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annettewolf's review against another edition
4.0
I'm finding that Rice actually really nails the motivations and emotional experiences of the submissives. This book is very spicy, and as far as the erotic aspects go, it is quite good. But I found that I was getting even more out of just the exploration of the sort of philosophy of dominance and submission. Stepping into characters' heads who hate that they love what they're experiencing is a really interesting way to think on the experience of a submissive.
More non-con, of course, and the most "fairy tale" aspect of this book is really that consent is not even considered, and that every "slave" actually gets sexual gratification out of what is being done to them.
More non-con, of course, and the most "fairy tale" aspect of this book is really that consent is not even considered, and that every "slave" actually gets sexual gratification out of what is being done to them.
afilmfatale's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Beauty is made for the streets. This is a case of the darker it gets the better it gets. Village spice hits different
anouk90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
elfsara's review against another edition
3.0
Per quanto riguarda la componente erotica, nulla de eccepire, splendido e degno di Anne Rice, ma la trama dovrebbe a mio parere essere più consistente.
earlapvaldez's review against another edition
1.0
It's the second part of the series and so far, one cannot determine what this book really is.
unwrittensoul's review against another edition
3.0
Better for me than the first book. The cruelty was mixed with tenderness making it more palatable. However, you almost need the first book to understand the second.
I wonder what will happen in book 3.
I wonder what will happen in book 3.
philyra91's review against another edition
1.0
I'm honestly not sure what I'm reading anymore. The writing is very eloquent, elegant even, and I suppose that's one of the reasons why Anne Rice is one of the most beloved writers of our time. However, I can't say I've enjoyed this book. The BDSM scenes are just getting way too brutal and they were definitely out of my comfort zone.
Another aspect of this book I had some trouble with was Tristan's POV. Some of the chapters are written from his POV and I didn't understand the logic behind it. This is supposed to be Beauty's story and if alternate POVs are needed, they should be in a way that they further the story. I didn't feel that this was the case. It felt like Tristan's chapters were just another way to dump more BDSM torture on her readers.
This is no longer a re-telling of a fairy tale. I think it's safe to say that from chapter 2 in Book 1, it no longer became a re-telling and was more of a stand-alone trilogy. I'd most probably read Book 3, but just to see what happens to Beauty in the end.
Another aspect of this book I had some trouble with was Tristan's POV. Some of the chapters are written from his POV and I didn't understand the logic behind it. This is supposed to be Beauty's story and if alternate POVs are needed, they should be in a way that they further the story. I didn't feel that this was the case. It felt like Tristan's chapters were just another way to dump more BDSM torture on her readers.
This is no longer a re-telling of a fairy tale. I think it's safe to say that from chapter 2 in Book 1, it no longer became a re-telling and was more of a stand-alone trilogy. I'd most probably read Book 3, but just to see what happens to Beauty in the end.
juanonito's review against another edition
5.0
He visto por ahí que comparan la calidad de su triología erótica con la maestría de Anïs Nin y Henry Miller de lo cual no puedo asegurar ya que no he leído a estos escritores (lo cual planeo hacer este año).
Excelente secuela, donde Anne Rice no nos queda debiendo su ya perfecta manera de crear personajes; sin en la primera parte vemos un desarrollo de psicología bastante claro, en esta parte nos adentramos más en el comportamiento de la protagonista y entendemos verdaderamente su proceder, su rebeldía y su libertad dentro de esclavitud; y como si fuera poco conocemos la dicotomía al encontrarse con el personaje que despierta en ella la chispa de la rebeldía y cómo este entra en conflicto con la forma de proceder de Bella.
Conocemos nuevos personajes de los cuales se aborda su compartamiento, su forma de ser y sobre todo la forma de como dentro del erotismo (donde solo podemos encontrar el poder mezclado con lo descarnado, cruel y deprevado, clara herencia de Sade y Lautremont) la autora nos muestra que podemos encontrar un desarrollo en profundidad desprovisto de amor, es importante que al leerlo no nos clavemos con la idea del romance, porque claro está romance no es igual a erotismo, no implica que exista la una con la otra.
Excelente secuela, donde Anne Rice no nos queda debiendo su ya perfecta manera de crear personajes; sin en la primera parte vemos un desarrollo de psicología bastante claro, en esta parte nos adentramos más en el comportamiento de la protagonista y entendemos verdaderamente su proceder, su rebeldía y su libertad dentro de esclavitud; y como si fuera poco conocemos la dicotomía al encontrarse con el personaje que despierta en ella la chispa de la rebeldía y cómo este entra en conflicto con la forma de proceder de Bella.
Conocemos nuevos personajes de los cuales se aborda su compartamiento, su forma de ser y sobre todo la forma de como dentro del erotismo (donde solo podemos encontrar el poder mezclado con lo descarnado, cruel y deprevado, clara herencia de Sade y Lautremont) la autora nos muestra que podemos encontrar un desarrollo en profundidad desprovisto de amor, es importante que al leerlo no nos clavemos con la idea del romance, porque claro está romance no es igual a erotismo, no implica que exista la una con la otra.
witchofthemountains's review against another edition
4.0
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.