Beauty's Release (Sleeping Beauty, #3)

Dec 23, 2010 Dina added it · review of another edition

Recommended to Dina by: If I survive the 1st 2 books, I deserve to read the HEA.

Shelves: erotica-romantica, fiction, bdsm, f-f, m-m, ménage

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Disclaimer: I read the 1st book on a dare and the 2nd one out of curiosity - you can read my status updates and my reviews here and here, if you're interested. I have no plausible excuse for reading this last book. I just had to read it. After everything I had to endure during the previous books, I deserved to know Beauty's ultimate fate. Sure, I could have simply skipped ahead and read the last pages, but I made myself go through the whole enchilada - and that's why I said I had no plausible ex...more

like 33 likes · see review

May 23, 2010 Sharon Malcolm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, twisted

I guess, in their own way, these three books really are like a fairy tale. Completely unreal. Amidst all the every day fetishistic debauchery, torture, gang rape, buggerization and constant whippings - it's the lifestyle - there is something missing. Blood. Snot. Fecal matter. A break for menstrual cycles. It is all so very clean. I mean, even going back to the very first book, where Beauty is rudely awakened by the priapic Prince - lets face it, she's been asleep for 100 years, surely she shoul...more

like 16 likes · see review

Jun 30, 2012 Madeleine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: head-in-the-clouds-nose-in-a-book, our-libeary, mmxii, tooting-my-own-muted-horn

I read the first book in this trilogy about four years ago, which appropriately demonstrates how well the triptych held my interest.

Truth be told, I only bothered to pick this up because my mother-in-law (who is an otherwise fabulous person of mostly sound judgement) is eating up those goddamn "50 Shades" books and asked if I had "anything like that" she could borrow. I assumed "like that" meant "erotica in three parts" rather than "steaming pile of badly written horse apples," so I figured I o...more I read the first book in this trilogy about four years ago, which appropriately demonstrates how well the triptych held my interest.

Truth be told, I only bothered to pick this up because my mother-in-law (who is an otherwise fabulous person of mostly sound judgement) is eating up those goddamn "50 Shades" books and asked if I had "anything like that" she could borrow. I assumed "like that" meant "erotica in three parts" rather than "steaming pile of badly written horse apples," so I figured I ought to see how this series ends because Lord knows the woman will want to talk about nipple clamps and tidal waves of man juices and human ponies with dildo tails and fully exposed pleasure-statue-people. As I found out when last year's well-attended Christmas dinner involved her asking me if I shave "down there," it's best to be ready for invasive questions asked in earnest.

Yeah, so I can't take erotica seriously. There are only so many ways you can say "penis" before you should realize that exhausting its limited clinical synonyms means that you're talking about it too much to expect anyone to maintain their Serious Face; there are only so many paradigm-shifting orgasms a human being can physically sustain. Also, I feel that sex is too easy of a sell because it's such a polarizing topic: People either want to diminish its societal-taboo status by being more open about it or they're so puritanically afraid of it that their reproductive organs have been just for show since that one confusing adolescent moment in the gym-class locker room.

This was written as well as everything else that Anne Rice has ever penned and I've read, which is to say that at least the words she overuses are pretty. But the repetition of weep/fuck/silently pontificate/lust makes the characters so flat and interchangeable. There's potential to use the story as a vehicle for accepting all gender pairings, for sexually empowering women, for exploring the nature of love and loyalty and whether the two are mutually dependent forces, but it's all lost in a flurry of people chowing down on their partners' lower halves and having an entire subcontinent of things introduced to their anal cavities. There's obvious affection or attraction warming each sexual encounter, sure, but I didn't really care because everyone would SUDDENLY! be overcome with a shattering new emotion motivated by some life-changing banality in five paragraphs anyway. There's being erotic to achieve some end, and then there's mashing together sexually charged scene after sexually charged scene to the extent that it grows boring well before it's all over.

