google-site-verification: google935433b691795853.html KRISTY BERRIDGE: Book Review: Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Book Review: Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

As most of you probably know, Fifty Shades Freed is the final installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy, and for my money, it is entertaining if you have enjoyed the series-to-date, but also entirely too expected.
What started out as an interesting, dark and psychologically twisted sexual tale, soon becomes a story about change, love and all of that mushy unrealistic crap that's penned in some of these fictional romances.
To my mind, Christian Grey is annihilated in character within these pages, turned by affection and what he believes is the weakness of his past. Anastasia Steele (now his wife), excavates to the very essence of what drives the darkness that makes Christian so infallible and interesting in earlier plots. She smooths his emotional wrinkles and even begins to embrace what she found morally reprehensible within his previously rigid character in earlier novels.
Although there was a part of me that enjoyed this happy, safe and neatly wrapped up ending, there was a part of me that longed for something more sinister, perhaps more of a play on Anastasia's unfurling confidence versus Christians domineering and heavy-handed approach to all situations.
There was no lack of sexual content. In fact, towards the end of the book I felt like throwing it at a wall, wondering what the hell my husband and I were doing wrong if simply the darkening of his mercurial expression made her insides tighten and mouth part in need. I mean, what married couple really has sex three to four times a day? I was honestly exhausted just reading about it!
Once again the plot followed expectation. There was no real mystery or unexpected twist requiring clever deduction on the reader's part. The action was limited (unless you count the incessant fornication) and the writing style was adequate but not overly expressive (unless you count Anastasia's ability to orgasm with a simple worded command - unrealistically impressive).
Overall, as I've said before the series is enjoyable if you take it at surface value - a simple, slightly twisted romantic read with a few shock factors. Fifty Shades Freed was the lightest of all novels with the predictable happy ending. Again, this is only going to be a three out of five fangs rating for me but this is based on my earlier interest in the much more complex, self-serving and charismatic sadist known as Christian Grey.

Synopsis:
When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey, it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian's singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed. Now, together, they have more-love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity, or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present. Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, tragedy, malice and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true.

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