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Sleeping Beauty #2
Beauty's Punishment
The delicious and erotically charged sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, from the author of Beauty's Kingdom.
This sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, the first of Anne Rice's (writing as A.N. Roquelaure) volumes of erotica, continues her explicit, teasing exploration of the psychology of human desire. Now Beauty, having indulged in a secret and forbidden infatuation with the rebellious slave Prince Tristan, is sent away from the Satyricon-like world of the Castle. Sold at auction, she will soon experience the tantalizing punishments of "the village," as her education in love, cruelty, dominance, submission, and tenderness is turned over to the brazenly handsome Captain of the Guard. And once again Rice's tale of pleasure and pain dares to explore the most primal and well-hidden desires of the human heart. This series [predates the eroticism of E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey and Sylvia Day's Bared to You.
This sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, the first of Anne Rice's (writing as A.N. Roquelaure) volumes of erotica, continues her explicit, teasing exploration of the psychology of human desire. Now Beauty, having indulged in a secret and forbidden infatuation with the rebellious slave Prince Tristan, is sent away from the Satyricon-like world of the Castle. Sold at auction, she will soon experience the tantalizing punishments of "the village," as her education in love, cruelty, dominance, submission, and tenderness is turned over to the brazenly handsome Captain of the Guard. And once again Rice's tale of pleasure and pain dares to explore the most primal and well-hidden desires of the human heart. This series [predates the eroticism of E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey and Sylvia Day's Bared to You.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1984
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September 10, 2010Disclaimer: I read the 1st book on a dare and even though I didn't particularly enjoy the experience - you can read my status updates and my review here, if you're curious - I got sucked into reading the next book. Once again, I'm not rating this read because I don't think it would be fair to "hurt" this book's average rating considering I knew I wasn't going to like it (I'm not a fan of pure erotica and I'm no expert in BDSM).
Just to get started, here's the plot summary given at the beginning of the 3rd book, Beauty's Release:
Sold on the village auction block at dawn, Tristan soon found himself tethered and harnessed to the carriage of a handsome young Master, Nicolas, the Queen's Chronicler. And Beauty, put to work in Mistress Lockley's Inn, became the plaything of the Captain of the Guard, the Inn's chief lodger.
But within days of their separation and sale, Beauty and Tristan were both seduced by the iron discipline of the village. The sweet terrors of the Place of Public Punishment, the Punishment Shop, the Farm and the Stable, the Soldiers' Night at the inn enflamed them as well as frightening them, causing them to forget their former selves utterly.
Even the harsh judgment of the runaway slave, Prince Laurent, his body bound to a Punishment Cross for exhibit, only served to tantalize them.
And, as Beauty gloried in chastisements at last equal to her spirit, Tristan became hopelessly enamored of his new Master.
Yet no sooner had the pair met and confided their shameless happiness to each other than a band of powerful enemy soldiers attacked the village, kidnapping Beauty and Tristan along with other choice slaves, including Prince Laurent, to be taken by sea to the land of a new Master, the Sultan.
Within hours of the attack, the stolen Princes and Princesses learned that they would not be ransomed. By agreement between their sovereigns, they had been condemned to serve in the Sultan's palace until such time as they would be safely returned to their Queen for further judgment.
Kept in long, rectangular golden cages in the hold of the Sultan's ship, the slaves accepted their new destiny.
As I started to read this book, I braced myself to be utterly shocked because I'd been told that the sexual shenanigans in this book were "worse" than the ones featured in the 1st book. Well, forewarned is forearmed. I have to say that the 1st 1/3 of the story was quite "easy" to read... I mean, Beauty and Tristan were subjected to all kinds of kinky, painful and humitliating sex antics, but there was nothing new there as I'd seen it all before in the 1st book - in one word, it was "only" spanking, with a few variations to make things "interesting". *rolls eyeballs* But then, ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod, Tristan and I were introduced to those unbelievably thick leather phalluses with horsetails and it was the end of the world as we knew it! I almost died on the spot, but Tristan endured it with strength and stoicism, becoming a betterman pony in the end. *shudders*
Strangely enough, that was the point where my feelings about this book changed - for better or worse, that's yet to be determined. I started to care for Tristan and I couldn't keep reading his scenes with the same sense of aloofness I still dedicated to Beauty's scenes. No, that didn't happen because I like ponies - I actually think those genetically engineered creatures are freak shows. It was Ms. Rice's writing: she chose to write Tristan's scenes in 1st person POV, and that made me connect with him in a way that I never did with Beauty. When it came to Beauty's scenes, I still thought that Ms. Rice's writing was kind of juvenile, wordy and redundant; on the other hand, Tristan's scenes were more interesting and engaging.
Based on what I said so far, you may have guessed that Beauty wasn't exactly the main character in the book. Sure, she was most likely featured in the same number of pages as Tristan, but she was still the same airheaded sub in search of her Dom introduced in the 1st book and I was bored to tears by her scenes. She was spanked by the auctioner, her new Mistress Mrs. Lockley, her Mistress' other slaves, the Captain of the Guard, his soldiers, the Master at the Place of Public Punishment, the commoners... I must be forgetting someone, but does it matter? Gaaah! Not even her 1st gang bang got a rise out of me. I believe I yawned through the whole "ordeal". (Before you start throwing rotten tomatoes at me, let me tell you that she enjoyed the whole thing, so I'm not making fun of gang rape.) Now, what did get a rise out of me was Beauty's scene with her Mistress' cat... That was gross!!! I cringed, I gagged, I puked - and I had to take a nice, cleansing shower afterwards. *shudders*
As a whole, this read was uneven to me. The 1st half was quite boring, with one or two shocking scenes to jolt me awake, but the 2nd half was more engaging - and difficult to read - due to my "attachment" to Tristan. I didn't enjoy this read, but it was interesting on a psychological level as it gave me a small insight into what the BDSM lifestyle is about.
Am I going to read the 3rd and final book? Absolutely! In for a penny, in for a pound. Plus, I want to know who Beauty'sPrince Charming Dom will be. While I was reading the 1st book, I thought it would be Prince Alexi; when I finished it, I was sure it was Prince Tristan; while I was reading the 2nd book, I fancied Prince Richard; but now that I finished it, I have no clue and I need to meet the Prince who will give Beauty the ultimate spanking. He must be there in the 3rd book, waiting for her - and me, LOL.
Just to get started, here's the plot summary given at the beginning of the 3rd book, Beauty's Release:
Sold on the village auction block at dawn, Tristan soon found himself tethered and harnessed to the carriage of a handsome young Master, Nicolas, the Queen's Chronicler. And Beauty, put to work in Mistress Lockley's Inn, became the plaything of the Captain of the Guard, the Inn's chief lodger.
But within days of their separation and sale, Beauty and Tristan were both seduced by the iron discipline of the village. The sweet terrors of the Place of Public Punishment, the Punishment Shop, the Farm and the Stable, the Soldiers' Night at the inn enflamed them as well as frightening them, causing them to forget their former selves utterly.
Even the harsh judgment of the runaway slave, Prince Laurent, his body bound to a Punishment Cross for exhibit, only served to tantalize them.
And, as Beauty gloried in chastisements at last equal to her spirit, Tristan became hopelessly enamored of his new Master.
Yet no sooner had the pair met and confided their shameless happiness to each other than a band of powerful enemy soldiers attacked the village, kidnapping Beauty and Tristan along with other choice slaves, including Prince Laurent, to be taken by sea to the land of a new Master, the Sultan.
Within hours of the attack, the stolen Princes and Princesses learned that they would not be ransomed. By agreement between their sovereigns, they had been condemned to serve in the Sultan's palace until such time as they would be safely returned to their Queen for further judgment.
Kept in long, rectangular golden cages in the hold of the Sultan's ship, the slaves accepted their new destiny.
