Genre: Fiction / Erotica
Source: Library
Beauty's Punishment is the sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty. The second in the trilogy and just as full of bondage and kink as the first.
It has been almost a year since I read The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty and I figured, why not read the next in the series. I can't really say I loved the first but I was intrigued in finding out where our poor innocent Beauty's adventure would take her.
**Some spoilers**
We know at the end of the first book, Beauty finally grew a back bone stands up to the Prince and ends up being banished and carted off to the village along with rebel Prince Tristan. A much worse fate than being spanked, tied up, and being the sexual playthings of the royals... now they'll be done all that and more but by the working class citizens in the village. They'll have to endure labor at the hands of new masters/mistresses and enjoy none of the pampering they received in the castle.
**Spoiler free**
Here we have alternating chapters between Beauty and Tristan. Beauty almost felt like a secondary character in this one - since Tristan's chapters were a lot more graphic and intense than hers. Since I already knew what to expect, I wasn't surprised by the BDSM scenes, but nevertheless I still read in a sort of repulsed/fascinated way. Does that even make sense? I'm curious to see where the story will go. What will happen to Beauty next?
In the end, there were some aspects of the story that I did like and I found it interesting, if somewhat disturbing. Ms. Roquelaure/Rice really knows how to push the boundaries - she makes you feel uncomfortable and has you questioning these characters motives. But at the same time she explains the mindset of a sex slave - why they endure their "punishments" without trying to escape.
My final say: refrain from reading it in public since you don't want anyone to question why you have a permanent blush on your face, not to mention the constant looking over your shoulder to make sure no one is peeking. This is definitely not your everyday erotic novel and it is not for the faint of heart. If you're into smut, and really, every once in a while, it doesn't hurt, then this is by far one of the smuttiest books I've read.
My Rating:
I tried to read this series when I was younger (I think 19 or so) during my big Anne Rice phase. I made it through book 1 and part of book 2, but I think she really lost me on all the usage of, um, derriere plugs. Just couldn't relate but there was a morbid fascination that kept me reading as long as it did. This would be a good series to read on a e-reader!
ReplyDeleteLOOL, the smuttiest one you've ever read?? I might be in a mood for those kind of books once in a while... but you gave it only 2 stars so I guess I will look into something else then. I agree with Kate, good to have an eReader!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL Nely! It has been many years since I've read these books, but yes, I agree, you can't help having a repulsed/fascinated reaction.
ReplyDeleteOddest retelling of Sleeping Beauty I've ever come across, I tell you that.
I am right there with you! I think these were the first "truly naughty" books that I read that pretty much incorporated everything. I felt the first book was the best one of them but even then I prefer the book Exit to Eden--it was just a bit more tasteful (if that is the right word)
ReplyDeleteThese books are really smutty. I read the first two a few years back but it got to be a little too much for me. It's very very heavy on BDSM.
ReplyDeleteOk, the part of me that can't turn away from an accident is really curious about the repulsing/fascinating part of this book so the next time I think "Hmm I'm really in the mood to pick up the smuttiest book Nely has ever read" I will know where to look.
ReplyDeleteI've read all 3 and enjoyed them. Am I the only one though who didn't find anything in the books that big a deal. I liked the fact that it was graphic more so than most erotica. The actual sex wasn't that big a deal I mean people do have this kind of sex like whats in the book and then some.
ReplyDelete"One of the smuttiest"? Tell me, please, what you've read that was smuttier than this?!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved these books. I read them when I was in my twenties, then again at 30 and if you put the sex aside, the smut as you call it, what everyone is drawn to is what Rice is so good at (characters) she makes you dive into the personal, moral, soulful boundaries of each character which is what makes us turn the page. The fact most label it as Taboo is what makes it fascinating, because yes it pushes boundaries but it also makes you think deeper between the things in life that capture us, what we put up with, what we don't and what makes us human.
ReplyDelete