⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️.5

Listen, do I know much about the classic story about Dorian Gray? ...no not really but even if I did I would still prefer Rebecca's version any day 🤣

Dorian was that classic walking red flag narcissist male and my god he was everything and then some BUT BAZ????? That's a baddie right there and I ate every second up of Dorian trying to get Baz to fall for his charms but she wasn't having it.

I overall enjoyed the plot line of this book with all the magical aspects that occurred but I have some things I'm hoping we get answers for in book three 👀

The one thing I love above all else with Rebecca Kenney is that every story - no matter the plot - is so uniquely hers. She has this incredible way of writing sometimes funny, always witty, charming, cozy, romance with layers of smoldering tension and tragic undercurrents. Dorian Gray is a classic and this take felt fresh, steamy, heartbreaking and contemplative. I loved the focus on the artist, her powers, and the debate on immortality. It gave the story so much depth. Highly recommend picking this one up!

I unfortunately couldn’t get into the flow of this book. It was one of the first times I’ve read a duel perspective book and it might just not be my thing but I’d love to try one again! I also couldn’t get into the writing style. I expected the retelling to focus more on the original story but this just seems like the character names are the same but nothing else. I also didn’t like how the social media references took me out of the immersion.
I would definitely try this author again though, either the first book of the series or the next one!

I real enjoyed this retelling. It was creative and original. Loved the character development through the book and the romance was wonderful. I do think the plot gets a bit lost but overall I enjoyed it!

It's official. I will read any book Rebecca Kenney write.

This one had me in a choke-hold and now I want to go back and read Beautiful Villain again.

Rebecca's writing is smooth. Her retelling as fun and original and don't feel forced. The spicy is oh so spicy!!! The stories just work beautifully.

Now how to I manage to wait until Ruthless Devotion is out! Sigh...

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing the ARC.

I was incredibly intrigued by this book based on the summary. I love retellings, especially if they're done well, and this one was a story that I hadn't seen done before (if ever).

Kenney has a really evocative style of writing that draws you in with her imagery and her prose, but doesn't balance well with what amounts to weak plot and character development. I did not care at all about Dorian or Baz in this book, and honestly found the hedonistic narcissism of Dorian to be incredibly grating. I get that Kenney was trying to make a point with it in the story, but overall, it fell very flat with me and genuinely made me not like his character at all. I couldn't see anything redeeming in him and couldn't see why Baz would be attracted to him apart from his apparently insane good looks. She even identifies him and the relationship they have as toxic, and there is nothing about it that makes it worth any type of emotional investment on my side.

Baz was also a bit of a hard sell, but I did find her more palatable than Dorian. She was incredibly self-righteous to a fault, and it could be very annoying at times. But she was perfectly human with human desires and goals, so she felt a bit more accessible. But still, I couldn't understand her mindset when it came to Dorian, so I had a much harder time connecting with her as a character.

The overall vibe of this book is dark and sultry, and Kenney's prose really lends itself to that vibe, but the characters and the plot of the bo0k are just not developed enough to support the world that Kenney built. I wish I had more than I received from this book, because I think it has the potential to be amazing,.

Rebecca Kenney has woven a decadent, darkly enchanting retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray that is as seductive as it is haunting. Charming Devil breathes new life into the classic tale, infusing it with dangerous magic, sizzling tension, and an irresistible battle of wills.

Kenney masterfully balances lush, gothic atmosphere with electric chemistry, crafting a story that drips with temptation and danger. The magic feels alive—unpredictable, eerie, and utterly enthralling. And at its heart is a romance that is both intoxicating and doomed, a slow-burning fire that threatens to consume everything in its path.

For those who crave darkly seductive retellings with rich prose, complex characters, and a deliciously ominous undercurrent, Charming Devil delivers in spades. This book doesn’t just ask what is the price of beauty?—it dares you to look into the abyss and find out.

I liked the concept of this book, but not the execution. I never felt invested in the characters, except toward the end but that was only a little more. Unfortunately I don't think it was the book for me, but thank you for the arc!

Rebecca Kenney knows exactly how to write an MMC. Her books pull you in and keep you there. This was no different. I'm obsessed.

As a HUGE fan of Rebecca Kenney and the myth of Dorian Grey I knew I would love this contemporary fantasy retelling. The supernatural aspects were unique, suspenseful and complemented the storyline. If you are a fan of slow burn, supernatural retellings and morally complex characters you will love it. While this is book is part of a series of interconnected standalones, I don’t feel you necessarily need to read them all (but the nod to characters and the conclusion of this book would be more enjoyable if you do). Overall, this was a fun twist on a classic story I will 100% be reading the rest of this series.

The Charming Devil is a modern twist on the Picture of Dorian Gray. I was so impressed with how Rebecca Kenney used the source material. The Charming Devil contains many of the same characters, scenes, and themes as the original. Further, it has all been updated and enhanced with a supernatural twist. I also liked the theme of body positivity, outside of Dorian the characters aren't "traditionally" beautiful. I haven't read the other books in the series but I likely will now. Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley for this eARC!

Gaahhh, I am so conflicted about this review -- which is exactly what I wrote when I reviewed Rebecca Kinney's first book in this series, Beautiful Villain. On the one hand, both of these books are brilliant in terms of conceptualization. I love the idea of modernizing and reimagining the classics as paranormal/horror romances. And the books are two of the most inventive retellings I've ever read. Further, Rebecca is quite a talented writer. Her characters, settings, dialogue, her ability to build tension and suspense, not to mention her horror elements, are first rate.

