Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades, Book 2)

This review is LOOOOOOOOOOONG in the coming – As I read these back in 2012, and when I say read? Obsessed over is more like it. I started the first book and half way through bought the 2nd and 3rd. I was hooked – seriously hooked. There are very few books I can sit down and re-read over and over….. Yet, after I finished the entire trilogy in less than 2 days – I picked Book 1 up and immediately started re-reading it. Even though I’d finished it – the relationship between Ana and Christian completely laid out before me – beginning to end…. I wasn’t ready to live outside of their story yet. So I re-read and re-read and re-read them again, a total of 5 times each. Yes, my husband thought I was crazy as I sat outside in my reading nook at 1am “You’re reading it AGAIN?!” He’s ask exasperated – not understanding me at all. Sure, I like to read, I’d read an average of 20 books a year TOPS. I have them littered all over my house – I went to college, I was an English major and frankly, after I graduated? I didn’t want to pick up another book – ever. Try reading 10-15 books per class every term until you graduate…. not fun. But there was something about this story that woke me up – made me remember WHY I enjoyed reading so much – because it can be for pleasure (pun intended.) I’d never picked up a romance book in my whole life accept for the classics. I’d never read anything remotely smutty accept for VC Andrews in Jr. High, The Story of O and Anne Rice’s Claiming Sleeping Beauty when I was going through my sexuality studies. They didn’t do it for me – I was more into true-crime, serial killers – psychology. But this? This series? Wow – 1) The writing is easy to read – there is depth to the characters that are played out in an interesting way that keeps you wondering what’s going to happen next. 2) Our heroine is relate-able to an extent. She doesn’t think much of herself, she’s your every girl next door type – so it’s easy to imagine yourself in her place. 3) Christian is our prince charming we’re meant to desire throughout our entire childhoods. Rich, Famous, Unattainable – and of course, needs saving. This series has been dragged through the mud left and right by critics, and some of the reasons are valid. Yes, at times I want to throttle Anastasia – she can be ridiculously annoying. Her inner-goddess i.e. Jiminy Cricket following her about into a world of sexy, sexy sex and encouraging her all the way – got old. BUT then you can completely flip that criticism and say, well even with all that she STILL got our guy right? It’s constantly pushed off as another fan-fiction rip off of Twilight – and this is the stance I always have on this issue. I. Don’t. Care. I read for pleasure – I read for fun – I do not get all wrapped up in the politics of where these stories come from to the point that I’d attack someone on Goodreads or any other forum. I think it’s over the top and a waste of time. Sure, there are similarities and guess what? There are similarities to every romance story that will date back to another story – because nothing is truly original. Someone could even argue that every love story is based on the bible. But everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I just choose to enjoy these books for what they are, and not try to make them be something they’re not. They’re criticized for the relationship between Christian and Anastasia – it’s called abusive, and not a healthy representation of a BDSM relationship. Again, it’s fiction. It’s a story, not a How To book on BDMS, or relationships for that matter. It’s been said that our society who embraced this book are fools and lonely housewives, but there is something universal about this series – it woke people up. IT made woman who on average read maybe 5-10 books a year obsessed with reading. It opened up a whole new world of things for me. As soon i was done obsessing about it – i wanted more. I wanted something similar. I wanted the same rush I felt when i read the scenes between Christian and Anna – and the passion they shared. I wanted it all fresh and new – I can’t even tell you the amount of people, friends I’ve met in the last 2 years that all have the same story – 50 shades started this for me. It made me excited to read again, it made me fall in love with stories – with the characters and made me DESPERATE for more.

