for a retelling this does a poor job. i really love dorian gray and this was so disappointing!! i was expecting something deep but this was idk with all the monsters and mentions of his sex life it was so frustrating. also why is dorian gray blond✋🏻 i know it doesn’t have to be same but i hate itttt

This is my second book by this author and the second in this series and I have to say I am loving the classic retellings! I always liked the story of Dorian Gray and this is no exception.....I enjoyed the magic and the unique story the author used to bring this classic to life but also make it something new and enjoyable .

Charming Devil by Rebecca Kenney is a seductive, fast-paced romance with a perfect blend of dark allure and playful banter. The story follows a fiery, determined heroine and a charismatic, devilishly handsome hero whose chemistry sizzles on every page. Kenney’s skillful writing brings their push-and-pull dynamic to life, making their romance both thrilling and addictive.

The plot is packed with tension, secrets, and unexpected twists, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. Kenney’s vivid descriptions and well-crafted world-building create a rich backdrop for the story’s drama and passion. While some character motivations could have been explored in more depth, the emotional stakes remain high throughout.

For fans of dark, enemies-to-lovers romances with complex characters and plenty of heat, Charming Devil is a wickedly entertaining read that will leave you wanting more.

What a fantastic retelling !! The banter, the push and pull. The spicy ! The side characters are a story all on their own. I ate this up! Well done! This was my first Dorian Gray retelling and I had no idea where this would go…. And it went straight to a binge read!

I'm currently reading "The Picture of Dorian Gray", and I am absolutely loving it. "Charming Devil" is a retelling of this classic. Last month I read a retelling of "Wuthering Heights", but I didn't enjoy it. Sadly, this title was not it for me either. I guess I am not a huge fan of retellings in a modern setting. Those who like supernatural/dark romances will probably like "Charming Devil".

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

❤ 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! ❤

Rebecca’s twisted takes on the classics always pull me in, and this one was no different. The supernatural vibe was chef’s kiss, the action kept me on edge, and the character dynamics were so intense in the best way.

The dark, mysterious plot mixed with a complicated romance had me hooked from page one. I absolutely loved the folklore elements and the cameos from other literary characters—it made the world feel so rich, and now I need more stories in this universe.

I had a love-hate relationship with both Baz and Dorian. Dorian is exactly who you’d expect him to be—arrogant, charming, and a total mess. Baz, on the other hand, frustrated me at times. She refuses to let anyone control her choices, but she also has a habit of pushing her own beliefs onto others. Still, watching both of them struggle with their pasts while getting tangled up in each other’s lives was so compelling.

As for the romance the attraction was there from the start, but what really got me was how their emotional baggage played into their connection. It wasn’t just lust—it was messy, complicated, and full of tension, which made it so much more interesting.

I really enjoyed this one. A few character moments annoyed me, but the haunting atmosphere, the depth of the story, and the chemistry between the leads more than made up for it. If you love gothic retellings with a supernatural twist, this is definitely worth a read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. Yes, this was a good Dorian Grey retelling! I'm very glad, that despite the mf pairing the book stays true to Dorian Grey's queerness and the intended queer themes of that work because I'm tired of the straight washing happening in art atm. The way that this book also leans into the elements of how harmful eugenic thinking is, is well done too. It's spice I loved too.

I absolutely adored this book! I never read the classic so I didn’t know what to expect, and to be honest I want to go back and read it to see what inspired this nov! The first book I did enjoy because I read the Great Gatsby but this one took everything from the first back and magnified it! I’m so excited to see if there are any other classic novels that this other is going to reimagine and bring to life!!!

The themes were so complex and dark, but the author truly made them into something beautiful. I am soooo grateful I got the opportunity to read this ahead of time!

This book was fantastic—right from the start, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. As a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray, I appreciated how Rebecca reimagined these characters. Baz (Basil) is an independent, ambitious woman carving out her place in the art world, while Dorian is the alluring man with a soul in decay. I especially loved Dorian’s POV—his attempt to seem detached and indifferent crumbles so easily around Baz, adding layers to his character. When they weren’t caught up in their romance, they were being pursued by sinister creatures, keeping the pace fast and thrilling throughout.

However, this wasn’t quite a 5-star read for me. The story’s climax and resolution felt rushed, unfolding in the last 10% of the book, even though there were subtle clues throughout. Still, it was an exciting and engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Rebecca Kenney is the queen of retelling and this picture of Dorian Grey retelling was phenomenal!! As always Rebecca is an instant read author for me she never disappoints

As always check your trigger warnings before starting this book (like any other )

*fantasy
*duel pov
*mythical monsters
*powers
*Dorian grey retelling
*touch her and die

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I've read by Rebecca. She writes incredible, dark, and immersive stories that I will always recommend. You can't go wrong with her work.

I’ve always loved “the Picture od Dorian Gray” so i cannot read. This! I loved all from the first to the last page: the pacing is fast, the writing is engaging ,the characters made me swoon and i loved how the author has blended the original book with the modern setting!

