I never noticed the "gratitious sex scenes." I know the book is graphic and not "grandma" safe but they just didn't leap out at me as overly done or overly frequent - and part of aSoI&Fs charm (IMO) is the very base human emotions (revenge, lust, greed, fanatisism) that drive the whole series. Most fiction glosses over sexuality as ocuring off stage and with little bearing on the overall story (Arthur, Lancelot, & Guinevere anyone) but really those desires are core to many great tales. Then again maybe I am a little more desensitized than most?