple books in the series to get just about everything you need.
I both liked and hated Baz and Dorian. Dorian is Dorian, so he’s exactly as expressed for him. Baz, however, can be a little annoying because she tries to force her ideas on other people while simultaneously beint disgusted when other people try to force their ideas on her.
Theres some supernatural elements involved in this story aside from the magic of Dorian Gray’s painting.
If you really liked The Picture of Dorian Gray, you might not like this book, but if you’re a fan of fantasy romance, supernatural beings, and a dark love story, this one is for you.
Thank you very much to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Rebecca Kenney for an ARC of this book.
December 18, 2024
Wow, this was such a fun and riveting read! As a big fan of The Picture of Dorian Gray, I couldn’t resist this fantasy/spicy retelling. The dark and mysterious plot, paired with a complicated romance, had me hooked from the start. I loved the folklore elements and the appearances of other literary characters—it added so much depth and left me excited for more stories in this universe. The characters were fantastic (esp the FMC's cat), and the story was packed with interesting plot points. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
May 30, 2025
Happy Pride to one of the wildest and worst books I’ve ever read lol. Impulse purchase at Barnes and Noble because modern day “I can fix him” Dorian Gray was too enrapturing to ignore. Reading this book was like watching a car accident, in the sense that I couldn’t look away from it.
Dorian Gray as a modern day TikTok dancer is pretty goated though, ngl
Dorian Gray as a modern day TikTok dancer is pretty goated though, ngl
March 4, 2025
I am already a huge fan of Rebecca F. Kenney but when she came out with her first Gilded Monsters book, a modern take on the Great Gatsby with a healthy dose of her signature fantasy and lots of heat, I was hooked.
Needless to say, I was so excited when I heard the next book in this series would be a modern Southern spin on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Let me tell you that Rebecca has once again hit it out of the park. I didn't think that I could like the second book more, but I was absolutely captivated from the first chapter and left floored when I got to the end. She weaves a story that is simultaneously entertaining, suspenseful and filled with fragile and painful truths.
In Charming Devil, we meet Baz Allard, a young artist whose penchant to capture the beauty in the dark and decaying is tempered by the supernatural skill she's sworn never to tap into again. With her pink hair and her punk aesthetic, Baz is a wonderful mix of brash honesty and heartbreaking vulnerability, shaped by a past that has kept her from ever truly being able to move forward.
Baz's control on her carefully crafted existence is challenged when the handsome yet mysterious Dorian Gray steps into her studio with an intimate tie to her lineage and the one request she has vowed never to take on again--a portrait. Rebecca's take on Dorian Gray retains important connections to the original classic character, but steeps him in the vices, indulgences and decadence of modern day. He is at once charming and endearing while also being aloof, extremely selfish and tragically caught in his constant pursuit of eternal youth.
Against the backdrop of a rising, dark supernatural force that seems intent on sucking Baz into its center, Dorian and Baz challenge each other to question the very tenants that have guided their individual existences. Dorian has long abandoned hope that his soul is something worth rescuing. However, Baz awakens in him a sense of hope that he has not felt in hundreds of years. Through Dorian and Baz's journey, Rebecca takes on themes of what it means to age and how facing one's past trauma can unlock the potential of one's future. The question is will it be a lesson that Baz and Dorian can learn in time or will history be doomed to repeat itself?
I would be remiss if I did not talk about the very palpable setting that Rebecca creates in this story. The Southern gothic backdrop of Charleston provides the perfect mix of a town whose rich, dark history and modern day opulence, allows the more fantastical aspects of Kenney's tale to feel so naturally at home that one would not blink an eye to see some of these supernatural beings walking side by side with its every day inhabitants.
Once again Rebecca has delivered a twist on a classic that is fresh, moody and beautiful in how it equally embraces the darker, uglier aspects of life as much as the gentle and hopeful. It is the type of dark fantasy romance that leaves you wanting more. For those who read book 1, keep your eyes out for some interesting connections but this can definitely be read as a standalone. I can't wait for the next story in the series, which is going to be Rebecca's take on another one of my favorites, Wuthering Heights.
