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In the Forests of the Night
In the Forests of the Night
is a darkly sensual collection of erotic fairy tales. Each story blends the magic and fantasy of the traditional fable with the carnality and lust we’ve come to expect from Vanessa de Sade!
The seven sexy stories within these pages offer up a mind-bending, pulse-quickening twist on a classic genre. If you think you know how a fairy tale is supposed to end, this book will make you think again! Sexual and cerebral, magical and modern, In the Forests of the Night is the ultimate collection of sexy, adult fables!
The seven sexy stories within these pages offer up a mind-bending, pulse-quickening twist on a classic genre. If you think you know how a fairy tale is supposed to end, this book will make you think again! Sexual and cerebral, magical and modern, In the Forests of the Night is the ultimate collection of sexy, adult fables!
Audible Audio
First published December 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa De Sade
78 books57 followersVanessa de Sade is a forty-something full-figure gal who likes to write hot stories about real women exploring the darker regions of their own sexuality. She is the author of numerous popular stories plus the collections, Fur, In the Forests of the Night, Black & White Movies and Tales from a Tangled Bush.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 28, 2017
In In the Forests of the Night author Vanessa De Sade re-tells 7 classic fairy tales by putting them in a modern day setting. And don’t think for a moment you will be going the well-travelled route because the fairy tale elements are there but very subtle.
My love for Ms. De Sade’s writing holds no bounds and people who read my reviews (and know my reading history) have seen me sing her praises again and again. Her unique style of witty, well written, unapologetically dirty erotica makes every story she puts to paper a wonderful experience - and it always puts a big smile on my face.
1). Rapunzel - a man who lost everything he loved and worked for and a mysterious woman who’s name cannot be spoken. (m/f)
2). Cinderella Story - auditioning for a reality make-over and getting a private call-back. (m/f, f/f)
3). In the Forests of the Night A filthy rich heir, his sexy older step mother and a magic mirror. (m/m, m/f)
4). Handsome and Gertrude - interviewing a mysterious black widow in her tower of solitude can be a life altering event. (f/f, m/f)
5). Beauty and her Beast - a little poetic interlude.
6). Bluebeard’s Tower - getting fucked by one of the bosses can be a scary prospect if you don’t come prepared. (m/f, f/f)
7). Thumbelina - how a sexual obsession for little people can drive you mad. (m/m, m/f)
Extra bonus were the very naughty b/w illustrations by Vanity Chase.
m/f, m/m, f/f explicit
Themes: voyeurism, masturbation, hairy pits like thick parsley beds, luscious lady gardens, rampant hard-ons, Rubenesque asses, how le petite mort can turn into something more permanent if you’re not careful, as always I highly recommend.
5 stars
My love for Ms. De Sade’s writing holds no bounds and people who read my reviews (and know my reading history) have seen me sing her praises again and again. Her unique style of witty, well written, unapologetically dirty erotica makes every story she puts to paper a wonderful experience - and it always puts a big smile on my face.
1). Rapunzel - a man who lost everything he loved and worked for and a mysterious woman who’s name cannot be spoken. (m/f)
2). Cinderella Story - auditioning for a reality make-over and getting a private call-back. (m/f, f/f)
3). In the Forests of the Night A filthy rich heir, his sexy older step mother and a magic mirror. (m/m, m/f)
4). Handsome and Gertrude - interviewing a mysterious black widow in her tower of solitude can be a life altering event. (f/f, m/f)
5). Beauty and her Beast - a little poetic interlude.
6). Bluebeard’s Tower - getting fucked by one of the bosses can be a scary prospect if you don’t come prepared. (m/f, f/f)
7). Thumbelina - how a sexual obsession for little people can drive you mad. (m/m, m/f)
Extra bonus were the very naughty b/w illustrations by Vanity Chase.
m/f, m/m, f/f explicit
Themes: voyeurism, masturbation, hairy pits like thick parsley beds, luscious lady gardens, rampant hard-ons, Rubenesque asses, how le petite mort can turn into something more permanent if you’re not careful, as always I highly recommend.
5 stars
March 11, 2017
The narration for this literate, witty and deliciously sexy take on famous fairy tales is absolutely perfect, providing the auditory equivalent of the very naughty illustrations in the print edition. Very likely listeners will never be able to think of fairy tales in quite the same way as they used to.
March 14, 2017
***Review based on audible version***
You will excuse me if I refrain from going story by story. My commentary is generally the same for each so why risk spoilers unnecessarily?
