*Charming Devil* is a captivating retelling of *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, and as someone who has long been fascinated by Dorian Gray's character, this book was a delightful and thought-provoking experience. From the very beginning, I was drawn to the complexity of Dorian’s character, whose mysterious nature and haunting beauty have always intrigued me. In Oscar Wilde’s original work, Dorian's tragic fate always left me wishing for a different, happier ending. *Charming Devil* offered a fresh perspective on this classic tale, allowing me to revisit a beloved character while exploring the “what ifs” that had always lingered in my mind.

The novel’s modern take on Dorian’s eternal youth and the moral consequences of his actions kept me hooked throughout. The author skillfully captures the essence of the original character—his charm, allure, and the dark complexity of his soul—while introducing a new layer of depth. In this retelling, Dorian is not just a beautiful and enigmatic figure; he is also someone grappling with the weight of his choices and their impact on those around him. This added emotional depth made the story even more compelling.

What I particularly appreciated about *Charming Devil* is how it explores the idea of self-destruction in the pursuit of perfection. In Wilde’s version, Dorian is cursed by his own vanity, but in this retelling, the author brings a sense of inner conflict that makes Dorian's journey feel more relatable and human. The novel explores themes of morality, beauty, and the cost of immortality in a way that feels fresh and poignant, offering readers a deeper emotional engagement with the character.

While the book honors the source material, it also takes creative liberties that make it a unique read. The pacing was well-done, with a good balance between introspection and the external plot, keeping me engaged without feeling bogged down by too much exposition. I found myself empathizing with Dorian in ways I hadn’t before, especially as he navigates his moral dilemmas and attempts to reconcile the price of his immortality.

In conclusion, *Charming Devil* is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant retelling that takes the best elements of Wilde’s original and adds layers of complexity and heart. If you’re a fan of *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, this novel is an excellent way to revisit the iconic character while delving into new themes and a potential path for redemption. It’s a must-read for anyone who has ever been intrigued by Dorian’s tragic beauty and the eternal question of what it means to live forever.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.1/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
KU AUS: Yes - coming out next year!

Charming Devil - @rebeccafkenneybooks
Coming out Feb 11 2025.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. @netgalley

This book is a Dorian Grey retelling with a wicked twist. It's a billionaire, monster, dabbling of paganism, age gap, immortal, magic, enemies to lovers style romance with a morally grey pansexual 🖤 MMC.

Dorian Grey is picture perfect. The most visually appealing man you've ever seen. Flawless in every way. It's not just his looks that are gorgeous it's his lifestyle. He lives a life of luxury and recklessness. He lives as if he can never die. And the truth is he can't. Thanks to a painting that captured his soul over 100 years ago. The portrait absorbs all his misdemeanors, all the negative emotions, all the harm that he does to himself. So Dorian lives without restraint until the day he notices the painting is starting to deteriorate.

Baz is an artist. One who vows she will never paint another portrait ever again. Not after what happened the last time. Not after she realized how easily she can hurt people. Baz has always felt a connection to the supernatural, a pull greater than the magic her ancestors gave her. When Dorian walks into her life begging for her to help save him she refuses. She won't do it, but Dorian is determined to sweeten the deal. Then the game begins.

I really like the original story of Dorian Grey. The way the painting takes the toll. The themes of moral decay and consequences of vanity. The question of whether a life is worth living forever if there is no love, if there is no consequence, when you can live forever, go wherever and do whatever you please does living lose its value. I think Rebecca channels this in a really interesting way. The influence of the supernatural elements of this story really changes the way we look at the story. I also really enjoy the way it overlaps into the bigger picture of the world. You can see how the series is going to come together with Beautiful Villain, and the rest of the stories to come.

This was such a unique and creative twists on Dorian Gray. In true Rebecca fashion she wove a story with such amazing characters that burrow into your heart and stay there. This had everything I love. World building with a wonderful amount of Irish Lore and mythological elements, delicious interactions between the characters, a storyline that’s engrossing the whole way thru, and a whole cast of intriguing characters.

Miss thing. I am a humble servant and I am happy to serve.
Was this what I thought it was going to be? No. Was I fed the most delicious influences and I had to have it? Absolutely.
I would do so many things for this woman. I would do so many things for Dorian Gray, so again. No questions asked.
Did I was it to be absolutely filthy in spice? Like the most seasoned thing imaginable? Yes. Did I get that? No. I got plot. And that’s fine. I love me a good plot like the next girlie.
Did I get tension and a form of slow burn? Yes.
I wasn’t expecting the ending which is always a plus. Read it. You’ll prolly enjoy it.

