In late 2011, author E.L. James took romance readers by surprise with the first two books of her Fifty Shades trilogy. I cannot remember the last time two books have been so hyped when I had not previously even heard of the author or the titles. Fifty, aka Christian Grey, was one of the most talked about romance heroes since maybe Barrons? Fifty Shades Freed is the third and final book to the trilogy and I was thrilled to get my greedy hands on the book.
In Fifty Shades of Grey, entrepreneur Christian Grey was the driving force. Ana was a young college student, very unsure of herself and where she wanted to go in life. We were presented with the contract and with the lifestyle that was Fifty. He was very much the aggressor and the Dom that he professed himself to be. Then in a dramatic turn of events everything changed at the end of the book.
In Fifty Shades Darker there was very much a turn of events. Ana was the one in control. In Grey we learned that Ana might not be Christian’s normal type of woman and that she would be the one to either heal or break him. Darker started that healing process for Christian however it came at a great cost. There were several scenes that made my heart ache for Christian. Several scenes where I wanted to reach through the pages and smack Ana when she would do or say things to Christian. Darker left us with a tentative understanding between Christian and Ana and a threatening force on the horizon.
Now for Fifty Shades Freed!! I cannot tell you how excited I was to open this book. Ms. James made it to where I was able to just step right back into Fifty’s world. There was little to no time passage from where Darker had left off. Ana and Christian have been married and are on their honeymoon. Ana, the girl who had barely left her hometown, was whisked away on a European honeymoon with the delicious Fifty. Initially we did not get to read about the wedding but later get a flashback. That is one that thing was different in this book. There were a lot of flashbacks and scene changes. At times I wanted to shake my book because I would be reading about the present and Ana would take me back to a previous event. This was very similar to when I first picked up Grey. It takes a bit to get used to the flow and the way Ms. James is working the story but once you get used to it, it reads like you are really living it with Ana.
I found the first half of the book to be, not slow, but slow? The first half of the book is almost tentative in the way that Ana and Christian are growing with each other. Not much is happening other than reading about them together, if that makes sense. Whereas the first two books are about Ana growing and Christian growing, respectively, this book is really about them growing together. There is a major shift in the way Ana looks, feels and acts when it comes to the Fifty lifestyle. After a particularly yummy scene in Christian’s Red Room of Pain Ana notes,
“The anxiety, the bad mood, the thrill, fear and excitement of the car chase have all gone. I’m relaxed- finally sated and calm. As we enter our bathroom, I yawn loudly and stretch…at ease with myself for a change.”
Before this Ana had been displaying real signs of anxiety and unease. It is almost like she is shifting to more of Christian’s way of thinking. And because that way of thinking is simply hot I can’t say that I was upset.
The threat that was looming at the end of Darker is very present in Freed. Certain things start to happen and there is an underlying tension to the story. Christian is over the top concerned about Ana and Ana is resistant, as always. In what was really not a shock, Jack, Ana’s old boss, is identified as the person behind some of the events. What was a shock was Jack’s tie to Christian’s past and also Jack’s tie to someone in Christian’s present. I am not going to spoil who and what but I will say I didn’t expect the way it played out.
In my previous paragraph I mention Christian’s need to control everything about Ana and how that leads to Ana’s resisting many things. If there was one thing I could change about the book it would be the over-emphasis on this part. We got in Darker that Ana was not Christian’s typical sub and actually not a sub at all. I felt that Ms. James almost made that point too loudly. Ana did things that annoyed even me. Unfortunately the thing that bothered me the most was done by Christian.
In Darker we read about Christian giving Leila a bath and that made my stomach turn. I was NOT happy with that part. I was so on board with how Ana reacted to it. A similar occurrence takes place in Freed. Ana and Christian have a major fight over something that is so incredibly intimate to a couple. For the first time, in my opinion, we see Christian almost lose his mind. He does something that made me ache. Because this is major to the story I will not spell it all out however Christian messes up. Ana’s reaction is very appropriate and we see the first real conflict between Ana and Christian that has to be worked out in a real relationship way. In the past, Christian had been able to sex Ana out of most of their conflicts. This was the first time they had to sit down and talk about the past and how it is affecting their future. Not since we saw Christian let Ana touch him has there been a moment this poignant for the two of them. Even though I hated what happened I could see the need for the event. It brought about the real coming together of the two as a couple.
Now, let’s talk about the good stuff; the emails and the sex. This review would not be complete if I didn’t talk about the sex. Holy smoke on a stick. Ms. James is one creative person. Even after all the smexy books I have read she still manages to teach me something new. Marriage has not slowed Ana and Christian down one bit. And Ana sure does love Fifty’s “kinky fuckery” just as much as she used to. There is a lot of sex in this book, yet I still found myself giggling when I knew a scene was coming up because I needed to see what Ms. James and Fifty had in store for me! I am not sure I will look at an Audi the same again. And of course we have their trademark emails. Those just do not get any better!
The book and the trilogy end in a good place. Some people might question how it ended but I can see why Ms. James did it. I am sad I will not get to read more Fifty and Ana but really look forward to what Ms. James has in store for us next. It is going to take a lot to live up to Fifty but hopefully she is up to the challenge. Final grade: A-
Favorite quotes/moments (where do I start??):
“Here.” Christian throws me the keys to the R8. “Don’t bend it” – he adds in all seriousness- “or I will be fucking pissed.”
My mouth goes dry. He’s letting me drive his car? My inner goddess whip on her leather driving gloves and flat shoes. Oh yes! she cries.
“Are you sure?” I mouth, stunned.“Yes, before I change my mind.”
Or:
But he gazes down at me, implacable. He’s just going to continue. For how long? Can I play this game? No. No. No—I can’t do this. I know he’s not going to stop. He’s going to continue to torture me. His hand travels down my body once more. No . . . And the dam bursts—all the apprehension, the anxiety, and the fear from the last couple of days overwhelming me anew as tears spring to my eyes. I turn away from him. This is not love. It’s revenge.
“Red,” I whimper. “Red. Red.” The tears course down my face.
He stills. “No!” He gasps, stunned. “Jesus Christ, no.”
He moves quickly, unclipping my hands, clasping me around my waist and leaning down to unclip my ankles, while I put my head in my hands and weep.
“No, no, no. Ana, please. No.”
Picking me up, he moves to the bed, sitting down and cradling me in his lap while I sob inconsolably. I’m overwhelmed . . . my body wound up to breaking point, my mind a blank, and my emotions scattered to the wind. He reaches behind him, drags the satin sheet off the four-poster bed, and drapes it around me. The cool sheets feel alien and unwelcome against my sensitized skin. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me close, rocking me gently backward and forward.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Christian murmurs, his voice raw. He kisses my hair over and over again. “Ana, forgive me, please.”
Rating: A-
Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
January 19th 2012 by The Writer’s Coffee Shop
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Giveaway
We are giving away an ebook copy of Fifty Shades Freed!
To enter: Comment on this review for entry. Feel free to comment even if you don’t want to enter, just let us know.
Open to: US and international entries. You have until end day Jan 27 to enter, winner will be announced soon after.
Giveaway sponsored by: The Writer’s Coffee Shop
No purchase necessary to win. You must be 18 or over to enter, void where prohibited. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. FVBR is not being compensated for this giveaway. If the winner declines to accept or fails to claim their prize within one week of the announcement, a new winner will be randomly chosen. Prize distribution is the sole responsibility of the giveaway sponsor. Fiction Vixen Book Reviews will not be held responsible for lost or misdirected prizes or for circumstances beyond our control. More information here.
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Squee! I have been looking forward to this release! I can’t wait to read it!
Thanks <3
OMFG! You are killing me here!
I have been dying to read this series and it is buried in my to be read pile! I think I really need to scoot it up to the top!!!
you just need to throw the rest of the pile away…you will not need anything else to read for a long time lol you will be stuck in a fifty-fog hahaha
I just got my copy of Fifty Shades Freed yesterday and can’t wait to dig in.
Loved your review and I have to agree with most of what you said. Anna can be so frustrating at times, but so can Fifty but it’s easy to forgive him given his childhood history. A damaged soul that has conquered everthing he set out to accomplish but that one thing. Until he met Anna. I would love to have an ebook version. I have a Nook so is that possible should I win?
ELJames’ trilogy is one I will (have) read over and over. When it was first a FanFic online I can’t even count the number of times I read it so as you can see it’s become my one obcession, a deep dark delicious secret I allow myself.
I cant wait to read this book! thank you for the insightful review
Great Review! Loved the first two books and can’t wait to read this one!
I can wait to read it!
Great review! I felt much the same way you did reading Freed. Good conclusion to such an alluring series.
Wow!! I cannot wait to read these books. I have been waiting for the third book to be come out, so I can read them all together. I would love to win this book!! THanks for the giveaway
I will definitely read this after my thesis is done. NO. Scratch that! I will read this before I continue my thesis for, you know, inspiration.
lol well if you start it, be prepared to not do anything else for the next few weeks hahaha
Agreed!
I really need to start reading this series. I’ve had the first book on my Nook for weeks, I think I’ll start it today.
you should have started last week! hahahahaha yes its that good
I started Fifty Shades of Grey and I’m loving it. I think this book will be finished by tomorrow
Definitely enter me in the giveaway!
Well, i have heard so much about this series, and i want to read it, but i am kinda squeemish. will it live up to the hype? can i take it? i would love to win a copy.
I can guarantee you that it can and will live up to the hype. It is an amazing story. I was worried at first but it has turned into one of my all time favorite stories and it was about something i had no interest in whatsoever! lol i love it
I truly LOVE this story..I get really caught up in her emotions and I really like that. I adore these characters and all of the fifty shades of craziness.
OH EM GEE, i have been waiting for this. I want to win a copy so badly GAH i love fifty and i have introduced so many people to this story (mothers, grandmothers, and some barely legal adults)….This is such a great story i LOVE IT….hope this is good enough for the drawing!
Wow I have never heard of this book, but it sounds so intriguing. I love that in your review you don’t want to reveal too much. I can’t stand it when people tell too much. That is the beauty of reading a book for the first time. Definitely one I’d like to read.
I am so looking forward to reading this last book of the Fifty Shades trilogy. As a follower of the FanFiction on which this trilogy was based I’m particularly anxious to experience those flashbacks you mentioned in your review. Will the author reveal more details of the wedding or later that night on his airplane as they jet off on their honeymoon? At FanFiction this author set a very high bar for excellence, creating the perfect FanFiction work that included a wonderful score of ecletic music. Thankfully she is still committed to providing a music playlist to accompany her books. She is so deserving of her success!
Okay, so I LOVE this series. I must say I am slightly obsessed with it! LOL I was so surprised with myself in that this book is much more “edgy” than any book that I have read and I almost didn’t read it because of that, but once I started I couldn’t stop!
Hot damn! I simply can not wait to get my hands on this!! And hell yeah I want to enter the giveaway, are you kidding me?
I wouldn’t have heard of this series if it wasn’t for this site and Fiction Vixen. I have the first book and look forward to reading 2 & 3. I sure wouldn’t mind winning the third book.
just read it you will love it!
Love this story – great writing. I want to win!
Fifty Shades Freed has been on my wishlist. I would love to win a copy.
Thanks!
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love a copy
I love this series of books. Can’t wait for the next instalment
Thank you for your review. You managed to give a lot of insight without giving away too much. Can’t wait to read the last of the trilogy.
I’ve read all three books now and adore the Fifty series!
I so hope that there will be a fourth book covering the series but from Fifty’s point of view!
Then after that a fifth book detailig Ana and Fifty’s married life together as parents – please!!
That was a lovely review, I’m sure the book is to die for! Fifty has me all wound up as well, he’s so imperfectly perfect. Such wonderfully written books!
Another peek into the whirlwind that is life for Fifty and his – Bride, who would have believed it at the beginning!
Wonderful
R
Great review!
Fifty Shades Freed indeed is a great closure for Triology.
I’ve been loving this novel before it was published (i.e. when it was as a fanfiction.) But I love it even more as a novel! <3 ~ I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the final book, but I have to wait till my next paycheck (me= perpetually broke university student T__T ) Would LOVE to win the giveaway ~~
I can’t believe this trilogy is completed. The story is so captivating. I cannot wait to read the 3rd and final part. Your review was lovely.