Let me begin by addressing the fairy-tale elements of these stories. They are there (often in the characters thoughts more than anything else) but it's more subtle overtones than direct manipulations of the original. I can't complain, I often do the same thing with my novels, but if you're looking for little red literally committing acts of sordid bestiality on her way to granny's...don't worry it IS out there....just not here.
That said the stories were creative. I never really consider short stories in anthologies to be "complete" and as such won't gripe about endings but I will say that if you've seen that god-awful Goosebumps movie then you may recall the quote from Jack Black's R.L. Stein "A great story has 3 elements. The beginning, the middle and the twist." Vanessa De Sade certainly took that lesson to heart here. As I read the fairy-tale thing dropped out of my attention and I found myself reading solely for the interesting surprises in each story. My inner monologue was constantly going with "Oh surprise penis! huh I've never known a person who finds THAT appealing. wow that was...strange." Eventually I was studying the stories as much as reading them.
Which leads me into my one complaint (aside from that narrator who I'll get to). The author and I either differ radically on what we find attractive or Vanessa was specifically taking aim at conventional beauty standards. "White skin" (perhaps a reference to Snow White) was constantly emphasized as were very rotund, heavy set women and body hair. One character went so far as to be heavily turned on by armpit hair on a woman and I nearly gagged. That said this was primarily focused on women. By and large the men were spared this over critical "sexualizing" eye. Aside from some passing details as to age or skin tone most of the men were functionally reduced to their cocks. These were rendered in exacting detail and all other parts were left as hazy blurs behind his erection. They could also cum repeatedly but who am I to complain about erotic fantasy taking liberties with biology? Of course, that's the problem however, it's erotica. If the women can be summed up as fat, furry and not conventionally attractive and the men are just cocks with names then who the heck is this target audience? There are LGBT scenes but the majority is hetero/CIS so I can't see it being primarily an LGBT book. The men aren't detailed enough for what I'd see as women's fantasy and you aren't selling these women as male fantasies. If erotica is half porn and half philosophy of sex (with plot mixed in) then these stories will only hit all the marks for a very select group of people who are either attracted to/identify with unattractive women and don't really care who's cock they're using for their pleasure.
That aside, however, these stories are the most important thing erotic stories can be. They're interesting. Not arousing but funny, engaging, absorbing and re-readable! Oh and just to ramble a bit further I do suggest reading them unless you really enjoy a cockney accent because the narrator sounds like the verbal equivalent of british dental hygiene. If you've seen that Family Guy episode where Stewie coaches Eliza on how to speak like a gentlewoman then you'll have a good idea of how the narrator sounds. That's not, again, to say it's all bad though. On occasion she hits her stride and makes me fantasize about rogering the ol' fishwife (although I'm not quite sure what that means).
So give it a read, or a listen if you like a spot of tea with your erotica (I should NEVER go to England) but know what your in for.
You will excuse me if I refrain from going story by story. My commentary is generally the same for each so why risk spoilers unnecessarily?
Let me begin by addressing the fairy-tale elements of these stories. They are there (often in the characters thoughts more than anything else) but it's more subtle overtones than direct manipulations of the original. I can't complain, I often do the same thing with my novels, but if you're looking for little red literally committing acts of sordid bestiality on her way to granny's...don't worry it IS out there....just not here.
That said the stories were creative. I never really consider short stories in anthologies to be "complete" and as such won't gripe about endings but I will say that if you've seen that god-awful Goosebumps movie then you may recall the quote from Jack Black's R.L. Stein "A great story has 3 elements. The beginning, the middle and the twist." Vanessa De Sade certainly took that lesson to heart here. As I read the fairy-tale thing dropped out of my attention and I found myself reading solely for the interesting surprises in each story. My inner monologue was constantly going with "Oh surprise penis! huh I've never known a person who finds THAT appealing. wow that was...strange." Eventually I was studying the stories as much as reading them.
