I think the differing takes on O and Beauty are quite interesting. O (and the sequel) was probably my first "formal" introduction to BDSM, nearly 30 years ago. At the time, kinky as I thought I was, I recoiled from the absoluteness of it.

I read the first Beauty book about 4 years ago, and found it entirely too cute. Some of it was the writing style, which honestly irritated me more than anything else. Some of it was the over-formality (IMHO). I'm too casual for my own good.

One comment that got my attention was equating "abusive" with being marked. I'm not branded (yet) but have several intimate piercings from my Master, and definitely don't feel abused. Just very well used....and valued. Of course, we all have different standards.

Curiously, over the last many years, I find myself identifying more with O than I ever expected (or thought I wanted, for that matter). The deeper Master leads me, the further I seem to want to go. Funny how that works.

I must be doing something wrong, though. I feel like I'm living "happily ever after" instead of something disastrous or melancholy. There are moments when I'm certain I'm getting away with something, and the inevitable "other shoe" will drop, but mostly I'm just grinning like a fool. Yet, when I tell my story, nobody seems to be bored.