–Hedy
I SO want to read this story! So many amazing reviews and the quotes are fantabulous!!!
It is sooo exciting to read these books. Can’t wait for #3! Christian now ranks up there with Roark from the In Death series (at least IMHO)! Thanks for the chance to win the e-book!
Heard so many good things about this book. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance!
I love these books and cannot wait to read Fifty Shades Freed! I am hoping there will be a few excerpts of Christian’s POV. I will miss these characters terribly.
Wow. I don’t usually want to read books with BDSM but your review of this one makes me want to pick up these picks and give them a try.
Thanks! Your reviews are awesome and though I loath to add more to my TBR pile, I am seeing new books that I would never think to look at before.
Oh, and thanks for the chance to win an ebook!!
I would love to read this series. It sounds very good. Please enter me. Tore923@aol.com
I haven’t read this series yet but I’m going to order it I can’t stand it anymore. The reviews have been so good I have to have it. Thanks for the giveaway and please enter me in it.
Really want to read this trilogy – thanks for the opportunity!
Earlier Today was the first time I’ve been to this site because I was looking for this post! (It wasn’t up yet, but I did get to read reviews on several other books that I’m very interested in finding!!!) I would LOVE to have this book so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that maybe I’ll win! (I’ll even cross my toes & hair & eyes if I thought it would help LOL) This is a great site that I will definitely be coming back to!!
Melinda
Please count me in!
Love, Love, Love it! Please count me in!
I’ve heard so much about this series, but I still haven’t started it. If I win this, I guess I’ll have to go back to the beginning and give it a try.
I have the first two book in e-format, and I read these stories back when they were still a Twilight fan fiction. Would love to win an e-book copy of Freed
.
I can’t wait to read it!!
I Can’t wait to read this one. Would love to win it!
I’m sure i’ll be up all night reading this when i get the chance!!!!! Would love to win a copy
This triology is the hottest around. I read this story previously when it was on fan fiction. I loved it so much that I was compelled to buy the books as well to have so that I could read it again and again. It is such a wonderful love story and sexy as hell, as well as funny. The e-mails are hysterical. I would recommend these books to everyone. I feel so close to these characters. It is just so awesome and a wonderful love story. It shows that sometimes love can conquer a lot of issues.
Hahaha, “Holy smoke on a stick.” I loved that. Yes I expect a lot of hot sex in this book, but nice to know that the story is still just as good. And that marriage hasn’t tempered their love/heat for each other (just the way it should be).
I have been seeing this book everywhere, and I can’t wait to read it. I loved the quotes you put on here, I want to read it even more now!!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
Great review. I can’t wait to read this book. I would love to win a copy!
Aargh can’t wait for this book! Great review
I couldn’t quite figure out what I thought it was missing before I read your review! It’s true that things happen in Freed in the first half, but there is no action in the background to keep us on our toes. And yeah, it’s probably because it’s about them finding each other as a couple.
Really liked your review and hope to win the book
I can’t wait to read the third book. So in love with the series.
E.L. James just rocks!! Her style is amazing! I could stay in Christian and Ana’s world forever! Every romance reader needs to read these books!
I really enjoyed the first two and can’t wait till i have time to read this last installment.
So happy you’re having a giveaway~~
Book 1 was good, book 2 was even better, and book 3 is sure not to disappoint. I would love to win this and finish a great trilogy.
jcross719 at yahoo dot com
While I was reading the first 2 books my life was put on hold! They were THAT good!!! I can’t wait to read the 3rd one!
Great review. I have loved Fifty since MOTU! Totally obsessed!
I enjoyed reading the last installment of the fifty shades trilogy. EL James has a healthy sense of humor which makes reading her books quite fun, even when there is a serious topic to be discussed, some form of humor kicks in and lightens the moment. Keep up the good work miss James and I look forward to reading your future works.
I have had my eye on this series for a while, I can’t wait to read this. It sounds fabulous!!!
Oh God! I forgot about that torture in the Red Room…that was hard to read the first time in MoTU. They both grow and change so much in this series.
I was lucky enough to read this beautiful thing when it was top notch “twific” but nothing compares to holding that sweet heavy book in your hands.
