I enjoyed this book. I found that it took me a little while to get into it. I loved the idea of the book but was not so invested in the characters or story at first. I think I needed time to be in the world and understand the people and interactions a bit better. By the end of the book I was hooked. The premise is original and intriguing. The characters are well-developed and everything comes together expertly in the end. I look forward to the sequel which I think will be equally strong if not even stronger.

I really enjoyed this book because it had a different premise than I'm used to reading. I love fantasy!
This book takes place in the city of Orleans where a beautiful group of young women every generation are trained to control the gift of beauty. As I said this a very different premise.
These young woman are known as Belles. These Belles are sisters that are trained to compete in this competition to see where they are positioned in the society of Orleans. Orleans a city that is obsessed with all things beautiful and the idea of changing ones beauty as easy as changing ones clothes.
The plot develops as we focus in on the Belle Camellia and her role as a beauty consultant for very high society of Orleans, and how she navigates her gifts while at the same time helping her sister Belles. Carmellia is determined to find out the truth and the mysteries of the Orleans court and high society.
I really enjoyed the story and I am so looking forward to the next book in the series. I found myself cheering Carmellia and her belle sister on as they go up against the wicked world of Princess Sophia.

I want to thank the publishers for allowing me this ARC via Netgalley. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series. Let's go team Belles.

This book centers around beauty. In this world, one can be too beautiful. The Belles are powerful women who have the power to transform the people around them, the ones who can afford it anyway. Each Belle wants to be the best of the best, including our MC Camellia.

This book was so unique. I loved the characters, the plot, the world-building. I also appreciate all the diversity this book brought, but there is one thing that I absolutely despised.



*spoiler*




The fact that queer women are still being killed for no f***ing reason. If you are someone who's tired of seeing queer women be killed or be the villain, please avoid this.

I still think this was a good and unique story, I just hope everyone makes sure they know that it could be upsetting to LGBTQ+ readers. The Belles was an interesting novel that explored a range of topics.

The cover of The Belles is almost as beautiful as the prose contained in the pages within. Dhonielle Clayton is not only an incredible advocate, she's also a brilliant writer. I don't love overly descriptive writing as a rule. Nathaniel Hawthorne waxing poetic about the roses outside of Hester's prison for PAGES? Hard pass. Dhonielle Clayton describing the rich world she created for The Belles? Super here for it.

In the Kingdom of Orleans, it will be the coveted fate of one Belle to serve as a vessel for Beauty to the Royal Family and the citizens. After all, Belles are the daughters of the Goddess of Beauty created by necessity to counteract the grey fate of the island’s inhabitants. Camellia and her sisters will compete in the yearly Beaute Carnaval to display their arcana, transforming a local gris child into a stunning beauty. Not a rule follower, Camellia wins the position of Belle of Chrysanthemum Teahouse and it will be her style that will govern the aesthetics of the people. Camellia knows that her arcana may be her value but is unaware of its true power and others intentions for its use.

“You are the kingdoms most important treasure.”

The first eight chapters set the stage for the fantasyland. The world building is creative, brilliant and colorful as gemstones. Set in an archipelago, you are transported to an opulent island experience. Details of this world include a history, legends, and events, and even a currency and an air postal service. The daily details of the divine Belles are elaborate. The etiquette, the transformations, and the expectations are governed by the strict rules. Belles are not even to speak to boys and fear is imparted to keep the ladies from marrying. They are not to look at media or talk to others to reduce the influences of the outside world. This is all to protect their arcana.

"It is tradition, and we are nothing without our beloved customs."

The characters development of the supporting cast is equally as well rounded as the main characters. The Belle sisters are emotional and connected with a past and present. As we progress through the story we see Camellia journey through a powerful emotional development. The local inhabitant of the Islands of Orleans is colorless condemned by the God of Sky to boast gray skin tones, straw-like hair, and red fiery eyes. Those eyes convey the pulse of the town. And August’s Fabry, the son of the Minister of the Sea is a love interest and brings some fire into the story. But it will be Remy that steals everyone’s heart.

“My heart flutters like one of the nearby lantern candles.”

As Lady Camellia becomes a Belle for the Royal Family, the storyline begins. She undergoes a conundrum. Camellia must choose between sacrifice and self-preservation. And she is unsure who to trust. The story has many twists of deceit keeping the reader engaged. I found myself rallying behind the beautiful Belles as they struggle to ensure their place in the world.

