This book had a lot of fun elements and enjoyable characters. The writing style was fun and the book was a good read. The worldbuilding was amazing and the main character was inspiring. Would recommend to fans of steampunk and fantasy!

Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

The Belles, a fantasy set in an indeterminate past, presents a world obsessed with beauty to the heights of dysmorphia. The God of the Sky made the people of Orleans ugly--gray skin, red eyes, and hair the texture of straw. The Belles beautify the ugly by changing their skin, eyes, and hair to any color desired.

This is the story of Camellia, a Favorite Belle assigned to the queen's palace. It's what she always wanted, but once in the palace, things immediately take a dark turn. I could go on here, but what really caught my attention is the examination of beauty, and this is what I want to explore.

The Belles redefines long held Western ideas about beauty as they pertain to the color skin, eyes, and hair. The people of Orleans value color; all colors are beautiful. Herein lies a book that wonderfully transforms the definition of beauty to include the colors of all races. But that's where the transformation ends.

In Orleans, beauty is a female's business. Only a female can have arcana in her blood (arcana gives them the ability to alter bodies), and it comes through the lineage of a goddess. The Favorite Belle works with the Beauty Minister (a female) and the queen to write Beauty Laws. This trio of women have the power to define beauty, and they sadly and shortsightedly create a culture that undermines all females. Their laws do not respect the Goddess of Beauty and only favors youth, royalty, and wealth.

The Goddess of Beauty gives each female her shape, yet this these varied body shapes do not figure into the Beauty Laws. Instead, the trio uglifies women's body shapes by writing ever changing laws for the size of waists and breasts. Women further uglify their beauty by complaining, criticizing, and altering. More disheartening still, females seek smaller waists and larger breasts because it's the only way to attract a man.

Wrinkles are not attractive even though they are a natural part of living. Older women, even the queen, ask The Belles to erase their wrinkles (perplexing because the queen has the power to define wrinkles as beautiful). And Belles with damaged arcanas may develop wrinkled faces that they must hide under a veil. Beauty belongs to young, unwrinkled faces.
Beauty is for royals and the wealthy. Treatments are expensive, and servants have beauty restrictions. Even though the queen wants to make treatments more affordable for the Gris (those individuals who still have gray skin, red eyes, and hair the texture of straw), the trio is complicit for they set the prices. Beauty is not for the poor.

The Belles is the first in a series, so it is setting the stage for additional books and, hopefully, more transforming ideas about beauty.

I only hate that I have to wait so long to be able to put this book in my students' hands!

I gave up about halfway through. I wanted to like this. I wanted to enjoy this. Unfortunately, there is WAY TOO MUCH description in this thing and yet I still don't know half of what's going on. Page after page about changing the appearances of people and all of the equipment and supplies that are needed, but the plot barely moves. So very boring that I just couldn't take it anymore.

An original idea in the world of YA paranormal. I will definately catch the rest of the series.

Wow. That is all I can say. This book was wow.

It isn't like anything I have ever read before. Yes, there's a hint of dystopia to it, but it's mixed together so well with the fantasy aspect that I felt like The Belles was brand new.

My favorite thing about The Belles was the world building. Every aspect of this world: its culture, its fashion, its design, was unique and well-thought-out. Never once did I feel like the author was making anything up. It was seamless. From the very first page, I was in Orleans. I was fascinated by the backstory and what the Belles were.

And the plot was thrilling. Full of suspense, with a villain that made my heart pound. The further I got into the book, the more the pace picked up, the more I couldn't put it down. I even had a dream about it!

The only minor problem I had was that I was a little bit confused by the Belles' powers and exactly what they could and could not do, especially at the end. Then again, by the end, I was reading it so fast that I might have missed something.

Regardless, I can't wait to read the final product, I can't wait to recommend it to my students, and most of all, I can't wait to read the next one.

Dhonielle Clayton won my heart with her book, The Belles. In a world she has created brilliantly that makes you question all you believe about beauty and the evil that some might be hiding behind their beauty, and the lengths that one will go to fight for what they believe is right. Beauty is what makes the world go round in this story. People purchase to have themselves adjusted so that their gray physic that they are born with is to be hidden by immaculate changes of beauty by group of magical ladies called 'The Belles'.

'The people of Orleans hate themselves. You must change that.'

It is the Belles who have magical blood called their arcana that gives them the magic they need to change what someone looks like from their psychical aspects to their personality BUT these Belles can't give too much of themselves at once or they can ruin their own beauty and lose their abilities.

'Always remember that emotions are tethered to the blood, and the blood is where your gifts are.'

We follow Camellia after she has trained long and hard to be the favorite Belle who services at the Palace to the Queen and her Princesses. It is a very hard position to win but she feels that she has the creativity to take it all but the hardest part is that she is competing with her sisters for the exact position!

