This Wretched Beauty: A Dorian Gray Remix [Hardcover]

Haunted by a portrait that seems to taunt them, a conflicted young aristocrat spirals down a path to the worst possible version of themself in this suspenseful retelling ofThe Picture of Dorian Gray, perfect for fans ofThe Spirit Bares Its TeethandThese Violent Delights.

Happiness needs to be earned in the face of impossible odds, or theres no beauty in it.

London, 1867.Dorian Gray is the heir to a title and their familys estate, but theyve never been given the chance to decide whether thats actually what they want out of life. Forcibly estranged from their father by their manipulative grandfather, Dorian feels trapped in the life that has been decided for them.

Then one night they sneak out of their grandfathers house, they meet a sweet and talented young painter named Basil, who immediately recognizes Dorian as his new muse. They agree to sit for Basil for a portrait, and Dorian is struck by the beauty and depth that Basil paints into their likenessand they dare to begin hoping there might be more to life than being their grandfathers perfect, empty-headed heir.

Dorian is further elated when Basil introduces them to the world of molly houses and drag performerstheyve never seen such joyful variety of humanity and gender expression. But, as the barrier between the London they know and the one they're discovering begins to crumble, Dorian must face the fact that freedom and safety do not come hand in hand.

The aftermath of this realization pulls Dorian into a terrible downward spiral, torn between guilt over their own actions and hatred for the suffocating expectations of society. They push away those closest to them, surrounding themself instead with vapid courtiers and decadent socialites. And as Dorians spiral of self-loathing deepens, something strange happensBasils portrait of them begins to change. Their smile becomes a little sharper, the glint in their eyes a little clSh