The
Initiation of
Ms Holly by
K.D. Grace
Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2014
Ever
since
Fanny
Hill,
the
lusty
wench
has
been
a
stock
character
in
erotic
fiction.
Starting
from
a
state
of
relative
innocence,
she
dives
with
reckless
abandon
into
the
"warm
waters
of
sins
of
the
flesh",
eager
to
experience
every
variant
of
sexual
pleasure.
No
one
can
resist
her
erotic
enthusiasm.
She
attracts
both
men
and
women,
less
because
of
her
physical
attributes
than
because
of
her
inexhaustible
capacity
for
arousal.
It
is
her
sexual
curiosity,
responsiveness
and
openness
that
set
her
apart
from
ordinary
women
and
mark
her
for
a
special
fate.
Rita
Holly,
the
heroine
of
K.D.
Grace's
highly
entertaining
novel
The
Initiation
of
Ms
Holly,
is
a
prime
example
of
this
literary
tradition.
Rita
is
a
modern,
independent,
intelligent
young
woman,
a
transplanted
American
working
as
a
journalist
in
London.
She
is
attractive
but
not
really
sophisticated
or
elegant.
An
encounter
with
a
stranger
on
a
blacked-out
Eurostar
train
stalled
under
the
English
Channel
reveals
that
her
true
nature:
exquisitely
sensitive,
sexually
voracious,
and
possessing
the
rare
ability
to
completely
suspend
her
rational
self
when
in
the
throes
of
carnal
delight.
Rita
never has the opportunity to see Edward's face, but his touch, smell
and taste set her on fire. Before long, she learns that he belongs to
an ancient sexual society known as the The Mount, which hides behind
the facade of an exclusive London restaurant and dance club. A
mysterious vow requires him to wear a mask in her presence, but he
introduces her (in the most physical sense) to other members of The
Mount's High Council: golden-haired, androgynous Alex, who teaches
the tango and other dances of passion; stern but succulent butch
Aurora, who serves as waitress and enforcer of The Mount's rules;
grizzled, solid Leo, in his bush helmet and khakis, looking like he
just returned from safari; curvy, elegant Lorelei; exotic Morgan, his
body tattooed with leopard spots; and the impossibly beautiful and
elegant Vivienne, the head of the Council. Edward convinces Rita to
apply for membership in the elite society and she is accepted as an
initiate despite Vivienne's opposition.
Most
of the novel recounts, in loving and lascivious detail, Rita's
undertaking of the various tasks and sexual rites of passage devised
by the Council members. Needless to say, Rita passes every test with
flying colors. A week as a pet in a human zoo, an explosive coupling
bound to a motorcycle, "forced" oral service to both males
and females, whippings and spankings, public exposure, a week as a
slave to the vicious Vivienne, nothing can stand in the way of Rita's
desperate need to know who Edward really is. Even as she questions
her own sanity, she is a more than willing participant in the many
flavors of debauchery to which she is subjected.
The
Initiation
of
Ms
Holly
is
erotic
fantasy
at
its
best.
The
sexual
scenarios
are
wonderfully
varied
and
imaginative,
and
unfailingly
arousing.
I
flew
through
the
book,
devouring
one
luscious
sex
scene
after
another,
as
eager
as
Rita
herself
for
the
next
trial.
The book includes a
variety of D/s activities and given my usual preferences, I would
have expected these scenes to be my favorites. However, the interlude
that Rita spends in Leo's "zoo" turned out to be the most
arousing section of the novel for me. Leo treats his beloved pets as
animals, but they are not used, abused or forced to "serve"
their masters, as "pets" sometimes are in BDSM tales.
Indeed, pets are not allowed to have sex with humans. The thrill in
the zoo is the way its denizens drop their human pretensions and give
full rein to their animal nature. For a week, Rita does not speak.
She uses the senses of smell, taste and touch to communicate with her
fellow pets, and glories in the permission to enjoy sexual pleasure
without any of the societal baggage we humans carry. Ms. Grace
describes this experience in a vivid, visceral way.
This novel does
require considerable suspension of disbelief. Despite its fantastic
plot, though, the characters are distinctive and moderately
realistic, except for their prodigious sexual capabilities. Vivienne,
the gorgeous bitch who emerges as Rita's adversary, is particularly
well drawn. The scenes in which she imagines taking Rita's role show
a significant level of psychological insight.
I
found
the
resolution
of
the
novel
slightly
disappointing,
relying
as
it
does
on
a
mater
ex
machina.
However,
I
might
have
been
influenced
by
the
fact
that
all
the
delightful
carnal
games
were
drawing
to
a
close.
Appropriately,
the
novel
ends
with
an
orgy
as
Rita
becomes
a
full
member
of
The
Mount
and
Edward
removes
his
mask.
Of
course,
an
abundance
of
orgasms
are
enjoyed
by
all.
Overall,
The
Initiation
of
Ms
Holly
is
great
fun,
following
in
a
time-honored
literary
tradition.
