{Book Review} Beauty's Kingdom (Sleeping Beauty #4) by A.N. Roquelaure (@AnneRiceAuthor @VikingBooks)

The erotic Sleeping Beauty trilogy now continues with a fourth novel by master storyteller and bestselling author of Prince Lestat, Anne Rice, writing as A. N. Roquelaure

Mega-bestselling author Annie Rice returns to where she left off in Beauty’s Release with the disappearance of Queen Eleanor in Bellavalten. Now, twenty years after they were forced to leave the kingdom to return to their homeland, Beauty and her husband Laurent agree to travel back as its king and queen, to uphold the ways of complete sensual surrender, with a twist: they now insist on voluntary servitude in Bellavalten.

Countless eager princes, princesses, lords, ladies, and common folk journey to Beauty’s new kingdom where she and her husband awaken their domain, ushering in a new era of desire, longing, and sexual ecstasy. Provocative and stirring, Rice’s imaginative retelling of the Sleeping Beauty myth will be hailed by her longtime fans and new readers of erotica just discovering the novels. This book is intended for mature audiences. 

It has been many years since King Laurent and his Queen Beauty left Bellavalten to live happily ever after in a kingdom of their own.  Even now living in seclusion after handing his rule over to his son, he is still a thing of legend.

Unexpectedly, he is visited by a procession that includes Lady Eva, Alexei and Tristan who have come to implore him and his Queen to rule over Bellavalten after tragedy strikes.  As much as the prospect intrigues them, they know that they have to make some changes to ensure their survival and that includes the declaration that no one should ever be forced into servitude against their will ever again.

Both Beauty and her King rediscover the lovers that have haunted them in the past and forge their way forward to create a kingdom unlike any have ever seen before.

“You were imprisoned in Queen Eleanor’s kingdom, were you not, when the time came for the awakening of my charge.  And so the Crown Prince became my unwitting instrument to bring your princess to you in the land where you were held hostage, unable to go to her.  Defenseless and given over to your servitude, you found each other irresistible as I knew you would.  Slaves together you loved.  Free together you married.  And trust in me, my king, that a new adventure awaits you both.”

I remember reading The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty years ago and being absolutely scandalized and yet riveted to every page and it’s with that same fascination that I picked up Beauty’s Kingdom.  I found it almost sweet with its lyrical prose and rich attention to detail.  Still underneath - ran a thread of serious subjects such as consent and choice - and Anne handled them with dignity in a way that only she can.

I would dare say that Beauty’s Kingdom is a refined erotic gem for the sophisticated adult…

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