Charming Devil (Gilded Monsters, Bk. 2)

Charming Devil (Gilded Monsters, Bk. 2)

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Overview

A captivating dark romance retelling that will ensnare you from the very first page, Charming Devil is Rebecca Kenney's spellbinding magical twist on The Picture of Dorian Gray.

For over a century, Dorian Gray has remained flawless — eternally young, devastatingly beautiful, and fueled by a life of reckless decadence. His secret? A painting that has absorbed every sin, every scar, every year he should have lived. But now that painting is rotting. Falling apart. And Dorian is running out of time.

Desperate, he tracks down the one person who might be able to save him: Baz, a gifted young painter and descendant of his very first love. She carries the same rare magical talent as her ancestor. She also carries the memory of what that talent cost her — and she has sworn never to paint another person's likeness again.

Then Dorian walks through her door.

He is the most beautiful man she has ever seen, and he knows exactly how to use that. His words drip like venom — persuasive, seductive, relentless. Baz knows what he is. She knows what he wants. And she is determined not to give it to him.

But resisting Dorian Gray has never been anyone's strong suit.

As he works every angle to change her mind, something far more dangerous begins to stir in the shadows around them. A darker, deadlier magic — long dormant — has been awakened by Baz's presence. And whatever has woken up wants her, at any cost.

Caught between Dorian's desperate scheming and an ancient threat closing in, Baz and Dorian find themselves tangled in a web of conflicting motives, raw emotion, and a consuming passion neither of them planned for.

"This was such a captivating read. The mix of dark romance, magic, and high-stakes intrigue kept me hooked from start to finish." — Crossroad Reviews

Series Information

Series Name: Gilded Monsters

Series Reading Order

This series is best read in publication order.

Book 1 - Beautiful Villain

Book 2 - Charming Devil

Book 3 - Ruthless Devotion

Book 4 - Cruel Angel

Reviews and Author Praise

"Charming Devil is another stunner from Rebecca Kenney."

Culturess

"Charming Devil will ensnare you from the very first page."

Culturess

"This was such a captivating read. The mix of dark romance, magic, and high-stakes intrigue kept me hooked from start to finish."

Crossroad Reviews

"Clever and with a very cute cat... I found Charming Devil to be a fun and enjoyable read."

The Bucolic Bookshelf

Topics and Key Themes

Narrative Tropes

Enemies to Lovers

Slow Burn

He Falls First

Dark Romance

Cat and Mouse Romance

Key Themes

Beauty as a weapon — Dorian weaponizes his immortal charm, but it begins to undo him.

A curse made of sins — a rotting portrait forces a century of decadence to finally catch up.

Inherited magic, inherited grief — Baz's rare gift echoes her ancestor's tragic fate with Dorian.

Manipulation versus desire — seduction and scheming blur until neither can control what ignites.

Ancient darkness awakened — a dormant magical threat surfaces drawn by Baz's forbidden power.

Who is this book for?

Primary Genre: Spicy New Adult Romantasy Retelling

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5: Very Spicy

Turning up the heat! Multiple steamy scenes with clear, descriptive detail and strong chemistry. Romance and spice share the spotlight here.

Fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and classic literary retellings will enjoy the dark, seductive atmosphere, morally complex characters, and slow-burn tension wrapped in a spicy new adult fantasy rooted in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

About the Author

Rebecca Kenney is a romance and fantasy author known for spicy retellings and New Adult fiction, including her Gilded Monsters series, which reimagines classic literary figures with dark, magical twists. She has built a dedicated readership through her character-driven stories that blend gothic atmosphere with contemporary heat. Kenney is also known for works such as Heartless and her other romantasy titles. She engages actively with her readers on social media, particularly BookTok, where her atmospheric, trope-rich storytelling has earned a loyal following.

Reader FAQs

It leans heavily toward romance. The fantasy elements — immortality, a cursed portrait, inherited magic — serve the central relationship rather than driving complex world-building. Readers who prioritize character tension and emotional pull over intricate fantasy systems will feel at home here.

Both feature morally complex male leads, slow-burn tension, and high spice levels in a fantasy-adjacent setting. Charming Devil is more grounded in literary retelling and has a darker, more gothic atmosphere than most Armentrout titles, with less emphasis on action-driven plotting.

It is written for a new adult and adult audience, generally suited to readers 18 and older. The book carries a high spice level and deals with dark themes including manipulation, moral corruption, and an ancient supernatural threat.

The book contains explicit sexual content, a manipulative and morally compromised male lead, themes of coercion and seduction, and dark supernatural elements. Readers sensitive to power-imbalanced dynamics or morally gray romantic leads should approach with that in mind.

No prior knowledge of Oscar Wilde's novel is required. Charming Devil uses the source material as a foundation but builds its own plot, magic system, and characters. Familiarity with the original adds context but is not necessary to follow or enjoy the story.

Info

ISBN: 9781728280394

Published Date: February 11, 2025

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Language: English

Page Count: 368

Size: 8.25" l x 5.50" w x 1.00" h

Category

Fiction