In E.L James’ second and third novel about Ana and Christian, the atypical sexual habits of Christian evolve into the building of a meaningful relationship. The constant push and pull between Christian and Ana, their unconditional love for each other pivoted against their own insecurities draws the reader into their story.
At the end of the first novel, we are left wondering if Mr.
Fifty Shades and Ms. Innocence-Unleashed will actually maintain their
complicated relationship. Of course,
being a love story, it does not take long before they crawl back into each
other’s arms . . . literally. In the second novel, Fifty Shades Darker, the abstruse nature of Christian becomes more
apparent. With each revelation of his
haunted childhood, both the reader and Ana fall more in love with this
man.
The love between Christian and Ana solidifies by the end of
the second novel. The small part of this
second book where the life of Christian hangs in the balance becomes the focus
of the third novel. In Fifty Shades Freed, the plot no longer
focuses on a love relationship, but intensifies into the mystery behind
apparently random attempts at harming Christian and Ana and their families. Of course, the threat of losing a lover and
best friend beckons for actions beyond what you thought yourself capable. These are the actions of true love. Intermixed in this mystery, the reader gets
glimpses into the merging of two lives into one family. Like any marriage, it has its bumps. But love conquers all, right?
The only thing that threw me off this third novel was the
closing epilogue, where suddenly we are thrown into the perspective of young
Christian. Apparently this allows the
reader to more fully understand Mr. Fifty Shades, but I found it distracting. I would have been just as happy to leave it
at “they lived happily ever after”.
Overall, I enjoyed this trilogy. Perhaps they were not the most intellectually
stimulating, but sometimes a nice easy, happy love story is what a girl needs.