I can hardly wait for the last one to arrive!
Thanks for the giveaway!! I’ve heard a lot of amazing reviews about this series and hope I can start it soon!!
Another great post!!!
<3 <3 <3
Great review. Once you read Fifty, you can’t help but love him! Crossing my fingers on the giveaway!
Sounds great, would love to win a copy. Thanks for the chance.
Thank you Fiction Vixen for your insightful review and also for being part of the book blog tour.
All the best. xoxo
I literally JUST heard about this series last week and just got book #1. I can’t wait to read it, and would LOVE to win a copy of Fifty Shades Freed! Thanks for the giveaway!
Aaahhh!!! I’m so excited for this giveaway!! I love Fifty and Ana! I finished reading the first two books yesterday! They were great. And book two left off with that cliffhanger!! :O
Aaahhh!!! I’m so excited for this giveaway!! I love Fifty and Ana! I finished reading the first two books yesterday! They were great. And book two left off with that cliffhanger!! :O
I so want this book. Great review, too. Thanks for hosting the tour.
Marika Weber
maw1725@gmail.com
With a stellar review like that I absolutely want to read this book. I haven’t read this author before. Thanks so much for the giveaway.
I LOVE FIFTY. Can’t get enough of him. *Squeal*
I first want to start out by saying that I started the series expecting it to be an easy, shallow read. I never realized I would get so invested in the characters, especially Christian and his story. I love the idea of this perfect, flawed man and how his relationship with Ana really freed him from his demons. I dialogue and Ana’s thought processes are so realistic. I just love the entire series so far but am eagerly waiting on Fifty Shades Freed!
when is the contest over?
This whole trilogy has been by far the BEST I’ve ever read. The third book may not be the strongest of the three, but it HAD to happen. This book is about maturing, compromising, but most of all? How they BOTH mature as a couple..marriage is not an ending, but the beginning of the most difficult part of two peoples lives. I believe that Freed had to be more human ( people complained that Christian has changed..free), of course he’s changing..that’s compromising is!!! He’s finally FREED from his past, trying hard to have a normal, healthy relationship with the woman he loves..as for Ana? The same..she finally FREED herself from her trepidations and accepted his “kinky fuckery” and that’s something she didn’t want to even admit to herself on the first two books..all in all..it’s a perfect ending for a perfect Trilogy..without Freed being about maturing, healing, and unconditional love..that’s no reason for both of them to continue..that’s what Christian always wanted without knowing..a normal, healthy life and being loved and accepted the way he is..same for Ana..she’s the strongest of the two..but she had to freed herself to be able to understand him…love the ending..this book HAD to be exactly the way it was. Now,,I just hope Ms. James gives us a Christian POV Fifty in the future..that would be the icing on the cake for us, fans! Loved it…Freed gets 10 stars!!!..:)
i had to DVR the Today show today to see what they had to say about Fifty!
I never even heard about these books until the Today Show featured something. I’m am so flipping happy I watch the Today show!!!! I ordered the first book on my Nook that day!!! I was finished in 24 hours! Then I ordered the 2nd and 3rd and it took 4 days in all to read all 3!!! I have already lent the books to a friend and she is on the 2nd. I am praying there will be a 4th book in the series and maybe even a 5th!!! At the end of Freed there is a small section of the POV from Christian when they first meet in book 1 and it’s mind blowingly good!!!! I could read all three again with it being from his POV….that would be so fascinating!!! I hope EL James will do it!!!!!
I have nothing but good things to say about this author’s work. Halfway through the reading of the first book, I purchased the entire trilogy. I haven’t wanted to let go of the characters yet and hope that E.L. James does more with them in the future. I’m for sure an avid follower of her work now. “Capitavating” doesn’t quite do the work justice.
I finally read this series. LOVED it. But now I”m depressed that it’s over. I liked the extras at the end that were written in Christians POV. I have to say… it would be nice to see a more extended version of her “Meet Fifty” piece. I would have loved for it to keep going all the way past the point when she moves to Seattle at least, maybe more. There is so much in his head that I’d like to be privy to and the changes that overcome him in his own mind dealing with Ana. But maybe that process is a little more difficult to tackle from Christians POV.