As I started to read this book, I braced myself to be utterly shocked because I'd been told that the sexual shenanigans in this book were "worse" than the ones featured in the 1st book. Well, forewarned is forearmed. I have to say that the 1st 1/3 of the story was quite "easy" to read... I mean, Beauty and Tristan were subjected to all kinds of kinky, painful and humitliating sex antics, but there was nothing new there as I'd seen it all before in the 1st book - in one word, it was "only" spanking, with a few variations to make things "interesting". *rolls eyeballs* But then, ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod, Tristan and I were introduced to those unbelievably thick leather phalluses with horsetails and it was the end of the world as we knew it! I almost died on the spot, but Tristan endured it with strength and stoicism, becoming a better
Strangely enough, that was the point where my feelings about this book changed - for better or worse, that's yet to be determined. I started to care for Tristan and I couldn't keep reading his scenes with the same sense of aloofness I still dedicated to Beauty's scenes. No, that didn't happen because I like ponies - I actually think those genetically engineered creatures are freak shows. It was Ms. Rice's writing: she chose to write Tristan's scenes in 1st person POV, and that made me connect with him in a way that I never did with Beauty. When it came to Beauty's scenes, I still thought that Ms. Rice's writing was kind of juvenile, wordy and redundant; on the other hand, Tristan's scenes were more interesting and engaging.
Based on what I said so far, you may have guessed that Beauty wasn't exactly the main character in the book. Sure, she was most likely featured in the same number of pages as Tristan, but she was still the same airheaded sub in search of her Dom introduced in the 1st book and I was bored to tears by her scenes. She was spanked by the auctioner, her new Mistress Mrs. Lockley, her Mistress' other slaves, the Captain of the Guard, his soldiers, the Master at the Place of Public Punishment, the commoners... I must be forgetting someone, but does it matter? Gaaah! Not even her 1st gang bang got a rise out of me. I believe I yawned through the whole "ordeal". (Before you start throwing rotten tomatoes at me, let me tell you that she enjoyed the whole thing, so I'm not making fun of gang rape.) Now, what did get a rise out of me was Beauty's scene with her Mistress' cat... That was gross!!! I cringed, I gagged, I puked - and I had to take a nice, cleansing shower afterwards. *shudders*
As a whole, this read was uneven to me. The 1st half was quite boring, with one or two shocking scenes to jolt me awake, but the 2nd half was more engaging - and difficult to read - due to my "attachment" to Tristan. I didn't enjoy this read, but it was interesting on a psychological level as it gave me a small insight into what the BDSM lifestyle is about.
Am I going to read the 3rd and final book? Absolutely! In for a penny, in for a pound. Plus, I want to know who Beauty's
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2016
High Fantasy, Graphically Sexual, and Exquisitely Detailed… I feel that in this day and age, there are few taboo texts which still exist to embarrass the reader who unapologetically devoured the pages without regard to the outside world… But the Classic Erotic Trilogy of Sleeping Beauty comes as close as possible to that point…
Many readers detest these books... I enjoy them!
I’m not even going to try and pretend that I don’t wield these books as a weapon against those who are ignorant enough about the D/s Lifestyle to believe that Fifty Shades of Grey and its fuzzy handcuff contemporaries are a representative of BDSM… Not that those books aren’t entertaining for what they are (Modern Romance with a slightly erotic, slightly kinky kick)… But let’s endeavor to call a spade a spade, people… Before someone gets their pretty little feelings hurt…
When I picked up the infamous & highly erotic The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty so many years ago, I did not know that additional books existed in the series. A few weeks ago, Carie Ernst (Who is not a member of GoodReads but I hope by evoking her name, she might magically join the dark side) and I were discussing Erotic Fiction, and she brought up these books. The next time Carie arrived on my doorstep she had the second and third books in hand for my reading pleasure.
These books are completely over-the-top graphically sexual & and descriptive to the point of making the reader squirm… However, I find the psychology of the submissive much more accurate in Anne Rice writing as A. N. Roquelaure’s fantasy land than it is often portrayed in the soft-core BDSM-light Erotic Romances which come across my path more frequently.
I found Tristan’s chapters “In the House of Nicolas” and “Splendid Equipage” to be amazingly (perhaps morbidly?) fascinating… It was my first foray into horsey-play after all… and a lady never forgets her first.
Many readers detest these books... I enjoy them!
"It was over. The cracks still rang in her ears. She could still feel the paddle as if in a dream. And her sex was like a hollow chamber in which all pleasures she had known left their loud, reverberating echo.”I’ll not go so far as to pretend that these books represent some sort of hallmark for the genre (or of the D/s Lifestyle in general), but they are a journey worth taking if you have the metaphorical balls for it.
I’m not even going to try and pretend that I don’t wield these books as a weapon against those who are ignorant enough about the D/s Lifestyle to believe that Fifty Shades of Grey and its fuzzy handcuff contemporaries are a representative of BDSM… Not that those books aren’t entertaining for what they are (Modern Romance with a slightly erotic, slightly kinky kick)… But let’s endeavor to call a spade a spade, people… Before someone gets their pretty little feelings hurt…
When I picked up the infamous & highly erotic The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty so many years ago, I did not know that additional books existed in the series. A few weeks ago, Carie Ernst (Who is not a member of GoodReads but I hope by evoking her name, she might magically join the dark side) and I were discussing Erotic Fiction, and she brought up these books. The next time Carie arrived on my doorstep she had the second and third books in hand for my reading pleasure.
These books are completely over-the-top graphically sexual & and descriptive to the point of making the reader squirm… However, I find the psychology of the submissive much more accurate in Anne Rice writing as A. N. Roquelaure’s fantasy land than it is often portrayed in the soft-core BDSM-light Erotic Romances which come across my path more frequently.
I found Tristan’s chapters “In the House of Nicolas” and “Splendid Equipage” to be amazingly (perhaps morbidly?) fascinating… It was my first foray into horsey-play after all… and a lady never forgets her first.
July 16, 2012
Stockholm syndrome on steroids and BDSM on crack. That sums up this book nicely.
It still fascinating to read why the princes/princesses accept and even come to like their daily punishment.
I have known BDSM for a few years but there is not one person who can put up with years of degradation and humiliation every second of your daily life. In some ways this is truly a fairy tale - for pervs but still a fairy tale ;p
The plot is better than the first, but if you're looking for a plot rich book than go somewhere else.
It still fascinating to read why the princes/princesses accept and even come to like their daily punishment.
I have known BDSM for a few years but there is not one person who can put up with years of degradation and humiliation every second of your daily life. In some ways this is truly a fairy tale - for pervs but still a fairy tale ;p
The plot is better than the first, but if you're looking for a plot rich book than go somewhere else.
February 21, 2018
I don't even know why I proceeded with book 2. I was dumb, okay.
Read
December 14, 2018I can't even give this book a rating, it really does not deserve even 1 star.
Let's go over what this book has to offer:
Prostitution (Offering your slaves bodies for money is, in fact, prostitution, and pimping)
A strange form of pseudo-beastiality (They don't have sex with animals, but Anne has them dress up as such, which is just weird.)
Sword handles
More rape.
Alright, Anne, now you're really starting to piss me off. Is this magic little world free from STD'S AND pregnancy? The idea of sex in these books is so mindblowingly false it drives me crazy. Are we to believe that Beauty gets an orgasm from every penis, finger, dagger handle. etc... that is inserted into her, EVERY time, by every person?
Ladies, please raise your hand if you've had an orgasm by every single person you've had sex with? Yea, I thought so. There is no way Beauty can possibly have screaming orgasms every time something is in put into this woman's vagina. No. This isn't erotic. It's weird, Horrifying, twisted & gross. (The book jets hard into fantasy when her absolute first time is that of sheer bliss. Please.)
I have never thrown, or yelled at, a book so much in my life. Any male that reads this is going to be under the impression that he is allowed to treat women like this. No, I don't think so. Now listen up readers of this rantview, most women will not be ok with most of, if any, of the behavior in this book. And should you try to force any part of your body on a woman, we are not like Beauty, and we will most likely not want a strange man to grope us, and we will kick you in the gonads.
Thank you.
(But no thank you to Anne, because this series was a pile.)
Let's go over what this book has to offer:
Prostitution (Offering your slaves bodies for money is, in fact, prostitution, and pimping)
A strange form of pseudo-beastiality (They don't have sex with animals, but Anne has them dress up as such, which is just weird.)
Sword handles
More rape.
Alright, Anne, now you're really starting to piss me off. Is this magic little world free from STD'S AND pregnancy? The idea of sex in these books is so mindblowingly false it drives me crazy. Are we to believe that Beauty gets an orgasm from every penis, finger, dagger handle. etc... that is inserted into her, EVERY time, by every person?
