The tale of sleeping beauty through out history has been the muse of countless paintings, movies, plays, and fashion photo shoots. The princess has memorized all of us with her renowned beauty and magical circumstances of sleeping a hundred years under a spell that could only be broken by a prince’s true love kiss. Anne has taken the magical moment of the first kiss and turned it into something dark and fierce. No sweet tender kisses here the prince was there to claim her and he did just that. He claimed her and stole her naked back to his homeland as his new personal sex slave. I wish I could go into more detail but it is just too graphic for this blog because I do have YA readers. This is anything but the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty.
2/5 why the two you ask? The two for me is only because it was just too violent for me. I can do graphic sex but I could just barely stomach the degradation of S and M that sweet Beauty and others were subjected to. I believe that if the read had a bit more of the personal aspects of the characters especially the Prince then maybe the violence might not have bothered me so much. It was just too much pain and no rewards.
I do have to admit I liked it and will be reading the two other books in the series. It was like watching a train wreck happening before my eyes I just could not bring myself to look away. I finished the read in one night. It left me feeling with the need to find out if Beauty was ever released would she ever get to exact revenge for what was done to her. I hated it that he took her clothes and kept her naked all the time, poor Beauty. I can not recommend this book to everyone; I for one know this not a book I could discuss with my mother. This read is NOT for everyone but if you think you can stomach the erotic S and M I say go for it you might just like it.
FTC-This is my personal book
X-Rating for strong erotica
You know what a huge fan of Anne Rice I am, but I have not read these because of my strong dislike for erotica. With the S & M violence added in, I know I would be turned off. I'm not prudish (at least I don't think so), but I'm just not fond of explicit sex in books or movies. Not sure if I will ever pick this series up or not. I really enjoyed your review though!
ReplyDeleteI have read all three in the series, and I'll warn you, it becomes even more graphic. But I love most things Anne Rice, so I enjoyed the books as well. Definitely not for the YA crowd.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I know what you mean I love Anne Rice she was my long time standing favorite forever. If you read the Vampire Chronicles then you get a glimpse of what Anne has explored in this one. With this one it she is exploring her darker side. Looking back on it I did really enjoy it after the initial shock wore off. I just figured I could not let a Rice read pass me by and I do have to admit I am reading the second one right now.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I am digging the second one more than the first. I think it was something else that bothered me in the first one. Maybe it was just my own previous stereotypes of what I expected from Beauty that kind of closed my mind off. Either way I am finishing the whole series I just have to know what happens to Beauty.
I heard she was writing this book. When it came out, I read some reviews. Nixed it. Sounded too violent. I don't like mixing violence with my sex, thanks.
ReplyDeleteYogurt, from what I have gathered a lot of people have read the series and they all say the same thing "wild". I am going to keep going on it because I guess I just want to know what else is out there in book land. I am just not a big fan of any kind of violence.
ReplyDeleteI have no interest in the series, but that's a lovely cover on the book. What is it taken from?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say I'm a full on prude with books and sex scenes, but I definitely don't like the book to be all about the sex, and the sex be too explicit. I've been interested in Ann Rice for some time, but I've always been a bit nervous to read her books because I am afraid it may be a little too strong for my tastes.
ReplyDeleteThe books do get "worse" if that's the way to put it. Maybe more graphic would be better... I agree with what you said about having a closer look at the characters and their motivations; I believe I could have stomached more of it.
ReplyDeleteWait until she's kidnapped to a harem (I think that's what it was)in the third book I believe. The ending of the series really wasn't that good in my opinion either.
It's been some years since I've read these but I liked them. I've liked all of Anne's books except Jesus books.
ReplyDeleteI think I was 14-15 when I read those and the violence didn't bother me that much...
Susan, the cover art has been driving me bonkers, I have been trying to find out where it comes from but have had no luck so far. Is it not beautiful, I just love it.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn, I agree Rice is a very strong author, I can completely understand your feelings on why many people do not read her. I loved the Vampire Chronicles but I do have to admit they are bloody but the best aspect of them id you follow the vampires through the eras in each book focuses on a different era. I do have to admit my all time favorite book in the series was "Memnoch the Devil" and another one that is not part of the series "The Mummy". All of her books have this dark undefined sexuality or sensuality in them that in "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" all of it comes out in full force.
Robin, I finished the second one and I am reading the third. I think Rice had to lay down the full blow harshness in the first book so that the others that follow do not seem so harsh but I still know that they are. I am holding out for the ending hopefully she gets away.
Elysium, I have to agree with you I am not digging the newer books of hers. Jesus is not high on my list of must read about people. But on the other hand "Memnoch the Devil" really threw me for a loop I remember that much at least.
I have not read any of her books but this sounds like an original take on the very traditional story (which was always one of my favorites). I don't think I will be reading it (I don't mind sex in books, but I don't want that to be the entire book), but thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteHeather, you are right I think I am the same way but I have to admit I am on book three of the series and Beauty is forever changed. But it was a wild read and for me it changed things up a bit, every now and then I have admit I enjoy a wild read.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of erotica. I won a book once with two S and M and Domination themed stories. I read them and really didn't enjoy them. The willing submission to any of this just to me is so wrong and doesn't appeal. The sex stuff you can skip over if it gets too graphic. The degradation and mistreatment of others it another story.
ReplyDeletelibrarypat, you hit the nail on the head it was the degradation and mistreatment I could not stomach. What is funny is the second book is not as bad as the first, lets just say Rice did not focus on it so much in book two.
ReplyDelete