Needless to say, I was so excited when I heard the next book in this series would be a modern Southern spin on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Let me tell you that Rebecca has once again hit it out of the park. I didn't think that I could like the second book more, but I was absolutely captivated from the first chapter and left floored when I got to the end. She weaves a story that is simultaneously entertaining, suspenseful and filled with fragile and painful truths.
In Charming Devil, we meet Baz Allard, a young artist whose penchant to capture the beauty in the dark and decaying is tempered by the supernatural skill she's sworn never to tap into again. With her pink hair and her punk aesthetic, Baz is a wonderful mix of brash honesty and heartbreaking vulnerability, shaped by a past that has kept her from ever truly being able to move forward.
Baz's control on her carefully crafted existence is challenged when the handsome yet mysterious Dorian Gray steps into her studio with an intimate tie to her lineage and the one request she has vowed never to take on again--a portrait. Rebecca's take on Dorian Gray retains important connections to the original classic character, but steeps him in the vices, indulgences and decadence of modern day. He is at once charming and endearing while also being aloof, extremely selfish and tragically caught in his constant pursuit of eternal youth.
Against the backdrop of a rising, dark supernatural force that seems intent on sucking Baz into its center, Dorian and Baz challenge each other to question the very tenants that have guided their individual existences. Dorian has long abandoned hope that his soul is something worth rescuing. However, Baz awakens in him a sense of hope that he has not felt in hundreds of years. Through Dorian and Baz's journey, Rebecca takes on themes of what it means to age and how facing one's past trauma can unlock the potential of one's future. The question is will it be a lesson that Baz and Dorian can learn in time or will history be doomed to repeat itself?
I would be remiss if I did not talk about the very palpable setting that Rebecca creates in this story. The Southern gothic backdrop of Charleston provides the perfect mix of a town whose rich, dark history and modern day opulence, allows the more fantastical aspects of Kenney's tale to feel so naturally at home that one would not blink an eye to see some of these supernatural beings walking side by side with its every day inhabitants.
Once again Rebecca has delivered a twist on a classic that is fresh, moody and beautiful in how it equally embraces the darker, uglier aspects of life as much as the gentle and hopeful. It is the type of dark fantasy romance that leaves you wanting more. For those who read book 1, keep your eyes out for some interesting connections but this can definitely be read as a standalone. I can't wait for the next story in the series, which is going to be Rebecca's take on another one of my favorites, Wuthering Heights.
April 9, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC.
I liked this one a bit better than the vampire Gatsby retelling, though it has a lot of the same issues. The Irish folklore used to explain the painting was a nice touch, with Wilde being a Irish writer and all. As much as the romantic leads are both queer, it feels weird to take a very homosexual novel (for its time) and make the central couple a traditional m/f pairing. The biggest issues I had with the book is how little is done with the supernatural threat until the final, rushed conclusion, as well as the use of modern pop culture stuff that dates it horribly. Dorian as a TikTok influencer, when that app is still in limbo here in the States, so is kinda cringe. These things are used so frequently to shove in your face that it's a modern retelling, when simply using current tech like cell phones and laptops, being able to video-call someone near anywhere, would establish that without dating it so much. I will also say, I like Baz as a character, but Dorian remains insufferable, and kinda still a terrible person by the end.
I liked this one a bit better than the vampire Gatsby retelling, though it has a lot of the same issues. The Irish folklore used to explain the painting was a nice touch, with Wilde being a Irish writer and all. As much as the romantic leads are both queer, it feels weird to take a very homosexual novel (for its time) and make the central couple a traditional m/f pairing. The biggest issues I had with the book is how little is done with the supernatural threat until the final, rushed conclusion, as well as the use of modern pop culture stuff that dates it horribly. Dorian as a TikTok influencer, when that app is still in limbo here in the States, so is kinda cringe. These things are used so frequently to shove in your face that it's a modern retelling, when simply using current tech like cell phones and laptops, being able to video-call someone near anywhere, would establish that without dating it so much. I will also say, I like Baz as a character, but Dorian remains insufferable, and kinda still a terrible person by the end.