I'm going to clean my house now because that and how I should have gone for Anais Nin instead were all I thought about for the last 50 pages of this book.(less)

like 5 likes · see review

rachel 1.) I feel the exact same way you feel about erotica. There's plenty of literary fiction that has a scene or two that I find sexy, but never in work a...more
updated Jun 30, 2012 09:15pm

Madeleine 1.) There's plenty of literary fiction that has a scene or two that I find sexy, but never in work actually intended as erotica. Yes, exactly! I can't...more 1.) There's plenty of literary fiction that has a scene or two that I find sexy, but never in work actually intended as erotica. Yes, exactly! I can't think of a better way to say it than you did.

2.) Yeeeeeaaaaah, my MIL is one of those people who can't help but blurt out whatever pressing question's on her mind. I know I love the woman because it's weirdly endearing now. To be fair, she actually said "pusetta" but I'm not totally confident in my spelling of Italian slang.

I have already been informed of one of my female co-worker's pathological fear of anal sex
....

I don't even know what to say to that! How does that come up in a workplace conversation? Was she like "Hi, I'm Lisa and I don't do anal"?

You know I am one of those hippie "let's be open about sex!" types even
I'm like that, too! But there's being comfortable with talking about it and then there's being insensitive about other people's limits (like, what if someone had been raped in the recent past and was still grappling with it?). My general rule is that talking about sex is fine but you have to know when to keep it from getting too specific for the sake of good taste and delicate sensibilities. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE JUST MET SOMEONE IN A PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY (unless that profession is a sex-industry one, natch).

Like, it doesn't bother me when one of my single coworkers starts complaining about how badly she needs to get laid during a heart-to-heart chat, but if one of them were to chirp into her phone in the middle of the office about the mind-blowing sex she had last night, I'd feel like it was an invasion of her, her partner's and her coworkers' privacy. I also had a male coworker once tell me about the sexual history of a woman we work with and all I could think was "Uh, does she know that you've been spreading around HER personal information?"

I suppose I know what not to recommend to her now.
You know you have a moral obligation now to rig the office Pollyana now so you can give her some holiday anal beads, right?

Most importantly, oodles of congratulations on the new job! Aside from coworkers with broken brain-to-mouth filters, how do you like it so far?(less)
Jul 01, 2012 05:46am

rachel I like it very much! Long long story, but I am working with the public now in the direct courts system (so, not the sex industry) instead of being beh...more
updated Jul 01, 2012 03:50pm

Feb 28, 2013 Jenn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed-from-friends, fairytales-retold, reading-challenge-12, royalty, wtf, taboo-topics, series, annoying-protagonist, adult-fiction

I am finally done with this series!!

This was by far one of the most painful reading experiences I've ever had. As if getting taking from the castle and sold at a slave auction in the "village" wasn't enough, why not add kidnapping by a Sultan? Sure...sounds legit. Oh, and every two seconds someone was in love with someone else.

description

It was just the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. There was no character growth, hell, there was hardly a plot. I felt nothing for any of these characters. I litera...more

like 6 likes · see review

Aug 03, 2010 Michelle Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, 2010-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like 5 likes · see review

Mar 02, 2008 Casey Nicholson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well Well...I finally finished this series after waiting forever for it in the mail. Loved the first book, really loved the second book and now I'm back to just loving. This book wasn't as good as the second. I truly enjoyed the singling out of Tristan in the second book and I admit I became attached to him and his gentle and frail personality. I was broken hearted when he had to leave Nicholas. Now in this third book, we are taken away from Tristans thoughts and brought into Laurent's thoughts....more

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 09, 2011 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's nice to have finally completed this trilogy. As imaginative as they are, you really do have to brace yourself when reading these books. Since erotica is much more important than the plot in this trilogy, I'll divulge a little on this final book.

The Queen sends a rescue squad to recapture Beauty and her fellow slaves Tristan and Laurent, but not before Laurent secretly teaches the Sultan's steward Lexius what it feels like to be a slave... which, of course, Lexius very much enjoys and finall...more

like 4 likes · see review

Feb 05, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica, fairy-tale, book-series, retellings

In the final volume of Anne Rice's deliciously tantalizing erotic trilogy, Beauty's adventures on the dark side of sexuality make her the bound captive of an Eastern Sultan and a prisoner in the exotic confines of the harem. In "Beauty's Release", Anne Rice makes the forbidden side of passion a doorway into the hidden regions of the psyche and the heart.

