Customer Reviews

Like a Thorn: BDSM Fairy Tales

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Let me preface by saying that I am not very familiar with the practice of BDSM, and as such this collection of short stories was my first "formal" introduction to this genre of erotica. After reading these richly woven and beautifully told tales, though, I have to say I wouldn't be opposed to reading more stories in this vein.

I was first drawn to the collection by its promise of fairy tales reduced to their most primal origins. I love dark fantasy and twists on traditional folklore, so of course I gave this a shot. I was so impressed by what I found. All the stories are very different, but they are all very good in their own way. Some are just short snapshots (like the artsy Cinderella retake "Cinders") and others are deeply developed (like the amazing "The Last Mistress of the Chatelaine", which tells a dark, Slavic reboot of a Beauty and the Beast type of tale). Some of the stories are incredibly hot ("That Wicked Witchcraft", for example, whose story of a Hansel and Gretel inspired threesome definitely kept my attention) and some are just teasing (such as the Princess and the Pea interpretation, "The Princess and Peony"). The last story was easily my favorite (though "The Last Mistress of the Chatelaine" is a very, very close second); "Skin Deep" is a beautifully artistic rendition of Beauty and the Beast that is nothing like the damsel-in-distress tale we've come to expect.

What I liked most about these stories is that the sexual activity was always integrated well with the plot. This wasn't just your average fairy tale artificially injected with smut. Each story was thoughtful, sexy, and refreshingly full of emotion. I would love to see a sequel to this collection with other fairy tale reinterpretations!