The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty

Rating:
Summary: excellent read for lovers of erotica
Review: Ann rice has a tremendous talent for capturing the readers interests and 'The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" is no exception. From the onset of the book, Prince Charming not only only claimed sleeping beauty, he also claimed my undivided attention as well. The only reason why I did not rate this book as a ten is because of Anne Rice's attention to detail. On some points it was good, and entertaining, but at times it bored me and I found myself skipping not only paragraphs, but pages as well. Other than that, Ann gets my seal of approval!!!! - Charlotte Figuero

Rating:
Summary: mind-rendering
Review: Never have I had a book possess me as this one did. To say it is arousing and sensual isn't enough. I want to become part of the kingdom. Three of these books aren't enough

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS THE BEST BOOK SHE HAS EVER WRITEN
Review: I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS GREAT. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE OTHERS

Rating:
Summary: Intense, unsettlingly erotic , better then "O".
Review: There are really no words to describe this book unless your looking for something different, shocking, and unsettlingly erotic. If you read and enjoyed(?) The story of "O". This book will grab you in a way you never thought. You'll be forced to put it down, panting, on edge and wild with desire. My wife and I both thought it was, dare I say, arousing. It is not for the weak or timid but for those who want to explore the other side of their sexuality that is kept, deep down in the inner mind. That area that you try to deny but is still there always trying to excape. The ideas you dare not speak yet yearn to talk about. Explore the truely dark side of whips, bondage, and humiliation of Anne Rice

Rating:
Summary: woderful,that says it all
Review: This is a wounderful book it is very well righten and is very intertanin

Rating:
Summary: ...Classic?
Review: I've heard this touted as an "erotic classic," I don't know if that's the general consensus for I don't normally read or pay attention to the genre, but I certainly hope not, because that would mean this rubbish is among the best it has to offer.

First of all, I'm lead to question why Anne Rice even decided to base this on the Sleeping Beauty tale at all, seems like mostly a marketing decision. She doesn't go back to tell us why or how Beauty came to be "Sleeping Beauty," and it does nothing for the rest of the story after she's been awakened (within the first few pages.) The matter doesn't seem to be considered to its full potential either... just imagine being a fifteen year old girl awakened from a 100+ year sleep by the loss of your virginity, and immediately whisked away naked, helpless, and alone into a sexual subservience of endless rape, torture, and humiliation in a now alien world. I know I'd either be attempting suicide or escape.

There's virtually no development to the history of the world or any of the characters, all of whom I hated--though I sympathized with many of them. Really, there's not one admirable quality in anyone, they're all too busy being either sadistic, masochistic, or just weak and subservient; with no exceptions, it seems, in this entire twisted world. Even Beauty's parents, who it's hinted had themselves spent time serving as sex slaves, are readily compliant to allow their only daughter to be bagged away to suffer under this sub-human prince in his torture chamber of a castle. I know if I were a king, debt or no, I'd have the rascal's head lobbed off in an instant for even suggesting such a thing, never mind his already assumptuous, outrageous behavior. But alas, it seems to be accepted practice in this world and with that I won't argue.

Though when it comes down to it, the setting and the premise are just excuses for one big torture-filled, fairytale porn "novel." Hey, if that's what gets you off! This book is porn, damn straight to ya, and in so many, ahem..."flavors" along the way. I'll warrant, many of the scenes are written quite well, we can feel Beauty's pain and pleasure, and sometimes I actually found the sadistic side of myself getting a kick out of the whole inflicting pain business. But it becomes tiresome and repetitive, quite unbearable once we realize that it isn't leading anywhere worthwhile; it's then exposed for what it is: one long tirade of endless spankings, rape, and human degradation.

It's painful because there's no sense of hope for relief, no justice, not a thread of decency or principle in anything or anyone. I'm surprised at being so offended but such a book just isn't one I *enjoy* reading. Overall I found it disturbing and pointless. The only triumph being learning to endure the pain and domination, to accept it and better oneself. Perhaps it could have been written in a better, more enlightening way, but as is this story is little more than degrading, fairytale-esque torture porn. If that's what you're looking for then read this book and enjoy it, else it'd be better for your health to skip it.