Part of the allure of this version for me was a release from the utter crudity of the European castle and village. Religious and philosophical t...more In the final volume of Anne Rice's deliciously tantalizing erotic trilogy, Beauty's adventures on the dark side of sexuality make her the bound captive of an Eastern Sultan and a prisoner in the exotic confines of the harem. In "Beauty's Release", Anne Rice makes the forbidden side of passion a doorway into the hidden regions of the psyche and the heart.

Part of the allure of this version for me was a release from the utter crudity of the European castle and village. Religious and philosophical thoughts of the region combine to show them that they are simply cogs in a grander scheme, and they take pleasure and freedom in this anonymity.

The first moment of their sultanic experience is to be degraded even more. Their being transformed into sexual toys is considered by their captors as destroying their intellect. They thus become mute animals that have no other level of existence than this very sexual drive and desire to satisfy all sexual and also cruel pulses in the sultan and his court.

But this third volume shows the metaphoric or even allegorical dimension of the trilogy. Beyond the erotic speculation in the book, Anne Rice shows how degrading a human being leads to the discovery she says, the building of a new consciousness that will have a lasting existence. Human beings are emerging in their humanity or even humaneness through the difficulties and the challenges they encounter, and first of all the degrading and enslaving situations. The more overpowered one is, the greater his psychological strength. This is kind of optimistic because many human beings are destroyed through these experiences and experiments. But it is based on the concept of resilience in human beings : their capacity to resist degredation, not by rebelling, but by reinforcing their psyche.

Upon completing the series, it helped to think of it anthropologically as if these strange undercurrents were the results of a completely different culture. In that respect it was quite interesting to observe the push for control, compliance, dominance, and love, and question whether that can be squared with ideas of entwined aggression and tenderness. Anne Rice provides the framework and fairy tale, but readers must ultimately decide that answer for themselves.

Book Details:

Title Beauty's Release (Conclusion of the Erotic Adventures of Sleeping Beauty, 3)
Author Anne Rice writing as A. N. Roquelaure
Reviewed By Purplycookie(less)

like 1 like · see review

Nov 22, 2011 Audrey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Audrey by: Love

Shelves: wtf-did-i-just-read

The first book was shocking. The second installment was more than shocking. Then the final book… I think I got used to these naked people walking around and having sex ALL THE TIME (they need to find a new hobby… like paint) that it got pretty boring. I had to skip pages and pages of BDSM just to find the direction of this story. It was twisted, weird and gay. I just don’t understand why Ann Rice had to shift point of views. And for my first erotic trilogy, I think I handled it well. LOL!

like 5 likes · see review

Mar 03, 2013 Arlena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, a-good-book, adult-read, bdsm, ebooks, erotica, fiction, fairy-tale, fantasy, my-reviews, romance, twist-and-turns

Author: Anne Rice
Published By: Plume
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4

Review:

"Beauty's Release" by Anne Rice was the final novel in her Trilogy of "Sleeping Beauty" which was to my surprise had a little more gentile pace and direction from the first two novels. Oh, let me say this read isn't for the "faint of heart, uptight, conservative or spiritually-minded crowd." This is a novel of deep bdsm...erotic fiction...so I wanted you to be aware! Now, moving o...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 05, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, erotica, book-series, fairy-tale, retellings

In the final volume of Anne Rice's deliciously tantalizing erotic trilogy, Beauty's adventures on the dark side of sexuality make her the bound captive of an Eastern Sultan and a prisoner in the exotic confines of the harem. In "Beauty's Release", Anne Rice makes the forbidden side of passion a doorway into the hidden regions of the psyche and the heart.

Part of the allure of this version for me was a release from the utter crudity of the European castle and village. Religious and philosophical t...more In the final volume of Anne Rice's deliciously tantalizing erotic trilogy, Beauty's adventures on the dark side of sexuality make her the bound captive of an Eastern Sultan and a prisoner in the exotic confines of the harem. In "Beauty's Release", Anne Rice makes the forbidden side of passion a doorway into the hidden regions of the psyche and the heart.

