Beauty's Punishment: A Novel (A Sleeping Beauty Novel) Paperback – May 1, 1999

Definitely mature audience 18+ book recommendation as it has a lot of adult sexual content and themes. That being said, I enjoyed Beauty's punishment so much more then the first book "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty". It honestly took me a while to get the nerve up to read this book, but I am seriously happy that I did as it was exceptional. You get to see the eye-opening self-discovery not only Beauty but Tristan as well. You get to see Tristan and Beauty's strengths and weaknesses beautifully come to life on the pages as they each struggle to find their identity after being sold at auction in "the village". I enjoyed watching both of the characters grow. Definitely read the triggers at the beginning of the book as this is very graphic and explicit book. Spoiler: this book ends on cliffhanger, but the next book is already out so happiness that we don't have to wait to see what happens.

Loved it. It took me a while to get into this book series because its something that I have never read before. I read the first one a year ago and hated it. So I thought I would give it another try because I expected what was going to happen the shock factor was lower and that fact that I was able to connect into this fantasy world. It was fantastic. I am used to reading books as I am the characters and this is one of those books I had to read as just a book. But WHOA some of the scenes are graphic and well written, after reading it the second time I was immerced in each book I couldn't put them down. I bought all of them and loved each one for different reasons. Way to go Anne I am glad I gave this a second shot.

This is my favorite from the series. Understand, first of all, that this story is a FANTASY. So do keep that in mind. But the journey that Beauty goes through is very eye opening. And the added bonus of getting the inside emotions of another slave was a great bonus. Just like how we get a little glimpse into one of the male slave's minds in the first book, now we get an inside view into another's! Yes, she does struggle to give her characters depth in some ways. For instance, I wish she had gone into more detail about the captain of the guard. He was a bit of a bland, albeit HOT character. All in all, I've LOVED these books! Yes, take the advice of everyone else who has recommended you read through all of them, in order, without too much time between books. Do NOT start with this book. It will start you out taking things too seriously and trying to make sense of it in real society. That is not the purpose. The purpose is to read something that takes you away from reality for a while, and puts you in an amazing world for a time. A world that is exciting, where everyone is open with their sexuality, where the word taboo does not exist. Open your minds and read this trilogy!!

I am a pretty open minded individual but this series delved too far down the dark road for me.I felt these books, each one more horrific than the last, were more about learning to endure physical pain and debasement. I found these books to be about torture and humiliation and not eroticism. I did not find most of the description to be erotic in any way. These books left me feeling queasy and unsatisfied... mentally unsatisfied. I simply do not find the intended meaning. I researched S&M and still could not understand what Mrs. Rice was trying to convey through this torture.. I could not find love.. I found only self centeredness, mental sickness and insanity. I love Ann Rice Novels; She is a master storyteller with a true gift but these books..Comparing 50 Shades of Grey to these books is like comparing Sesame Street to Steven Hawking!

This book is the definitive of erotica on every page. Rice does it in extreme graphic detail. I never guessed where this story was going and how it was going to get there. She clearly delineates between love, lust and desire. This is a world created by those that oversee it in the monarchy created by her pen. This is not a happily ever after Rom-Com. This is not what Rice is writing. This is part two and Beauty learns quite graphically what punishment means in this time period and that there's no way through it except to accept what's given as it comes. She meets Prince Tristan and both are delivered to the auction block. This I had to read in small doses but did enjoy the detail of the world in which she created in great detail.

I am enjoying this book series and I just love anything Anne Rice. I must admit it took me some time to finally order the second book because the first one is a whopper of eroticism. I can only take so much of this type and then need a break, but I am so happy I came back and read the second and can not wait to order and read the third book. I bought this book used and it came on time and in almost completely new condition. I am very happy with my purchase!

After finishing 50 Shades of Gray series I wasn't sure where to turn after that great read so I followed the suggestion of other Amazon reviews and read this series. This is the second book in a 3 part series it is vital that you actually read the series in order. The first being The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty then this book and the third bring Beauty's Release. This book is very strong erotic. I would say way stronger than 50 Shades of Gray. If you're comfortable reading a BDSM book with three ways, lesbian and gay sex scenes then this is the book for you. I like that because it is a 3 books Anne Rice does take the time to develop the characters so you feel you get to know everyone. If you're looking for smoking hot erotica then this is definitely the story for you.

This is the continuation of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, where Beauty is learning more of the arts of erotica in various form.Here, Beauty has managed to defy the Prince and as punishment, she is set off along with the other Prince and Princess off to the Village, where they are sold to any commoner who could afford them doing the Queen's bidding. In this book, Beauty is more focus on Prince Tristan, and always in hoping to be with him. But here is the ironic part of it all, this this book, it is far more focus on Prince Tristan's thoughts and feelings rather than beauty herself.This book btw, is far more steamier than the last and less plots rather and yes. Yummy!

You will enjoy reading this :-)

Great. Arrived quickly and was exactly as described. many thanks.

The beauty series is my first in erotica, and boy did I love it. Puts the bar pretty high.

This novel is for adults 18+.It is part of a series and very graphic.Some parts are exquisite and some are boring and some too out there for my tastes. To each their own.

The general wisdom is that middle books of trilogies tend to be the worst. Perhaps this is because the writer has already wowed the reader with an introduction to the story concept and the climax of the story is still some way away, leaving the reader in a bit of a lull which also just happens to include lots of details they're going to have to know in order for the conclusion to make any sense.However, Beauty's Punishment is a pretty good middle book! It has a few reservations but the author gets away with them.Beauty's arrival in the Village marks a big change from her time at the Palace: it's rougher, tougher and more everyday (in a very S&M kind of a way). Beauty finds a lot more depth of love for slavehood in herself and it is this gradual realisation that forms the stock of this book.We also see more characters introduced into the story as Tristan begins to narrate to us.The main problem, I feel, with Anne Rice's writing is that she gives the male characters (in this book at least, and the first in the trilogy) a flowery style of prose - just as she does with the female characters. I'm in two minds about how bad a problem this is: half of the point of the Sleeping Beauty trilogy is to read the *very* pretty prose. Perhaps there's wiggle room for her to have delved into the more primal observations of her male characters, but in this book they still feel a bit, well, flowery.I'm half-way through Beauty's Release now and the problem appears to have been cleared up. The main male character in Release is more primal, dirtier and really doesn't mince his words! What can I say, I love him already.It's also nice to get a break from Beauty in Beauty's Punishment, lovely girl though she is. Tristan offers a bit of a contrast, although perhaps not quite enough. Like I said, his own point of view is quite rosy.The Village sounds like a fabulous place, although I was expecting to see a bit more roughness in the daily lives of the slaves. As it happens, both our main protagonists in this book of the trilogy fall into the possession of rather well-to-do Masters, so we don't generally see the full extent of how base the Village can get.I like the twist at the end of this book and have been very much enjoying its continuation in Beauty's Release so far.