The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, Book 1)

The Prince awakens Sleeping Beauty and brings her to his castle, where she has a series of erotic adventures. Before E.L. James'Fifty Shades of Grey and Sylvia Day's Bared to You, there was Anne Rice's New York Times best seller The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty.In the traditional folktale of'Sleeping Beauty,'the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. In the first book of the trilogy, Anne Rice (author of Beauty's Kingdom), writing as A.N. Roquelaure, retells the Beauty story and probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince awakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him... as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience. Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey will indulge in Rice's deft storytelling and imaginative eroticism, a sure-to-be classic for years to come. Praise for The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty:'Articulate, baroque, and fashionably pornographic.'—Playboy'Something very special... at once so light and yet so haunting.'—The Advocate In the traditional folktale of "Sleeping Beauty," the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. In the first book of the trilogy, Anne Rice, writing as A.N. Roquelaure, retells the Beauty story and probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince awakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him . . . as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience. Readers of Fifty Shades of Grey will indulge in Rice’s deft storytelling and imaginative eroticism, a sure-to-be classic for years to come. ([source][1]) [1]: http://annerice.com/Bookshelf-BeautyClaiming.html The first novel in Anne Rice's erotic Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. In the traditional folktale of "Sleeping Beauty," the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. Now Anne Rice's retelling of the Beauty story probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince awakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him...as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience In the traditional folktale of "Sleeping Beauty," the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. Now Anne Rice's retelling of the Beauty story probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince awakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him...as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience. (back cover) The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty -- The Journey and the Punishment at the Inn -- Beauty -- The Castle and the Great Hall -- The Prince's Bed Chamber -- Prince Alexi -- Prince Alexi and Felix -- The Slaves' Hall -- The Training Hall -- The Hall of Punishments -- Duties in the Prince's Chamber -- Serving Maid -- The Bridle Path -- The Queen's Chamber -- Lady Juliana in the Queen's Chamber -- With Prince Alexi -- Prince Alexi Tells of His Capture and Enslavement -- Prince Alexi's Education Continues -- The Village. "In the traditional folktale of Sleeping Beauty the spell cast upon the lovely young princess can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. However, in the world of Anne Rice, this legendary curse if broken not with a kiss but with a sexual initiation. The Prince's reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him. Sleeping Beauty awakes to world of a seduction, desire and love"--Back cover THE PRINCE had all his young life known 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.