Where Charming Devil ultimately falls short is plot development. This is also the same thing I thought about Beautiful Villain. For both, I feel like the plot faltered at the denouement. It was just disappointing when all of the threads didn't land with the depth and gravity that all of the build-up was leading up to. There is a let down that the villains were too handily and easily dispatched; and it didn't seem to end in a place that felt "finished" -- and satisfying -- for the MCs. There are also loose ends that don't feel important or relevant to the main plotline. Similarly, I feel that some of the minor characters didn't need to be there, and the ones that did have key roles in the storyline weren't utilized enough.

With all of that said, I did enjoy this, as well as Beautiful Villain. These are not perfect reads but they are entertaining and definitely better than average in terms of creativity and the quality of the prose. I would rate this a 3.75 stars. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Darion was a fantastic character and Baz was great together I love them both this story was amazing I would recommend it to all my friends 4.5 ⭐️

A modern day retelling of Dorian Gray featuring a hot goth artist who has the ability to connect souls to whatever she paints... and a devilish Dorian Gray who will do anything to get her to save his portrait. Dorian Gray has lived for centuries... immersing himself in sin, pleasures, and every drug he can get his hands on. He's handsome, wealthy, and knows it. Yet his vices are connected to his portrait and after so many years of sins... his painting is coming to an end and he needs to find someone to make him a new painting, otherwise he will die. Then there is Basil "Baz" a brilliant small time artist with a "no portraits" policy. Baz has a secret, she has vowed never to paint another portrait because of what happened to her father... and how she painted his portrait and killed him. Baz has kept her powers hidden all her life but when Dorian shows up at her door with offers of money, things, and even himself... Baz is almost tempted... almost. She refuses at first but he begs her to give him 2 weeks to convince her... and Baz tells him the only way to convince her to paint his portrait is if he can prove to her that he is "good" that he still has a soul worth saving... and even then Baz will only paint his portrait to the point where his soul is put back into his body... leading him to age and become regular. Dorian knows he'll have to trick and seduce Baz to get what he wants, yet the more time he spends with her the more human he's beginning to feel... and for the first time in a long time... he's falling in love... the only problem is if he's willing to let himself be weak or if his too long gone to ever change. I am a sucker for a classic retelling, especially where the villain gets the girl. I loved the modern twist on this and how it still kept elements of the classic character but put a whole new spin to the story. Dorian and Baz had such an interesting relationship and I loved the way they fell for one another. Yes they were immediately attracted to each other but they both had different motives and wants... and in the end they were perfect for one another. I've loved reading Rebecca's Villains series so much and can't wait to see the next book she's doing (hello, Wuthering Heights?! I can't wait!!!).

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

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 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.

“He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen… and the most dangerous. My perfect, eternal Dorian Gray.”
~
I don’t even have words to describe how much I utterly adored this book. I was enthralled from the very start when we woke up after a night of debauchery with Dorian to see the hole in the portrait, and the entire journey that followed with him and Baz. The storyline was so clever, with Basil Hallward living and have descendants that Dorian was forced to seek out, and Baz having her own share of trauma and baggage, trying to find herself and being thrust into this world she never knew. The twist threw me, even though we knew something was going to happen when the time came for Baz to make her final decision, and I was still in tears the whole time, my heart in my throat. Dorian and Baz are beautifully broken and watching them pick up each other’s pieces without understanding it was beautiful, and the writing was absolutely stunning. The Easter Eggs from Beautiful Villain were so fun and I can’t wait to see how Ruthless Devotion comes into play. I didn’t want to leave this world and found myself picking the pages, trying to turn more pages. This was truly a beautiful delight of a story.

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.

Dorian Gray has never been so spicy. Kenney does what she does so well, what more is there to say except... we need more!

I really love the way Rebecca writes and for me this was a slam dunk.
This Dorian Gray retelling for me was great at giving nods to the original idea while also branching out into a world totally different. I loved the complexity of the main characters with the subtle details of the others really adding to the plot. The romance was fiery, and the past colliding with the present made for a fun ride. Truly ate this book up in a day!
Thank you NetGalley, Rebecca Kenney and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy.

"Charming Devil* by Rebecca F. Kenney is a captivating and intense romance that blends charm with danger, creating a tale of irresistible allure. The story follows the main character as she navigates the complexities of a relationship with a man who embodies both charm and darkness. Kenney skillfully portrays the push and pull between attraction and caution, making it difficult for readers to predict the direction the romance will take.

One of the book's strengths is its complex characters. The protagonist is relatable and nuanced, grappling with her emotions and desires, while the male lead, who is at once charismatic and elusive, keeps readers intrigued. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s clear that there’s more to their connection than meets the eye, adding layers to the story and keeping the stakes high.

Kenney’s writing is rich and engaging, with vivid descriptions and well-paced plot development. While there are moments of tension and drama, the author also infuses the narrative with humor and lighter moments, providing a balanced reading experience.

*Charming Devil* stands out as a romance that doesn’t shy away from exploring darker themes and complicated emotions. The book is perfect for readers who enjoy love stories with depth, a bit of mystery, and a lot of heart. It’s an addictive read that keeps you turning the pages, eagerly anticipating what will happen next.