The Belles

The world of Orleans and its obsessive grasping toward achieving Beauty at any cost is both terrifying and magnificent. I love the play between creepy, mysterious horror and opulent, romantic beauty in this book. The world building is what propelled me through the book, which I could barely put down, and I’m very curious to see what Book Two has in store for us readers. I love that, even though the book is a fantasy, there are plenty of technology additions that really help build a well-rounded world. One criticism, which goes for a lot of YA novels, is that the end is very cliffhanger-y. I would have liked a complete ending that propelled into the next book, not one that left the reader dangling mid-conversation.

I enjoyed the characters. The heroine Camellia is well-written and has just enough flaws where you cringe at her mistakes. She has some not great traits that make her very real. I also enjoyed Remy, who I think is my favorite. Some of the characters are a bit flat and one-dimensional but it’s such a large cast that I didn’t feel the story suffered for it. I do hope the villain becomes more well-rounded in Book Two.

Now, my two-cents about the idea that this book is somehow fatphobic, transphobic, queerphobic, ableist, racist, and anti-albanism: I must have read a different book.

First, the main character is brown (see cover), the queen is black, the villain is white, and the Belles can change people’s skin color with a drop of powder. I don’t see the racism in a world where everyone can change their skin tone and there seems to be no preference for one shade over another. And, describing skin tone by comparing it to food is no different than how the author compares buildings, dresses, hair, and a ton of other items to food, which I think it meant to play up the lavishness of the setting. Second, I really don’t see how albanism, transphobia, and ableism became a thing with this book. I just don’t.

Third, I can say that the ending for the single queer character left me a bit bummed. But, what it made me realize is that Clayton has been up-front that her writing in Belles is a commentary on the way the world sees gender/racial identity and women’s bodies. There are moments in this book when you read it and go, “Wow, that is kind of how it is now, isn’t it?” Just because it’s fantasy doesn’t mean that it can’t comment on our real world. It’s not supposed to be comfortable and not all characters will have a happy ending.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Disney Book Group, and the author Dhonielle Clayton for the opportunity to do so.

Rating: 5/5

Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian

Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual abuse and harassment, attempted rape)

Pages: 448

Author Website

the store Link to Order the Book

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley! Thank you NetGalley and thank you Disney Book Group! All opinions are my own.

When I originally heard the title about the book I actually thought it would be about beauty queens. Seriously. But the more I heard about this book, the more I realized that while I’m not entirely sure what it’s all about (because I actively try to not look at synopsis anymore) that I needed to read this book. If you’ve not heard about this book it’s takes place in this fantasy world called Orleans. There are people who have been blessed by the Goddess of Beauty, The Belles, who can use their magic, arcana, to transform people into picture perfect beauty. Our main character is Camellia, who wants to be the favorite. The favorite is a Belle chosen by the Queen to live in the royal palace and tend to the royal family. However, things aren’t all they seem when Camellia leaves her small world for the royal palace. This book was FANTASTIC! The character development was amazing for all of the characters, even the smaller ones, the plot was not only intriguing but held my interest throughout, the world building was so well done that I could accurately picture everything in my mind, the pacing was perfection, and there was SO MUCH DIVERSITY! I AM IN LOVE!!!

The only, ONLY, thing that could be offputting about this book was that the book was longer than expected. I don’t have a physical copy with me but I expected the book to be about 250-300 pages, but it’s actually 448 pages. This didn’t offput me from the book at all because I actually enjoy longer books for the first book in the series, but some people might not. I also had previously read a not-a-review review (weird, I know) about there being ableism in this book, which is the discrimination of able-bodied people. I went into this book with that in mind, but then saw no evidence of this. There was one sentence in the book that described a character as “invalid” which can be used as a derogatory term, but in this sense it meant as it is defined “a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury” in which that character was. She was in a coma. The literal definition of weak by illness or injury. I’m not sure if the comment was in jest or if the person did not understand what invalid really meant.

Verdict: No ableism, amazing use of diversity, and an empowering and fantastic tale about a girl who doesn’t just suddenly gain power overnight. A definite must read for 2018!

“You exist inside a secret world of beauty. You were born full of color, like a moving world of art … You are a Belle.”

As soon as I saw this cover I knew I wanted to read this book – I mean, it’s absolutely stunning. I can happily say that the lush and vivid writing perfectly fits with this stunning cover. The Belles follows Camellia Beauregard, a Belle with the coveted ability to control and craft beauty, and in the world of Orléans Belles are revered. But Camellia uncovers darker secrets as she’s integrated into court life and she must discover the extent of her own powers, and what she’s willing to risk to get what she wants.

Things I Liked

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding of the world of Orléans. I LOVED the mythology we get in the beginning of the story about the God of the Sky, the Goddess of Beauty, and the origins of the Belles. I liked learning about the limitations of the Belle’s abilities and their roles in society. I hope we explore more of the Islands of Orléans in the future, but I thought the vivid writing perfectly captured the tone of the story and added an extravagant atmosphere that really worked.

I really liked how the story explored the dark side of glamour. We see parents used their children as living dolls, changing and manipulating them to gain favor and status. The beauty appointments are painful and costly – to both the recipient and the Belle performing the appointment. The Belle’s recovery grossed me out! I liked seeing how the Belle become commodities, not people. They are a thing to be used. It really showcased that life as a Belle isn’t all it seems. Their life really is a horror story. Though they are revered as saviors – people only see them as objects to be used and manipulated, not as people. Some going as far as to disregard their names, in favor of occupational titles. It’s heartbreaking and horrifying.

I liked most of the characters in the story. I liked that Camellia was ambitious, though I don’t think she was the most clever in her choices. She wanted to be the favorite, not only for the status and honoring her mother, but to genuinely bring joy and happiness to the Orléanian people. I thought Rémy was a great character, and I liked seeing his relationship with Camellia slowly develop – and he was such a softy with his sister that it was incredibly endearing. Edel was a bit of a troublemaker, but a great friend and sister to Camellia. I actually really liked the close bond that connected all the Belles, even though we didn’t see much of them past the beginning of the story.

Things I Didn’t Like

It felt like I never really had a grasp on what arcana actually was, or at least it took me a long time to get it. I know it is the source of the Belle’s ability and there are 3 types: manner, aura, and age. Arcana is NOT magic, but a protein in their blood. But I felt like the term was used a lot in the beginning of the story with little explanation. I l know the Belle’s abilities are supposed to be this big secret, but I was a little confused about their powers. It was the one part of the worldbuilding I found lacking.

There was this small fight scene between Camellia and Amber, another Belle, in the beginning of the story and Amber ends up falling. They made way too big a deal out of this minute, non-existent fall, that was entirely Amber’s fault, and I couldn’t take it seriously. This isn’t even something that brought the story down, I just thought they talked about it too much and made it seem way more serious than it was. (I also wasn’t the biggest fan of Amber, for supposedly being Camellia’s closest friend I didn’t feel their relationship at all).

