An Australian dominatrix shares their favourite erotic fiction

“Exploring themes of polygamy, dominance, love and submission.”

Do you ever find yourself needing a little extra stimulation in your sex life? And I don’t mean physical (although if you do, we can definitely help you out there), rather you might be edging for a little extra spice in the media you’re consuming. If porn isn’t quite your thing, maybe it’s time to give erotic fiction a try.

Whether you’re new to the genre or a well-read veteran, it’s always great to get suggestions from a trusted source. That way you can spend more time enjoying a hot and heavy read, and less time scouring the internet for something that might get you going.

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Australian dominatrix Mistress Vera was first introduced to the world of BDSM in 2020 and has spent the last four years exploring the spectrum of different erotic practices and kinks. Needless to say, her research has left her well-versed in the world of erotic fiction. Here, we asked Mistress Vera to share some of her favourite picks.

Dining With Humpty Dumpty by Reba Maybury

[This is] not overly erotic, but an interesting insight into the world of working as a dominatrix. In Dining With Humpty Dumpty, Mistress Rebecca, a dominatrix, connects with Humphrey, who’s known as ‘humpty-dumpty’ on a fetish website. Humphrey is a politically conservative, sycophantic 34-year-old ‘corporate creative” with a desire to be controlled into obesity by a punishing woman. The novella follows their brief relationship, mainly focusing on their meetings at restaurants across London.

Get it here.

Mills & Boon

I’m extremely partial to a good romance novel. Mills & Boon somehow always vaguely offend, but never disappoint. When I need an easy read and to feel a bit horny, this is where I go. These are classic romance novels that follow all of the classic stereotypes and storylines. [Therse] are not to be taken too seriously, but to be seriously enjoyed. I recently read The Rancher’s Seduction and can highly recommend it. Trashy and fantastic.

Get it here.

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

This is not a book for those looking for portrayals of healthy sex. David, the narrator of this short but near-perfect novel, is full of shame and repulsion towards his own sexual desires, eventually learning – the hard way – that he cannot shake off his homosexuality. Baldwin beautifully describes his characters finding sexual connection. I adore the way Baldwin articulates how complex our relationship to our desires can be. It’s rich and challenging.

Get it here.

The Sexual Life of Catherine M by Catherine Millet

While this book is highly erotic, it’s not written to turn you on. This is why I like it. This is a memoir of Catherine Millet’s sexual activities with many people over an indeterminate amount of time. Predominantly, she’s descriptive of her activities, her partners and her thoughts and physical feelings.

There’s hardly any dialogue, just a straightforward presentation. The book contains a lot of graphic descriptions of sexual acts played out in a number of settings. Written predominantly during the ’60s and ’70s, it’s an interesting look inside the sexual life of a woman living during the sexual revolution. It’s been translated from French.

Get it here.

The Story of O by Pauline Réage

The work of another French mistress. Following the narrative of the protagonist, O, The Story of O details her involvement with a secret sex society. Exploring themes of polygamy, dominance, love and submission, the erotic novel was originally published in 1954 under the pen name Pauline Réage and then revealed to be writer Anne Desclos around 50 years later. An oldie but a goodie. It’s been translated from French.

Get it here.

The Image by Catherine Robbe Grillet/Jeanne De Berg

Published in 1956 with a preface by Pauline Reage, The Image is a prominent work in modern erotica. Narrated by dominatrix Jean De Berg (whose real name is Catherine Robbe Grillet), it’s the story of Claire, an older woman who completely dominates and owns a young woman named Anne. It’s a unique love story of its time and a book that has rarely been out of print since its first release. It’s an important piece of work in the dominatrix cannon.

Get it here.

Find out more about erotic fiction here.