My review from the first book stands from the first. I LOVE THESE BOOKS! I just started re-reading this one again, and I just finished it yesterday. It's got such sweet moments, and the risk taking between characters is so raw the writing consistently brought tears to my eyes. When was the last time you read an erotic novel where *that* happened? I read alot of romance, erotic and everything in between, and it rarely happens and surely doesn't happen throughout a book. I was *in the moment* with the characters throughout. Despite the technical flaws with typos and one place in either book 1 or book 2 where the POV briefly changed by accident (2 sentences), this is one very well written book. And I am one of those picky grammatical people, but was so caught up in the characters and the story that interestingly enough, while the sex was hot, the relationship was what did it for me. I for the first time ever didn't care about the typos. Simply didn't care. Here is my review from Book 1. It stands for this book as well I know it is a great book when... ...I start reading and literally can't put it down. When I dream about the characters when I haven't done that about a book in *decades*. When it's midnight and I finish the first book and download the second and start reading it and have to get up with a child at 6am that morning! THAT is how I know it's not just a great book, but a GREAT read. Yes, it may have started out as fanfic. Personally, I write fanfic so that isn't a bad thing. There are a few great ones out there, and there are lots of terrible ones that give ff a bad name. However, *this* one, however it may have started is so much better than most, if not all, of the run of the mill erotic genre that I've read produced by Samhain, Ellora's Cave, etc. and written by the likes of some popularly published authors like Lora Leigh or Shayla Black. Even the typos in the second book, which generally send me into spins of irritation didn't faze me. I was in love with this book like no other. The difference between EL James and anyone else who writes in this genre is her/his ability to create characters that I found to be, well, touchable. People I would like to know. People I have known. People whom I could see myself in. Messed up people but also people who we actually see *gradually* shed layers like an onion and then put them back on, two steps forward, one step back, just like in real life. The story isn't hurried. The relationship, even if it takes place over a few weeks, never feels hurried. I became absolutely engrossed in the relationship. The sex became such a bi-product (even though there is a lot of it) that I felt I was no longer reading erotica, but was reading a great romance novel that I could recommend to my friends. Erotica would not be that unfortunately. Otherwise, I would be posting this review on Facebook and suggesting my book club read this book and Fifty Shades Darker (Book 2). And of all the wonders of Amazon, it doesn't provide the ability to *ping* me when the third book comes out. Highest recommendation.

It's a chance meeting that will irrevocably change their lives . . . when Anastasia Steele's roommate succumbs to the flu, Anastasia `Ana' agrees to fill in for her and interview a famously reclusive entrepreneur for the school newspaper. When Ana and CEO Christian Grey meet, sparks fly. Christian is a young success story, but famously tight-lipped about his private life, having never even been photographed with a female date at the many charity galas and award ceremonies he attends. Ana is intimidated and intrigued - even more so when Christian continues to take an interest in her after the interview goes to print. Ana is quickly smitten - as well as ridiculously nervous and baffled by his flattery. Christian is rich, suave and damaged. He was adopted by an affluent family, but was born into a rough life before his rescue at four years of age . . . as a result of childhood trauma; Christian has demons that Ana cannot even begin to fathom. Still, Christian and Ana find that they cannot resist each other. Even when Christian's strict rules for their relationship threaten to destroy them . . . `Fifty Shades' is the debut contemporary romance trilogy from E.L. James. The first book is `Fifty Shades of Grey', the second is `Fifty Shades Darker' and a third book is rumoured to have a January 2012 release. This book has gone great guns on Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon. For the last couple of weeks I was bombarded by images of these dark blue covers and raising my eyebrows at the many proclamations of love for a mysterious Christian Grey. Well, I had to know what all the fuss was about . . . and now that I have read (/consumed/devoured) the first two books, I've just got to say I get it. Oh, I totally get it! Christian Grey is a dark and enigmatic leading man. He is a self-professed sexual sadist, suffering from haphophobia (fear of touch) and terrible night terrors. Furthermore, Christian has never had a proper romantic relationship. He has only ever had `subs', and he has been their Dominant. But when he meets Anastasia Steele, he wants more - he wants her and he'll do anything, give up his ideas of normalcy, to have her. Anastasia meanwhile, has never had a relationship either. She's just never met the right man, though she has had plenty of interest. Christian Grey is the only man who has ever caught her eye - she just didn't count on him having so many strings attached. E.L. James's `Fifty Shades' is an erotic contemporary romance, focusing on a Dominant who falls in love with a woman who is anything but submissive. I absolutely loved the first two books of this trilogy - they're packed full of addictive romance, angst, erotica and drama. James takes a pretty common romance/erotica exploration of the BDSM lifestyle, but she doesn't normalise it as many other authors do. For plenty of romance fans, reading BDSM Dom/sub stories is a bit of titillating fun - like exploring a foreign country that's exotic and interesting, but not anywhere you'd like to build a home. For the space of a book readers are willing to suspend disbelief and pretend like they'd be okay delving into this extreme lifestyle . . . in reality, we'd probably have a similar reaction to Ana Steele - horror, confusion and feelings of inadequacy. It's a fascinating spin on erotica, infusing it with a healthy dose of realism as Ana reads (with horror) Christian's `rules' for being his submissive - among them a clause that says she's not allowed to look him in the eye, and must exercise four days a week with a personal trainer. But Ana doesn't want an `arrangement' with Christian that's devoid of romance, and she lets him know it. Christian has never been turned down - he has never been interested in a woman as combative and downright head-strong as Anastasia. And he likes it. He likes her, and will do anything, change his entire thinking, to be with her. Thus, the darkly damaged Christian promises to try and embark on a `vanilla' relationship with the sweet and innocent Ana. I love, love, loved this book! I was completely and utterly suckered into the story of damaged Christian and naive Ana embarking on a burning relationship. E.L. James has written a real heart-stopper of a novel, both for the many twists and turns in the plot (including one of Christian's ex-submissives going rogue) and the heartbreaking personal history of the leading man. Christian's history with BDSM is tragic and creepy, as he explains to Ana that he was introduced into the lifestyle at the age of 15 by one of his mother's (much older) friends. There was only one small aspect of the book that I didn't like, and that was Ana's constant references to her `inner goddess'. Both books are told from Ana's first-person perspective, and her inner goddess (recently emerged since meeting Christian) is like her conscience that she refers to whenever she's ashamed by her lusty goings-on with Christian, or elated with the progress of their more romantic relationship. This was cute in the beginning, but started to drag when it was constantly revisited. Both `Fifty Shades' books are thoroughly sexy and romantic. The sex scenes are smouldering, even more so when readers realize how out-of-character Christian's tender ministrations are, and how much he struggles with romance. Christian Grey is an amazing and enigmatic leading man, he's swoon-worthy yet dark and broken, and the best aspects of the romance come from reading his gradual acceptance of a mature and loving relationship, minus any power games. 'Fifty Shades' is my favourite contemporary erotica romance series of 2011 and E.L. James is a new and welcome addition to the romance scene. I can't wait for the third `Fifty Shades' book, but I have a feeling this series is just the beginning for James . . . she is certainly a romance author to watch, and I can't wait to read whatever else she has up her sleeve. 4.5/5