Part of the allure of this version for me was a release from the utter crudity of the European castle and village. Religious and philosophical thoughts of the region combine to show them that they are simply cogs in a grander scheme, and they take pleasure and freedom in this anonymity.

The first moment of their sultanic experience is to be degraded even more. Their being transformed into sexual toys is considered by their captors as destroying their intellect. They thus become mute animals that have no other level of existence than this very sexual drive and desire to satisfy all sexual and also cruel pulses in the sultan and his court.

But this third volume shows the metaphoric or even allegorical dimension of the trilogy. Beyond the erotic speculation in the book, Anne Rice shows how degrading a human being leads to the discovery she says, the building of a new consciousness that will have a lasting existence. Human beings are emerging in their humanity or even humaneness through the difficulties and the challenges they encounter, and first of all the degrading and enslaving situations. The more overpowered one is, the greater his psychological strength. This is kind of optimistic because many human beings are destroyed through these experiences and experiments. But it is based on the concept of resilience in human beings : their capacity to resist degredation, not by rebelling, but by reinforcing their psyche.

Upon completing the series, it helped to think of it anthropologically as if these strange undercurrents were the results of a completely different culture. In that respect it was quite interesting to observe the push for control, compliance, dominance, and love, and question whether that can be squared with ideas of entwined aggression and tenderness. Anne Rice provides the framework and fairy tale, but readers must ultimately decide that answer for themselves.

Book Details:

Title Beauty's Release (Conclusion of the Erotic Adventures of Sleeping Beauty, 3)
Author Anne Rice writing as A. N. Roquelaure
Reviewed By Purplycookie(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Helen rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Review of the first book.

Review of the second book.

WARNING: Disturbing stuff ahead.

And here is where we hit the rock bottom.

As in, mass nonconsensual permanent genital mutilation.

I know there are some people out there that like it, but I daresay it's one kink that doesn't need pandering to. Otherwise we might just as well have Gilles de Rais erotica.

Or was it not supposed to be a kink?

It's at this point where I started to wonder if Beauty series were supposed to be erotica in modern narrow sense...more Review of the first book.

Review of the second book.

WARNING: Disturbing stuff ahead.

And here is where we hit the rock bottom.

As in, mass nonconsensual permanent genital mutilation.

I know there are some people out there that like it, but I daresay it's one kink that doesn't need pandering to. Otherwise we might just as well have Gilles de Rais erotica.

Or was it not supposed to be a kink?

It's at this point where I started to wonder if Beauty series were supposed to be erotica in modern narrow sense of the word - titillating - or just an exploration of extreme? It doesn't work well in either capacity. I daresay pacing problems and digressions would pose a problem even to people who enjoy the subject matter. Maybe even overload - there is always something sex-related going on. If it's meant to be an exploration of controversial matters - it fails to include any liquids or soft solids. (Not a fan of those, either, but as long as they are among consenting adults, I'm cool.)

It could be that this is meant to present their current captors - Turks - as evil. Unlike their kind noble masters from book one. I daresay that when put like that, it seems like horrors of book second might have been staged to show princes and princesses were better off as slaves to the nobility than roaming around. It makes even more sense given the ending.

Consequently, this is probably the least sexy of books, since the author now has to wrap up the plot somehow.

So, how does it end? We had one prominent "prince" in book one - he was ignored in book two. We had another in book two - and he is ignored here. Both of them, particularly the first one, were the only characters in their respective books that showed discontent with the whole concept. But neither of them is the one. Beauty, instead, gets raped (and I don't even mean technically as part of the games or orders - he comes to her on his own volition, no spectators, and the way the scene was written, she doesn't seem willing at all) by a newcomer. (He is not content with his situation either, but that's because he prefers to be the aggressor.) Then Beauty gets released back to her kingdom. But she is dissatisfied with her suitors because none can give her what she wants. She even starts torturing some as the test, but finds them wanting. Then, aforementioned rapist gets released early - unwillingly - because his father is dead and he is the only heir. He is grumpy because he cannot harrass any more newbie princes. But then he hears his old acquaintance is available. So he comes in to sweep her off her feet, put some genital clamps on her and ride off into sunset. They lived abusively ever after, and author gave up on any pretense of moral dilemma and kissed it goodbye, then swatted it with a carved jewel-encrusted paddle a few times for a good measure.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Dec 21, 2012 Nic Echo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Nic by: Tesk