'I want it so much there's no room inside me for anything else.'

She goes against the rules during the last competition and lets her creativity shine through but this does not win her any points for being favorite. She has a villager change to look almost identical to her.

'Imagine if everyone went around wanting to look like you. what if they'd only pay if they could have your features? There'd be millions of your lookalikes walking around. We'd be better off being gray again. Beauty is variety. Beauty is change.'

Her sister, Amber wins the favorite position and Camellia is sent to work at a Teahouse that is far from the position she wanted at the palace. She is still expected though to serve her patrons that schedule appointments to the best of her abilities. That is her business.

'The point is to show them that you're strong enough to complete your role. That you're capable, confident, and proficient in the arcana. That you can serve this great world.'

When things start going awry in more ways than one and her sisters seem to not be absolutely thrilled about being Belles and servicing the their patrons Camellia begins to worry, is this really their destiny? She doesn't realize how much things have gone awry until her sister, Amber, gets booted from the favorite position and Camellia is picked! It is not all roses and parities. Let's just say that Princess Sophia's role model may be the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland!

Follow Camellia as she learns more and more about the realistic truths of what it means to be able to purchase your own beauty and as she fights to keep her sisters safe.

I was really entertained and amazed by the world Clayton created. I just really wish that the pacing was a bit faster. There were large sections where I didn’t really know what was going on. The world was so unique, but it didn't feel well developed and hour glasses and balloon mail were the only thing that kept it from being a contemporary dystopian. There was clearly a mystery vibe, but I didn’t know enough about what was going on to even make a guess about what was happening, so I was either bored or confused for most of the book.

That all completely changed in the last third of the book. Once certain plot events happened, the hints and foreshadowing began to make sense and the anticipation of where the story could go was immense. The characters were all really well developed (though I’d argue that there are almost too many characters at times), and there were some characters that were so easy to love, especially by the end. This is definitely a solid read. The themes on beauty and vanity were explored in a way that was fresh and thought-provoking.

This cover was stunning! I first saw it on Twitter, and than came rushing over to Netgalley to see if it was on here to read! I had to wish for it, and I was excited to have been granted my wish!

I enjoyed this book, and its premise. It was a very quick read, with enjoyable, likable characters. I will be the first to admit that I typically am drawn to thrillers and suspenseful books, but I do love a light hearted YA book! My struggle however is when the names and places are just to hard to pronounce, for me, it takes away from the book, so I just give them nicknames and it makes reading flow easier for me. I do see a long writing future for Dhonielle Clayton and a very strong following of fans.

This book left me breathless. Camellia is one of my new favorite heroines. I adored her strength and innocence. Can I have book 2 already??? The end of the book left me weak!

Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The people of Orléans hate themselves. They are born with grey skin and red eyes. It is up to The Belles, the only people born with uniqueness and colour, to make them beautiful. Camellia wants to be the best. She wants to be chosen to serve as the Royal Family’s personal Belle. She wants to be the favourite. But things in the outside world are not what Camellia expected. Soon the fate of her kingdom rests on her shoulders - does she have the power to save it?

This is a beautiful book. The world is crafted surrounding beauty. Over the top styles (think the Capitol in Hunger Games) produced by women whose only job is to beautify the population. There are so many fun little details from teacup pets to the postal system. Clayton has developed a full world in a single novel (though I’m praying for a sequel) in a way many authors fail to.

Camille is feisty, ambitious, kind and an excellent heroine. Sophie is an interesting character as well, although the rest of the cast could use a bit more fleshing out. Clayton’s world and details are strong enough to hold the book up on its own which more than makes up for a slightly sub par cast that will hopefully get more attention in future books.

The book takes twists and turns I never expected. For a while, I was disappointed with a certain subplot, but when everything came to light: I. Was. Shocked. And pleased that the book had taken an interesting direction. Clayton’s writing style is rich and descriptive and I loved seeing the different beauty transformations take place.

This is a book I went into with zero hopes and found myself adoring it. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel to see how this wicked cliffhanger sorts itself out.

I loved, loved this and wish book 2 was out already!! I with both post-balloons were a real thing and that Remy was real.. I really enjoyed the discussion about beauty and the things that people will do to achive it. That, with a dash or two of court intrique makes this a must read!

A fascinating look at the value put on beauty. I loved Camellia and am dying to know where this will go in book two. Can't wait!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of “The Belles” by Dhonielle Clayton. What a beautiful story. I love the characters, the lush world building, and plot that had some unexpected twists. The writing style has the perfect blend of speed and detail. This book is perfect for fans of “The Selection” series.