As much as I loved Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1), this book is where the series hooks you. We begin not only seeing but also becoming angry over every childhood tragedy behind the darkness plaguing Ana's beloved Christian. Believe me, it doesn't get much darker. Christian was born and raised for the first four years of his life by a drug-addicted prostitute (left with her dead body for four days before being discovered), beaten and burned by his mother's pimp, and sexually abused as a teenager by one of his adopted mother's best friends. Man, who wouldn't be fifty shades of messed up after living through all that. (All of this comes to light in book one and pretty early in the second book. so I don't really consider this information a spoiler.) Through Ana's non-stop probing, we find out all these things gently and gradually so that not one of them is too overwhelming. With his responses and her reaction to them, we understand completely how she can fall in love with such a domineering man. Like her, we accept 1) the fact that he still believes he is the little boy who was put in uncontrollable situations, 2) the reasons he never wants to go back, and 3) how difficult it is for him to understand that he must evolve if he wants kind, sweet, and gentle Ana to stay with him forever. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the slap heard around the world in this book. There will not be a reader who regrets the way E.L. James masterfully embeds it into the storyline. One of the reasons this series is great is because there is always so much more to everything than that which meets the eye. There are reasons behind every action and reaction. I, as a lover of great books and an author, I adore books like this. I appreciate how difficult it is to write people, scenes, and settings that are this layered and complicated. This series is more than an erotica. It's a romance (which makes your heart race with love). It's an action and adventure (which makes your heart race with excitement). It's just plain amazing. I'm left feeling pity for those who are superficial and can't appreciate the masterpiece created by E.L. James. It would be comparable to someone saying that they hate Pretty Woman because Julia Roberts was a prostitute. I promise you that if you say you like Pretty Woman...no one automatically assumes you want to be or bed a prostitute. It means that you like a good love story. That theory holds true with the entire Fifty Shades series. Take it for what it is and don't hate yourself for liking it. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I'm in awe of E.L. James and her ability to make this villainous man not only human but a lovable human.