Shelves: anne-rice, erotica, fairy-tale, fantasy

About the Book:
In this conclusion to Anne Rice's erotic trilogy, Beauty and a few other slaves have been captured by the raiders and are brought to a foreign land of Arabic origins. Like the previous novel, this book follows two different slaves: Beauty and Laurent, a runaway, as they try to find the meaning of themselves in this strange land before they are brought back to their own.

Review:
Like in Beauty's Punishment, nothing really happens until closer to the end. Although there were some poin...more About the Book:
In this conclusion to Anne Rice's erotic trilogy, Beauty and a few other slaves have been captured by the raiders and are brought to a foreign land of Arabic origins. Like the previous novel, this book follows two different slaves: Beauty and Laurent, a runaway, as they try to find the meaning of themselves in this strange land before they are brought back to their own.

Review:
Like in Beauty's Punishment, nothing really happens until closer to the end. Although there were some points of interest earlier, most of the book is the same basic punishments and the same boring sex that left me with little interest in this read. One of the points of interest was when Laurent is alone in the chamber of Lexius, their trainer/Master. (view spoiler) (pseudo spoiler). There is also a point where Beauty is with the Sultana, Inanna, and I could not help but feel horrified when you find out about the torture that the wives have endured. The way that Rice writes Inanna made me feel the character's pain all the more. If only she did this with the rest of her characters.

I am also happy to note that although the character focus has been changed, Tristan and a few others are not forgotten. We still see bits of Tristan's mind when Laurent talks to him and both Nicolas, Tristan's old master, and the Captain of the Guard make appearances again.

As for the end, it becomes easily apparent what is going to occur, but none of us picked this up expecting a surprise twist ending, did we? Overall though, it could have been worse, but it could have been much better. The sex and punishments are still constant and the internal dialogue is the same as ever. There are big enough differences in this book so it's not as dull as the first one, but it is still pretty much the same song as a different tempo. I would suggest you save your money and spend it elsewhere.(less)

like · see review

Dec 12, 2012 Christina added it · review of another edition

Shelves: absolutely-no-young-adult-books, erotica

WARNING: THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR CHILDREN OR EVEN YOUNG ADULTS. IF YOU ARE 18 OR YOUNGER, STOP READING THIS REVIEW RIGHT NOW!

Sleeping Beauty, Tristan, Laurent and three other slaves have been kidnapped and taken to a Sultan in the east. There they find a different form of slavery and discover a whole new world of exotic people and indulgences. But Beauty's release is imminent and she must eventually return to her castle and marry. How will she adjust? Who would satisfy her?

This is the third and f...more
WARNING: THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR CHILDREN OR EVEN YOUNG ADULTS. IF YOU ARE 18 OR YOUNGER, STOP READING THIS REVIEW RIGHT NOW!

Sleeping Beauty, Tristan, Laurent and three other slaves have been kidnapped and taken to a Sultan in the east. There they find a different form of slavery and discover a whole new world of exotic people and indulgences. But Beauty's release is imminent and she must eventually return to her castle and marry. How will she adjust? Who would satisfy her?

This is the third and final installment of A.N. Roquelaure's Sleeping Beauty erotica series. Again I want to mention right off that while many compare this series to the Fifty Shades series, and that is even printed on some of the newly released print books, it absolutely is not comparable. The submissives in the Fifty Shades series are there voluntarily and sign a contract. Beauty and the other slaves are not necessarily there voluntarily but come to believe it is what they truly wanted and the dominants helped them arrive at that realization through rape and sexual torture. And when I say rape, I am talking about the kind of rape that many would not have even considered. The Sleeping Beauty series is a more soft core version of the Marquis de Sade's works, if such a thing exists. If you don't know what that means, you should probably pass this series by.

After reading the first two books in this series, you may have convinced yourself that surely, Anne Rice (Roquelaure's real name) could not possibly come up with any more bizarre sexual situations. You would be absolutely wrong. I am not going to get into the details here, but I assure you, Rice's imagination seems endless. In spite of that, Rice's spanking/ whipping fetish does continue, so you have that going for you.

And while in the first two books, it seems that the slaves fall in love with whomever spanks them the hardest, a final love story does emerge in Beauty's Release. Yay. That's sacrasm by the way because obviously it is a warped love story. But hey, whatever floats your boat, right?

As I mentioned in reviews of the previous books, there is a good storyline in this series. In addition, the books provide a great many topics for discussion. But I am not kidding- this is some weirdo stuff and if you don't enjoy reading about weirdo, sexual situations, do not pick up this series. As with the others, I will neither rate nor recommend this book. And finally, I want to leave you with this reminder:

THIS IS NOTHING LIKE FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY!(less)

like · see review

Sep 16, 2012 Marleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica

Copy received from Plume through NetGalley

Warning: this is a review of a work of erotica that should not be read by anyone under the age of 18 or easily offended. It also contains possible spoilers.

This, the third and final part of Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy kicks off exactly where the second book, Beauty’s Punishment, ended. Beauty, Laurant, Tristan and three other slaves find themselves captive on a ship, bound for foreign lands and the court of an Eastern Sultan. While some things ar...more Copy received from Plume through NetGalley

Warning: this is a review of a work of erotica that should not be read by anyone under the age of 18 or easily offended. It also contains possible spoilers.

This, the third and final part of Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy kicks off exactly where the second book, Beauty’s Punishment, ended. Beauty, Laurant, Tristan and three other slaves find themselves captive on a ship, bound for foreign lands and the court of an Eastern Sultan. While some things are exactly the same as they were when they were slaves at the Queens court – they have to obey orders and are subject to punishment both when they break the rules and when they don’t – other things are very different. The royal slaves are now in a position where they are being treated as little better than animals. Speaking, or even making loud sounds is strictly forbidden, which brings a new level of submission to their experience.
Initially the new surroundings and rules scare and upset the captives, but it isn’t long until they realise that losing even the last little bit of their own will makes it easier for them to surrender to the experience of submission. And new surroundings allow Laurant and Beauty to discover new levels of erotic satisfaction. While Laurant indulges in a dangerous came with his master, Beauty spends time in the royal harem where her eyes are opened to shocking facts as well new forms of pleasure. When they are unexpectedly rescued from the foreign court Beauty, Laurant and Tristan find themselves strangely reluctant to return to the Queen’s lands. A return that will separate Beauty from everything she’s come to treasure while Tristan and Laurant will experience yet new ways of submissiveness.
This is a fairy-tale yet we’ll have to wait until the very last lines on the very last page before we come to the familiar and expected ending:

“And we shall live happily every after,” I said through my kisses, “as the fairy-tales say.”
“Yes, happily every after”, she answered, “and a good deal happier, I think, than everyone else could ever guess.”

In many ways this third book in the Sleeping Beauty series is more of the same; more captivity, more punishment, more sex and more unexpected and surprising revelations for Beauty, Laurant and other characters. Having said that, these books are more than a collection of erotic scenes; the characters grow, learn things about themselves and change as a result of what they experience. The learning experiences the royal slaves go through mean different things for the various characters. For some it means coming to the realisation that without submission they can’t be happy while others discover that they derive as much, if not more, pleasure from being in a dominant position then they do from submitting to others. Love is lost and rediscovered and role-reversal opens new and unexpected worlds; few characters end this trilogy in the same way they started it, but none resent their discoveries or the road that brought them there.