Ladies, please raise your hand if you've had an orgasm by every single person you've had sex with? Yea, I thought so. There is no way Beauty can possibly have screaming orgasms every time something is in put into this woman's vagina. No. This isn't erotic. It's weird, Horrifying, twisted & gross. (The book jets hard into fantasy when her absolute first time is that of sheer bliss. Please.)
I have never thrown, or yelled at, a book so much in my life. Any male that reads this is going to be under the impression that he is allowed to treat women like this. No, I don't think so. Now listen up readers of this rantview, most women will not be ok with most of, if any, of the behavior in this book. And should you try to force any part of your body on a woman, we are not like Beauty, and we will most likely not want a strange man to grope us, and we will kick you in the gonads.
Thank you.
(But no thank you to Anne, because this series was a pile.)
August 7, 2020
So I bought the whole series, and after hating the first one, I thought I might try the second seeing I spent money on it.
NOPE NOPE NOPE. Screw the money, not reading the third one.
The worse thing about this is that somehow Beauty and the other characters have absolutely NO PERSONALITY. They're just shells and dolls for other people to enjoy. Which is frankly sickening. I mean, how are you supposed to like a book if the mc doesn't even have a personality?
I mean, even if you enjoy erotica and stuff like 50 shades, there's no guarantee you'll like this. This is so much different.
Also, just picked up on the fact that Sleeping Beauty here DOES NOT have a name. Her name is just 'beauty'. Is that flattering or just downright degrading.
Imma go with the second one.
NOPE NOPE NOPE. Screw the money, not reading the third one.
The worse thing about this is that somehow Beauty and the other characters have absolutely NO PERSONALITY. They're just shells and dolls for other people to enjoy. Which is frankly sickening. I mean, how are you supposed to like a book if the mc doesn't even have a personality?
I mean, even if you enjoy erotica and stuff like 50 shades, there's no guarantee you'll like this. This is so much different.
Also, just picked up on the fact that Sleeping Beauty here DOES NOT have a name. Her name is just 'beauty'. Is that flattering or just downright degrading.
Imma go with the second one.
July 16, 2011
THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR UNDERAGE OR DELICATE SENSIBILITIES IN THE ROMANCE READERS FOLLOWING!!!
IF YOU ARE NOT 18+ OR HAVE STRICT VIEWS ON EROTIC RELATIONS/RELATIONSHIPS - DO NOT READ!!
Surprisingly, this becomes not the tale of just Beauty, but of Beauty AND Tristan. Albeit, I wouldn't participate in many of these activities, it is quite arousing in it's psychology of the need to be challenged in subjugation and the raw acceptance in the pain of arousal and "punishment".
What I find most confounding is the participation of not just a select few within the village, but of EVERYONE, both in punishment and in fulfillment. How is it that many of those exacting punishment seem to never have been on the subservient side of this equation. Although, it is hinted that villagers are allowed to request to be at the mercy of the Castle, and the royals are given the privilege to also be debased to serve in the Village, thus opening the possibility of more involved in both sides of the equation. Does this make better slaves? Or better Masters/Mistresses? Interesting... and very thought provoking in the steeped desires and fragile loving ties between those mastering and the mastered. I am also slightly amazed at the open sexual gratification of not just one but of many.
What a way to end the book by throwing them not only into each others' arms but into the mercy of "pleasure slave" captors of a sultan from across the sea. The closing scene is one of great adventure and of acknowledged love betwixt these two slaves.
I think I would have greatly preferred that Anne Rice (writing under the pen-name A. N. Roquelaure) had left the legend of Sleeping Beauty to the myths and fairy tales and chosen a completely untouched figure of her making in this story, as it turns the melodramatic romantic tale of fairy tales into a much twisted and very powerless kingdoms of darker fantasies. I think that it is a much more enticing tale when separated from the tale told to children, even in its miniscule references.
All in all, the sexual exploration of this ongoing tale is to be enjoyed with an open mind, if not a hot libido. I know that even as I quaked with the horror that I am sure both Beauty and Tristan, as well as other princes or princesses in this tale, felt with abject humiliation and raging desire; I can only honestly state that I am inspired to try a little spanking myself... HAHAHAHA!!!!
IF YOU ARE NOT 18+ OR HAVE STRICT VIEWS ON EROTIC RELATIONS/RELATIONSHIPS - DO NOT READ!!
Surprisingly, this becomes not the tale of just Beauty, but of Beauty AND Tristan. Albeit, I wouldn't participate in many of these activities, it is quite arousing in it's psychology of the need to be challenged in subjugation and the raw acceptance in the pain of arousal and "punishment".
What I find most confounding is the participation of not just a select few within the village, but of EVERYONE, both in punishment and in fulfillment. How is it that many of those exacting punishment seem to never have been on the subservient side of this equation. Although, it is hinted that villagers are allowed to request to be at the mercy of the Castle, and the royals are given the privilege to also be debased to serve in the Village, thus opening the possibility of more involved in both sides of the equation. Does this make better slaves? Or better Masters/Mistresses? Interesting... and very thought provoking in the steeped desires and fragile loving ties between those mastering and the mastered. I am also slightly amazed at the open sexual gratification of not just one but of many.
What a way to end the book by throwing them not only into each others' arms but into the mercy of "pleasure slave" captors of a sultan from across the sea. The closing scene is one of great adventure and of acknowledged love betwixt these two slaves.
I think I would have greatly preferred that Anne Rice (writing under the pen-name A. N. Roquelaure) had left the legend of Sleeping Beauty to the myths and fairy tales and chosen a completely untouched figure of her making in this story, as it turns the melodramatic romantic tale of fairy tales into a much twisted and very powerless kingdoms of darker fantasies. I think that it is a much more enticing tale when separated from the tale told to children, even in its miniscule references.
All in all, the sexual exploration of this ongoing tale is to be enjoyed with an open mind, if not a hot libido. I know that even as I quaked with the horror that I am sure both Beauty and Tristan, as well as other princes or princesses in this tale, felt with abject humiliation and raging desire; I can only honestly state that I am inspired to try a little spanking myself... HAHAHAHA!!!!
March 20, 2011
I liked this one much more than the first book, or maybe I should say I liked Beauty much more in this one. Here, we see her exhibit some spirit, occasionally rebelling in order to be given harsher punishments. I could relate more to this side of her. She decided not to always be obedient, perhaps knowing that by pushing back she would reach a greater level of submission than if she meekly obeyed every order. This fascinated me as much as it disturbed me, yet ultimately made me adore her more for it.
We also get to see the pov of male slave Tristan, who was also disobedient, but for very different reasons: Tristan longed for a firmer hand, the guidance of someone who could and would truly master him with decisiveness and confidence. Once he found what he sought, he began to find peace and contentment in his position as a slave.
Overall this story was more fulfilling, and I found a deeper understanding of the mind and soul of a true submissive. No less whimsical than the first book, it nevertheless told a more in-depth and revealing story. And at times, it was also extremely arousing and thrilling. Though again, I did not wish to be Beauty, there were moments in which I truly envied her.
The ending of this story leads to another adventure for both Beauty & Tristan. And I'm glad I already have the book - the last in the series - so I can go on this journey with them.
We also get to see the pov of male slave Tristan, who was also disobedient, but for very different reasons: Tristan longed for a firmer hand, the guidance of someone who could and would truly master him with decisiveness and confidence. Once he found what he sought, he began to find peace and contentment in his position as a slave.
Overall this story was more fulfilling, and I found a deeper understanding of the mind and soul of a true submissive. No less whimsical than the first book, it nevertheless told a more in-depth and revealing story. And at times, it was also extremely arousing and thrilling. Though again, I did not wish to be Beauty, there were moments in which I truly envied her.
The ending of this story leads to another adventure for both Beauty & Tristan. And I'm glad I already have the book - the last in the series - so I can go on this journey with them.
February 19, 2011
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LOVE ANIMALS. I DON'T CARE HOW HORNY YOU ARE, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LOVE ANIMALS.
This book was freaking weird. And not weird in a good way. Anne Rice, though I have a sort of love/hate relationship with her, has a sick and twisted mind. It's a very uncomfortable place to be in. I didn't read this because it was porn. I get bored of porn easily. I read this because I heard about how freakingly strange this was, and this was Anne Rice as well. I didn't expect greatness, I just expected weirdness. And it had weirdness, trust me.
