Review: Reall good and more than just a romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2012
I have to admit that this isn't the time of book I would normally pick up. I also don't know how it compares to other Erotica titles considering that I don't read very much erotica. I found the sex scenes to be far better than what appears in the Anita Blake series and more on par with Jacqueline Carey's historical fantasy, just without the bondage bit.I was very surprised by this book, I must admit. It wasn't at all which I thought it would be (some weird beastial sex mash up thing. I actually was cringing when I "brought it. But I thought, it's free so no risk). The story, however, is a nice retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story, admitting with a few sex scenes between people who actually love each other.What I really like is the fact that Nicole Dreadful really knows her tale. If you have read the various French versions, you will see them reflected here, as well as hints of McKinley and Disney. Dreadful updates the tale - the family is close and the sister not evil - but she also deals with what critics believe the original tale to be about. The theory is that the original story was about finding happiness or lessening fear on behalf of the women who were facing arranged marriages. That it is, in part, leaving one family and joining another, of losing fear of sex. This idea of the fear of sex is what Dreadful focuses on and what makes this short story rise above the all too common romance retellings. What Dreadful explores is coming to terms not all with sexuality in general, but your own. I got this for free, but for intended to buy the next in the series. Very good.