February 17, 2025
This book was SO GOOD! Did I ignore household chores because I couldn't put it down? Absolutely. I went into this story completely blind and have never read the original. This had me hooked right from the beginning, and I loved everything about the story, characters, and writing style. 10/5 stars!
February 3, 2025
I had been desperately looking forward to this one, and it didn't disappoint! While not my all-time favorite from Rebecca Kenney, it met all my expectations for a dark retelling that's spicy and dramatic. I loved that it wasn't really an enemy to lovers, but Dorian Gray was still portrayed as a villain. It was a fresh take on throwing an enemy into a story and making the reader fall in love. I thought the plot was clever, and there were times I wanted to slap both of the main characters, but I loved the angst and conflict. Another super standalone in the connected series that was an emotional ride. Loved it!
The only part I didn't quite love was that the pacing at the end didn't give enough, I could have used a little more. But that's because I loved it and wanted more.
The only part I didn't quite love was that the pacing at the end didn't give enough, I could have used a little more. But that's because I loved it and wanted more.
February 11, 2025
✨ 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨
📖: Charming Devil (Gilded Monsters, 2)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
In Charming Devil, we meet Baz, an up and coming artist with a painful past and a secret gift she’s sworn to never use again. Seeking new beginnings in Charleston, she meets the notorious, hedonistic, and beautiful Dorian Gray. And beautiful and young he’ll always remain…until he discovers that the magic within the painting housing soul is withering from centuries of vices, and with it, his time left.
As Dorian tries to convince Baz to use her gift to save him, they both get more than they bargained for.
Drawn into the world of the elite, wealthy, and glamourous, will Baz lose her own soul in the process?
Tropes:
👀Dual POV
🖼️Modern retelling
🫂Forced proximity
🩶Morally grey MMC
✨Celtic folklore
🛏️One bed
📚Interconnected standalone
🌶️: moderate
Baz has been fascinated and drawn to the mystical and macabre. While her art feeds her soul, it also draws out some of her most painful memories.
With his otherworldly beauty and magnetism, Dorian is used to being worshiped all while remaining detached to human strife and emotional attachments. But who is the man that lies beneath the perfect facade? Is there anything left of his soul that is redeemable?
Rebecca delicately peels back the layers for both characters, diving into their vulnerabilities and perceptions of each other. Both process guilt and loss differently yet are haunted all the same by both. They also struggle with their conflicting emotions and the scorching chemistry between them.
The narrative scrutinizes society’s obsession with beauty, youth, and wealth and how vanity can corrupt the soul. The brilliant infusion of Celtic folklore and Southern Gothic vibes enriches the eerie and supernatural elements of this tale.
Charming Devil is a dark, alluring, and sinfully delightful modern twist on The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Huge thanks to the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
📖: Charming Devil (Gilded Monsters, 2)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
In Charming Devil, we meet Baz, an up and coming artist with a painful past and a secret gift she’s sworn to never use again. Seeking new beginnings in Charleston, she meets the notorious, hedonistic, and beautiful Dorian Gray. And beautiful and young he’ll always remain…until he discovers that the magic within the painting housing soul is withering from centuries of vices, and with it, his time left.
As Dorian tries to convince Baz to use her gift to save him, they both get more than they bargained for.
Drawn into the world of the elite, wealthy, and glamourous, will Baz lose her own soul in the process?
Tropes:
👀Dual POV
🖼️Modern retelling
🫂Forced proximity
🩶Morally grey MMC
✨Celtic folklore
🛏️One bed
📚Interconnected standalone
🌶️: moderate
Baz has been fascinated and drawn to the mystical and macabre. While her art feeds her soul, it also draws out some of her most painful memories.