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a hard one to get through guys. It took me so long to read this book that the published date arrived and I didn’t care. It’s hard to explain but I wasn’t bored by it and I love the concept of Dorian Gray. He’s always a fascinating character. The story was just too slow for me. Things would happen, but nothing really happened you know?

Baz is an artist with magical abilities to paint another portrait of Dorian because his old portrait is looking terrible. She doesn’t want to do it and to convince her he takes her on a magical journey of partying, drugs and sex. That premise hooks me but the execution was no where near as fun.

Overall this was a three star for me. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either. Nothing stands out about it. It’s just meh.

I felt the writing of this book has I improved from the first which made it slightly better to enjoy.
I will state that I am a fan of the original Dorian so I feel this may have influenced me more so.

This is a Dorian retelling and i had no idea what to expect. The FMC 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, I liked how they were working to find out the history between the painting and the magic in the fmc. It really helped to show his character development towards the end.

Only thing I've found is the queer aspect of the original has been dulled down into a more MF romance and felt like it was missing something which I think is why I may not have enjoyed it as much but that is my opinion.

Overall not too long of a book however if youre an OG Dorian fan, that might impact you slightly.Thanks to NetGalley and sourcebooks for the arc!

3.5 stars

I am not familiar with the Dorian Gray story, so I cannot speak to how this compares to the original. I can say that this book does make me interested in reading the original story, as well diving into more of the Gilded Monsters world.

This story is different than anything I have ever read. I found the concept of Dorian Gray extremely intriguing. Because of that, it held my interest and made me want to finish. However, I did feel like the pace was slow at certain times.

I liked how Dorian is described- both in his appearance and behavior. While I haven't read the original, this seems to be on par with how he was in the original. Having decades worth of self indulgence without repercussions has strongly impacted Dorian's character. His selfishness and self-entitled nature was extremely unappealing. As he and Baz spent time together, I kept seeing moments that made me want to cheer for him, but I struggled to trust him. I liked that Baz challenged him to change his ways, and that it seemed to make a difference.

The mention of Baz's vow got a bit repetitive at times, losing some of her conviction with each mention of it.

I enjoyed the magical elements involved. It definitely added some mystery to the story.

While I enjoyed the ending, I don't know that I fully bought Baz and Dorian's love....at least not until the very end.

This was a good read. The concept is very original and extremely intriguing. I would recommend it to people. I just felt it needed a little finessing.

It was odd for me to read a Dorian Gray-inspired novel that features a straight romance instead of really honoring its LGBTQ origins. The romance is slowburn, and I think that for anyone unfamiliar with the original story, this could be a fun retelling, but anyone who loves the original Picture of Dorian Gray will likely find little to enjoy here.

The romance is steamy and intense, with a slow-burn that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their banter is witty and engaging.

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.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC!

Charming Devil was such a fun ride! This was my second book by Kenney and it made me want to work through the rest of her backlist. It took me a second to get into the book but once I was hooked, I didn’t want to put it down. The spice was perfection, the characters were interesting and the story kept my attention. Everything I look for in a spicy romance was there!

🌶🌶🌶🌶
I received an advanced copy to review and am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.
I have a lot of feelings about this book. I will start by saying that I've never read The Picture of Dorian Gray
The twist and turns of the relationship and the plost twists definitely kept me on my toes! Once I started this book I did not want to put it down, it kept me captivated.
Lots of k!nky, open door scenes going on here 🔥
But, more importantly, this book dives into the greed and selfishness of the human race. It explores society's obsession with beauty and youth. Overall, wonderfully written!

- Dorian Gray retelling
- Magical world

I'll confess. I'm not overly familiar with the original Doran Gray story, so I just enjoyed this book on its own merit. It features a chaotic, borderline narcissist MMC and a FMC that has powers she doesn't understand.

Dorian's life is immortalized in a portrait painted by his lover over a century ago. The painting absorbs all of the unwanted feelings and heals any injuries. However, the painting is starting to deteriorate. Is this due to an oversaturation of debauchery? Possibly. So Dorian embarks on a mission to find another with the same power. And he finds it in the descendent of the origianl artist.