But after a certain scene I couldn't stand anymore sick weirdness. Unfortunately a cat gets involved. That's all I'm going to say.
Yeah, don't read this book if you love animals, especially cats. Trust me.
This book was freaking weird. And not weird in a good way. Anne Rice, though I have a sort of love/hate relationship with her, has a sick and twisted mind. It's a very uncomfortable place to be in. I didn't read this because it was porn. I get bored of porn easily. I read this because I heard about how freakingly strange this was, and this was Anne Rice as well. I didn't expect greatness, I just expected weirdness. And it had weirdness, trust me.
But after a certain scene I couldn't stand anymore sick weirdness. Unfortunately a cat gets involved. That's all I'm going to say.
Yeah, don't read this book if you love animals, especially cats. Trust me.
July 24, 2012
It's probably best to start of the review of this, the second book in the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, with a section from my review of the first book:
"In order to read the Sleeping Beauty series, you mush set aside ALL of your preconceived notions about sex, sexuality, consensual sex-- all if it should have no bearing on this story. This is not "your" story, it is the fictitious account of Sleeping Beauty and the Prince who awakened her (at least in the beginning, after which it becomes a story of multiple "slaves" and their many different views on BDSM.)
That above point is the key to not only reading the first book to completion, but the whole series, so I'll say it again: SET ASIDE ALL OF YOUR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS REGARDING SEX."
While I enjoyed the first book, things really got interesting once I acclimated to the unique sexuality views prevalent in the series and the plot hooked into me with deeper purchase. At the end of book one, I immediately started reading this book, despite the fact that it was well past my bed time. For most of the first book, Beauty is safely (or not, depending on your point of view) ensconced in the Royal Palace where the BDSM themes have a royal bent. Until, that is, Beauty does something so inexplicable (and on purpose) to relegate herself to the nearby royal village to continue her servitude.
Thus starts this book, with Beauty cast into the wilds of the village, not knowing if the punishments that follow will be something that she can tolerate at all. More character viewpoints are introduced, and some of the originals (like the Prince) are never heard from again. I found the new players in the game enhanced the book and rounded out the full slave experience, and on the whole I think I liked this book the best out of all three.
I do feel that I should mention that underneath all the sexual sadism, like the layers of an onion, are the internal struggles among the cast, and their deep longing to understand and fully realize their true selves without the confines of societal norms and expectations. In that sense, these books are wholly literary, even if it's hidden between the supple folds of what some may find to be perversion.
"In order to read the Sleeping Beauty series, you mush set aside ALL of your preconceived notions about sex, sexuality, consensual sex-- all if it should have no bearing on this story. This is not "your" story, it is the fictitious account of Sleeping Beauty and the Prince who awakened her (at least in the beginning, after which it becomes a story of multiple "slaves" and their many different views on BDSM.)
That above point is the key to not only reading the first book to completion, but the whole series, so I'll say it again: SET ASIDE ALL OF YOUR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS REGARDING SEX."
While I enjoyed the first book, things really got interesting once I acclimated to the unique sexuality views prevalent in the series and the plot hooked into me with deeper purchase. At the end of book one, I immediately started reading this book, despite the fact that it was well past my bed time. For most of the first book, Beauty is safely (or not, depending on your point of view) ensconced in the Royal Palace where the BDSM themes have a royal bent. Until, that is, Beauty does something so inexplicable (and on purpose) to relegate herself to the nearby royal village to continue her servitude.
Thus starts this book, with Beauty cast into the wilds of the village, not knowing if the punishments that follow will be something that she can tolerate at all. More character viewpoints are introduced, and some of the originals (like the Prince) are never heard from again. I found the new players in the game enhanced the book and rounded out the full slave experience, and on the whole I think I liked this book the best out of all three.
I do feel that I should mention that underneath all the sexual sadism, like the layers of an onion, are the internal struggles among the cast, and their deep longing to understand and fully realize their true selves without the confines of societal norms and expectations. In that sense, these books are wholly literary, even if it's hidden between the supple folds of what some may find to be perversion.
October 25, 2008
Despite plodding through this series, I am intrigued by the story. It really is fetish!porn (I used to say "well-written" before realizing what I really meant was "literate"), don't fool yourself. But it's so exploratory and so uninhibited that it demands your attention.
I'm actually torn over my rating: I enjoyed reading this book a bit more than I did the first one but the direction of the story in the introductory novel was so much more interesting to me. I do like how Anne Rice has developed the characters as she moves toward the end of the trilogy, and the psychological implications attached to Beauty and Tristan's differing reactions to existing as naked pleasure slaves make for surprisingly thought-provoking revelations about the nature of sex and arousal (at least, their natures as they pertain to the story).
I'm actually torn over my rating: I enjoyed reading this book a bit more than I did the first one but the direction of the story in the introductory novel was so much more interesting to me. I do like how Anne Rice has developed the characters as she moves toward the end of the trilogy, and the psychological implications attached to Beauty and Tristan's differing reactions to existing as naked pleasure slaves make for surprisingly thought-provoking revelations about the nature of sex and arousal (at least, their natures as they pertain to the story).
November 21, 2008
I thought this series was an imaginative take on the sleeping beauty fairy tale. It is so dark. The hard core sex element is not for the faint of heart.
October 5, 2013
Now this is what I'm talking about! Yes indeed! Now I see what all the fuss is about!
First of all this should've been titled Beauty & Tristan's "Punishment" *eyebrow wiggle*. And second of all, let me just say (rather crudely) fuck that castle nonsense! The village is where it's at! As much as I cringed & at times gutted it out through the first one, I was really, really hoping this one wouldn't be like the first. Well, this one was scorching hot! Now, don't let me lie to you there's a couple of bumps in the road but there was really only one part where I found myself saying, 'Oh no! Don't do that… NOOOOOOOOO!' But I just skimmed it & kept on going just like a Timex.
Beauty's still fickle as all get out but she realizes that she's not actually in love with any of her captors/Masters/Mistresses. She likes some of them a lot & she loves the abasement & the punishment even more. Instead she seems to keep falling for her fellow slaves-mostly falling in lust. She's really a little attention whore; relishing & striving to be the center of attention even when she "complains" about it. She also develops more of personality or perhaps we're just getting to know her better. She knows exactly what she's doing & what the likely outcomes will be. She's more insightful & bright than I gave her credit for initially. She tends to be a bit disobedient & bratty sometimes to ensure she gets punished & if she can get humiliated, even better! I found myself highly amused at her antics most of the time & liking her more & more throughout the course of this installment.
Tristan becomes attached to his Master (Nicholas) & he's definitely more tender hearted than Beauty. He too delights in the punishments & requires a strong hand. There's a special place in the village for public punishments with a maypole, a spinning wheel & even public tents & both he & Beauty delight in the tortures that lie there. Generally speaking, all of the little Princes & Princesses quite prefer the village to the castle, many finding it more structured & grounding. Things are going swimmingly for all then… they're off on another adventure. Will it ever end? Will Beauty find her true Master or be a wanton little heartbreaker? Can't wait to find out!
As a side note, the cover of my copy of says this: "If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey, you'll love The Sleeping Beauty trilogy." Ummmm… I have to respectfully disagree & I'm fairly certain that Ms. Rice would smack someone for even suggesting they were similar.
First of all this should've been titled Beauty & Tristan's "Punishment" *eyebrow wiggle*. And second of all, let me just say (rather crudely) fuck that castle nonsense! The village is where it's at! As much as I cringed & at times gutted it out through the first one, I was really, really hoping this one wouldn't be like the first. Well, this one was scorching hot! Now, don't let me lie to you there's a couple of bumps in the road but there was really only one part where I found myself saying, 'Oh no! Don't do that… NOOOOOOOOO!' But I just skimmed it & kept on going just like a Timex.
Beauty's still fickle as all get out but she realizes that she's not actually in love with any of her captors/Masters/Mistresses. She likes some of them a lot & she loves the abasement & the punishment even more. Instead she seems to keep falling for her fellow slaves-mostly falling in lust. She's really a little attention whore; relishing & striving to be the center of attention even when she "complains" about it. She also develops more of personality or perhaps we're just getting to know her better. She knows exactly what she's doing & what the likely outcomes will be. She's more insightful & bright than I gave her credit for initially. She tends to be a bit disobedient & bratty sometimes to ensure she gets punished & if she can get humiliated, even better! I found myself highly amused at her antics most of the time & liking her more & more throughout the course of this installment.