An absolutely stunning addition to the young adult pantheon of dystopian fantasy, this time coated with confectioner's sugar and magic. Belles are essentially magic workers, used (and abused) for their powers of transformation, both physical and emotional. They can whittle your waist and boost your mood in the same session, albeit with some pain on the receiver's part. With such high demand and emphasis on keeping up with the fashionistas of the time, a Belle named Camille becomes a pawn in a high stakes royal cat-and-mouse game.

While it takes a few pages to get acclimated to this very strange, yet very familiar in an unsettling way, world, Belles is not a book soon to be forgotten. The ending leaves plenty left unanswered and sets up a sequel (or even a series) nicely.

Great story. Will definitely be adding this one to our collection.

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did; the concept is great, but the execution was iffy. I felt like there was an overabundance of description, which may have been intentional, since it's consistent with the obsession with luxury that is such an important theme in the book, but it got to the point where it was consistently pulling me out of the story. I was also not crazy about the present-tense narration. Even so, I can see where this book would appeal to fans of the Selection series by Kiera Cass and the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard and would recommend it to those readers.

Dhonielle Clayton has created the magically beautiful and dangerous world of Orleans. The world is so well created and written that it sucks you in and sends you on a wild ride. The story begins with the myth that explains how the people of Orleans have been cursed, by the God of Sky, with gray skin. To counteract this curse the Goddess of Beauty created the Belles who possess the power to change a person's appearance. The Belles ability is basically temporary cosmetic surgery combined with the ability to dye a person's skin, eyes, and hair.

Our main character Camellia is one of the current generation of Belles. She is desperate to be the best and selected as the favorite who works in the palace. However, Camellia doesn't want to just make people 'beautiful' on the outside; she wants to make them embrace their inner beauty and enhance what is already there. During her journey, she learns that life as a Belle isn't quite as easy as she was taught; dangers and mysteries lurk around every corner.

The side characters are equally fascinating and turn the story into a wild ride, which is full of twists and turns. Her Belle sisters who are also learning that there is more going on inside their tearooms than they are being told. Amber, one of the other Belles, who is Camellia's closest sister and rival. Princess Sophie who is possibly the most dangerous person at court. Auguste the boy who seems to be drawn to Camellia. Remy her unhappy bodyguard who often seems to dislike her; however, there are moments when he seems to really care for her.

I can't wait for the follow-up novel to see where this crazy ride ends.

The Belles is one of those books that I walked away from thinking, “That was pretty great”, and then a few hours later, “Wow, that was awesome”, and then a day later, “OMG that was amazing”. There are so many wonderful things I loved about this book, and "m going to tell you why I think you should read it.

Camellia is a Belle, she possess arcana magic that allows her to transform the appearances, and manners, of the citizens of Orléans. Every year the Belles are presented to the world and given their assignments in the renowned teahouses, and one special Belle will be the favorite, living at the court and attending to the royal family alone. Camellia’s dream has always been to be the favorite, like her mother. But Camellia will soon find out that the contest to become the favorite is just the least of her problems and the challenges to come. Her time at court will show her the dangers, and limitations of her power and exactly what happens when power and beauty combine.

Reading The Belles was like walking through a brightly colored magical land. If I had to describe it, I would imagine something similar to the fashions from Pan Em, The Hunger Games. There are extensive descriptions of the clothes, the colors, and the whole arcana magical process. Characters in the book are as vivid as the clothing.

The obvious favorite, Camellia, is compassionate, intelligent, and brave. However, she’s far from a perfect fragile flower instead being incredibly witty and not without flaws. Her flaws are universal and representative of growing up. She struggles with setting limits and the desire to please in the face of corruption. But this makes her character feel more human and the journey she goes on throughout the book more meaningful.

However, the side characters may be my favorites. Her personal guard Remy and her attendant, Bree to name a few. Even though they are smaller roles, Clayton does not allow them to be less colorful or important. They are compassionate, complex, and clever. And I am eager to see where they go in the sequel.

What I loved most was the idea behind the novel: the concept of beauty. For the citizens of Orléans beauty is coveted and expensive. It is reserved only for those who can pay and seen as the epitome of status. In this society, what is beauty? Additionally, the trends of beauty are constantly changing and there are laws that enforce exactly what can and cannot be done. The intersection of corruption, power, and a lust for beauty is extremely interesting. To me, this dystopia is am amped up mirrored one of ours – except add in some more twists – and because of that, it is fascinating. What will people do in the pursuit of beauty? And how do we become beautiful without losing ourselves?

As the plot develops, the story gets better and better, adding new elements and intrigue. The ending is especially juicy and really leaves you hanging for the next one. While there are explorations of large themes, the all-consuming quest for eternal beauty, on the micro level there is an equally important pursuit: our power to deny the desire to be accepted and accept the responsibility of doing what is right. On both these levels, The Belles excels and delivers an exciting and obsessive read that will leave you on the edges of your seat for the next installment.

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.