With his otherworldly beauty and magnetism, Dorian is used to being worshiped all while remaining detached to human strife and emotional attachments. But who is the man that lies beneath the perfect facade? Is there anything left of his soul that is redeemable?
Rebecca delicately peels back the layers for both characters, diving into their vulnerabilities and perceptions of each other. Both process guilt and loss differently yet are haunted all the same by both. They also struggle with their conflicting emotions and the scorching chemistry between them.
The narrative scrutinizes society’s obsession with beauty, youth, and wealth and how vanity can corrupt the soul. The brilliant infusion of Celtic folklore and Southern Gothic vibes enriches the eerie and supernatural elements of this tale.
Charming Devil is a dark, alluring, and sinfully delightful modern twist on The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Huge thanks to the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.
February 3, 2025
I decided to start a new to author, a genre I don't really pick up often and wanted to try more of this year and needless to say... I'll be back for more of Rebecca's books!
All the stars!! I was quite impressed with how this book kept me engaged and wanting more! I loved it! Dorian and Baz were end game for me from the very beginning. He needed saving from the very beginning and I was all here for a strong, independent woman to come sweeping in and saving the day. And can we talk about this cat and it's name! Omg I died ☠️🤣! Screwtape, love it!
I didn't know this was book two going in so now I'll need to go back and read the first book as well as hunt down her other books!
All the stars!! I was quite impressed with how this book kept me engaged and wanting more! I loved it! Dorian and Baz were end game for me from the very beginning. He needed saving from the very beginning and I was all here for a strong, independent woman to come sweeping in and saving the day. And can we talk about this cat and it's name! Omg I died ☠️🤣! Screwtape, love it!
I didn't know this was book two going in so now I'll need to go back and read the first book as well as hunt down her other books!
February 14, 2025
❤ Spicy Modern Dorian Gray Retelling
❤ New Adult
❤ Bi/Pan Rep
❤ Celtic Folklore
❤ Southern Gothic Atmosphere
❤ Dangerous Powers
❤ Luxury and Glamour
Dorian Gray is running out of time. He's been flawlessly immortal for centuries, thanks to his magical portrait that absorbs all the wickedness and pain that has been dealt to his body. But the portrait is starting to decay and eventually he will too. To save himself, he has to convince a girl with magical powers and a descendant of the original painter to create a new portrait. But Baz isn't so sure Dorian is worthy of his so-called immortality.
I love retellings of classics and this one is no different! Dorian Gray is selfish, hedonistic, and powerful yet is brought to his knees by the one person who can save him. Baz. She wants him to be a better person capable of caring about others instead of him continuing with his self-indulging ways. Their push and pull dynamic was fun to witness and I greatly enjoyed their whole relationship! They are complete opposites yet compliment each other so well. I was also intrigued with the Celtic folklore aspect of the plot and thought it gave the story a unique twist!
Charming Devil is the second book in the Gilded Monsters series and can be read as a standalone, although the timeline runs parallel to the first book. There are some mentions of Gatsby and Daisy from the first book in this one.
Also loved that this book takes place in Charleston (one of my fave towns) and mentions Columbia, SC quite a bit (I use to live in Columbia).
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc! ❤
❤ New Adult
❤ Bi/Pan Rep
❤ Celtic Folklore
❤ Southern Gothic Atmosphere
❤ Dangerous Powers
❤ Luxury and Glamour
Dorian Gray is running out of time. He's been flawlessly immortal for centuries, thanks to his magical portrait that absorbs all the wickedness and pain that has been dealt to his body. But the portrait is starting to decay and eventually he will too. To save himself, he has to convince a girl with magical powers and a descendant of the original painter to create a new portrait. But Baz isn't so sure Dorian is worthy of his so-called immortality.
I love retellings of classics and this one is no different! Dorian Gray is selfish, hedonistic, and powerful yet is brought to his knees by the one person who can save him. Baz. She wants him to be a better person capable of caring about others instead of him continuing with his self-indulging ways. Their push and pull dynamic was fun to witness and I greatly enjoyed their whole relationship! They are complete opposites yet compliment each other so well. I was also intrigued with the Celtic folklore aspect of the plot and thought it gave the story a unique twist!