This was good. I think the concept behind this book and the series as a whole is well done, though the execution isn’t necessarily my favourite. The characters are just a little roughly shaped I feel, I just struggled to connect with them on any level. I do think the plot of this was solid in general, I’m not familiar with The Picture of Dorian Gray so I can’t speak to the accuracy of the character or anything though. Overall this was nice, I’m interested in continuing this series as the next one sounds good!

What to Expect:
🖤 Dorian Gray Retelling
❤️ Luxury x Glamor
🖤 Morality Chain
❤️ Sleeping Gods
🖤 Dangerous Powers
❤️ Mythical Monsters

Charming Devil puts a fresh, contemporary spin on The Picture of Dorian Gray, blending gothic allure with modern mysticism. The supernatural elements seamlessly weave into the everyday world, adding an extra layer of intrigue. Fun fact: I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series until after I finished it, but no worries! It stands strong on its own with a distinct storyline and fresh characters.

Dorian is arrogant, dangerously charming, and utterly irresistible (even when you know better). Baz, on the other hand, is a force of nature, fiercely independent and an enigmatic presence in the art world. Their chemistry? Instant, electric, and crackling with tension.

The premise is undeniably creative, and the description alone had me hooked. That said, connecting with the characters took some time. Dorian’s vanity is as frustrating as it is fascinating, while Baz’s inner conflict, though compelling, feels repetitive at times. The story occasionally loses sight of its main plot, and I struggled to fully relate to Baz, which added to that sense of disconnect. The pacing slows in the middle as their emotional tug-of-war takes center stage, but once the magical stakes rise, the intrigue follows, leading to an intense and satisfying climax.

Having never read The Picture of Dorian Gray, I had no preconceived notions about how Dorian should look, act, or speak, my only reference being The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. That might’ve worked in my favor, as I was able to enjoy this fresh take without any expectations.

If you love morally gray characters, reimagined classics, and slow-burn dark romance, this one’s for you!

Thank you to Rebecca Kenney, the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

I loved this book! The imagery and tone were perfect. I actually really enjoyed the morally gray aspects of both main characters. It made them feel that much more real, because we all have our moments when we are not our best selves.
The connection to the first book in the series is minimal enough to not be missing out if you haven’t read it, but adds to the enjoyment if you have.
I will happily recommend this book to anyone who loves the author’s other work, retellings and morally gray MMCs.

I really love the Picture of Dorian Gray and so this is a really fun take, almost like a sequel to what would happen to Dorian if he fell in love. It was a quick read with spice and I enjoyed the diversity of characters. Not sure if it was my favorite take, but it was interesting.

Charming Devil, is the second installment of the Gilded Monsters series, by Rebecca Kenney. To answer any immediate questions, it is stand alone, and you do not have to have read, Beautiful Villian to understand anything that is happening.
The nitty gritty: Overall review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level 🌶️🌶️🌶️
In Charming Devil, we are immediately greeted with the man (devil) himself, Dorian Gray, fresh off a night of debauchery to go through his typical morning routine, only to find his worst nightmare is coming to fruition.
Fast forward, and meet Baz, an artist who has inherited a house a storefront in North Carolina and has a curse passed down through her family. A curse, she’s sworn to never use, repeatedly. Dorian NEEDS her to use it, and makes a deal with her in order to try to convince her.

This book is intriguing, and really kept me going. I loved the banter between the two main characters. Dorian is a man who is stuck like permafrost, frozen STUCK in his ways and can see no way to change. And Baz is not going to bend to his will or his damn gorgeous face and body, even if it’s the last thing she does! So we get strong willed characters that even when they do fall into each other’s arms their busy after the fact trying to make sure they don’t fall too far or hard when it is way past that point.
I spent the last quarter of this book with my eyes exclusively on Dorian, because damn man need to not just grovel, but drag his bare belly through broken glass. I just knew RK was not going to leave us hanging, or without an HEA. I knew she wouldn’t do us dirty like that. Oh the climax was *chef’s kiss*. It was perfect, and poignant and if you’re anything like me, might leave you with a lingering question about another character.
Amazing book, and now I am left waiting for the third.

✨ 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 with 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.

Review: CHARMING DEVIL (A Dark & Spicy Modern Dorian Grey) by Rebecca Kenney https://bit.ly/41ca0fB
Publication Date: 2/11/2025
Genre: Romantasy
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 5 Stars

I couldn’t put this book down. I got wrapped up in the story and loved the characters. If you’ve read Dorian Grey this is a retelling with spice. It’s the second book in the Gilded Monsters series but you don’t have to read the first book before picking up this one. I haven’t read the first book but plan on picking it up next. I have it and the next release on my TBR. I thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca Kenney’s writing style and she’s going on my must buy list. This book is one of my favorites this year.

*Review copy provided by the Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~

Kindle https://amzn.to/3CPPGXR
Paperback https://amzn.to/4jNcacN (**SPECIAL DELUXE EDITION WITH STAINED EDGES, CHARACTER ART, AND MORE.**)