Princess Sophia got a little crazed villain for me. She is just so impulsive and bratty, I don’t really see it as threatening, even though she is a formidable character. I mainly just wanted her to go away.

For me the first half of the story was stronger than the second half, and that made the reading experience a little uneven. While I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and most of the characters, I wasn’t as invested as I wanted to be. The Belles is still an enjoyable and unique fantasy read that creates a lush and vibrant world and exposes the dark side of glamour.

Trigger warning for attempted sexual assault

Side note: The only LGBTQIA+ character we see in a (wlw) relationship dies. Though this is not the only LGBT character mentioned in the story – Princess Sophia is mentioned as previously having a female lover, some might find this upsetting and hurtful.

I received a copy of the book from Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.

Dark and twisted, The Belles, while not a fairytale, certainly has the feel of one. Not just any fairytale, but specifically those famed Brothers Grimm tales - the ones where Cinderella gets her toes cut off, Snow White’s stepmother wants her murdered with her lungs and liver brought back as proof, where Pinocchio was hanged and left for dead after murdering his maker. There’s a dark, delicious undercurrent to Clayton’s beautiful world and gorgeous characters and I savored every minute.

The Belles centers around beauty and the often improperly placed high value that Orléans residents place on it. One can never be too beautiful, after all. In this twisted world, everyone is born grey with straw-like hair and red eyes, and the only people who can make them look any other way are Belles - powerful women born beautiful, with special blood that gives them the talents to transform those around them, or at least those who can afford it. Revered and coveted for their power, each Belle vies to be the favorite, the one who will work directly in the kingdom. Camellia Beauregard is one such Belle, whose only dream is to be the favorite, the best, the most beautiful just as her Maman was.

In this world, everything is measured by beauty and the majority of people aspire to be prettier, more beautiful, more handsome than everyone else and there are no limits to cost, with the exception of those who can’t afford it. Competition is the name of the game in this world with so many aspirations of beauty, but as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that no matter how you look on the outside, no amount of beauty or elegance or manners can truly cover up the ugliness within. There are political machinations at play in this glittering world, betrayals aplenty, and dark and terrifying secrets underneath all the bei-powders and color pots. Cutthroat and competitive, The Belles explores what beauty truly means and the consequences of misplacing value on what society views as beauty. Even the romance can’t be taken at face value because once again, as with everything in this world, it’s only skin deep.

The best part of this novel is the diversity and inclusiveness - every shape and size, every color of the rainbow, LGBTQ characters, with positive representation throughout. This book has been high on my radar ever since it started making its rounds on social media - a fantasy in a market that’s already saturated with books and ideas and it’s immediately clear that Dhonielle Clayton is bringing something new and fresh to the table by offering not only a fresh perspective in terms of the message this book promises to convey, but also because the main character is someone that readers don’t see nearly enough in mainstream YA fantasy - a woman of color.

Diversity has long been a hot-button topic in the world of YA, with many, many of us championing the need for inclusion of characters other than white characters, and most importantly - PoC as MAIN characters. Young adult books are so incredibly important for teens and young adults because they give teens an opportunity to find themselves in a book, to finally see someone like them on the pages, and I’m thrilled that slowly, but surely, authors of color are finally getting the opportunities and the attention they should have been getting from the beginning in order to bring books to young adults that include the diversity we so badly need.

Highly recommended and I can’t wait to see what Clayton brings us in the next installment of this dark and twisted tale.

*I received a free copy courtesy of BookishFirst.

"The Belles" is a fantastic YA fantasy, taking place in the kingdom of Orleans. Legend has it that the goddess of beauty once walked among her children, but when her husband, the God of the Sky, was unable to keep her attention/get her away from her children, he cursed her children to be ugly with gray skin, red eyes, and straw hair. In return, she created the Belles to walk the earth in her stead and create beauty. The Belles themselves are beautiful in many different ways and do not need treatments to remain so. They have arcana running through their veins that allows them to transform the people of Orleans into something beautiful. However, this wears off after some time, and so the people need constant treatments.

The book begins with one of the six Belles of the year, Camellia, who is competing with her sisters to become the Queen's Favorite. The favorite not only works with the royals to maintain their looks, but sets fashion/beauty trends and beauty laws (what you are allowed or not allowed to do with your look). The rest will be send to teahouses to work on the people on the different islands/areas of Orleans. All of the Belles yearn to be the favorite- but the competition will determine who wins. As you know from the synopsis, although not initially chosen to be the favorite, Camellia does eventually become the favorite and faces more than she ever could have bargained for- she is faced with the truth of the Belles and the ugliness of people- despite outward appearances.

I was absolutely enthralled with this book from the start- it grabs you and pulls you in, and the pace never slows down enough to lose your attention. This will be a book you'll stay up all night reading! Camellia was an interesting character- we follow her in first person perspective, but she's not perfect and her flaws make her so much more real. The book raises interesting questions about power and the weight that humanity places on beauty/appearance. It is really so much more than it seems at first glance.

I highly recommend this book to older YA readers- I might have younger ones sit it out for some content which may be appropriate for older readers, including death, attempted rape, and slavery. There is also some romance that felt extremely awkward, but it does become clearer towards the end. Camellia also feels very young at times, but I think this was due to her extremely sheltered upbringing and did make sense for her character. I am really curious to see where this series will go- it's quite unique and I absolutely loved it! For people who might want to know, it does end with a bit of a cliffhanger, so you'll definitely be aching for the next book in the series! This is a must-watch debut author whose books I would love to continue to read!

Please note that I received a book from the publisher through bookish first. All opinions are my own.

Plot: Dhonielle Clayton is a beautiful writer, this is something I learned from reading the first page of The Belles. While this book may intimidate some readers with 500 pages, I found it very easy to get through because I desperately wanted to learn more about Camellia's world and the fate of the royal family. If you're a fan of betrayal, court intrigue, and conspiracies, you'll be glued to this book as Camellia navigates court life. One aspect of The Belles that I thoroughly enjoyed was the idea of beauty. In this world, only the Belles were born with beauty and color; the others were Gris (grey) and had to set appointments (at crazy prices) to add color, texture, and the newest trends to their person. It was a fascinating look at how the people were with the idea of beauty and what lengths they would go to become something they weren't.

Characters: Camellia was a character that I rooted for and desperately wanted to mature. She was arrogant and selfish, but I was also enchanted by her. I loved her because she was complex and had to learn a lot of hard lessons on her own.

The villain was someone I couldn't get enough of either. She was manic and just plain evil. I wanted to know what she would do next, and at the same time, I was afraid to see what torture she would cook up. I can't wait to see how Camellia and gang face her in book 2.