The Belles is a story that becomes more intriguing as you read it. The writing is like poetry which conveys a rich narrative full of texture. You can smell the air, taste the amuse bouche while being wrapped in garlands and luxurious textiles. We are treated to a royal experience. But there may be a meaning behind all of the transformations. Color is treated as a desirable as beauty is cast in all the shades expect Gris.

My only complaint is that the poetic nature of the writing can be at times loquacious. In addition, other readers have shed light on controversies of the story, but I found this story to be neutral. Overall I would recommend that you indulge yourself in this read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Freeform books, and Dhionelle Clayton for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

You're only as beautiful as their imagination.

Who is this author? Seriously! Her imagination, her words, her thoughts, her visions brought to life in riveting, vivid colors and textures. Calling Christopher Nolan to direct this visual confection about the perceptions of beauty (and ugliness) and how they define us or not. Saying much more would spoil this tour de force for you. Read it.

On the surface it seems like this is going to be a superficial, light read but it’s actually much darker and fairly terrifying. It’s like pink unicorn whipped cream covering a bloody knife. This story definitely has bite! While much of it is fashion and fun there's an ever present undercurrent of danger and some of the situations are absolutely horrific. This is one of those books where the villains are so odious that you can’t wait to see them defeated. The story started a bit slow but became super exciting near the end and I couldn't put it down. It begins to delve into the concept of the value of beauty and the obsession with appearing perfect. I suspect this will become more of a focus as the series continues. I really want to know why most people are grey and colourless and if everyone is grey, can't they just accept this and live happily as a society of all grey people? Why do they all want to be something they are not and endure so much pain and expense in the pursuit of what is considered beauty? It's like a reflection of our society taken to the extreme.

Orleans is frivolous and ornate and so is the language used to describe it. There is almost an overload of description of every single thing and sometimes the level of detail made it difficult to envision. I felt my imagination was a bit curtailed because everything was so intricately described. At some point I stopped even trying to picture all the dresses and the setting because it was just too much. My brain was exhausted! This wasn't a deal breaker for my enjoyment by any means but I can see some readers being turned off by this.

Camellia was a mostly likeable character who didn't always follow the rules. I appreciated her rebelliousness and her love for her sisters. Although she was a bit spoiled, especially at the beginning, she was compassionate and clever. I'm looking forward to see where the Belles go from here!

Thank you to Disney Book Group/Freeform for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.

The Belles was one of those books that sneakily captivates you, weaving its spell tighter with each additional chapter. It began slowly but unfolded into an intriguing and masterful story that shone a critical light on obsession with beauty. The concept was so unique and the story itself was full of surprising twists and turns. Clayton’s writing is beautiful and she did a brilliant job of bringing this vivid and lush world to life.

Camellia Beauregard has trained her entire life to be a Belle. In a world naturally void of color where the people are born damned, the Belles are revered for their power to control Beauty. The Belles begins at the competition to determine the placements of Camellia and her classmates. Only one of them will become the Favorite, serving the Queen and her family in the royal palace. However, all is not as it seems in the world of Orléans. Camellia soon begins to discover the darkness and secrets that lie beneath the carefully cultivated beauty and perfection of the court.

At first, I thought that this was going to be a light, fun read about a world where beauty is magic. I have never been happier to be wrong. After the glitz and glamour of this world lure the reader in, Clayton begins to slowly reveal the reality behind the curtain. The book became darker and more mysterious as the story progressed. I loved seeing how the facades slowly crumbled, revealing the true faces that lay beneath. Perhaps most importantly, The Belles led me to critically think about our society’s relationship with beauty, staying with me long after I turned the final page.

Camellia was a wonderful protagonist, entirely relatable and flawed. Her character growth over the course of the story was wonderful. She grew from a sheltered, spoiler, and naive child into a strong, confidant woman. I cannot wait to see where her journey takes her next. Most of the secondary characters were very well developed. I particularly enjoyed seeing Camellia’s relationship with her sisters, even as some of those ties were fractured. The villain was spine-tingling good. Even though I despised their actions, I could still understand their motivations.

