Customer Reviews

In Sleeping Beauty's Bed: Erotic Fairy Tales

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was very disappointed in this book. I thought it would be titillating,romantic and erotic. It is not. The little mention of sex in the stories so so unappealing that it is just gross. Take for instance Cinderella's Prince proffering to stick his thing into the glass slippers and ignore her. Rapunzel raps obscenities and that is what turns on the woods man who climbs up to rub against her. Little Red Ridding Hood likes to flash the men at the construction site.
This book is stupid and a waste of time. I don't understand the people who graded this book with five stars. Makes me suspect that they work for the publisher or writer.

At first I was annoyed by the poor quality of the book. Then I began to notice far more disturbing aspects of the book. Firstly, and not as importantly, nearly ALL the young ladies in question--and some of the men as well--were described as pale as alabaster, even those characters from the ARABIAN nights. Many of them had blonde hair and blue eyes as well, playing into the "only white girls are pretty" stereotype.

Secondly, and most importantly, this book was full of rape, sexual assault, and other acts of brutality. This book should come with a giant red trigger warning on it: from literal dungeons to impersonation in order to have sex, to peeping toms that girls are too intimidated by to turn away, to bestiality, to gang rape implied to be "good luck," to drunken or asleep or unwilling or unable women and men who are forced or coerced or tricked into having sex, this book really churned my stomach.

Add to that the the author has NO penchant for describing things appealing at all. If I have to hear one more line about "fleshy swellings" or "recklessly dancing protuberances," so help me...

Additionally, I found it ENTIRELY implausible and ridiculous to believe that apparently adult women and men would not recognize genitalia when they see it. Especially the handmaiden Czarina who thought that another woman's private area was literally a living, hissing monster. Excuse me, but if it's hissing, you need a doctor, not oral gratification.

This book was ridiculous, offensive, insensitive, AND poorly written. If I could give it no stars and a sarcastic slow clap, I would.

I was rather disappointed in this book. I only read the first three or four stories, but this is obviously written for men who are into alternate sexual ideas and not actual sex. I wish it had been a bit more detailed in the content of the stories. They are not even humorous. Mostly, they are very unsatisfying for what I consider erotica. I have a large tolerance for alternate ideas, but this book leaves very little to be desired.

I will leave the rest of this book unread which is sad. The writer is really good and her (?) use of language is very skillful. I just wish the directions she chose to take the stories were different.

A great read if you don't actually want hot steamy sex or actual sexual intercourse in your erotica. Otherwise, find another book.

The author of a dozen+ books and creator and host of Mitzi TV, Mitzi Szereto, now brings us a seductive selection of (in)famous Fairy Tales with a titillating twist of Mitzeroticism.

Szereto explores the erotic origins of Rapunzel's curly locks, Beauty's sleeping habits, along with thirteen other arousing tales that would make the Brothers Grimm grimace.

While I personally found Szereto's erotic fairy tales entertaining (more naughty than erotic, actually), what I enjoyed more were the historical essay introductions for each story as presented by the author. They were well-researched and academically informative.

Those who would like to revisit their childhood stories told in a more ribald manner will enjoy In Sleeping Beauty's Bed. Recommended.

Fairy tales were never intended to be restricted to an audience of children. Indeed, most traditional fairytales had to be 'cleaned up' or 'disneyfied' in order to be made palatable for young ears. That's why the compilation of adult-oriented fairytales that comprise Mitzi Szereto's "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is such a treat for grown-ups. Restored to their erotic originality are fifteen stories that range from Chinese myths, to Japanese folklore, to European standards from Prince Charming's shoe fetish, to the real story why Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother had a wolf in her bed! Of special note is the succinct introduction to each separate fairytale, noting its history and the context of the sexual culture in which it originated. Superbly written, organized, and presented, "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is for an adult readership, and highly recommended reading from cover to cover.

Having an interest in all things `fairy tale' and knowing the origins of these stories are far different to what many imagine, this was a must-read for me. These type of stories are often segregated to the realm of 'childhood' so that many are never aware of the legendary and historical wealth that chronicles the Fairy Tale.

Many never know that the stories most regarded as created for children were originally intended for adults -- they were traditional folk tales with far more bloodthirsty endings than has ever been portrayed in an animated version. Even the accounts as set down by the Grimms and Anderson are often enough to raise a few eyebrows and bring forth a few gasps. Mitzi Szereto is clearly well aware of the how these stories are a tool to reflect incidences in our own lives and history, and in this book sets out to lighten the mood, raise a few eyebrows and generate a few gasps for entirely different reasons.

The prefaces to each story in this book are a rich, informative treat, and were a delight to read entirely on their own merits. Added to stories that have an erotic twist that shouldn't offend anyone with a sense of humour, this book offers the reader the opportunity to enjoy a retelling of childhood favourites with an adult smile, and a more than occasional, and very welcome, giggle. I would happily wrap this up in glitzy paper as a unique present.