Charming Devil is the second book in the Gilded Monsters series and can be read as a standalone, although the timeline runs parallel to the first book. There are some mentions of Gatsby and Daisy from the first book in this one.
Also loved that this book takes place in Charleston (one of my fave towns) and mentions Columbia, SC quite a bit (I use to live in Columbia).
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc! ❤
December 19, 2024
I’ll admit, initially, I was a little put off by the idea of a retelling of The Portrait of Dorian Gray without the queer elements included. I should have known better, because of all the novels I have read by Rebecca Kenney, I have never once been disappointed by the respect for the source material and the execution of a well written story. This was no different. Particularly so when we consider that it isn’t so much a retelling as it is a continuation of Dorian’s story. Being the immortal man that he is. Hallward’s painting still exists, albeit is reaching a point of decomposition due to Dorian’s hedonistic and fast-living ways, that Dorian is forced to scour the world for a new painter, one who can achieve what Basil did before them thus allowing him to continue his frenzied debauchery.
He ultimately finds his new artist in Baz, a painter that has been forbidden from ever painting the likeness of another human being due to a bloodline ability that tethers the subject’s soul to the painting. A gift, or curse, that Baz was informed of far too late and only after her parents both passed on does, she truly understand the whispering premonitions that have plagued her for her entire life. Naturally, she wants nothing to do with Dorian – who, in the modern era, is a pompous and social media in touch influencer.
Dorian, however, is convincing in the way that he can creep into Baz’s mind, coaxing her into a life she’s craved for much of her adult life, and ultimately coerces her into a Faustian bargain that, once fulfilled, would give them both what they desire most: Dorian, a way to continue his hedonistic and immortal ways, and Baz, an entrance into the right avenues of the art world.
Overall, the book was well-written and enjoyable for me. I loved the characterization of a modern Dorian Gray, and I even enjoyed Baz as a female-contemporary to Basil. Albeit, her tendency to try and encourage her beliefs and understandings onto others became a bit of a nuisance until quite a bit into the novel. I think Baz’s sensibilities are justified, however, given what she’s experienced and the way she’s steeled herself to the world as a result.
What always enraptures me in anything written by Kenney, though, is the world she crafts. Even when the setting is modern, or the world we know, there is a particular edginess to it that makes it undeniably different. And this was no exception. There is a unique mythology that comes along with the Gilded Monsters and a secondary villain to Dorian that contributes to a compelling story full of twists, turns and just the right amount of spice.
As always, I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Rebecca Kenney for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Five out of five moons, no question. And a further emphasis that if Rebecca Kenney writes it, then I will read it.
☽◯☾
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 | 5/5
He ultimately finds his new artist in Baz, a painter that has been forbidden from ever painting the likeness of another human being due to a bloodline ability that tethers the subject’s soul to the painting. A gift, or curse, that Baz was informed of far too late and only after her parents both passed on does, she truly understand the whispering premonitions that have plagued her for her entire life. Naturally, she wants nothing to do with Dorian – who, in the modern era, is a pompous and social media in touch influencer.
Dorian, however, is convincing in the way that he can creep into Baz’s mind, coaxing her into a life she’s craved for much of her adult life, and ultimately coerces her into a Faustian bargain that, once fulfilled, would give them both what they desire most: Dorian, a way to continue his hedonistic and immortal ways, and Baz, an entrance into the right avenues of the art world.
Overall, the book was well-written and enjoyable for me. I loved the characterization of a modern Dorian Gray, and I even enjoyed Baz as a female-contemporary to Basil. Albeit, her tendency to try and encourage her beliefs and understandings onto others became a bit of a nuisance until quite a bit into the novel. I think Baz’s sensibilities are justified, however, given what she’s experienced and the way she’s steeled herself to the world as a result.