Tristan becomes attached to his Master (Nicholas) & he's definitely more tender hearted than Beauty. He too delights in the punishments & requires a strong hand. There's a special place in the village for public punishments with a maypole, a spinning wheel & even public tents & both he & Beauty delight in the tortures that lie there. Generally speaking, all of the little Princes & Princesses quite prefer the village to the castle, many finding it more structured & grounding. Things are going swimmingly for all then… they're off on another adventure. Will it ever end? Will Beauty find her true Master or be a wanton little heartbreaker? Can't wait to find out!
As a side note, the cover of my copy of says this: "If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey, you'll love The Sleeping Beauty trilogy." Ummmm… I have to respectfully disagree & I'm fairly certain that Ms. Rice would smack someone for even suggesting they were similar.
Read
January 7, 2014 "HE SPANKS ME, HE SPANKS ME NOT" ......
DNF @10%
DNF @10%
February 6, 2013
This sequel to "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty", the first of Anne Rice's elegantly written volumes of erotica, continues her explicit, teasing exploration of the psychology of human desire.
Beauty, having indulged in a secret and forbidden infatuation with the rebellious slave Prince Tristan, is sent away from the Satyricon-like world of the castle. Once again Rice's fabulous tale of pleasure and pain dares to explore the most primal and well-hidden desires of the human heart.
"Beauty's Punishment" is the continuation of "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty", Anne Rice's erotic retelling of the popular fairy tale. In the second installment, Beauty is punished for having rebelled against the Prince. She, along with Prince Tristan, an insubordinate slave and object of Beauty's desire, is auctioned, captivated and subjected to the most erotic, tantalizing and cruel games of domination and submission.
In the village Beauty and some others are auctioned to the civilians who transform them into working slaves : they have to work, the boys are turned into horses or poneys, and their masters and mistresses are degrading them and punishing them into a new stage of submission. They develop their dependence on this enslavement to the point of getting in love with the punishment and the punishing masters or mistresses. At this moment they cannot even imagine themselves leaving or escaping from that degrading position because their psyche has been made dependent on it, because their intellect has been centered on it.
Their whole vision of the world and of themselves in the world holds only because of this enslavement that becomes the cornerstone of it, the apex of any intelligent or sensual reaction and action. They need the punishment to remain structured. Without the punishment they collapse into sheer non-existence, a scattered jigsaw puzzle whose pieces cannot be set back into any kind of a pattern.
Again, Anne Rice does an excellent job in illustrating the psychological implications of the human desire. She also does a splendid job in taking the course of the story to unexpected turns...
There are various differences between "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" and its sequel. In "Beauty's Punishment", the language is less fanciful and more explicit. Also, Prince Tristan is the focal character in this book -- thus, making Beauty seem as though she were a secondary character at times.
Book Details:
Title Beauty's Punishment (Erotic Adventures of Sleeping Beauty, 2)
Author Anne Rice writing as A. N. Roquelaure
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Beauty, having indulged in a secret and forbidden infatuation with the rebellious slave Prince Tristan, is sent away from the Satyricon-like world of the castle. Once again Rice's fabulous tale of pleasure and pain dares to explore the most primal and well-hidden desires of the human heart.
"Beauty's Punishment" is the continuation of "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty", Anne Rice's erotic retelling of the popular fairy tale. In the second installment, Beauty is punished for having rebelled against the Prince. She, along with Prince Tristan, an insubordinate slave and object of Beauty's desire, is auctioned, captivated and subjected to the most erotic, tantalizing and cruel games of domination and submission.
In the village Beauty and some others are auctioned to the civilians who transform them into working slaves : they have to work, the boys are turned into horses or poneys, and their masters and mistresses are degrading them and punishing them into a new stage of submission. They develop their dependence on this enslavement to the point of getting in love with the punishment and the punishing masters or mistresses. At this moment they cannot even imagine themselves leaving or escaping from that degrading position because their psyche has been made dependent on it, because their intellect has been centered on it.
Their whole vision of the world and of themselves in the world holds only because of this enslavement that becomes the cornerstone of it, the apex of any intelligent or sensual reaction and action. They need the punishment to remain structured. Without the punishment they collapse into sheer non-existence, a scattered jigsaw puzzle whose pieces cannot be set back into any kind of a pattern.
Again, Anne Rice does an excellent job in illustrating the psychological implications of the human desire. She also does a splendid job in taking the course of the story to unexpected turns...
There are various differences between "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" and its sequel. In "Beauty's Punishment", the language is less fanciful and more explicit. Also, Prince Tristan is the focal character in this book -- thus, making Beauty seem as though she were a secondary character at times.
Book Details:
Title Beauty's Punishment (Erotic Adventures of Sleeping Beauty, 2)
Author Anne Rice writing as A. N. Roquelaure
Reviewed By Purplycookie
July 10, 2008
I think this is a great continuation from the first novel and although I love all three at times this would have to be my favourite. The fact that it offers a new experience for the slaves to be in makes it seem far more brutal and far more interesting. I think it helps to add more depth and then there is the introduction of a new character and the story being told from their perspective as well as Beauty’s. I quite like the new perspective and seeing as it is a different slave to what Beauty is (a different type of slave) I think it adds a better dimension compared to the first but only in so far that it helps add more dimension to Beauty’s character.
Then there is the introduction to Laurent (my favourite character) and seeing as these books are so short and it’s really only feeling like it’s getting to the heart of it just as it ends I always get a bit upset at the ending because of it’s abruptness. In saying that I think it’s an abruptness that’s needed to continue the slaves growth, but still I like the brutality, mainly because I’ve found it to be a more colourful novel and even more detailed then the first.
Then there is the introduction to Laurent (my favourite character) and seeing as these books are so short and it’s really only feeling like it’s getting to the heart of it just as it ends I always get a bit upset at the ending because of it’s abruptness. In saying that I think it’s an abruptness that’s needed to continue the slaves growth, but still I like the brutality, mainly because I’ve found it to be a more colourful novel and even more detailed then the first.
December 23, 2014
This was a hot fantasy to be honest.
Not all of the kink is my kink, but it was strangely arousing to read.
This is porn, but decent porn, not pretending to be anything else.
Not all of the kink is my kink, but it was strangely arousing to read.
This is porn, but decent porn, not pretending to be anything else.
July 11, 2018
The version of the book I read - I heard to be precise - begins with an introduction that clarifies the writer's intentions. This was one of the reasons I enjoyed it more than the first, but of course not the only one. The main reason is that the book seems to reflect these intentions better. In the first book there was the element of violent erotic fantasy, but on several points things ran out of bounds, and in the end what I read was a description of abuse. This book is quite different in spite of the fact - as the title suggests - that the story revolves around the punishment of our heroes. Expectingly our heroes are facing violent behaviour and many humiliations, but they treat this as the fulfilment of their deepest erotic desires, of their dark fantasies, as something they themselves enjoy in an odd way, which allows the reader to enjoy this book without remorse. There is, of course, within the pages the thought of what it is that can lead us to the search for subjugation and how we can draw pleasure from it, but this is something completely secondary and does not destroy the main purpose of the book. In other words, this book offers pure pleasure, an escape from reality, a dive into a hedonistic world where every fantasy can be fulfilled. Above all It offers all this things with an aesthetically attractive way, so I think it's an ideal erotic reading.