Now the question we're all asking ourselves: what about the romance? I would qualify situation in The Belles as a love triangle since there were two young suitors Camellia could choose from. I'm leaving hope that this is explored more in book 2 (because my ship is sinking quickly), but it seemed as though Camellia made her choice by the end of book 1.

Worldbuilding: Clayton stated that she was inspired by Marie Antoinette's court as well as geisha culture, and that is evident from the world of The Belles. I loved the opulence and the obsession with flamboyant beauty and the unique products that helped the Gris have "quick fixes" to beauty.

While I loved the atmosphere of this world, there were opportunities for worldbuilding that were missed. While reading The Belles, I got the feeling that I was "very close up" in the world. Clayton dropped the reader in the world with very little explanation of the geography or how any of the technology worked. I would have felt more at home in this world if an overview of the world was provided.

Short N Sweet: The Belles held my attention from start to finish and I can't wait until we are blessed with more of this story.

*trigger warning for sexual assault*

The Belles was a captivating, lush, and surprisingly dark novel. This beautiful cover might make you think this is just about gorgeous women in lavish dresses, but it is SO much more than that. Under all the glitz and glam this novel presented, there was a grim and wicked story waiting to be unleashed. The Belles was a book that I read all in one sitting because I simply couldn't stop reading this addictive story.

This book started as a bit of a slow burn, but it was still mesmerizing. The author created such an interesting world, that I didn't even mind the slow build. As the plot started to unfold, the dark part of the story started to creep in and the book started to get more intense. The ominous turn the story took was unexpected but definitely welcomed.

The underlying message threaded throughout this story was one that was poignant and powerful. The idea of having a society that is so obsessed with being beautiful was sadly familiar. Yes, it was more drastic than the society we currently live in, but it was not hard to compare the two societies. This book really drove home the idea that no matter how beautiful someone is, there still could be darkness lying underneath that perfect surface. The message about beauty the author presented in this novel is an important subject that everyone needs to be reminded of.

The main character, Camellia, was the perfect heroine for this story. She was a kind, intelligent, strong, brave, and courageous girl. She was someone who wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed in and she always fought for what was right. Her bond with her sisters warmed my heart and I loved how much she treasured their those friendships. Camellia was an inspiring character that we all could learn from.

The Belles was an addictive and magnificent new story. This original and compelling novel is one that will pull you in from the first page and never let go. If this book isn't on your TBR, it should be.

4.5 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It Book Reviews

Camellia and her sisters were born Belles. They are children of the Goddess of Beauty and given talents that let them bestow beauty on other people. The people of Orleans are born with gray skin and red eyes and must be transformed by Belles. Each generation, one Belle is chosen to be the Queen’s favorite. Camellia knows that she is destined to be the favorite, just as her mother was. But it is not that simple as one of her sisters is selected over her, because Camellia has refused to be confined by the rules. When the favorite position is offered later, Camellia jumps at the chance to take her sister’s place. But behind all of the beauty and opulence there is darkness, hidden truths and poisonous hatred. Can Camellia survive in court? And if so, how will she be asked to break the rules now?

Clayton has written a stunning first book in a trilogy. She has crafted a claustrophobic world of glitter, dazzle and beauty that is conveyed with fine detail and a sense of wonder. Throughout though, she has laced the story with pain, intrigue, lies and a sense of foreboding of the darkness to come. There is a finely wrought sense of unease even as the Belles make people beautiful.

Camellia is a great heroine, complicated and naive. Seeing the court through her eyes allows readers first to see the beauty only and then steadily as Camellia comes to understand the power struggles in court, to see them along with her. The pacing of the novel is slow at first and then downright breakneck at the end. I look forward to the rest of the series showing us more of the world that Clayton has created.

A mesmerizing first novel from an incredible new talent. Appropriate for ages 13-17.

For my most anticipated release for the year I can't say that I'm disappointed at all with how it turned out. The story follows Camellia Beaureguard, a Belle which is a girl that makes people beautiful. She aspires to become the favorite in the kingdom, which is the best Belle in the kingdom, but she's finding out that there are many secrets and darkness in the court.

One of the things that I absolutely loved about this book is Dhonielle Clayton's writing. In my opinion, publishing is focusing too much on writers having a following than on the quality of writing so it was nice to finally see some good writing. Another thing I loved about this book was the world that she created. I could see everything that she described and the way she described everything added to the atmosphere of the entire story.

As a character, I found Camellia to be okay. I was never confused with her character because she acted in a way that I think was realistic for her character to react like. Sophia was a character that I thought was kind of one-dimensional, though. Her intentions never made sense to me because she was kind of portrayed as the antagonist that has always been evil. The other characters were fine but I really thought that they were recycled characters. A lot of what I saw in the characters reminded me of characters from other fantasy books and there wasn't really anything unique about these characters besides the fact that they weren't the stereotypical straight white able-bodied people. That's not a bad thing but I think that if there would have been something that set them apart from other characters in the genre, they would have read better to me.

The biggest problem that I had with this story was the pacing. I loved the author's writing but the story was dragging in the beginning. I know that it was supposed to be setting up the ending, but I just wasn't that into it. And with the ending, I did not like it and it's only because the main character does the thing that basically every young adult fantasy or science fiction book does. But it does lead us to believe that there will be more books, which I think is why it ends the way that it does.

There were a couple of other things that didn't really affect my opinions of the book but that I found intriguing as I read it. The first thing that I found interesting was the women (the way I read this book, it seemed very binary in terms of sexuality; I didn't pick up on any non-binary characters so please correct me if they are there :) ) were the ones that were supposed to place their importance on being beautiful. Most of the men that were portrayed in this story still had treatments but it seemed like the rich women were the ones that were supposed to get treatments as often as possible to keep up with the trends. It really reminded me of this TEDx Talk I watched in my communication class, in which Jean Kilbourne presenting said that women and men are both held up to standards of beauty but it's different for women. I can see that happening in this book very clearly and maybe it's because I identify as a woman and live it every day.

Another thing that I didn't notice that much in this story was slavery. The only reason the slavery parallel came up is because I follow the author on Twitter and she had a thread that said something about the parallels of slavery in her book. As soon as she said something about it, that's when I started to see the examples of slavery (which I would give but they are kind of spoilers and y'all need to read this book so...). The fact that other black people had to point it out to me kind made me mad at my own education but that's a conversation for another time. As for right now, when I actually noticed that there was slavery in the book, I liked that it wasn't the focus of the plot because black people are not only their struggle as I pointed out before.

Overall, I think that everyone should read this book beacuase it's gorgeously written and it has parallels that are important for people to think about. But I have heard that there is problems with the LBTQ+ representation. Also, there is a sexual assault scene in the novel so please be careful if that triggers you.

Diversity: 1

Plot: .5

Setting: 1

Characters: .5

Writing: 1 

Total: 4

In the world of Orléans, people are born damned. Gray. Above all, they want Beauty. It is only with the help of Belles, who control Beauty, can they be made beautiful.