Which leads me into my one complaint (aside from that narrator who I'll get to). The author and I either differ radically on what we find attractive or Vanessa was specifically taking aim at conventional beauty standards. "White skin" (perhaps a reference to Snow White) was constantly emphasized as were very rotund, heavy set women and body hair. One character went so far as to be heavily turned on by armpit hair on a woman and I nearly gagged. That said this was primarily focused on women. By and large the men were spared this over critical "sexualizing" eye. Aside from some passing details as to age or skin tone most of the men were functionally reduced to their cocks. These were rendered in exacting detail and all other parts were left as hazy blurs behind his erection. They could also cum repeatedly but who am I to complain about erotic fantasy taking liberties with biology? Of course, that's the problem however, it's erotica. If the women can be summed up as fat, furry and not conventionally attractive and the men are just cocks with names then who the heck is this target audience? There are LGBT scenes but the majority is hetero/CIS so I can't see it being primarily an LGBT book. The men aren't detailed enough for what I'd see as women's fantasy and you aren't selling these women as male fantasies. If erotica is half porn and half philosophy of sex (with plot mixed in) then these stories will only hit all the marks for a very select group of people who are either attracted to/identify with unattractive women and don't really care who's cock they're using for their pleasure.
That aside, however, these stories are the most important thing erotic stories can be. They're interesting. Not arousing but funny, engaging, absorbing and re-readable! Oh and just to ramble a bit further I do suggest reading them unless you really enjoy a cockney accent because the narrator sounds like the verbal equivalent of british dental hygiene. If you've seen that Family Guy episode where Stewie coaches Eliza on how to speak like a gentlewoman then you'll have a good idea of how the narrator sounds. That's not, again, to say it's all bad though. On occasion she hits her stride and makes me fantasize about rogering the ol' fishwife (although I'm not quite sure what that means).
So give it a read, or a listen if you like a spot of tea with your erotica (I should NEVER go to England) but know what your in for.
June 11, 2015
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
I found my interests all over the place in this very naughty collection of fairy tale retellings. While the writing is superb, there are only two stories that really float my boat and one that comes close. I love most of the illustrations, but some of the guys are a bit hairy for my tastes and there’s one illustration in Handsome and Gertrude that is…just…*shudders*.
Rapunzel ~ This is quite creative, but that ending? Poor Edward Edwards. And who names their kid that anyway? lol {5 bites}
Cinderella Story ~ Hate reality tv, but I love Amanda and Georgie. {4 bites}
In the Forests of the Night ~ Ah, this is my favorite of the bunch. {5 bites}
Handsome and Gertrude ~ I didn’t really understand this one and I couldn’t get into the story. {2 bites}
Beauty and Her Beast ~ I’m not a fan of poetry, so this is a no go for me even if it is naughty. {1 bite)
Bluebeard’s Tower ~ I have to admit that I’ve never read Bluebeard, so I ended up tracking it down after I read this. Even with no knowledge of the folktale, this is still a pleasurable read. {3 bites}
Thumbelina ~ Another one I wasn’t familiar with. I really need to brush up on my fairy tales. A little confusing (probably because I hadn’t read the original), but still enjoyable. {3 bites}
I found my interests all over the place in this very naughty collection of fairy tale retellings. While the writing is superb, there are only two stories that really float my boat and one that comes close. I love most of the illustrations, but some of the guys are a bit hairy for my tastes and there’s one illustration in Handsome and Gertrude that is…just…*shudders*.
Rapunzel ~ This is quite creative, but that ending? Poor Edward Edwards. And who names their kid that anyway? lol {5 bites}
Cinderella Story ~ Hate reality tv, but I love Amanda and Georgie. {4 bites}
In the Forests of the Night ~ Ah, this is my favorite of the bunch. {5 bites}
Handsome and Gertrude ~ I didn’t really understand this one and I couldn’t get into the story. {2 bites}
Beauty and Her Beast ~ I’m not a fan of poetry, so this is a no go for me even if it is naughty. {1 bite)
Bluebeard’s Tower ~ I have to admit that I’ve never read Bluebeard, so I ended up tracking it down after I read this. Even with no knowledge of the folktale, this is still a pleasurable read. {3 bites}
Thumbelina ~ Another one I wasn’t familiar with. I really need to brush up on my fairy tales. A little confusing (probably because I hadn’t read the original), but still enjoyable. {3 bites}
August 30, 2014
This collection is just amazing. Vanessa's writing is lush and beautiful, and her inspired-by-fairytales stories are fresh, intense and surprising. The illustrations are hot and mysterious. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would.
October 21, 2020
Odd stories.
Kink for all kinds of desires. Narration was strange as well, seemed like it was recorded in a small echoey room.
Kink for all kinds of desires. Narration was strange as well, seemed like it was recorded in a small echoey room.
June 19, 2014
Goodreads Giveaway Winner - thank you!
Easy to read and a good idea to take fairy tales as a theme.
Easy to read and a good idea to take fairy tales as a theme.
April 11, 2017
The book cover has an adventurous and mysterious look to it. I give this book 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews