80,000+ Books in-stock in NZ 📚

Auckland Bookstore open on Saturday & Sunday 🎉

This Wretched Beauty

Brief Description
London, 1867. Dorian Gray is wealthy, beautiful, and miserable. Heir to both the fortune and reputation of their austere, manipulative grandfather, their only moments of joy are snatched by sneaking out to their father’s gallery for secret visits. One night, they meet a sweet, talented young... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2599
Pre-order
Releases 16th June 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "This Wretched Beauty" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

Found a better price? Request a price match

In the smoky underworld of 1860s London, a labyrinth of molly houses, crumbling estates and illicit affairs, this gloriously gothic trans retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray unfurls a twisting tale of love, deceit, and dissolution.

Perfect for fans of Every Exquisite Thing and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

London, 1867. Dorian Gray is wealthy, beautiful, and miserable. Heir to both the fortune and reputation of their austere, manipulative grandfather, their only moments of joy are snatched by sneaking out to their father’s gallery for secret visits.

One night, they meet a sweet, talented young painter named Basil, who immediately recognises Dorian as his new muse. Dorian is struck by the beauty and depth that Basil paints into their portrait—and dares to hope there might be more to life than living as their grandfather’s perfect, empty-headed heir.

Basil and his friend Henry Wootton introduce Dorian to the heady world of molly houses and drag performers. But Dorian’s double life is shattered when a police investigation implicates them in "indecent" activities, and—terrified of their grandfather’s wrath—they offer evidence against beloved drag performer Sybil Vane.

Fleeing London in shame and disgrace, Dorian sets up a scandalous life in the country as Henry’s mistress, throwing extravagant parties and breaking hearts at every turn. As Dorian’s spiral of self-loathing deepens, something strange happens: the portrait begins to change. Their smile becomes a little sharper, the glint in their eyes a little colder.

Dorian will soon have to choose: embrace the wickedness within and become what they were always meant to be, or dare to try for something far more fragile and dangerous: a life of their own making.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781835417348

Publisher: Titan Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 February 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Titan Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 55.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 255g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Elle Grenier is a YA author, bookseller, and former theatre kid who lives in British Columbia on traditional Pocumtuc land with their fiancee and their three cats. They started writing at eight years old and never stopped, now striving to write the books they would’ve wanted to see in their teenage years. Elle studied English Literature at the University of Toronto and started their Masters before deciding to focus their attention on writing instead. When they aren’t writing, you can probably find Elle rewatching the same three shows online, playing around with Taylor Swift covers on their lyre, or lying by the nearest body of water. When they are writing, you’ll likely see them downing several cups of coffee next to a Shakespeare plush for motivation. This Wretched Beauty: A Dorian Gray Remix is their debut novel.

More from Sci-Fi & Fantasy

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.