For me this was the best of the three books. I absolutely LOVED the middle of the story, which is sort of weird. Most people love the beginning or the end, but for me this was where the story got interesting. For me trilogies have been mostly misses, but this one was pretty decent. Not to mention this is the story that brought me back to reading full time again. So it has a special place in my heart. We see a very different side to both Ana and Christian in this book. Ana seems to have grown up a little and understands that sometimes you can't fix what's broken in someone else. Not that our sweet girl doesn't keep trying, she does, she is just more aware that she can't fix everything. After the way the first book ended, it was pretty painful to see where our heroine ended up. She was devastated and alone. It made your heart hurt thinking about how she had to go through essentially her first heartbreak without even having her best friend there. Christian is very different in this book as well. He starts to realize that sometimes loving someone is worth the risk of getting hurt. He let Ana slip through his fingers the last time we saw him, and he will be damned if he allows it again! He needs Ana's innocence in order to move forward with his life and to heal. We see a lot of demons come to the surface with Christian here. And we see someone from his past trying desperately to ruin his present and possible future. My favorite part of the book is when Christian has gone missing and you see how much he is loved. Not just by Ana, but by his family as well. Something that even surprises him when he gets back. I found that moment when he returns, to be the most precious of all three books. Not because of the connection so much as the emotion he never allowed himself to feel. He is very distant with his family, and with Ana at his side, he seems to let them in a little more. He is able to open up to them a bit. Ana's new job is interesting and of course Christian steps in and causes a bit of chaos, but in the end it all works out. Her new boss however, is creepy as hell. We see him trying to trap Ana in a sexual relationship because he feels she owes him. We see more on this creepy bastard in the third book. And Christian has his own creepy relationship with his mother's friend Elena Lincoln, who quite frankly used Christian. She was way too old for him, and preyed upon a teenage kid who was vulnerable. There is also a former submissive of Christian's that comes and makes life very difficult. And although Ana does come across as jealous and angry, I understood completely. I wanted to hit Christian more than once myself. This really was my favorite in the trilogy. I felt like there was a ton of story told in this book. I highly recommend it. I give it 5 lipsticks!

Again not one of the best books I have read but also not the worst. I have read Fifty Shades of Grey and completed Fifty Shades Darker which I have to say was much better than book one. It actually seemed to me the authors writing style changed a bit and there was a lot more going on in the story this time. You began to know a little more about Christian and who he is and why. You also get a chance to know a little more about Elena and an ex-sub - women are crazy really. You also realize that Anna is one tough little cookie. The second book was very good for me (but I will admit the sex got quite perennial) - the story was a good love story and I did enjoy the way it unfolded. Again for an amateur writer well done Mrs. James. 6/18/12 Edward and Bella??? I was watching the twilight series this weekend and realized that this woman stole a lot of things from Twilight - right down to the cars they drove. I have never read the books but love the movies and own all four. I was very disappointed in Mrs. James to say the least. She had no original idea at all!! This is totally Bella and Edward except sex was involved. She really should have tried to crown her own idea and not someone elses. However I am reading book three Fifty Shades Freed - struggling to get through it though because it is boring as all get out. Mrs. James writing style changed halfway through book one, then again in book two and again in book three. Had I not already read book one and two I would put this one down but I would like to know what happens and how this story will end. Cannot tell you much about the book because I am only about 13% into it and struggling as I stated above. Not sure what chapter I am in but if the story does not pick up soon I am sure to put it down. I would have liked book three to be Christian narrating - would have been nice to know his twisted thoughts. Jeez, instead of the thoughts of a young girl who really didn't know much to tell much. Feel I wasted 10 bucks on this one. If I get through the entire book I will be sure to write a review.

FIFTY SHADES DARKER by E L James. This is graphic BDSM erotic romance. There is no paranormal. There are no vampires. If you're considering my opinion on this book, please read my review of book 1, Fifty Shades of Grey. I didn't want to duplicate that review here, but it applies. This is book 2 in a trilogy. You must read book 1 before this. Both books are longer than average. The first book had the couple meet and get to know each other. Book 1 ends with a conflict, and the couple is apart. This book starts with Ana grieving over their break up, and then they get back together. Most of this story is Ana questioning and worrying about how Christian feels. This is an erotic story, filled with many lengthy sex scenes. There is bondage, spanking, sex toys, and one instance of rear door activity. These stories were originally written on the fan fiction website under Twilight. The characters' names were Edward and Bella. The author changed the names to Christian and Ana for this ebook publication. I can see how Twilight fans loved being in that world and were eager for almost any story about Edward and Bella. In that sense this was probably very satisfying. But as an independent story, it didn't do much for me. About 2/3 the way through I was impatient for it to be over. I was not interested enough to read book 3 (Fifty Shades Freed). So I was delighted that another reviewer summarized the book 3 plot for me so I could know what happened without spending time to read it. If you are interested, see the second comment below. Several reviewers were unhappy with book 3. CAUTION SPOILERS: There is a lot of angst and worry on Ana's part. She is jealous and feels insecure when Christian interacts with women from his past. She thinks he needs BDSM toys and sadism to enjoy sex. She believes they are incompatible, and that she will never be able to give him what he needs. He keeps saying no that's not true. Christian is jealous and takes action when other men are interested in Ana. For conflict, the author added a couple of characters doing threatening things. Those were ok, but they felt like add-ins rather than part of an overall plot plan. One of the draws of the book might be watching Christian spend lots of money living an expensive lifestyle. DATA: Kindle count story length: 10,495 (1776 KB). Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 16, some very long. Setting: current day mostly Seattle, Washington. Copyright: 2011. Genre: erotic contemporary romance.