Anne Rice is a wonderful author. She manages to make a trilogy that could easily have been boring due to repetitiveness into an intriguing study of (a form of) human sexuality. Her writing is fluent and while most of the narrative concerns itself with a variety of sexual exploits, she takes the time to explore the internal thoughts and feelings of her characters. I feel that in the hands of a lesser author this story could easily have turned into a sordid work of pornography (as I’m sure some people will view it anyway). For me though, Mrs. Rice managed to stay just about on the right side of decency thanks to the fact that the reader is never allowed to forget that (s)he is reading a fairy-tale and the detailed exploration of the character’s inner lives.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: this is a work of erotica in its purest form. Nothing is cushioned or padded here, all descriptions are raw, descriptive and to the point. This is not a book for those who will allow a sex-scene in their stories provided it fits the story-line. In this trilogy sex is the story as it causes the development of characters. In short this is not a work of fiction with (some) erotic scenes. No, these are three books of pure and at times hard-core erotica. Or, as the author herself said on Facebook:

“I believe in erotica, and the freedom of men and women to enjoy their S&M sexual fantasies. I realize the Beauty Trilogy shocks some people. That’s because it is extreme, excessive and true erotica, and I understand. Not for everyone. But for those who share the fantasy.”
(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Jul 19, 2012 Jaime rated it 1 of 5 stars

I am in no way a prude. I could care less about what people think is or do that other’s would consider freaky. What goes on between consenting adults is their own damn business. However what disturbs me about this series is that it is about children. None of the slaves are 18. They have been kidnapped from their homes and forced into sexual submission, humiliation, and repeated rape. All of the slaves are torn, because they are enjoying what they hate. Because in the midst of their torture there...more

like · see review

Jul 05, 2009 L.L. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook

Każda kolejna część serii jest lepsza od poprzedniej :) choć wszystkie trzy są bardzo dobre (no może po przeczytaniu całości poprzednie nie wydają się aż tak, ale w miarę czytania jak najbardziej się podobają).

Takie śliczne zdanie: "Obrócił moją twarz ku sobie i pocałował mnie mocno w usta. W ten sam sposób pocałował Tristana, a ja popatrzyłem na te dwie złączone nie ogolone twarze, splątane blond włosy i półprzymknięte powieki. Mężczyźni podczas pocałunku. Jakiż to piękny widok."
zgadzam się ;)

I...more

like 4 likes · see review

Feb 08, 2013 Megan Bodwell rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed-friends-family, 2013

I couldn't stop myself from crossing the whole trilogy off the list, so even though the second book was excrutiatingly painful in its ridiculousness, I plunged ahead into book three. Although it was a very quick read (obviously, as it didn't take me very long), not much seemed to happen. This may be in part because the bulk of the story was caught up in the same old descriptions, euphemisms and synonyms. Blah blah...organ...yadda yadda...moist...yak yak...tears. The end of the second book and mo...more

like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 Lisa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotica

Stockholm syndrome. That's what all these "slaves" have. It's the only explanation for why they don't want to leave their captivity. Or else Anne Rice is just f'ed up. There is so much wrong with these books I really don't know why I read them all. I have the same problems as many other reviewers had, that everything is so clean, where are the body fluids? I'm not sure how much anal probing people can be put through without some damage going on. Also apparently they have built in birth control a...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 09, 2011 Lene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotica

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm a little sad to see this trilogy is over. It was a steamy little diversion for me the past few weeks, and I'll miss it. The 3rd book is not as delicious as the first, but I am satisfied with the ending. Happily ever after is different for everyone; Beauty's happens to include being whipped and dominated. Far be it for my incurable hopeless romantic streak to argue. Apparently, I still love it when the princess gets her king, nipple clamps and all. I saw the Beauty/Laurent connection a mile a...more

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 15, 2007 Willy Liangco rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: porn connoiseurs

This sleeping beauty trilogy is the porniest book I have ever read, it is so porny it transcends its form as a book and breaks through into being a porn movie. All your categories of porn are here: straight, bi, lez, gay, threesome, foursome, orgy, s and m. This book involves so much leather and phallic shaped fruits its funny, accounting for the two stars. And don't anyone tell me I just didn't get it--this book has no literary merit no matter what anyone says.

like 5 likes · see review

Mar 02, 2009 Kt4000 rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like 3 likes · see review

Mar 26, 2011 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was probably my least favorite of the 3 books, though probably the hottest. I found my mind wandering at the "sameness": punishment, confusion, fear, acceptance. I didn't feel liked I gained anything new here, but still enjoyed this final book. Again we see differing pov and not really as much of Beauty as we did in the past. The slaves go on a whole new adventure here, and discover many interesting aspects of their characters they never knew before.