Η έκδοση του βιβλίου που διάβασα - άκουσα για την ακρίβεια - ξεκινάει με μία εισαγωγή που ξεκαθαρίζει τις προθέσεις της συγγραφέως. Αυτός ήταν ένας από τους λόγους που το απόλαυσα περισσότερο από το πρώτο αλλά φυσικά όχι ο μοναδικός. Ο κυριότερος λόγος είναι ότι το βιβλίο φαίνεται να αντανακλά αυτές τις προθέσεις καλύτερα. Στο πρώτο βιβλίο υπήρχε το στοιχείο της βίαιης ερωτικής φαντασίωσης αλλά σε αρκετά σημεία τα πράγματα ξέφευγαν από τα όρια και στο τέλος αυτό που διάβαζα ήταν περιγραφή κακοποίησης. Σε αυτό τα πράγματα είναι αρκετά διαφορετικά παρά το γεγονός ότι - όπως φαίνεται από τον τίτλο - η ιστορία περιστρέφεται γύρω από την τιμωρία των ηρώων μας. Αναμενόμενα οι ήρωές μας αντιμετωπίζουν βίαιη συμπεριφορά και πολλές ταπεινώσεις αλλά αυτό το αντιμετωπίζουν ως την εκπλήρωση των βαθύτερων ερωτικών τους επιθυμιών, των σκοτεινών φαντασιώσεων τους, είναι δηλαδή κάτι που οι ίδιοι με έναν περίεργο τρόπο το απολαμβάνουν, κάτι που επιτρέπει στον αναγνώστη να απολαύσει αυτό το βιβλίο χωρίς τύψεις. Υπάρχει βέβαια μέσα στις σελίδες η σκέψη για το τι είναι αυτό που μπορεί να μας οδηγήσει στην αναζήτηση της υποταγής και πώς μπορούμε να αντλήσουμε ηδονή από αυτό, αλλά αυτό είναι κάτι εντελώς δευτερεύον και δεν καταστρέφει τον κύριο σκοπό του βιβλίου. Με άλλα λόγια αυτό το βιβλίο προσφέρει αγνή απόλαυση, η μία απόδραση από την πραγματικότητα, ένα βύθισμα σε έναν ηδονιστικό κόσμο όπου κάθε φαντασίωση μπορεί να πραγματοποιηθεί. Όλα αυτά τα προσφέρει με έναν αισθητικά ελκυστικό τρόπο, για αυτό νομίζω ότι είναι ένα ιδανικό ερωτικό αναγνώσιμα.
Η έκδοση του βιβλίου που διάβασα - άκουσα για την ακρίβεια - ξεκινάει με μία εισαγωγή που ξεκαθαρίζει τις προθέσεις της συγγραφέως. Αυτός ήταν ένας από τους λόγους που το απόλαυσα περισσότερο από το πρώτο αλλά φυσικά όχι ο μοναδικός. Ο κυριότερος λόγος είναι ότι το βιβλίο φαίνεται να αντανακλά αυτές τις προθέσεις καλύτερα. Στο πρώτο βιβλίο υπήρχε το στοιχείο της βίαιης ερωτικής φαντασίωσης αλλά σε αρκετά σημεία τα πράγματα ξέφευγαν από τα όρια και στο τέλος αυτό που διάβαζα ήταν περιγραφή κακοποίησης. Σε αυτό τα πράγματα είναι αρκετά διαφορετικά παρά το γεγονός ότι - όπως φαίνεται από τον τίτλο - η ιστορία περιστρέφεται γύρω από την τιμωρία των ηρώων μας. Αναμενόμενα οι ήρωές μας αντιμετωπίζουν βίαιη συμπεριφορά και πολλές ταπεινώσεις αλλά αυτό το αντιμετωπίζουν ως την εκπλήρωση των βαθύτερων ερωτικών τους επιθυμιών, των σκοτεινών φαντασιώσεων τους, είναι δηλαδή κάτι που οι ίδιοι με έναν περίεργο τρόπο το απολαμβάνουν, κάτι που επιτρέπει στον αναγνώστη να απολαύσει αυτό το βιβλίο χωρίς τύψεις. Υπάρχει βέβαια μέσα στις σελίδες η σκέψη για το τι είναι αυτό που μπορεί να μας οδηγήσει στην αναζήτηση της υποταγής και πώς μπορούμε να αντλήσουμε ηδονή από αυτό, αλλά αυτό είναι κάτι εντελώς δευτερεύον και δεν καταστρέφει τον κύριο σκοπό του βιβλίου. Με άλλα λόγια αυτό το βιβλίο προσφέρει αγνή απόλαυση, η μία απόδραση από την πραγματικότητα, ένα βύθισμα σε έναν ηδονιστικό κόσμο όπου κάθε φαντασίωση μπορεί να πραγματοποιηθεί. Όλα αυτά τα προσφέρει με έναν αισθητικά ελκυστικό τρόπο, για αυτό νομίζω ότι είναι ένα ιδανικό ερωτικό αναγνώσιμα.
August 20, 2011
Beauty's Punishment is the second book in Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty trilogy; I'd be lying if I didn't mention that I'm relieved that I only have one more to go. As much as I have an open mind, these stories are even a little much for me. This is not the Sleeping Beauty most of us knew an loved as children. She lives now in a much darker world where sexual depravity, slavery, and even beastiality are key components. I had written in my review of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty that I was curious to see where Anne Rice takes this, just how far she goes. The answer rang out, loud and clear like bells and whistles, when the cat was introduced to Beauty, and that is all I will write about this. However, the second book, although surprisingly darker than the first (surprising because how is that even possible!?) is not as lacking in emotional ties as the first. In this book, Beauty is able to form a bond with Prince Tristan and The Captain; Prince Tristan has his own emotional connections as well. Neither book is one my top 10 list, but I recommend them to anyone who is daring! I would not, however, recommend any of these books to someone who is offended by off color language and sexuality.
September 29, 2008
Weird. Smut. But I admit, I read all three.
It's been a few years since I read this so I was tempted to give it only two stars but after some consideration, decided to bump it to three.
The whole premise was seductively intriguing. After finding the first book at the tiny public library I secretely hoped this and the third were available as well. There they were. On the very bottom shelf probably more read than anyone would care to admit. My bet is none of the librarians ever bothered to pick it up...or if they did they liked it too because I imagine it received quite a bit of negative attention for being in such a tiny town's library.
It's been a few years since I read this so I was tempted to give it only two stars but after some consideration, decided to bump it to three.
The whole premise was seductively intriguing. After finding the first book at the tiny public library I secretely hoped this and the third were available as well. There they were. On the very bottom shelf probably more read than anyone would care to admit. My bet is none of the librarians ever bothered to pick it up...or if they did they liked it too because I imagine it received quite a bit of negative attention for being in such a tiny town's library.
September 21, 2012
I would like to start by saying that I adore Rice's writing style. She uses words in a way that few authors have the capacity to understand, let alone mimic. I also find it impressive that she did such an outstanding job on this novel, given that she wrote it for an academic degree, and that the subject matter is by and large misunderstood in mainstream society.
With a nod to Rice's abilities, I will now move to my second point: This book depicts a Grimm-infused view of BDSM. For those who do not participate in the community, or bother to learn the reality of the lifestyle, I would like to point out that few people are able to engage in the kind of "day in and day out" dynamic depicted in the book. Even people who live the lifestyle 24/7 usually have some sort of balancing aspect to their dynamic.
When reading this series, look at it as a highly sexual version of Harlequin romances: You know that, no matter what happens, a washboard-abbed cowboy is not going to sweep into your home and present you with his motherless daughter to raise, large ranch on which he needs help, and feather-soft bed which he needs you to jump into. Similarly, few women are going to like being whisked away to a large estate where they are made available at all times, with little consideration to their needs or desires and no nod to pregnancy prevention or medical concerns. This is a fantasy, please read it as such.
I rate this is four stars for numerous reasons: I enjoy these kinds of stories; I am an unabashed erotica reader. Additionally, I can not stand the utter trash that is 50 Shades of Gray. I will not go into my rant here, but let me say that I wrote better erotica than "50 Shades", well before I ever had first-hand experience. Because of this, I feel that it is important to show people what GOOD (or, at least, passable) BDSM erotica is.
So, please put down your book about the "inner goddess" and read these novels. After that, find someone who actually lives a kinky lifestyle and ask them to tell you about how things really work. The dysfunction of "50 Shades" and the fantasy of "Beauty" are in no way realistic. It doesn't stop Rice's novels from being amazing, it's just something to keep in mind.
With a nod to Rice's abilities, I will now move to my second point: This book depicts a Grimm-infused view of BDSM. For those who do not participate in the community, or bother to learn the reality of the lifestyle, I would like to point out that few people are able to engage in the kind of "day in and day out" dynamic depicted in the book. Even people who live the lifestyle 24/7 usually have some sort of balancing aspect to their dynamic.