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. All her life, Camellia has wanted to be the favorite, the Belle chosen by the Queen to live in the palace and work with the royal family. The most talented Belle.

But at court, Camellia and her sisters learn there’s far more to this world of beauty than they ever imagined, and there’s more to their powers than they know. When the Queen asks Camellia to help the sick princess, Camellia must decide whether to help the Queen—and risk her whole world—or to continue to be the favorite Belle, the one who does everything that’s expected of her.

So, this book is more than a fairytale/fantasy epic. Orléans absolutely reminds me of the Capitol (from The Hunger Games), with over-the-top costumes and obsession with appearances and popularity. So much. But this book is really a commentary on issues we face in society today—and not just vanity—with layers and layers of reality and mystery twined together. On the surface, a book obsessed with beauty isn’t my cup of tea. But the world is richly-detailed, and the characters are complex and driven, and I can’t wait to see where the author takes them next.

(Galley provided by Disney Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC and Bookish First for the hardcover copy of The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton! I absolutely loved every moment of this book! The Belles is a confection of a book with the beautifully descriptive writing of the author, Dhonielle Clayton. Based on Orleans mythology, a creation of the author, The Belles involves the world formed after the God of the Sky fell in love with the Goddess of Beauty. Together they had children. Sky became jealous of the time that Beauty spent with their children, so he cursed them with sadness and dreariness. Beauty sent the Belles to bring beauty back into the world. This tale is told with decadence and is a joy to read. Camellia becomes the Favorite and hears and sees strange things that no one will explain. Everyone wants her to ignore her pondering and just do her job as the favorite Belle; bring beauty to Orleans. The mysteries keep growing and Camellia struggles to understand Princess Sophia, what happened to her Belle sister Amber and why everyone is exceedingly secretive. Sophia’s madness becomes clear and Camellia is bound and determined to help the Queen keep Sophia from becoming the next queen of Orleans. Intriguing and suspenseful, The Belles is delightful and dangerous with characters that are good, evil and in between, 5 stars!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary review consideration.

In the world of Orléans, people are born damned. Gray. Above all, they want Beauty. It is only with the help of Belles, who control Beauty, can they be made beautiful.

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. All her life, Camellia has wanted to be the favorite, the Belle chosen by the Queen to live in the palace and work with the royal family. The most talented Belle.

But at court, Camellia and her sisters learn there’s far more to this world of beauty than they ever imagined, and there’s more to their powers than they know. When the Queen asks Camellia to help the sick princess, Camellia must decide whether to help the Queen—and risk her whole world—or to continue to be the favorite Belle, the one who does everything that’s expected of her.

So, this book is more than a fairytale/fantasy epic. Orléans absolutely reminds me of the Capitol (from The Hunger Games), with over-the-top costumes and obsession with appearances and popularity. So much. But this book is really a commentary on issues we face in society today—and not just vanity—with layers and layers of reality and mystery twined together. On the surface, a book obsessed with beauty isn’t my cup of tea. But the world is richly-detailed, and the characters are complex and driven, and I can’t wait to see where the author takes them next.

(Galley provided by Disney Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC and Bookish First for the hardcover copy of The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton! I absolutely loved every moment of this book! The Belles is a confection of a book with the beautifully descriptive writing of the author, Dhonielle Clayton. Based on Orleans mythology, a creation of the author, The Belles involves the world formed after the God of the Sky fell in love with the Goddess of Beauty. Together they had children. Sky became jealous of the time that Beauty spent with their children, so he cursed them with sadness and dreariness. Beauty sent the Belles to bring beauty back into the world. This tale is told with decadence and is a joy to read. Camellia becomes the Favorite and hears and sees strange things that no one will explain. Everyone wants her to ignore her pondering and just do her job as the favorite Belle; bring beauty to Orleans. The mysteries keep growing and Camellia struggles to understand Princess Sophia, what happened to her Belle sister Amber and why everyone is exceedingly secretive. Sophia’s madness becomes clear and Camellia is bound and determined to help the Queen keep Sophia from becoming the next queen of Orleans. Intriguing and suspenseful, The Belles is delightful and dangerous with characters that are good, evil and in between, 5 stars!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary review consideration.

Oh my God. This was incredibly disturbing and disturbingly incredible. My brain feels melted after all this. It was good, so good, but it also made me feel so icky inside. The mind manipulation that was so deeply ingrained in these people was awful, but I loved how Camellia was beautiful inside and out and was able to see the beauty within a person, or acknowledge that all types of shapes, colors, and styles were beautiful, even though the world was telling everyone differently. I get everything the author said about feeling like this story was a monster growing inside her. This book was a monster, and it devoured me as I devoured it. I am for sure in for some crazy dreams tonight. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Firstly can we all just appreciate how beautiful this cover is, it is bloody stunning. Which is fitting for a book in which the entire world is centered around beauty. Everything in this book is beautiful, the characters, the setting and the writing. I loved the little homages to New Orleans that were sprinkled throughout the book, the vibe, the food and the terrain.
We are drawn into this world with the vivid descriptions, we discover it with this crop of Belles, mainly Camellia. We see the beauty and are swept away in the grandeur right alongside the girls. We dive into this world where Beauty is everything. We see the lengths people go to, to fit in, to be accepted and to be loved. Children aren't rewarded for their talents, they are literally molded into a new version of themselves. For a book that looks pretty and is full of beauty, it sure contains a lot of ugliness.
Camellia exists to make the people beautiful, to carve them into the best versions of themselves and if that isn't enough she will also calm their temperament and personality. The people of Orleans are born grey, they literally have no colour. So the Belles use their Arcana to bring colour to the world.
This, in someone elses hands could have turned into a generic, insipid story, but in the hands of Dhonielle Clayton, it becomes a clever commentary on societies expectations of both men and women, to behave and look a certain way. The double standard when it comes to women. They are allowed to be beautiful, but it has to be for others pleasure. If they are too proud of their looks, body or anything really they are declared shallow and full of themselves. If they dress in a way that others don't like they are called names, if a woman dares to enjoy her sexuality she is labelled a slut. Here we have a sisterhood in the Belles. They have grown up together, learnt together, they are all there for each other. But they are also expected to compete, to fight with each other. They are discouraged from forming close bonds with each other as a means of control and just like in today's society, women who stand together are feared, they are powerful, so the scared and corrupt try to pit women against each other. They antagonise and manipulate, they belittle, so that they stand over the oppressed. The Belles aren't given a lot of information. This is another means of control. Knowledge is power and those that have it, do not like to give it up. Once again, in society, those that need it most don't always have access to education, or the tools needed to make the best of their education. These are all things that need to change, not just in the book, but in todays society as well. I love the way an author can use fantasy to bring attention to real life issues. You know its done well when the author doesn't come across as preachy. They make their point and plant a seed in the reader's mind. They make you want to talk about things with those around you. They make you want to stand up and be heard.
The characters grow in such a way that we see that their society isn't ok, we get the uneasy feeling as they get it. Camellia starts out as a girl willing to do anything to become Favourite, she has worked so hard, she believes she is the best and she believes she has earned it. After an unexpected hitch in the road, she gets given her dream. Once she is drawn into the beauty and intrigue of the royal court, she finally realises that just because something looks pretty on the outside it doesn't mean it's not rotten on the inside.
It has an almost, but not really love triangle that made me a little uneasy. Camellia is rather naïve, but while it can be a little annoying, it's completely understandable and it works well for the story. Her growth is wonderful.
The Belles was a wonderful, engaging read that will be a big hit for the YA Fantasy fans.

