So…I’m that person.

You know the person who gets completely swayed by a book cover? Yup. Me.

It was the cover art for The Belles that caught my attention originally. I quickly dismissed it, thinking it was a romance. (Nothing wrong with romance novels. It’s just that sometimes I’m more in the mood for the kind of screaming that comes with pain and terror.)

But despite my dismissal, I kept being drawn back to the cover. It was so striking.

And, finally, I read the plot summary and oh my god, I was in.

Now, quick other book reference: The Belle reminding me a bit of Glitter. It has that kind of lush, completely over-the-top ostentatiousness about its setting. Sometimes when reading the book, you’re just overwhelmed by its absolute gorgeousness.

But, never fear, the author very quickly lets you in on the fact that there are some pretty ugly secrets behind all this beauty.

More than once, just when I let myself me lulled into that same old YA dystopia complacency, the author would pull the rug out from under me with something I simply didn’t see coming. And as for the origin of the Belles themselves? I knew something was up, but didn’t expect that!

As I’ve read a little of the buzz now about the book, people keep talking about the fact that the author is African American and you’ve got that lovely brown-skinned girl on the cover. I do want to tell you that the book isn’t about race. At all. In fact, the author has created a world where you choose your own skin – and you can change it every month if you want. You simply choose based on your idea of beauty and the skin in the book ranges from the palest of whites to the deepest of browns. Race just isn’t a thing in this book. Beauty is. Pain is. And betrayal, and romance, and heartbreak, and fear.

I loved this book. There’s certainly room to make this a series and I truly hope the author does!

I was intrigued by the concept of this novel and all that it might implicate. I got a little over 100 pages through it, but unfortunately, the story dragged for me, without gripping or intriguing me further enough to keep going for 300+ more pages. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
_______________________ I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

It is very rare these days to find a book with such an original premise as this. I absolutely loved the whole idea of the plot and the charcters within it - it completely drew me in, until I coukd not put it down.
What a rare beast! I cannot wait for more from this author.

In a market crowded with gritty dystopias, this Rococo fantasy about beauty and pain and power really stands out. Everything in Camille’s world is beautiful, but we soon learn that beauty comes with a frightening price—jewels have sharp edges, and silk is strong enough to bind. The physical transformations that Camille performs for the nobility cost people in pain and suffering, and endanger her own life if she does too many. Camille herself is ambitious, powerful, creative, and rebellious, and my heart ached for her. To tell you how the betrayals and revelations unfold is to spoil you for the reading, but believe me when I say that this is a stunning story and a fascinating world and I can’t wait for book two, whenever that may be.

In a world where most people are born grey and lifeless looking, few women are born vibrant and different. When Camilla arrives with her sisters to the Palace in Orleans, she has no idea what is in store for her, besides trying her hardest to be the Favorite Belle, one that works in the Palace with the royal Family. The Palace is full of wonder, beauty and delights, but beyond the glamorous veneer, lay secrets, treachery and dark truths. Will Camilla and her sister be seduced by the glittering lives they expect to lead or will everything they don't know sweep away their happiness?

Lush world-building and a strong premise with fully developed characters. I really enjoyed this story. The author's descriptions really made the book come alive.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley

We are constantly told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that is because there is some truth to the statement. Tastes are different after all. But the only time that phrase is trotted out on a regular basis is when talking to someone who is not the standard of beauty (or even okay looks) in society. A bit too heavy, a bit too skinny (less common I know), a nose that is a bit wrong.
Society and people can be cruel to those who don’t met or even care to met beauty standards, ever changing beauty standards too. While currently, body shape might be a consistent, hair styles, dress styles, make-up, and such always seem to be changing.
And the people judged most harshly for not meeting such standards due tend to be women. This isn’t to say that men (and boys) don’t feel the pressure to. But can you name me a movie where an overweight, unattractive woman got the hot stud? Or how about that version of Beauty and the Beast where the beast female?
Still waiting.
In part, this is because girls and women are bombarded with images from the start. As much as you love Disney movies, you have to acknowledge the princess mostly look like and barely have room for a stomach. Want a lower percentage, look at how many are not white. Do the same for pretty much any tv show, movie, or even singer.
Hell, the dancers on any dance show have been called fat by some jackass because they actually have hips.
We have ads that depict young girls dressing as adults. Not playing dress up but actually dress like they have double ds. We have clothes for young girls that say things like future trophy wife.
Clayton attacks society and culture’s obsession with beauty head on in this book.
The Belle takes place in a world where everyone is born grey. Th expectations to this seem to be the Belles, women (seemingly always women) have power. They are basically plastic surgeons who use magic (surgery is still painful, just done by magic). Every three years, a group of Belles is introduced to the court and then sent to severe the royal family and various houses. Camellia, as well as most of her five sisters, aspires to be the Royal favorite, to severe the royal family.
Hence the story starts.
At first, the novel seems to be standard YA. Cameilla is the most powerful of the current crop of Belles, she is a bit rebellious, and her closest rival is her closest friend. Of course, their friendship suffers in the competition to be the Royal Favorite. At the beginning, the only Belle that truly stands out besides Camellia who is telling the story, is her fellow Belle Edel who seems to have the most spirit.
But then Clayton does something that is absolutely brilliant. Usually in many YA and even in adult books, the heroine who tells the story is practically perfect. Clayton doesn’t do this. It’s true that Camellia is clueless in some places about her behavior, but the reader is aware of this. Clayton does this so well, so in part of the story is the mystery and part of it is rooting Camellia on to be a better person. Such change fits the character because there are flashes of it in the very beginning of the story.
This is also true about the world building which in the beginning seems a little confusing, but this is in part because of the Belles’ sheltered existence. Many times, both Camellia and the reader experience something for the first time. While the world is run by the idea of beauty, it is also a relatively open world – gay marriage, for instance, does seem to be allowed. At times, too, Camellia is aware of the different classes and different issues outside of her privilege position.
Slowly, she awakens to what her position really is. At first, one wonders if the Belles are really priestesses, but very quickly the parallels to slavery are shown, and Clayton does not really pull any punches with this connection. She may not be as direct as Whitehead’s Underground Railroad, but the point and setting are far different. Yet, Clayton does seem to draw in much in reference to actual historic slavery.
Another thing that send out in this book is the use of color. Everyone is born grey, and the skin color of a person can change. And before I go any farther in this paragraph, I need to point out a few things. One, I am a white woman who is overweight. Two, I never paid that much attention to people on the covers books until I became friends with Fountain Pen Diva on Goodreads. It would be fair to say that she woke me from my privilege and got me to notice how few people of color are on covers (she didn’t have to get me to notice how few people of color are in books as well, at least as the central figure). It was because her that I noticed this book. Clayton’s characters run the gamut of skin color, yet it is a legitimately varied existence. It isn’t like the all-white New York that seems to exist in so many forms of media. Camellia isn’t the only Belle (or central character) with dark skin, and all skin color, except grey, is shown to be equally admired and desirable by society. Clayton’s book is one of the few where I have seen this, Max Gladstone’s Craft books are another (maybe I am reading the wrong books). In many ways, this detail made me think of Coates’ comments about race.
Looks and race all in one book? And done well, too. Seriously, Clayton needs to win some awards by the end of the year. I give bonus points to Disney and Freeform for publishing this. And it passes the Bechdel test. This isn’t to say there isn’t a love triangle, but the ladies have more important things to worry about, like that mysterious crying.
Is The Belles a perfect book? No. I had some questions – for instance if the ruling line is matrilineal, then wouldn’t the Queen have lovers in addition to or even instead of the king – and the beginning of the book is a little slow, but with some very good, brave narrative choices. Still, despite the flaws, the book is quietly brilliant and stays with reader.
And I find myself waiting for a second book in a YA series.