When reading this series, look at it as a highly sexual version of Harlequin romances: You know that, no matter what happens, a washboard-abbed cowboy is not going to sweep into your home and present you with his motherless daughter to raise, large ranch on which he needs help, and feather-soft bed which he needs you to jump into. Similarly, few women are going to like being whisked away to a large estate where they are made available at all times, with little consideration to their needs or desires and no nod to pregnancy prevention or medical concerns. This is a fantasy, please read it as such.
I rate this is four stars for numerous reasons: I enjoy these kinds of stories; I am an unabashed erotica reader. Additionally, I can not stand the utter trash that is 50 Shades of Gray. I will not go into my rant here, but let me say that I wrote better erotica than "50 Shades", well before I ever had first-hand experience. Because of this, I feel that it is important to show people what GOOD (or, at least, passable) BDSM erotica is.
So, please put down your book about the "inner goddess" and read these novels. After that, find someone who actually lives a kinky lifestyle and ask them to tell you about how things really work. The dysfunction of "50 Shades" and the fantasy of "Beauty" are in no way realistic. It doesn't stop Rice's novels from being amazing, it's just something to keep in mind.
November 11, 2010
This trilogy was my introduction into the BDSM World of reading. I absolutely loved it. Being raised a good catholic girl, I was naive to anything sexual, but this book opened my eyes to many possibilities and to the different aspects of sexuality. I read the entire series in two days.
The books can be a bit extreme at times, but whats the purpose of fantasy if you can't push the envelope.
The books can be a bit extreme at times, but whats the purpose of fantasy if you can't push the envelope.
April 24, 2015
I rated the 1st book in this series 5 stars and this one was 4 or 5 stars for me as well. When the story was good, it was so, so good. However, there were times I thought the book dragged just a bit. I would have liked getting into the character's heads a bit more. Maybe it was just my mood. In any event, it is a fun fantasy read and I loved the world that Beauty and her friends found themselves in. There were sexual shenanigans going on everywhere and most were related to a fantasy form of BDSM. As a side note, I got a kick out of the reviews from other GR readers on book 2. It proves that we all have different kinks and tolerances and those feelings show up in the ratings. There is a fair amount of m/m and f/f relationships so if that is an issue for you, then you may want to take a pass. The book is crazy, kinky, and non-stop fun.
January 9, 2011
This second one was just as hot for me. I learned so many lovely taboo sexual acts that a 15 year old would never learn otherwise. Was this book subversive for me, probably. Still, I loved every sex scene, even if I felt awkward about the m/m scenes.
June 24, 2008
I learned, lots, about BDSM, and myself...
September 4, 2011
I am NOT ashamed to admit that I LOVED these books, this one is my favorite of the series only because the BDSM element gets so intense, sorry I'm a slut for BDSM kids lol
December 4, 2013
As you can probably already glean from my review of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, also by Anne Rice writing as A.M. Roquelaure, I wasn't impressed with this trilogy at the outset. A big fan of Anne Rice and no stranger to erotica, I found the book to be stuck on a theme that was trite and boring. However, never one to not read anything bound between two covers if stuck in front of me, I gamely plodded on to Beauty's Punishment, the second in this erotic triad.
:: The Plot ::
In the first book, the story of Sleeping Beauty is retold by Rice/Roquelaure in a new way; rather than being claimed by the kiss we learned in the familiar fairy tale, Beauty is claimed by the Prince with a "sexual initiation" (really a rape... she's unconscious, right?). The Prince then claims her from her parents as a Tribute to his kingdom, where Princes and Princesses of various kingdoms are sent to perform for a term of indentured service as sex slaves.
When we left Beauty at the end of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, she had inexplicably disobeyed her Master, landing her in a cart of naked sex slaves off to be auctioned in the nearby village for a summer of service to the villagers, which is said to be the worst punishment imaginable for the palace slaves. She does this to be near a slave, Prince Tristan, who is already being sent to the village.
Of course, even bound, Beauty and Tristan find a way to consummate their two seconds of desire from afar, and so begins the next part of Beauty's story. Beauty and Tristan are sold into service in the town; Beauty ends up with the Captain of the Queen's Guard, and Tristan with the Queen's Chronicler. Tristan is immediately put to work as a "pony;" bear with this graphic description, but he is fitted with a "tail" (and you can guess how that's inserted), bit, harness, and reins. Beauty is a combination waitress, mistress, and oh, did I mention that she gets to service the entirety of the Queen's Guard?
Tristan, of course, falls in love with his Master, and convinces him to find out about how Beauty is doing. Spoiler (if you think there is actually a plot here): Tristan's Master buys Beauty for a night so that the two can get together, and they are kidnapped and allowed by the Queen to be taken to the Sultan from whom she learned the whole "slave" method.
:: My Experience ::
I really am trying to give each of these books a chance to stand on its own merits, but I would be lying if I said I really didn't expect much after the first volume. Beauty's Punishment tries so hard to be scintillating but ends up just being redundant. Apparently, after the first book, Rice/Roquelaure ran out of shocking things for Beauty to do, so she adds in the character of Tristan.
I honestly have to wonder who Rice was writing these novels for, because the majority of the sex acts in the first half of the book involve no women at all.
Beauty is supposed to be the focus of this trilogy, and yet, aside from just a few brief scenes, this book seems devoted to Tristan, his humiliations, and his burgeoning love for his Master.
I don't understand why Rice thinks the only plot erotica needs is slightly more than your average porn flick, but the inconsistencies in the plot are so distracting that the sex scenes are mere blips. For instance, we are told that the slaves are only allowed to the villagers for the summer, and later they can be purchased for any length of time, some never to return. Everything from the punishments in the town square to the eventual "slave raid" seem like last minute contrivances because Rice decides she wants the plot to go in a different direction.
Worse, the sexual scenes just aren't very memorable. A commenter in my review of the first book in the trilogy mentioned that the books are somewhat dated at this point, and that could be part of it; either that or I've read too much erotica and this is just boring and trying too hard.
At any rate, I will soldier on through the third novel but at this point, I fully expect to be disappointed.
Review originally published at Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/Beauty...
:: The Plot ::
In the first book, the story of Sleeping Beauty is retold by Rice/Roquelaure in a new way; rather than being claimed by the kiss we learned in the familiar fairy tale, Beauty is claimed by the Prince with a "sexual initiation" (really a rape... she's unconscious, right?). The Prince then claims her from her parents as a Tribute to his kingdom, where Princes and Princesses of various kingdoms are sent to perform for a term of indentured service as sex slaves.
When we left Beauty at the end of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, she had inexplicably disobeyed her Master, landing her in a cart of naked sex slaves off to be auctioned in the nearby village for a summer of service to the villagers, which is said to be the worst punishment imaginable for the palace slaves. She does this to be near a slave, Prince Tristan, who is already being sent to the village.
Of course, even bound, Beauty and Tristan find a way to consummate their two seconds of desire from afar, and so begins the next part of Beauty's story. Beauty and Tristan are sold into service in the town; Beauty ends up with the Captain of the Queen's Guard, and Tristan with the Queen's Chronicler. Tristan is immediately put to work as a "pony;" bear with this graphic description, but he is fitted with a "tail" (and you can guess how that's inserted), bit, harness, and reins. Beauty is a combination waitress, mistress, and oh, did I mention that she gets to service the entirety of the Queen's Guard?
Tristan, of course, falls in love with his Master, and convinces him to find out about how Beauty is doing. Spoiler (if you think there is actually a plot here): Tristan's Master buys Beauty for a night so that the two can get together, and they are kidnapped and allowed by the Queen to be taken to the Sultan from whom she learned the whole "slave" method.
:: My Experience ::
I really am trying to give each of these books a chance to stand on its own merits, but I would be lying if I said I really didn't expect much after the first volume. Beauty's Punishment tries so hard to be scintillating but ends up just being redundant. Apparently, after the first book, Rice/Roquelaure ran out of shocking things for Beauty to do, so she adds in the character of Tristan.
I honestly have to wonder who Rice was writing these novels for, because the majority of the sex acts in the first half of the book involve no women at all.
Beauty is supposed to be the focus of this trilogy, and yet, aside from just a few brief scenes, this book seems devoted to Tristan, his humiliations, and his burgeoning love for his Master.
I don't understand why Rice thinks the only plot erotica needs is slightly more than your average porn flick, but the inconsistencies in the plot are so distracting that the sex scenes are mere blips. For instance, we are told that the slaves are only allowed to the villagers for the summer, and later they can be purchased for any length of time, some never to return. Everything from the punishments in the town square to the eventual "slave raid" seem like last minute contrivances because Rice decides she wants the plot to go in a different direction.