In the archipelago of Orleans, individuals are born without beauty; they have gray skin and hair. Their eyes are red. But the citizens of Orleans worship beauty and they pay vast sums to be beautiful. All beauty comes from the magic of the Belles. The Belles are born beautiful. More importantly, they can create beauty. Camellia is a belle. And now on her sixteen birthday, she is competing with her sisters for the position of being Court belle.

But soon Camellia discovers that the glory and position she coveted for so many years has many perils. Beauty is a commodity. The wealthiest citizens undergo pain and near death to maintain their attractiveness. For some individuals, comeliness is a form of power, and they want to be the most beautiful in the land. Some individuals desire to abuse the power of the Belles to hurt others.

Then there are secrets. Why does Camellia hear crying at night? Who can she trust? Has her entire training been a lie? Soon Camellia discovers her sister Belles are also having difficulties with their new positions.

The Court is not a safe place for anyone. There is intrigue. There are power struggles. Eventually, Camellia must choose between her sense of honor and her duty. But her decision might be costly to everyone Camellia holds dear.

It was hard to put this novel down. The author created a fascinating world. The story begins with a competition. Despite the results, all the belles face perils in their new positions. There are deceptions on many levels. In the midst of this fantasy-mystery novel, there is an exploration of the dangers of beauty as a commodity. This novel both entertained and challenged the reader to consider an important issue regarding our culture and beauty.

Okay so I really enjoyed this. It really felt like the Hunger Games through most of it, at least in the way of fashion. I imagined this is what the Capitol was like throughout the entire book while the rest of the nations suffered. I love Camellia's fighting spirit as she pushed back against the wrongdoings of Sophia and how she sussed out the slavery of the Belles with her determined nature. This book is like looking at a clear lake and then diving in to find the bottom gritty and slimy and full of undesirable creatures. There is so much to pay attention to in this book that once everything came together in the end, I found myself reflecting on parts of the book from before and thinking "I knew I should have paid closer attention to that detail." Simply spectacular. And, Lord, if there is ever a more beautiful cover, I will fight you. This is one of the most gorgeous books on my shelves. But remember, looks aren't everything. ;) I'm really excited to see how she explores the surrounding lands and incorporate more of the "lower class" people into the next book, or at least I'm hoping that's the plan. I'm so curious about the rest of the setting!

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle, the only kind of human that is born full of color and the only kind of human that can give the people Orléans the kind of beauty only money can buy. Not content only being a Belle, Camellia wants to be the favorite of the queen and the impetuous Princess Sophia. After a false start, Camellia is sent to the palace in order to fulfill the whims of the rich, and those darker wishes of the princess. Inside the palace isn't all beauty and happiness, and Camellia comes to find that the Belles might not be who she thought they were. Camellia must dodge persistent suitors {oh, dear Auguste}, dangerous rumors, and secrets that could destroy all she knows, all in order to do her job. Risking her own life, as well as the lives of her sisters, she takes on the daunting task of helping the queen bring back to life the oldest princess, a woman in a deep sleep and with no cure in sight.
First off, let's scream over that cover some more. My GOD, I couldn't keep my eyes off that cover when I first received the book in the mail. It's even more gorgeous that the pictures I've seen all over the internet. It's soft and pastel and the model is absolutely stunning {I don't know who she is, and that might be better for both me and her} and it wraps you in warm thoughts before you dive into the dark world that waits for you inside the pages. You'll want to frame it, trust me.
Second, the writing. Oh my god, the writing. It was luxurious and sumptuous, like slipping on a silk robe after taking a bath in rose petals. It made me simultaneously so jealous and so motivated, and I wanted to write a book while reading. There was so much world building, and by the end of the book, I got why Dhonielle Clayton took all that time to lay out the land. There's also a handy-dandy map of Orléans, and I did refer back to it a time or two or four hundred. Dhonielle Clayton also made me really hungry with all of the food-related descriptions of the Belles and the people and the way the Belles create their beauty. Everything and everyone was "brown sugar" or "honey peach" or "marshmallow crème." They were the perfect descriptions, but reading The Belles also made me want to eat s'mores wrapped in sugar and honey and dunked in milk, and really, I was here for it.
Third, the plot. Honestly, I thought that the plot would be about a young girl in a palace, giving people the beauty they wanted, and then everyone learning a very valuable lesson about beauty not being everything. I'm an idiot {and terribly clichéd, it seems}. I mean, yes, the whole book is telling the reader that beauty comes at a price and that being happy with who you are is a wonderful thing, but it also shows the dark side to wanting a certain kind of beauty. We see it everyday: how far people will go to be "perfect," to attain the kind of beauty that they see in movies and makeup ads and magazine pages. But we are not born without color, we are not cursed by gods. The people of Orléans need beauty, or so they think, and if they don't get exactly what they want, then someone has to suffer.
Princess Sophia is a prime example of this. Her older sister had always been the "naturally" beautiful one, but now it's Sophia's time to shine. She wants something new, something amazing, and she'll do anything to get the kind of look that will make people talk for years. Sophia might also be a little unhinged. Just a smidge. But she'll be the next queen, unless her sister makes a miraculous recovery, and so she can be as unhinged as she wants.
I want to stand on my roof and scream about this book. The Belles is one of the most talked about books of 2018, and there is definitely a reason for that. It's wonderfully different and new and bright and shiny, and I can't wait until I can read it again. It's one of those books where I NEED to know what happens next {I read it in a weekend because I refused to go anywhere until it was done}, and it's killing me inside.

In the fantasy world of Orleans, people are born with grey skin and red eyes. The Belles are blessed by the Goddess to bestow color and beauty on the common folk–but is that the real story?

Camillia was born to compete with her Belle sisters for the role of the Queen’s favorite, and when she isn’t chosen, her rivalry with her best friend tears them apart. She tries to adjust to her new life as second best, but when the current favorite is dismissed, Camillia finds herself swept up in palace life while investigating a corruption just beneath the surface.