What always enraptures me in anything written by Kenney, though, is the world she crafts. Even when the setting is modern, or the world we know, there is a particular edginess to it that makes it undeniably different. And this was no exception. There is a unique mythology that comes along with the Gilded Monsters and a secondary villain to Dorian that contributes to a compelling story full of twists, turns and just the right amount of spice.
As always, I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Rebecca Kenney for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Five out of five moons, no question. And a further emphasis that if Rebecca Kenney writes it, then I will read it.
☽◯☾
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 | 5/5
January 14, 2025
Charming Devil is Dorian Gray like you’ve never seen him before!
At its core, Charming Devil is a bold and unique retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, but Rebecca Kenney takes plenty of creative liberties that make this version a fresh and exciting experience. If you’ve read Beautiful Villain, you already know the kind of imaginative storytelling to expect. While Charming Devil stands alone, fans of Kenney’s other works will appreciate the fun extras sprinkled throughout.
Dorian Gray in this story is exactly what you’d hope for: a man with an insatiable appetite for debauchery and indulgence. Initially, I wondered how he would fare as a romantic lead, but Rebecca Kenney worked her magic, turning a seemingly one-dimensional character into someone complex and evolving. Watching Dorian transform into a multi-faceted, relatable figure was nothing short of remarkable.
The plot evolves alongside the characters, blending the familiar beats of The Picture of Dorian Gray with unexpected paranormal twists. Hidden abilities, tragic backstories, and surprising villains make for an engaging narrative. The paranormal elements are woven seamlessly into the story without overpowering it, so even readers who don’t usually gravitate toward supernatural tales will find plenty to enjoy. For those who do, the rich history and Charleston, SC setting add layers of intrigue and atmosphere.
One notable aspect is the ending, which comes together suddenly and with an explosive intensity. While it may feel abrupt, it doesn’t detract from the story’s overall impact. The last 60 pages are a whirlwind, packed with unexpected twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. It’s a thrill ride from start to finish, and you won’t know what to expect as the story hurtles toward its conclusion.
Charming Devil is a must-read for fans of the Gilded Monsters series and anyone looking for a fresh, captivating take on a classic tale. Rebecca Kenney delivers yet again, proving her talent for reimagining timeless stories with creativity and flair. Don’t miss this exhilarating addition to the series!
At its core, Charming Devil is a bold and unique retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, but Rebecca Kenney takes plenty of creative liberties that make this version a fresh and exciting experience. If you’ve read Beautiful Villain, you already know the kind of imaginative storytelling to expect. While Charming Devil stands alone, fans of Kenney’s other works will appreciate the fun extras sprinkled throughout.
Dorian Gray in this story is exactly what you’d hope for: a man with an insatiable appetite for debauchery and indulgence. Initially, I wondered how he would fare as a romantic lead, but Rebecca Kenney worked her magic, turning a seemingly one-dimensional character into someone complex and evolving. Watching Dorian transform into a multi-faceted, relatable figure was nothing short of remarkable.
The plot evolves alongside the characters, blending the familiar beats of The Picture of Dorian Gray with unexpected paranormal twists. Hidden abilities, tragic backstories, and surprising villains make for an engaging narrative. The paranormal elements are woven seamlessly into the story without overpowering it, so even readers who don’t usually gravitate toward supernatural tales will find plenty to enjoy. For those who do, the rich history and Charleston, SC setting add layers of intrigue and atmosphere.
One notable aspect is the ending, which comes together suddenly and with an explosive intensity. While it may feel abrupt, it doesn’t detract from the story’s overall impact. The last 60 pages are a whirlwind, packed with unexpected twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. It’s a thrill ride from start to finish, and you won’t know what to expect as the story hurtles toward its conclusion.
Charming Devil is a must-read for fans of the Gilded Monsters series and anyone looking for a fresh, captivating take on a classic tale. Rebecca Kenney delivers yet again, proving her talent for reimagining timeless stories with creativity and flair. Don’t miss this exhilarating addition to the series!
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