Return to the Chateau - erotic book by Ballantine Books - review by Shebanna Electra

I received a thin, light-weight paper-back book in the mail from Eden Fantasys, entitled Return to the Chateau|Return to the Chateau. The author, Pauline Reage, returns with a sequel to her controversial Story of O. The text was written in large type, yet the book was only 192 pages in length. The slim novel was aesthetically unimpressive, with a plain white lettering on black cover. However, the visual darkness intimated an equally dark read.

Set in France, O has been sent by her Master to "work" for money in a bordello. The story wraps itself firmly around the prospect that O is interested in far more than simply serving her Master, but is madly in love with him. Left with servicing other men (and sometimes women) in exchange for room, board, and pay, O meets many others of her kind, and laments her Master's seeming abandonment. The book puts most of its detail into O's new surroundings, and the lifestyle of the girls in the bordello.

Will he return to claim what is his? Does he wish her to exchange her body for money which he will collect? Will he simply desert his dedicated slave for all eternity? Many questions flooded my mind as I read this riveting, at times heart-wrenching and sadistic love story. I cried for O's anguish, and at other times even envied her. The BDSM genre has enjoyed the author's work for decades based upon its rich base of Mastership and slavery and erotic exploration. Despite the enthralling plot, I was disappointed to find that there was very little erotica to be found.

I finished the entire book in just under two hours, but it left me deeply impacted. The story ended abruptly, and left me with more questions still. Overall, it was a magnificently written piece that drew me in from the very first sentence.