A Review of the House of Dark Delights

House of Dark Delights

By Louisa Burton

ISBN: 978-0-553-38412-3

Publisher: Bantam

List Price: $13.00

The House of Dark Delights is an exquisite escapade, a sensual feast of the flesh, a dark and decadently carnal delight. I was surprised at how lush and amazingly erotic this novel actually was. I read a lot of erotic fiction both what is actually labeled as erotica and what slips through the cracks as romance, paranormal, or even horror (Laurell K Hamilton, though she is mostly indefinable as far as what genre to actual stick her in).

The House of Dark Delights was enjoyable for more than just the lusty sex scenes. Even though it was highly erotic and sex was abundant, it fit in with the story. These characters were literally made for sex, an elfin incubus, an ancient Babylonian succubus, a djinni who is so old he is considered to be a God, and a rascally satyr all that take solace at the Chateau de la Grotte Cachee nestled deep in the French countryside. They never have to look for humans to seduce the humans come to them and never leave unsatisfied. These beautiful immortals can make all your erotic desires, both conscious and unconscious, become a reality. For centuries guests have been lured to the castle through promises of erotic fantasies made into reality.

This sensual journey into the House of Dark Delights will lead you through encounters of the present day and take you into the past. The book is divided into four sections present day, 1749, 1884, and 52 B.C., in that order. The author starts out in present day teasing us with the characters she introduces us to at the Grotto then she travels about through history giving us more to the story such as how and when certain characters came to be at the Grotto, but it seems she barely skims the surface of the follets while delving into the humans more.

I found that to be disappointing. The author focuses more on the story lines of the humans involved and the wonderful things that happen to them because of their relations with these magical beings, the follets as they describe themselves.