The Belles was a wonderful surprise. Although the beginning was slow and a bit difficult to get through, the payoff is well worth it. The ending of this book left me anxiously awaiting the sequel, wondering where Clayton is going to go next with this deliciously dark world. I would recommend this one to YA fantasy fans who are looking for a unique story.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Belles has been on my "must read" list for quite some time, but before reading the first few pages, I was already starting to feel the hype pressure. You know what I'm talking about? That feeling when a novel is talked about and talked about and then you start to get nervous you might not like it and be excommunicated from the book world??? Well, I got that feeling. And sadly, I think the feeling was warranted. Don't get me wrong, the novel wasn't bad... It was good. But I just don't think it lived up to the ridiculous hype (which is quite hard to do, honestly).

The story line in The Belles was definitely unique and interesting. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and their personalities, but something just continued to fall flat for me. I felt like the novel was a bit predictable. Even the "plot twists" were pretty predictable. I also wasn't a huge fan of the love interests. I just kept having the feeling of wanting more from the characters.

But enough about what I didn't like. Let's talk about the good stuff! I looooooved the world building. I could perfectly imagine the beauty products and gorgeous elaborate dresses, and the palace seemed magical! I think the mini animals were quite possibly my favorite part of the book. I think I would want to have a mini panda bear! Clayton's magical world reminded me a bit of the Capitol in Hunger Games and I loved it.

All in all, The Belles was an interesting novel that explores identity, self esteem, confidence, and the world of privilege. I had a few issues with the pacing and depth of characters, but overall it was an interesting read and I look forward to reading the second novel. Thank you to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for sending the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 3/5

Original, thought-provoking dark fantasy! The Belles are held in 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), Cahighrmellia 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.

In a world where everyone is born ugly, the Goddess of Beauty has blessed the Belles with the ability to create beauty through their arcana. Raised amongst her sisters, Camellia wants nothing more than the honor of being the Queen's favorite. She wants to make everyone feel beautiful and be beautiful, just like her mother did. Yet Camellia is starting to realize that beneath all of the glitz and glam are thick layers of rot.

I really enjoyed this book, which takes today's strive for beauty, and general Versaillespiration, and turns the dial to 1000. It reminded me a lot of The Jewel in tone and environment, where girls with powers and fertility are kept by rich and powerful women to give them babies and be pets or whatever, where everything is beautiful and dazzling but filled with a dark underside. In Camellia's world, beauty is everything and true beauty can only be attained by the Belles, who are glamorous yet sheltered. But this beauty is fleeting, and it leads to ever increasing yearning to be the prettiest of them all—yes, that allusion to Snow White is intentional—and has created a world where illusion and insincerity rule over all. While the story initially starts off like an overdecorated cupcake, with lots of fluff and flippery and no substance, it quickly darkens with little hints that all is not well in the state of Denmark.

Camellia is a decent heroine who behaves as a girl raised in a cloistered and rigidly structured environment would. She wants rebellion, but only within the confines of her world. I loved her relationship with her sister-Belles and how close they all were, although they are separated for the majority of the book. The magic-system is intriguing as well, as were Camellia's deepening understanding of her powers, and I really liked that skin color didn't matter one little bit. All colors were welcome and beautiful except the default grey of the Gris, and caramel-skilled Camillia is one of the most beautiful of the girls.

I'm definitely looking forward to book 2!

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book. The concept was interesting, but just ended up feeling too contrived. There was just enough mystery and intrigue to keep me going, but to me, it just fell flat.

Camellia is a Belle, a revered descendant of the Goddess of Beauty who is responsible for keeping the people of Orleans beautiful. When her best friend and fellow Belle gets assigned to be the favorite of the queen, Camellia doesn't think her life can get any worse. Then, she's awoken by crying every night, other Belles go missing, and she's suddenly summoned to take the role of favorite. To make matters worse, she has to try to stay on the good side of the infamously temperamental and eclectic Princess Sophia. 

I've heard great things about author Dhonielle Clayton, so when I found out I would have the chance to read her newest book, I was ecstatic. The summary of the mysteriously magical Belles and the new world of Orleans was enticing as well. Plus, look at that cover! How beautiful and enchanting is that? Anyways, it was a trifecta of excitement and I'm thrilled to share my review with you all. 
Clayton does an amazing job of building the world of Orleans. Part of the reason she's so successful is because she mixes strange new language in with French phrases and translations. This creates an unique and intriguing world that I've never seen before, but feels oddly familiar. Everything in Orleans is ornate, vivid and easy to picture. As a writer, I'm bewildered by the author's ability to convince this world is real so easily and envious of her ability to do it within the first couple of chapters. 