Rating:
Summary: Happily NEVER After
Review: This is the worst piece of supposed erotica I have ever encountered. It is neither scintilating nor satisfying. It's billed as an erotic exploration of the Sleeping Beauty story--a concept I find not only valid, but interesting and extremely promising. However, after the prince enters the castle, slices off Beauty's clothes and proceeds to rape her--she's unconscious, mind you--the story leaves behind any trace of the fairy tale. It begs the question, why bother with the tie? Why not just create your own Prince-Not-At-All-Charming and Princess Exquisitely Idotic?

There's really nothing to recommend this book. Certainly not the characters; they're repulsive, simplistic and downright stupid. Plot? Nope! The plot is merely a vehicle to set up one insipid sexual situation after another. The writing itself is dreadful. It clunks and thunks along through one improbable description after another. Stylistically, it downright stinks! I've never read Ann Rice and I see no reason to check out any of her other works.

I love a well crafted sexual encounter. However, there's nothing remotely resembling such an animal here. There's scene after scene describing various supposed erotic acts, yet in her apparent attempt to shock, Ms. Rice completely misses the mark. It gets so ho-hum--oh, sex again? Another spanking? Will he raise welts or not this time? Yawn! Wake me when it's over. Not erotic! There's nothing at all appealing about any of it. In fact, unless you're heavily into abasement and degradation, there's nothing here for you. If there is, I recommend therapy.

Rating:
Summary: Erotic it is NOT
Review: This is perhaps the least erotic bit or erotica I have ever encountered. It is neither titlating nor satisfying at any point along its tedious way. It bills itself as an erotic take on the Sleeping Beauty legend--a concept I find valid and rather interesting. However, after the Prince enters the castle, and shortly thereafter, Beauty (yes, he "takes" her while she's unconscious--charming!) it has NOTHING to do with the fairy tale. It never agian even visits the traditional story. The characters are all repulsive, deranged and drearily stupid. And, as though that weren't enough, the writing clunks and thunks awkwardly about. Frankly, the style is downright stinky.

I am a devotee of the well-crafted sex scene. Unfortunately, there is not even one here--odd for erotica, wouldn't you say? In fact, unless you're heavy into S&M and degradation, there's NOTHING for you in this book. Certainly there's no character development and the plot exists merely as a vehicle for the next spanking, penetration and badly described thrusting fest. UGH!

Do yourself a favor; put this book out of your mind forever.

Rating:
Summary: Spanking, Spanking, and more Spanking
Review: I have mixed emotions here. There are some parts of this book especially in the beginning that are erotic, but then it shifts into an endless onslaught of degradation and spanking. The first time Beauty was spanked was mildly entertaining. The next fifty times were monotonous but disturbing. I felt an odd mixture of disturbance and interest at the same time when I finished reading this book, but mostly disturbance. I unfortunately bought the trilogy because the premise sounded quite interesting. I guess I should have read the reviews more. In the end, I doubt that I am going to continue on to the next two books because overall, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty just left a bad taste in my mouth. There were just too many scenes involving torture which were, by the way, extremely detailed in description and not enough scenes where sex actually took place. The scenes where sex did take place were short and lacking in detail. It was just "wham, bam" and that's it. There were definately no "thank you ma'ams ". So, if you're into spanking, this book is for you! If not, just stay away from it.

Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars for the first half, -1 for the second
Review: From the first sentence this book grabbed me and kept me enthralled until about 1/2 way through the book, and at one point I only continued reading to see if the author would come up with anything new. Don't get me wrong...the first half is WELL worth reading whether you read the second half or not. It's just that you get the whole shebang in the first half. After that, its just repitition to the point of agravation. The first spanking, for example, is thrilling. The 100th is a bore. Give me something new. Therefore, I highly recommend the first half of this book to any reader who enjoys fairy tales and erotica. For more variety on the same theme, I would also recommend Bedtime Stories for Women by Nancy Madore, which has a whole bunch of fairy tales - with a DIFFERENT fantasy in every story (all of them fantastic).