Once upon a time, The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy was one of the best kept secrets of Anne Rice’s work, but then these three erotic romance novels outearned Interview with the Vampire. They’re among the most enthralling and captivating women’s erotica I’ve ever read. If you liked 50 Shades of Grey than you will certainly enjoy this landmark trilogy.

The series was written under Rice’s pseudonym, A.N. Roquelaure. Whatever name she uses, the writing is characteristic of her gothic style. When you open that cover, you are bound to enter a world so deeply conceived, so sumptuously described, that it takes on a life and plausibility all its own.

The tale begins with Sleeping Beauty awakening to being ravished by the Prince. Indebted to him for breaking the spell of sleep on their kingdom, Beauty’s parents allow the Prince to take Beauty as tribute to the castle of his mother, Queen Eleanor, who rules the surrounding kingdoms. Eleanor makes Beauty serve the erotic pleasures of the court, male and female, who try to instill empathy and humility in her, and prepare her to be a wise ruler. This subtext is a clever and satisfying justification for the trials that Beauty endures.

Unfortunately, Beauty and her fellow slaves, Princes Alexi and Laurent, rebel. This results in deeper punishment and painfully pleasurable sexual torments. Their continued resistance leads to exile in a village of common people. Here, their royal rank is meaningless and invites deeper resentment and persecution. When this also proves inadequate, they are shipped off to a foreign land where they face the greatest trials of all.

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A Picasso Is More Than Just A Painting And This Series Is More Than Just Erotic Books

These erotic books are explicit but never dark. The trials are heady, playful at times, but avoid stereotypes of self-loathing submissives or egomaniacal dominants. The spanking, bondage and sex are a spice that seasons the characters rather than destroying them. There are characters and erotic scenes for every reader – straight, gay or bisexual.

The ambient bisexuality devoid of faux moralizing is another great accomplishment. Both Beauty and her male companions must serve the pleasure of men and women. Rice’s medieval world doesn’t judge orientations, but focuses on the universal pleasure of sexuality and mentoring. This gives the novels depth and an unexpected and lingering uplifting effect.

I watched an interview with Anne Rice explaining why she wrote these erotic books. She said they were something inside her she had to get out on paper. Since these books awoke something that has always been within me since I became aware of my own sexuality, I can understand this explanation. Not only is this series sensual and exciting, it is literary, well-written, and a true exploration of sexuality. Most of the discoveries sound like something real people fear or would never admit. You owe it to yourself to read the entire series of these three erotic romance novels.

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