They say that two is always better and I have to agree because book two in the Fifty Shades Trilogy was better than the first. This needs more than 5 stars it needs about hundred and fifty. Ana walked out on Christian at the end of the first book. She could not take what was given and left not even given her mind a chance to think what she was doing. I wanted to yell at her shake her even and tell her to go back. I couldn't believe she just walked out. He was pleading with her to stay and that was not Christian at all. It has only been three days when Fifty Shades Darker starts and the first day of Ana's new job. She is trying to deal with not being with Christian, but she is not doing well at all. She has not really eaten, is surviving only on caffeine and loosing weight. Wake, work, cry sleep is mostly what her day consists of. Her heart is broken and she wants him back. Christian is not doing well at all either, he has managed to eat and not fall away into a 'shell'. However, he's having nightmares and is wanting Ana to come back as well. It is Christian that makes the first contact with her. The showing at José's showing and she agrees to go with him. I was so thrilled when she agreed and I was also happy that he scowled her for not eating right. The way that Christian takes care of her is a special kind of love. He begs her to start eating and after the showing he takes her and makes her eat. He wants to start a different kind of relationship with her, but it is hard because of his past. However, he is willing to give it a try and so is Ana. There are some things still with standing and he is actually scared to go back into his playroom with her. He doesn't want her to walk out like she did before. Ana agrees to try the new relationship and things start working out more or less. They just have to deal with her Boss, some of his control issues, one of his ex-sub's and Elena, the biggest problem that Ana has. It is easy to tell that Christian wants her to be safe by all the things he does. It might get on Ana's nerves but it is how he shows his love for her. He also proves it more over by finally letting her touch him in the places he's never let another person touch. I loved this book and I was actually glad when his mom found out 'most' of the truth about Elena. When she slapped her I was jumping up down almost with joy. I couldn't stand her and now hopefully she gets the picture that Christian is not hers and never really was hers. The emails are back and even better in Fifty Shades Darker. I love how Christian is slowly understanding that he can be that guy. It just took Ana walking out on him to bring him to his 'knees' (and once not just figuratively). Loved the presents that Ana gave to him and his birthday party was something else. Excellent book and E L James has done it again. The second book is deeper and darker. Near misses with death not once but a couple of times if not three. Glad that Fifty is coming out of his 'shell'.

This second book of the trilogy is intriguing like the first one. There are sexual descriptions of course, but if you can get past them and see beyond, you will find an excellent writer that will capture you in her world. You will not be able to put it down until it's finished. Questo secondo libro della trilogia e' intrigante tanto quanto il primo. Ci sono ancora descrizioni appartenenti alla sfera sessuale, ma se si riesce ad andare oltre e guardare al di la', si scoprira' un'eccellente scrittrice che vi catturera' nel suo mondo e non vi permettera' di staccarvi da questo libro fino a che non e' finito.

Me encantó todo. Desde la portada hasta el material extra de la película y el avance del nuevo libro de la perspectiva de Christian Grey.

Nowhere you find a place to stop reading this book. You will definitely get hooked. Very good writing skills. Good story.

I just loved the romance in this trilogy. It was quite a shocking read for someone (myself) not familiar with "kinky sex" and certainly I have great difficulty in understanding how someone could enjoy pain together with their sexual exploits. I read that the books are porno for women which surprised me, but I can see where such an idea is coming from. For myself it was the love and the development of the relationship that I enjoyed. Of course I felt improvements to some of the story lines could be made, but overall I give it `` two thumbs up``.

シリーズ3作とも読みましたが、個人的には本作が一番お気に入りです。 主人公2人の成長、互いに対する理解の深まり方など楽しめました。 Twilightに対する引用というか比較？についても多く見られ、ストーリーそのものだけでなく台詞も結構あります。"Promises, promises." "You'll be the death of me."など、Twilight読者を楽しませてくれます（1巻の方ではThe Hostを思わせる部分も）。 主要なキャラクター達（主人公とその家族・親しい友人）はTwilightの誰に当たるのかすぐに分かるのですが、それ以外の人達は「あの人かな？」と思わせる程度でそこがまた良いです。 その一方で、同じ人物達と基本のストーリーでここまで違ったものにできるということにも感心しました。設定そのものは（男性側がとんでもない金持ちという点を除けば）かなり現実的なので、科学的なところでいい加減だったりご都合主義だったTwilightよりも良いと思います。