The first entry in Clayton’s new Belle series is a feast for the senses, with rich descriptions of sumptuous ballrooms, silver dessert trays, elaborate hairstyles and flouncing dresses. At the center is a story about the ties between sisters and a sharp critique of beauty as a commodity. Clayton grips her readers by escalating the pain inflicted on Camillia almost to the point of impossibility; how could one person be the center of so much trauma in a matter of weeks? In the context of post balloons and teacup elephants, it’s easy to suspend disbelief and absorb yourself in the Belle’s rococo decadence.

The book’s primary flaw is the romance, featuring a bland love interest whose scenes slowed the pace every time he was alone with Camillia. The object of her affection enjoys so little character development it’s difficult to remember his name, let alone root for a successful relationship. Thin romances often weigh Young Adult books down, and unfortunately, this was no exception. With two more books to go in the series, there’s time for the romantic subplot to take more interesting turns.

The central messages in this book are fabulous! The book highlights our images of beauty and how far we will go to attain them. This is a society that sees itself as “ugly,” so people will endure great pain (and spend tons of money) in order to “fix” themselves. This is such an interesting commentary on our world, and not that far off from the truth. How many people will go to great extents to achieve a certain standard of beauty? We’re sort of obsessed.

Camellia’s personal desire to be the Favorite (an official title of the Belle that works for the royal family) leads to a break in her relationship with her best friend (who is basically family). And then there’s the intrigue behind what’s actually going on with the princess—things look more than a little shady. These two issues keep you turning the pages. I did think parts of the book were a little slow, but overall this was a great read! I give it 4/5 stars.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via ALA Annual ’17 in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

The cover looks like every other dystopian hunger-games-esque teen novel, right? WRONG. This is so much more thoughtful and unique than the droves of trilogies that currently line the YA shelves.

<u>The good:</u>
The atmosphere: this book is... dark. It comments on beauty and society and people's role in the world. It erases our society's conceptions of race and beauty by allowing everyone to choose what skin color, height, body shape, hair, and features they want... at the cost of incredible pain, and as long as they can financially afford it. Economic and class differences still very much affect the people in this world. The book also poses questions about people's rights over their bodies - what should be legislated and what should not. It was so much more thoughtful about these things than I expected.

The world-building: the rules of this world are complex, tantalizingly not-completely-unexplained, and unique. I've not read any other fantasy/dystopian novels that have a similar world before. The rules for how the Belles "powers" work, the rules for how things function socially in this world, the small glimpses into how "regular" people's lives function, e.g. not princesses' or Belles' lives. All of this was quite intriguing.

The hints of pride and equality: in this world, it is considered just as normal for someone to marry a person of their own gender as a person of the opposite gender. This is not a major plot point, or even discussed except in several offhand comments about love and marriage. But I'm glad it's there, and it's also very interesting how it contrasts with the draconian rules about cross-class relationships.

<u>The less good:</u>
I had hoped, seeing a POC main character on the cover, that this was going to be a world inhabited by mostly brown people, or ruled by brown people, or whatnot. There is not enough diversity in positions of power in the world of dystopian and fantasy novels. I guess the commentary on what a world would look like if race meant nothing sort of made up for it... but on the other hand, simply erasing race is in a way too easy. I understand that my disappointment is based entirely on my own personal expectations, but I'm a little disappointed to not get the book I thought I was getting.

That said, though, POC MC on the cover! Yay!

Overall, a great read, and lots to think about. I will for sure seek out the sequels.

That was masterful. Beautiful. Challenging. Ruthless. And I loved every second.

Dhonielle took a serious problem in today's society and exaggerated it to an extreme. I love this, not just because of the language you can taste or the desire you can feel, but because it hits home for almost every woman I know who has read this. Maybe you can't go to a Belle and change your face or your bones, but sometimes when you were young staring at a Vogue ... you thought maybe, how much would I pay to look like that?

The Belles was outstanding. Tackling real-world issues in a high-stakes fantasy environment where much darker things are happening than just the wealthy dictating the right looks every day. Pulling inspiration from places like Marie Antoinette's court, Dhonielle expertly weaves together real-world problems with a heightened sense of danger and wonder. The Belles are trained their whole lives for the opportunity to do what they do - but they aren't always prepared for what else is out there.

Loved it!

Lush writing, exquisite detail, a fantastical setting and a gripping story make The Belles a standout YA fantasy. Camille's character has a strong attention to detail in accordance with her beauty work as a Belle, and her descriptions of Orleans will make you want to rush off to a bakery and a fashion boutique, possibly at the same time (powdered skin like an overly frosted piece of caramel cake, buttercup yellow day dress, etc.). The physical pain and monetary cost of the Belle's beauty work are symbolic of the extreme methods people today use to try and conform to unrealistic beauty standards. I appreciated how Camille sees her work as helping people love themselves, rather than as a money-making opportunity like others in her industry. Despite being at the heart of the Orleans beauty industry, she believes that people's natural and inner beauty are more important than being supermodel gorgeous. The setting of Orleans is whimsical, playful, and full of delightful details like teacup animals, all of which combine to make The Belles compulsively readable.

First off, such a beautiful cover and some of the most gorgeous writing I've read. I felt enchanted, like I was in this delicious world of fruits and candy and flowers and, well, beauty, of course. The writing and descriptions are almost edible!

The Belles control beauty and the story takes place in a kingdom of people who are void of beauty (dull/no coloring, bad hair, etc) and, in this kingdom, people place a high importance on beauty.

The Belles compete to be "favorite" and the favorite gets to work in the royal palace with the royal family.

Of course this honor of being chosen as favorite isn't all it's cracked up to be. And there are secrets. Behind the gorgeous cover and beautiful writing there is darkness lurking.

I won't recite the blurb or say a lot to spoil the ending (it will most definitely be a series of some sort), but I'm really excited to see where the series goes, and how many books there will be (I'm hoping for a duology or trilogy).

And so the journey begins... The Belles is similar to many YA stories of a girl in a castle who sees injustice and treachery and tries to conquer it all to save the kingdom. However, the uniqueness of this story is the heroines are not princesses, but women who can alter beauty upon request. The Kingdom is full of people who see themselves as plain and grey; they are cursed by the Gods. The Belles are born to create beauty for everyone using arcana which is similar to magic.

At first, I was not impressed with the story line, but as I dove further into the story, the plot thickens and questions of who to trust are running through my mind. The character involvement and the descriptions caught my attention as well as the desire to know who will be saved and who will be punished.

After completing the book, I smiled at how the book teases you to want more, and, yes, there is more to come. I look forward to finding how the Belles come together to bring justice to the kingdom and change society to see beauty within rather than on the outside.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

The Belles explores weaponized femininity in action, but also embraces a lot of feminine tropes and values that get shunted to the side in many other works of fantasy (and, let's be real, all of media). It was refreshing to read a heroine whose power is rooted in what lots of other books dismiss in order to have heroines who "aren't like other girls". And this book is gorgeously rendered with full Rococo splendor. The world-building brings up a lot of interesting and innovative uses of magic, as well as exploring the political and cultural implications of a world that has allowed itself to become so terribly reliant on the magic of a very few individuals. There's a lot of room for these ideas to grow, and I'm excited to see what happens in Book Two.

