Petals and Thorns
Jennifer ParisBDSM
Available from Loose Id
ISBN: 978-1-60737-817-4
July 2010
| To save her father's life, Amarantha reluctantly agrees to wed the ever-cloaked Lord of the Manor, known only to them as Sir Beast, and remain with him as his wife for seven days. If she remains a virgin at the end of a week, she gains his fortune and will be allowed to return to her family and a normal life. Though in her vows she promises to obey him, Lord Beast assures her that he will never take her virginity through force, telling her that is the one choice that will always be hers. However, once she is secluded with him in his manor and surrounded by invisible servants that tend to her every need as long as it meets with his approval, Amarantha quickly learns that losing her virginity does not equate to losing her innocence.
The Beast seduces his lovely, innocent wife at every turn, exposing, binding, tormenting and most of all pleasuring Amarantha until she no longer knows what it is she desires from him or herself. The pleasure/pain he introduces her to is as seductive as it is terrifying, and the Beast himself is as charming as he is exacting. But the longer the Beast has her under his rule the more desperate he becomes to break the curse that chains his humanity until he finally loses the rigid control he places on himself. Fearing for her safety, he decides to send her away early, but requests one more night to tenderly torment her. With him, Amarantha has done things she never dreamed were possible, but she also desperately longs for a more conventional life, where no one tortures her so exquisitely every night. So, when she is finally released she runs home to safety, turning her back on the man who had awakened her to sensuality. The Beauty and the Beast fable is a personal favorite of mine and Petals and Thorns is one of the most evocative versions I have read to date. Jennifer Paris's writing is scintillating, seductive and sensuous. The Beast claims his bride in every way he can, while forcing her to acknowledge and understand all the changes his dark desires bring about in her. He demands instant obedience and punishes the slightest infraction, even just a small hesitation, on her part. But as innocent as she is, Amarantha comes to realize that despite his cruel nature, the Beast has no desire to truly hurt her. His tender care of her when his nails rake her breasts just a little too deeply is as intense as his painful punishments that leave her sore, but not truly wounded Petals and Thorns has the feel of a courtly historical romance set in a magical castle that disguises sinfully erotic devices in every ordinary, commonplace item. I enjoyed Petals and Thorns so much, that I immediately reread it again once I had finished it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good fairy tale in which the prince slowly strips his princess of all her masks, including those of civility and politeness, accepting only honest responses and desires, even if they come with tears.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Kathryn |
