This sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, the first of Anne Rice's (writing as A.N. Roquelaure) elegantly written volumes of erotica, continues her explicit, teasing exploration of the
psychology of human desire. Now Beauty, having indulged in a secret and forbidden infatuation with the rebellious slave Prince Tristan, is sent away from the Satyricon-like world of the Castle. Sold at auction, she will soon experience the tantalizing punishments of "the village," as her education in love, cruelty, dominance, submission, and tenderness is turned over to the brazenly handsome Captain of the Guard. And once again Rice's fabulous tale of pleasure and pain dares to explore the most primal and well-hidden desires of the human heart. Preceding the visceral eroticism of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey and even more haunting than her own novel Belinda, this second installment is not to be missed.
This most explicit, erotic series reaches its culmination as The Erotic Adventures of Sleeping Beauty come to an unforgettable close.
Chapter 1 Excerpt
Anne Rice
Excerpt
1
The Prince had all
his young life know the story of Sleeping Beauty, cursed to sleep for a hundred
years, with her parents, the King and Queen, and all of the Court, after
pricking her finger on a spindle.
But he did not
believe it until he was inside the castle.
Even the bodies of
those other Princes caught in the thorns of the rose vines that covered the
walls had not made him believe it. They
had come believing it, true enough, but he must see for himself inside the
castle.
Careless with
grief for the death of his father, and too powerful under his mother’s rule for
his own good, he cut these awesome vines at their roots, and immediately
prevented them from ensnaring him. It was
not his desire to die so much as to conquer.
And picking his
way through the bones of those who had failed to solve the mystery, he stepped
alone into the great banquet hall.
The sun was high
in the sky and those vines had fallen away, so the light fell in dusty shafts
from the lofty windows.
And all along the
banquet table, the Prince saw the men and women of the old Court, sleeping
under layers of dust, their ruddy and slack faces spun over with spider webs.
He gasped to see
the servants dozing against the walls, their clothes rotted to tatters.
But it was true,
this old tale. And, fearless as before, he went in search of the Sleeping
Beauty who must be at the core of it.
From the
author
As Anne
Rice, I’m known for certain kinds of novels; the Roquelaure books
retain the name Roquelaure (even with my name added) to indicate that
this is something “different.” If Anne Rice is one kind of savory
dish, well this is another entirely. And some might find it far too
spicy for their taste. I don’t like the idea of confusing or
disappointing readers, so the pen name helps with that. Of course,
there are many people who have read all my work, including the
Roquelaure novels, and they see me as a multifaceted writer. But the
Roquelaure material is erotica, without reservation, and it needs
that pen name on the label, so to speak. The pen name says: Anne Rice
is doing something very different here.
… this is
shamelessly erotic. It pulls no punches at being what it is. It’s
excessive and it is erotica. Before these books, a lot of women read
what were called “women’s romances” where they had to mark the
few “hot pages” in the book. I said, well, look, try this. Maybe
this is what you really want, and you don’t have to mark the hot
pages because every page is hot. Every page is about sexual
fulfillment. Every page is meant to give you pleasure. There are no
boring parts. Yet it’s very “romantic.” And well, I think this
worked. ~ Taken from the Prologue, ANNE RICE, JUNE 2012
Now for the giveaway!
(1) Print copy of THE CLAIMING OF SLEEPING BEAUTY (Book #1) US Only.
Thank you for the chance to win this awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteAnything? You're awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. :D
These look great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!
Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool that Ann Rice took on this project. The lady is not only a master of fiction, she's fearless. Thanks for the great giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI have been curious about these books. I keep almost buying Claiming Sleeping Beauty, but then don't. I have heard it's good. Thanks for the chance at this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletekimberlybreid at hotmail dot com
Thank you for the giveaway! I really want to read this series =D
ReplyDelete-Becky P.
Sleeping Beauty is my favorite fairy tale. I've never read Anne Rice and I would love to start with this series.
ReplyDeleteI'm an Anne Rice loyalist for her vampires and witches, but am now interested in adding on her original works!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway! :D
ReplyDelete