"The Belles" revolves around the Belle, Camellia Beauregard. In Orleans, the Belles are revered as beauty is a commodity and they control it. The can also use it to beautify the people. Camellia was to be more than just a Belle. She wants to live in the palace, be favored by the Queen, tend to the royal family and attend court. She will soon face an impossible decision due to her own ambitions.

Dhonielle Clayton's "The Belles" brings to life an interesting, intriguing world. I want to see more of it, for sure. It's definitely unique. There were some parts of it that I didn't enjoy all that much and it did take some work getting into the story overall. However, I can only hope this world and this series will get better over time.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily and honestly reviewing it.

The worldbuilding here is really interesting, and I liked the pace at which we were given details about the world. We get to see the laws and culture bit by bit, and it never feels like there's an info dump or like a character is explaining something they shouldn't have to. The setting/worldbuilding was by far the most successful part of the book for me (though I still have a lot of questions, hopefully to be answered in the sequel!).

It felt like there were some storylines that were dropped and then not picked up again until it was convenient, but there's some justification for that in-story given how busy they keep Camellia. And it wasn't really an overall pacing issue; I raced through the book.

Warnings for sexual assault, slavery, murder, character death.

Read more bookish goodness on my book blog: Cal's Constant Raving Reviews

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BOOK:
I wasn't in the mood to read this, but its due date at the library is coming up soon. I was excited to read something that most people have enjoyed this year (hence why I borrowed it). Unfortunately, this book was boring as hell until the lies were revealed near the end. And even then, they weren't gripping.

CHARACTERS/DYNAMICS:
Camilla: the blandest and uninspiring character ever. It's Edel, one of her sisters, who is truly the fierce and revolutionary icon. Camilla is slow to everything and just does what she's told unless she wants something to focus on her a little bit more.

Amber: Amber was predictable. She was bffs with Camilla, but when chosen as the Favourite, she turns nasty. WOw. WhAT a SHocKer.

Miss Du Berry: a great antagonist, however, she has nothing exciting in her backstory for me to want to see her evil break-through.

Princess Charlotte: do you guys remember Celeste from The Selection? In the first instalment, she's unbearable. Princess Charlotte is demanding, shallow and lacking as an antagonist.

Auguste vs the Guard: Where have we heard this story before??? Should Camilla choose the handsome Prince who has a total motive to backstab her, or the guard who genuinely cares about her safety and is trustworthy??? (The Selection, Throne of Glass)

PLOT:
It goes:
Look, I have 'magic'.
Oh, I'm not the favourite :(
Oh, I am the favourite!
The Selection but with magic.
The Selection's ending but more boring.

THEMES:
- This book TRIES to be deep in its understanding of beauty, but I came away finding it incredibly shallow and lacklustre. It was pathetic.
- Yay diversity but also
- Why is this published
- Seriously
- Was this published because the protag was black and she somewhat struggles with identity
- Final theme: hey have you ever wanted to burn a book? Try this one.

THE ENDING:
It's been three days, and I've already forgotten most of the subpar plot-twists. I just sat here trying to conjure up a single thought about the ending, and all I have is: it's easily forgettable.

The Belles is a young adult fantasy novel that takes place in the Kingdom of Orleans. In this french influences story people are born grey, and only the Belles have color. It is the sole duty of the Belles to give color to people for a price. Camellia wants desperately to be the favorite Belle; however, things are not as the Belles have been led to believe. Each Belle has to figure out how far they are willing to be pushed and if they are willing to pay the price of being a Belle.

This story really makes you think about how much value society puts on what is considered beauty. The society of Orleans revers beauty and they push to be recognized as the most beautiful no matter the outcome. I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the second book in this series.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton is a rather dark fantasy full of unexpected twists and turns in a world where beauty is valued more than life. It took me a bit to get lost in the story and the world of the Belles but once I did, the story flowed and overtook my imagination with characters and a world that just jumped off the page. Every time I thought I was on top of the story, new plot twists would arrive and add more and more complexity to an already engaging story line. I also really enjoyed listening to the audio version of this book and the narrator, Rosie Jones did a fantastic job!

My final impression? 4.5 STARS! The Belles is a read that I couldn't put down. It is well written, extremely creative book! I can't wait to read the next book from this author.

So amazing.

I absolutely loved this book. The story is amazing. The characters are compelling. I love how the main character sympathizes with the villain. But here is what sets The Belles apart from all the other books: how Dhonielle Clayton guides you through the story. Her word choices are amazing. You can taste the words. I know that sounds weird but it was such a unique experience. I remember one part where she talked about the air being like sugar-dust. Now imagine those words being put together in an effective and beautiful way (haha). She does amazing things with words and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel. I will absolutely be preordering it.

The first person narrative and the vivid sensory descriptions involve the readers in the life of Camellia from the first page. The author, Dhonielle Clayton, aptly creates the world of Orléans into a very realistic environment that gradually introduces readers to the customs, traditions, and the mysterious esteem placed in being a Belle.

For me, the book is very reminiscent of Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" series, although Clayton's "The Belles" world is set in an alternative past rather than a future. It very interesting to read about how the Belles, in essence, sculpt and create people's exterior. Find it also to be a commentary on how modern society is continually trying to achieve optimum levels of 'beauty.'

I really loved the Belles. It was something that I felt at the end of reading, and only got stronger as I had more time to think about the book afterwards. I enjoyed the characters, especially the side ones - Remy particularly. In addition, the plot only grew more complex as the book goes on. The world building is colorful and descriptive. What I loved was the concept of beauty and the intersection of corruption, the lust for power, and the pursuit of beauty. The ending will make you wish the sequel was already out and definitely pushes the book over the top, on the scale of love, for me.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This does not impact my review as it is unbiased and honest.

I really wanted to love this book. However, I honestly found it boring in the beginning. If I hadn’t heard so many people liked it I would have likely given it up. The plot moved slowly as the world where Camellia lived was described in minute detail. Normally, I love when an author puts a lot of effort into describing the setting but the specifics put into the palace surroundings, what people were wearing, and the beauty treatments completed by Camellia did not hold my interest. I understand that those details are important to the character because that’s what she was raised to care most about and it is portraying the dysfunction of Camellia’s society but it lost me. Eventually, the plot moved away from the specifics of changing a person’s looks and focused more on the actual issues of the society and the Court politics in particular.

As Camellia came to care more about things beyond the superficial I started to relate to her more and found her character more interesting. The problem was, I didn’t really like her all that much until nearly the end of the book. The end is really what saved it for me. The amount of action picked up and I found myself finally sucked into the story itself. It kept me guessing and left me wanting to read more. Now, I’m anticipating the next book in this series as I think that Camellia will be a more interesting character to read about.