All of the characters in this book was well rounded and interesting, from our narrator Camellia to her rarely seen sisters. It's a full and diverse cast, each minor character coming to life on the page as if they were the most important part of the scene. It reminds me of a quote by Jocelyn Hughes: "Treat all your secondary characters like they think the book's about them." I rarely see examples as good as what you can find in this book. Camellia as a narrator is complex, often acting out in unexpected ways, but she's still relatable. There was never a point in the novel that I doubted Camellia's authority as the narrator or didn't root for her. 

The plot of this novel is absorbing. From the first chapter I was obsessed with finding the answers Camellia poses to her readers. I became completely absorbed in this story in a way a lot of books don't. One night, I even fell asleep thinking about The Belles, had a dream that I was a Belle, and when my husband woke me up I panicked because Belles aren't supposed to have men in their beds. Anyways, the tension is constantly on the rise in this story. It can be exhausting if you try to sit down and read it in a short span of time, so give yourself some time to really savor and enjoy this plot and the setting. There are incredible twists and turns, especially as you get near the end of the book too, so hold on tight! 

The Belles is a beautiful crafted and enjoyable story. Dhonielle Clayton does an amazing job of building the world and characters of the novel. You will be completely immersed in the fight of Camellia and the other Belles. The Belles was released on February 6th, so you can buy yourself a copy today. And keep your eye out for the sequel, hopefully coming soon. I know I will be waiting for it eagerly! 

The Belles is available for order in stores and online now. Buy a copy on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, or better yet, request a copy from your local bookstore!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gorgeous. The world building was great and left me impressed there were certain things I could have done without (tw: assault animal violence) but what I really like about this was that it was unique and something I hadn’t really read before. I liked the first half but found the second half dragging along even as the ‘villain’ was revealed and I felt the first half of the novel was really great especially with all the building and the background that’s given with the discussion about what it takes to be a Belle and how they’re looked at as objects instead of people and how the hierarchy is done. There were certain aspects of the novel that I had to reread to understand but after a while I got what the terms were implying. I did like this but I didn’t love it however I would read a sequel.

I really enjoyed my time reading this boom. I loved the plot and characters. I did find the book a little slow at times and didn’t care much for the writing style, the story itself definitely kept me invested. My only question now is when does the next book come out?

There isn't anything I can say in this review that hasn't already been said a thousand times over. The Belles is an incredible story. Period. Full stop. It's gorgeous, it's lush, the world building is spectacular, the characters are dazzling, the atmosphere is a glittering jewel that hides an incredible darkness. God this book is just everything and it deserves every ounce of the hype it gets and more.

I swear that I had to beg steal and murder to get an ARC of this book. The minute I heard about it I knew I NEEDED to read it and I didn't have the patience to wait.



GUYS THIS BOOK! GAH!

This author has crafted such a complex and invigorating world that I swear chapter after chapter I was feeling more alive and obsessed.

The Belles are beautiful and complicated and some fo the most interested characters that I have ever read about.

In a world where beauty is desired and valued above all else, the world gets very dark very fast and goodness it was complex and beautiful and I got SO HOOKED.

I am already salivating for the next novel. I hope this becomes a trilogy, heck even a full series. I could imagine so many adventure sin this world. For my first novel from this author, I fangirled over it so completely page after page.

So much characters building and world exploring in the first half of the book, and once we got to the middle it was non stop. I couldn't wrap my ind around the world and the questions that were popping up.

This author is absolutely brilliant. BRILLIANT. YA lovers are going to devour this book.

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 loved this book and can't wait for the next book in the series.
I found it to be a quick read, because I couldn't put it down. You are immediately immersed in the story and come to connect with the characters quickly. There is so much mystery and intrigue surrounding what the Belles can do and their lives after their debut. So much happened in this book it is hard to believe it only covered a small time frame. The Belles' abilities is unusual but pretty cool to read about. I can't wait to find out more about how they come to be.

I really wanted to love this book, especially with it being a book by a woman of color, about girls of color - I will always, ALWAYS do everything in my power to support marginalized authors and books where the people I love can finally see themselves represented. That said, so much of what could have been good about this story was broken down by subpar storytelling, a boring narrative, and most of all: the wretched "kill the gays" trope. I am so, so tired of seeing this utilized as a way to evoke pain from the reader. Please do better, Dhonielle.