Note: Admittedly, the stories are not 'erotic' in the sensual sense, but anyone familiar with the author's writing knows that the work is guaranteed to be more literary, and to cover the whole gambit of what the genre represents. In this, the book draws on more classic resources, and is intended to raise a smile.

In Mitzi Szereto's turnaround of classic fairy-tales `In Sleeping Beauty's Bed,' it would be malignant to mention that it is pure posh, and such a lie that would be. I personally enjoyed her clever wit, and sense of humor; something that some writers of our decade lack quite rightly.


With an introduction into each of her stories, Miss Szereto proficiently gives readers a history and background of the story's very purpose. It is with her intentions, not to destroy the original work of art, but to enhance it to the adult generation. If for nothing else but pure satirical value, Mitzi captures her audience's attention with her fiction, yet again, only in a very well rounded and fine piece of literature- to be put on the bookshelves of many.


I took extreme interest in her twist on Little Red Riding Hood, and not giving any details away, I will just state for the record... it's exactly the type of Little Red Riding Hood that one could expect to captivate the attention in the twisted turn of fantasy, all-the-while picturing a modern day Marilyn Monroe combined with a haughty harlot traveling among the woods and brush.


Bravo to Miss Szereto for having such fortitude to take on such a task, and furthermore doing it tastefully and well presented. I will more than likely add more of Mitzi's work to my bookshelf.

~Carl Franklin- Author of `Bloodlines'

Plot Summary: If you've ever hungered not only for fairy tales that continue after the marriage, but to know where those very stories originated, then this unique collection by Mitzi Szereto is for you. Combining historical research with fanciful fiction, Ms. Szereto traces the origins of various fairy tales, and then writes her own adaptations with some decidedly R-rated scenes.

This is a curious collection of erotic short stories. The introduction for the book, and each subsequent story, is full of scholarly research about the origins of each fairy tale. It's so thorough that it could serve as the text for a college course, but the fairy tales themselves are more appropriate for private, bed-time reading. It was a strange experience switching between serious essay and naughty little story over and over. It was almost like the book couldn't make up its mind as to what it wanted to be. I certainly don't expect to learn anything from erotica (well, except for a new sexual position), but this book has more information on the origins of fairy tales than I'd ever imagined.

While I found myself deeply interested in the research, I'm sorry to say that the fairy tales themselves were lacking. Mitzi Szereto faithfully stuck to the traditional fairy tale style in each story, and for that I was grateful, because I've always wanted to read a whole collection of repurposed fairy tales where everything remains the same, but with an erotic twist. The only thing missing here was the "Once upon a time," and the "they lived happily ever after."

While the stories were clearly written for adults, and full of all kinds of interesting sexual fetishes, none of the stories moved beyond the naughty and titillating stage. They were full of teasing situations, but there was no satisfaction to be gained, no sense of release that I'm accustomed to finding in erotica. Perhaps that's because they're erotic fairy tales, but not erotica, per se. The difference is slight, but in this case, it's important that the reader understand what they're getting here. Above I referred to this book as R-rated, and I think that's an accurate grade, but unfortunately I was hoping to find something closer to an X-rating.

Very enjoyable adult night time reading. It will open your mind to all new experiences and stimulate fantasies.

My review copy of Mitzi Szereto's erotic fairy tales came sizzling through my letter box in time for me to read over the Christmas period. Of course I was travelling around the UK visiting relatives and many an eyebrow lifted at the sight of the book along with its saucy cover image. For the more prudish relative I explained that I was doing research because each tale has the historical background of the literary and folklore in fascinating detail before we are treated to a fictionalized interpretation by Mitzi herself. Prurient relatives begged to have a read for themselves.

I have known since my English Literature classes that unadulterated versions of Chaucer (such as the Miller's Tale) and Shakespeare were more ribald than young eyes were allowed to see. Unlike many historical tomes on the subject, Mitzi Szereto's prologues to each tale is just long enough to be of academic interest yet short enough to whet appetites.

The story telling is pretty much in the style of the tales you would have heard as a child but with the naughty bits included and with a more subtle adult vocabulary. In some tales such as Rapunzel, a contemporary feel sneaks in. In most of the stories there are twists you don't expect. Right from the first story, Cinderella, the Prince on finding the delicious young girl, enjoys her in a most surprising way. Little Red Riding Hood, too is given a treatment beyond the obvious. Reading all fifteen tales along with the vastly informative introduction, will both educate, tease your lateral thinking and excite you.

Readers are reworded with not instant but satisfying gratification.
Congratulations to Mitzi Szereto and Cleis Press for this delightful addition to anyone's erotic bookshelf.