At first I was frustrated with the indeci...more

like 4 likes · see review

Apr 26, 2013 lucresia strange rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: never-again

BOOK ONE: http://lucresiastrange.tumblr.com/pos...

BOOK TWO: http://lucresiastrange.tumblr.com/pos...

So here we are… book three. The whole time I kept on wondering why the hell did Anne Rice make this into three parts? Why prolong the agony of her readers?

Because this book is totally irrelevant! It’s just a repetition of weird stuff. She could have just condensed it into one book! seriously. reading about impalement, anal sex, human ponies, orgies, spanking, phalluses with horsetails, rape ad na...more

like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 Myriam rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was better than the first two. The first one had an intriguing premise, the second one was hard for me to finish but this one went by fast.
It is the first time you see a reversal in the characters. Some of them are no longer trying to find a way to rebel against being slaves or developping coping mechanisms and that's refreshing. It stops the monotony of the endless palace/village/palace punishments.

like 2 likes · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Daniela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Frivolously wicked.
If I could I would give this book additional starts. Five just don't do it justice.
What a marvelous ending. *shivering*
In a few words, Beauty and friends are stolen from the village and end up in a mysterious place where the slave idea is a whole different concept.
Very intriguing, by the way, the vast new world to which we are introduced. What transpired withing the castle walls was hot, depraved, and addictive. I too cried when the characters were stolen once again and ended...more

like 1 like · see review

Jul 18, 2012 Cza rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would still say this: this is one of the best smut I've read in my life, and I hope nothing could change that.

I really loved this series but this last one is such a let-down.

I was hoping they would stay in the Sultan's Kingdom. Laurent would pursue his dream to become a Master to Lexius, and Beauty being the sweet submissive that she is. the Sultan's world is really elegant, and even though they had experienced more pain here, they thoroughly enjoyed it. (I wouldn't call it "pain" if Laurent i...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Julio rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica

Anne Rice - autora de "Conversaciones con el Vampiro" y sus múltiples, repetitivas secuelas - escribió una trilogía erótica bajo el nombre de A.N. Roquelaure, con la Bella Durmiente como personaje central. Pero esta trilogía difiere del inocente cuento infantil en que Bella despierta en un reino muy lejano y exótico, sí, pero totalmente lujurioso, donde su aprendizaje como futura princesa pasa por la completa servidumbre sexual, ritualizada y sistemática. Menos, mucho menos brutal que el Divino...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Shinyfox rated it 1 of 5 stars

The series seemed to get better but then it plummeted with this book. The only reason I read this was because I hate to leave series unfinished and I had been given the book. Everything was topsy turvey, from being kidnapped by the sultan to being kidnapped /from/ the sultan. Everything was too farfetched and the sex was horribly written, very bad taste. I skimmed a lot of the book because, by the third book, there are only so many ways to write a spanking scene before they get tedious. Not to m...more

like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Samantha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic-romance, fantasy

Okay, I finished this book and series just out of sheer curosity, it was like reading a train wreck, I couldn't turn away. As off the wall and kind of disturbing as the books are this was probably my most liked book. I say most liked because I can't make myself say favorite, not when it comes to this story. I didn't agree with the author's decision to stray away from Beauty's story. I think it would have been more enlightening to hear of the Prince's through Beauty's experiences, not from themse...more

like 1 like · see review

title link	preview: Beauty's Release
avg rating	preview: Beauty's Release Goodreads rating: 3.66 (14208 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25190.Beauty_s_Release?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347048222l/25190.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25190.Beauty_s_Release?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Beauty's Release by A.N. Roquelaure[/url]

Beauty's Release (Sleeping Beauty #3)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (31)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About A.N. Roquelaure

Books by A.N. Roquelaure

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Beauty's Release

Quotes from Beauty's Release