Worse, the sexual scenes just aren't very memorable. A commenter in my review of the first book in the trilogy mentioned that the books are somewhat dated at this point, and that could be part of it; either that or I've read too much erotica and this is just boring and trying too hard.
At any rate, I will soldier on through the third novel but at this point, I fully expect to be disappointed.
Review originally published at Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/Beauty...
April 21, 2012
As we are all familiar on how Sleeping Beauty awakes from her hundred years of sleep and as it being the end of a classic fairy-tale towards its happy-ever-after conclusion. Anne Rice’s erotic spin to a fairy tale classic starts-off when the charming Prince awakens our heroine by initiating sexual activity.
In this erotic and uninhibited second novel from Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, we follow Beauty as she is forcefully transferred from her luxurious life in the castle with high authority to being sentenced to slavery in a neighboring village for willfully disobeying the Prince and the Queen herself (despite being their favorite) in an act of S&M and bondage.
I’ve made the error of starting here -the middle of the trilogy- which results to some minor confusion. Although the author provides us the share of what was primarily happened on the first-part, it’ll still leaves you unanswered questions. You’ll surely missed the fantasy aspect of the story which is present on the first book and take this novel as life-like, like what it really presents. As Beauty is transferred to the village which inhabits villagers from all kinds, I myself wonder how these people are capable of acquiring slaves with the kind of life they lived. And not just slaves for labor but for sexual pleasure. So I highly suggest that before going through this one, reading the first part would really do you a favor.
What follows as one might call Beauty’s escapades while deprived of clothes are a series of spanking, public humiliation and being dressed up as a horse -complete with tailss attached to their hooha- to pull wagons and other embarrassing and degrading acts to supply every town people’s entertainment. With this, the reader might just find the novel to be lacking in motion and pace. As the novel continuously supplies us with those spankings and before one becomes tired of it all, the plot starts to pick-up and becomes psychologically satisfying (for its insight about why a slave behaves like they do) towards the end.
If one does have an open mind about various psychological behaviors and different aspects of sexuality, this book is not to be missed. With Rice’s insightful and graceful narrative present in all of her works, this is a classic in a sense in the erotic genre. Beauty’s Punishment is published at first under Anne Rice’s pseudonym, A. N. Roquelaure.
Opening Sentences: The morning star was just fading in the violet sky as the huge wooden cart, crowded with naked slaves moved slowly over the castle drawbridge.
Ending Sentences: Her upturned mouth found Tristan’s mouth, as their jubilant captors redoubled the strength of the spanks, eager hands pressing Tristan and Beauty ever tighter together.
In this erotic and uninhibited second novel from Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, we follow Beauty as she is forcefully transferred from her luxurious life in the castle with high authority to being sentenced to slavery in a neighboring village for willfully disobeying the Prince and the Queen herself (despite being their favorite) in an act of S&M and bondage.
I’ve made the error of starting here -the middle of the trilogy- which results to some minor confusion. Although the author provides us the share of what was primarily happened on the first-part, it’ll still leaves you unanswered questions. You’ll surely missed the fantasy aspect of the story which is present on the first book and take this novel as life-like, like what it really presents. As Beauty is transferred to the village which inhabits villagers from all kinds, I myself wonder how these people are capable of acquiring slaves with the kind of life they lived. And not just slaves for labor but for sexual pleasure. So I highly suggest that before going through this one, reading the first part would really do you a favor.
What follows as one might call Beauty’s escapades while deprived of clothes are a series of spanking, public humiliation and being dressed up as a horse -complete with tailss attached to their hooha- to pull wagons and other embarrassing and degrading acts to supply every town people’s entertainment. With this, the reader might just find the novel to be lacking in motion and pace. As the novel continuously supplies us with those spankings and before one becomes tired of it all, the plot starts to pick-up and becomes psychologically satisfying (for its insight about why a slave behaves like they do) towards the end.
If one does have an open mind about various psychological behaviors and different aspects of sexuality, this book is not to be missed. With Rice’s insightful and graceful narrative present in all of her works, this is a classic in a sense in the erotic genre. Beauty’s Punishment is published at first under Anne Rice’s pseudonym, A. N. Roquelaure.
Opening Sentences: The morning star was just fading in the violet sky as the huge wooden cart, crowded with naked slaves moved slowly over the castle drawbridge.
Ending Sentences: Her upturned mouth found Tristan’s mouth, as their jubilant captors redoubled the strength of the spanks, eager hands pressing Tristan and Beauty ever tighter together.
January 19, 2013
Review of the first book.
WARNING: A bit more graphic discussion here.
And here, things go downhill.
You know how you complain about grimdark and how everybody in it is a rapist?
Well, you are whining. There are at least a handful of characters that aren't involved in deviant sexual practices in almost every grimdark book.
Not so in Beauty's world.
It's a world of perverts out there, from children to elderly, that gleefully join in public torture and humiliation of the slaves.
I know it's not that "unrealistic". People gathered to watch public executions in the real world. However, I believe that there were people out there that did not enjoy it. While it's theoretically possible there is someone like that here, we aren't shown it.
Here, even the slaves take part in exploitation of other slaves and don't have second thoughts at all - despite angsting about how unfairly they are treated themselves not a chapter ago.
You can deal with the idea of perverted nobility indulging in elaborate games - but can you deal with entire town of commoners being just as twisted? And they weren't directly involved in this strange mockery of fostering
Here, punishments expand to the public humiliation and what would be gang-rape in any other setting. But don't worry, there is still enough spanking and paddling to go on. Oh, and having dildo stuffed up your anus for days on end seems to be on the way to become another "classic" too.
March 4, 2013
Author: Anne Rice
Published By: Plume
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4
Review:
"Beauty's Punishment" by Anne Rice is a sequel from book one: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" where we find it is another 'steamy erotica' read of how 'Beauty and Prince Tristan' survive in 'The Village' that is told to you in first and third person.
Now, let me stop here and say if you haven't read the first book and not open to erotica, bdsm, fantasy, fairy tales, sexuality ....STOP! The read wouldn't be of interest at all to you. This novel is not for the faint of heart so be aware of this. OK, continuing on.."Beauty's Punishment" is of her being "punished for having rebelled against Prince Tristan....where she is auctioned, captivated and subjected to some of the most erotic, cruel and tantalizing games of domination and submission." I will stop and this point and say to find out any more about this read you must pick up "Beauty's Punishment" to see how this author puts it all together for the reader in this fairy tale. Ms. Rice works really well at illustrating all of this to the reader even presenting some twist and turns really making this a intriguing read. Believe me when I say you once you start will be kept reading just to see what is coming next. (At least it was for me). It really amazes me how this author was able to recraft this fairy tale into a adult fantasy series...leaving me only to say WOW!
If you are into this read and one who enjoys what Ms. Rice has to offer in her Trilogy reads ...Bravo....Would I recommend this to you? ...only YES if this type of book is of interest to YOU!
Published By: Plume
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4
Review:
"Beauty's Punishment" by Anne Rice is a sequel from book one: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" where we find it is another 'steamy erotica' read of how 'Beauty and Prince Tristan' survive in 'The Village' that is told to you in first and third person.
Now, let me stop here and say if you haven't read the first book and not open to erotica, bdsm, fantasy, fairy tales, sexuality ....STOP! The read wouldn't be of interest at all to you. This novel is not for the faint of heart so be aware of this. OK, continuing on.."Beauty's Punishment" is of her being "punished for having rebelled against Prince Tristan....where she is auctioned, captivated and subjected to some of the most erotic, cruel and tantalizing games of domination and submission." I will stop and this point and say to find out any more about this read you must pick up "Beauty's Punishment" to see how this author puts it all together for the reader in this fairy tale. Ms. Rice works really well at illustrating all of this to the reader even presenting some twist and turns really making this a intriguing read. Believe me when I say you once you start will be kept reading just to see what is coming next. (At least it was for me). It really amazes me how this author was able to recraft this fairy tale into a adult fantasy series...leaving me only to say WOW!
If you are into this read and one who enjoys what Ms. Rice has to offer in her Trilogy reads ...Bravo....Would I recommend this to you? ...only YES if this type of book is of interest to YOU!
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