Baz is an artist, but knows she cannot paint portraits. She is unsure of the extent of her power, but her mother apparently had it as well and cautioned Baz about her "gift". A lesson Baz learned only too well after disregarding her mother's warnings....

Now Dorian has approached Baz to paint his portrait. He assures her he is fully aware of the risks in transferring to a new portrait, but he is not ready to stop living. Unfortunately, something else realizes Baz's powers...and is stalking her...

This story is enjoyable. It was a bit of a slow start and the selfishness of Dorian is a bit off putting, but in line with his character.

Baz and Dorian!!! Omg. I have never read Dorian gray but this book made me want to! I loved Baz and how she is spunky. Her gift/curse and how she is connected through Dorian with it was so interesting to read. This book kept me interested the whole time! I fell in love with every aspect! 10/10

4.5 ⭐️

This was so good!! Charming Devil is a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray. And I enjoyed this so much. Supernatural happenings and in my favorite city in the country. Charleston SC was the perfect setting. This was surprisingly insightful and fantastic storytelling. Loved the plot twist and that ending leading into the next book. At least that’s the way I took it lol. Immersive storytelling, great spice, and relatable characters. Highly recommend this one.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Charming Devil is a contemporary retelling of The Portrait of Dorian Grey. Dorian does not age, as any ailment he may have goes into an enchanted portrait of himself. Baz is an artist, who Dorian seeks out when the portrait begins to deteriorate. Will she help Dorian? Do they have another connection?

Okay, full disclosure: a bit of time had gone by between requesting this galley and sitting down to read it. Enough time, that I did not realize Baz was a woman and not a man for a few chapters. 💀 I did eventually get that sorted out in my brain.

I really liked this retelling. No character was simple or inherently good or bad; everyone was complicated. This Dorian felt accurate for our present day. Of course Dorian would be partying and utilizing things such as social media. Baz had some boundaries and I appreciated that she did not want to immediately help this stranger asking her a big request. It did seem like some things were not fully resolved, but maybe there will be snippets of what happens in future books.

This is a part of an interconnected stand alone series. There is some mention of characters from book one, but not enough to need to read it first or to be spoiled by anything mentioned.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Here I go again reading a retelling without having read the original. I’m consistent, at least.

What I do know is that Dorian Gray is able to stay alive and looking young thanks to a painting. However, that painting has been slowly eroding thanks to his reckless lifestyle. He seeks out a young painter, Baz, who has a special gift. She refuses to use it because it resulted in tragic consequences in her youth. Dorian has to convince her to paint him, and he does so by inviting her to spend time with him in his lavish world, promising her connections to help her career. She needs to decide soon as it’s not only his life at stake, their lives are in peril with supernatural forces after them.

I liked this darkish romance and that I’d no clue how it’d transpire. The addition of the supernatural was spectacular. Baz is a grittier, more pointed FMC than I’m used to, and I quite liked that about her. Dorian’s all smooth, charming, “Oh people are in love with me? I hadn’t noticed”. He’s calculated with a tendency towards callousness. However, his origin story is compelling and a little tragic, too. The fact that Baz is the only person in the world who can save him makes this a harrowing suspense.

Highlights:
🖼️ Dual POV
🖼️ Romantic suspense, paranormal
🖼️ Spice, open door
🖼️ Monsters, secrets
🖼️ Set in Charleston

Kenney also skillfully blends in another classic by bringing in Jay Gatsby from her first book in this Gilded Monsters series, 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻. So I must read that to get a better lay of the land here. Kenney has created a fascinating world of would-be gods and creepy monsters that I want to explore more of!

Thank you @sourcebookscasa for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 is available February 11th!

Charming devil was a fun read! Im always curious to read a retelling story since there are so many of them out there. This book had the gothic vibes and the characters were fun. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a fun reading experience or loves retellings with a gothic tone.

Wonderfully told story, love the folklore feel of the book. The reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray brought so much life to the story and was a journey. Can't wait to see what comes next from Rebecca Kenney.

This was the first book that I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it. It is definitely a pretty loose retelling with a modern spin (TikTok thirst traps haha). I actually liked the modern take as his choices felt very on brand for the character. I also loved how smart and strong the FMC was. She held tight to her convictions and I loved that.

I did feel that it started slow which is why I deducted a star. I tend to prefer a book suck me in from the beginning but this took a bit. It was still an enjoyable read and had some great spice!

Thanks to Rebecca, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own.