What an interesting world. In THE BELLES, beauty is a commodity wielded exclusively by a small group of girls know as the Belles. They are able to use their powers to create any beautiful look that a paying customer demands. Beauty is the ultimate goal in this world. Because they are able to change anything, anytime, no one is ever satisfied. Deep down, everyone hates themselves because they are never satisfied and 'beauty' or the idea of it becomes the villain in this world. This was a very unique concept to read about and was very intriguing. The writing and language were very well done as well. I couldn't stop reading and look forward to the following 2 books in the trilogy to find out what happens next.

I knew from reading the synopsis of this book that I would immediately love it. The concept and plot of this story is superb, while its development is slow and steady. We meet our main character, Camellia, immediately and it’s through her naïve eyes that we are carried through the story. Since Camellia is essentially an outsider and separate from the bulk of society on account of her gifts, she worked as a great protagonist since readers are able to accurately and realistically learn about this creative universe through her perspective. Her slow character development led readers in a natural direction that was easy to follow. I absolutely fell in love with the mystery behind the true nature of this magical, fictional New Orleans.

My only complaint concerning this story is its writing style, which is technically only a matter of taste. I spent the first several chapters forcing myself to read rather than enjoying myself. However, once I became used to the writing style, I eventually came to love and enjoy it.

Overall, this is a completely original and thoroughly unique story which conveys a clear message that the author skillfully intertwines with the plot and heart of the story. Such a message is not thrust down reader’s throats, but told in a fashion that allows readers to develop their own perspective of the matter. The story works almost as an interpretative, symbolic piece representative of the struggles each and every individual likely feels each time they look in a mirror. I’m definitely anticipating book 2 of this series!

Original, thought-provoking dark fantasy! The Belles are held in high regard, just below the royal family. They train, from childhood, to control beauty, shaping beauty in others. Raised in solitude, vying for the coveted spot of "favorite" ( Belle to the royals), Carmellia and her sister Belles arrive in Orleans naive and unaware of the trials they'll face. Extremely descriptive of fashion / beauty and slow moving, at times. Good book for book clubs and schools about social issues. First book in a series. Waiting to see where the next book takes us! 3 1/2 stars.
Voluntarily read ARC, thru Netgalley and publisher, for honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. A lot. The author does a fantastic job of creating this fantasy world of Orleans where people can look like almost anyone or anything and their sexuality is fluid. It builds like it's going to be a somewhat happy book, but man does it change. The people of Orleans are too obsessed with how they look and how it makes them feel. There's manipulation, backstabbing, and hatred that all stems from people actually hating themselves. The author acknowledges her reasons for writing this novel and almost everyone can relate. The book was a fantastic page turner that ends on a cliff hanger.

The questions begin to surface as life as a Belle takes a few turns. The secrets start to bubble over and the main character, Camellia, is put in terrifying situations. I was absolutely hooked to the story.

Everything was described so well. Scenery, colors, transformations, pets, etc. The thought of a teacup elephant is absolutely adorable. I like that there is pain in transformations. Beauty really does come at a cost.

The cover is gorgeous. I had quite a few people ask me about the book because they were drawn by the cover. It's a series too! That means we get more time with these characters and more opportunities for amazing covers!

This book was most of my most anticipated releases of 2018, and it did not disappoint. Clayton paints a world based on the obsession of body image: beauty is more coveted than food, water, even sanity. I loved the under-lying themes in this novel. Our main character suffers from severe peer-pressure, anxiety, and is shoved into a very dangerous and erratic world where you are only safe if you do what you are told and believe what you are told to believe. She is at first very naive, submissive, and agreeable, but as the plot progresses, she really comes into her own and is able to fight back again those who are trying to force her back inside her box. The world-building in this is phenomenal, it is so luscious and delicious, a world based in almost a steam-punk/Marie-Antoinette/ tea-cup Wonderland that is a facade for something very ugly, very twisted, and very mad-laboratory. Our antagonist was someone I truly grew to hate, and she was truly a suburb villain. My issues with this book are fairly simple: I did not care for the romance whatsoever, it was over-done, boring, and predictable. The protagonist was someone that had to grow on me, and while I understood what the author was trying to do, I just did not end up TRULY loving or feeling for her, although I did grow to care for her and feel for her situation. The timing of the plot was a little off, very, very slow, with much world-building and beautiful descriptions, then massive dumps of character development and change of pace. Over-all, I enjoyed this book immensely, and cannot wait for the next installment.

I quite enjoyed The Belles. I had heard marvelous things about it, and this was one of the books I got from last year’s BookExpo that I was very excited to read. Clayton is fantastic with world-building. I could easily picture Orléans in my mind – the fashion and the buildings and the city itself. We’re still left in the dark about the existence of the Belles themselves, but we start learning more about them close to the end of the book, and I believe we’ll uncover more as the series goes on. Some problematic elements (bury your gays, for example), but for the most part an engaging story about race, beauty, and power.

The Belles is an engaging and direct commentary on issues that plague our world, such as power struggles, race, and social constructs of beauty. Dhonielle Clayton faces such intense problems and weaves them into a world where beauty is controlled by the elite and can be purchased and manipulated by those in power. The Belles are a group of women gifted with the power to not only add color to an otherwise gray population, but alter their physical features as well. The price and pain involved are high, but what you look like determines your station in life... right?

Camellia is a strong-willed protagonist who wants to be the favorite Belle and perform her duties with the royals and her entourage. As the plot develops, she realizes not everything is as beautiful it seems and Orleans has secrets she that she was never taught through her training to be a Belle. She also has to face egregious abuses of power and determine whether her allegiance lies with her Belle responsibilities or her growing conscience and awareness.

The world Clayton has built is enchanting and decadent with its teacup animals, elaborate clothing, and over-the-top physical alterations as women reach for unattainable perfection no matter the costs. I enjoyed the visually inspiring descriptions, court intrigue, the hints at romance (maybe more in book 2?), and the beginning of the journey of the Belles as they learn more and come to terms with the facts that everything they had been taught about the world could have been wrong. I look forward to continuing this series!

In a world where beauty is purchased by the elite and can be given by a select few - who can you trust? What a fantastic premise. Dhonielle Clayton deserves every bit of hype this book is getting. From the first scene I was hooked. The Belles is a beautiful, well realized world that blends whimsy (mail balloons!) with something that feels plausible (treatments to help the population achieve impossible beauty standards). The characters are well rounded (with agency!) and the plot has enough twists and surprises to keep you invested til the conclusion. If you liked Amy Ewing's The Jewel series, it reminded me a lot of that world. I'm absolutely ready for book two now. (And thanks to this book, I now desperately want a teacup elephant.)