The Belles is not a romantic fairy tale about queens and princesses and castles. It is dark, and sad, and thought-provoking, and quite a fabulous novel. I’m still processing the end and how it caught me off-guard. It makes me happy this is only the first book in the series. I’m going to be impatiently waiting for the sequels. I am so thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Lush, exciting, and well-paced. Finished it in two days!

I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last! This is going to be a very popular book at my library!

This book is good in that it the last 15% of the book is interesting. The first 45% dragged and could've been cut down considerably. The plot, once actually established, is good and makes me want to read the next book, but there is so much unnecessary description and world building that it bogs down the plot. This would've been a two-star rating if not for the last 5% of the book.

What a wonderful fantasy book about beauty and madness. Camellia is a Belle - a fantastical beauty expert that can alter appearances with magic. This sumptuous world is a joy to be in. The visuals conjured on the setting is just dazzling and luscious. Can’t wait for the sequel.

This was a wonderful and truly unique story. The world of the Belles is so unlike anything else I’ve read and I was surprised by how truly creepy this world was. Beauty is a unique commodity that is doled out by the Belles who have a special ability to shape people and control “beauty.” The way it was described was honestly frightening, the lengths people would go to in order to be beautiful and the indoctrinated mindsight of people to think it’s natural and okay. I loved this book so much more than I was expecting and the main character is an awesome woman of color who doesn’t sit back quietly and do what she’s told if she thinks something isn’t quite right. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and see what is going to happen next. There was a lot left open, especially with the princesses and the queen and even the rest of the Belles. I am so excited to find out what’s really going on.

Clayton has excellent writing and worldbuilding, and I know there are a ton of people who will devour this book. I read the first page and desperately wanted a teacup sized elephant, after all, but Camellia's voice was heavy on the exposition and introspection and dragged at the pacing some. Personally, I'm still suffering from dystopian burn-out; this book hit on a bunch of tropes I am tired of, but Clayton weaves them well and many readers are probably going to find them refreshing. I was hoping for more growth from the cast of characters, and not just from Camellia, who starts out so incredibly self-absorbed that there's almost nothing for her to do but develop over the course of the book. It's a unique story that any collection will benefit from, but I just couldn't connect with it.

A large portion of the book is spent on building the world, the book's plot picks up more towards the end of the novel and all I can say is WOW! I can't wait to read more from Clayton and to see how the series develops in the future!

I was disappointed in this one. I just never felt connected to the characters, and I never felt like I fully understood the world in which they lived. Nevertheless, I know a few readers who will enjoy it, so I will purchase if I have enough funds.

I'm guessing this is going to be a series? And if so sign me up for the next book please. Great detail! Loved the New Orleans vibe. The cover didn't really attract me, but the story line sounded good so that's why I tried for a copy. Even though it's a long book, it was a quick read, and kept me interested until the end. I loved the characters so much!!!

I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book. It was so refreshing and I found myself not wanting to put it down! For sure going to be one of my top reads of 2018, along with a few more that is. I am going to be raving about this one for a while. The way that Clayton puts certain scenes, and the dialog is outstanding! I will be ordering for my YA section in my library for sure!

I read any advance reader copy of this book granted to me by the publisher on netgalley.

I don't feel I can leave a true review since it's my understanding changes are maybe being made... so I'll just say that as is right now I'd give it 2 stars. I'm unlikely to try reading this again when it actually comes out so my review is basically meaningless.

Book could've been edited down a little bit. Overall writing style/plot mirrored parts of different popular YA: Leigh Bardugo's Grisha that could augment beauty, Kiera Cass' The Selection, and the horribly written YA attempt by Tyra Banks, Model Land.
Good very ending, some characters not fleshed out. Put a lot into this book as a set up for a sequel, probably 2 books more. Motivation for characters didn't always make sense (no spoilers).
I hated the balloon posts and lantern references. Too much.

Overall enjoyed, gave 1 more star for the cliffhanger.