Is it possible to overuse food metaphors? This book proves that it is. During the first 50 pages, every single page contains a food-related metaphor or simile. (There are 685 uses of the word "like" in this manuscript. In case you are wondering, yes, it is excessive. ["... like an overly frosted piece of caramel cake..." "...like a row of eggs..." "...like silver knives ..." "...like pink champagne on the tip of my tongue ..." ' like amethyst stars..." "like jewels on velvet cushions..."]) It is ridiculously distracting, pulling the reader out of what could be (but isn't) a fascinating new world. The ending does pick up steam, resulting in a cliff-hanger, but it doesn't feel like enough to save this book from the author's unremitting onslaught of similes. Couple that with inconsistencies in characters (and stereotypical characters at that) and this book is just barely readable for anyone over the age of 16. Tween readers will probably adore it.

Posted to Goodreads: For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CHFT...

Camellia is one of the elite in her country of Orleans. She is a Belle, a girl with powers to control beauty. Camellia has only one goal, she wants to be "The Favorite Belle". Camellia believes she'll do whatever it takes to be the best but the closer she gets to her dream the more she learns about what's really going on in Orleans and the truth behind the Belles.

This was a well written fantasy that felt fresh and original. The characters were well crafted and the court intrigue aspect was well done. However, the beginning of the book moved slow and the first one hundred pages felt a little unnecessary.

I was curious about this book as I was seeing so many mentions on social media, I did not know what to really expect. Once I went over the first few chapters describing a dystopian world and understood the role of being a Belle, I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline. This book is not a typical story of beautiful debutantes and charming heroes, it goes so much deeper with friendship, courage, villains and makes you think about the value of beauty.

This was a very clear case of almost, but not quite. I felt myself reaching, wanting this to be outstanding, but it kind of just hi medium.

I absolutely adored the premise, and wasn't surprised after finishing it to realise Dhonielle Clayton's involvement in WNDB. Super kudos for that. But I felt like the premise had so much it could delve into in regards to exploration of relations between the Belles and the regular people and the power dynamics that were going on.

I enjoyed learning about the wold that they were inhabiting and as such it felt kind of jarring when halfway through lots of political stuff became happening. I liked the political stuff. I wanted more of that. But I'd already settled into this being an exploration of pretty girls and their abilities. I wish all of the concepts had come in earlier.

There was one major romance... and there just plain shouldn't have been. There was one side romance that was PERFECTION, so that's cool.

Almsot, but not quite. The language was fine, but could have been taken up a few notches and been stronger. The plot could have been smoothed out extensively. The characters could have been more distinct.

I wanted to love this. Sigh.

4.5 stars. Stunning. On one level this is about the pursuit of beauty and resisting aging. I was expecting something like The Selection. But there's a whole other layer to this that is dark and twisting and unexpected.

The world building is fascinating. It took me awhile to get the feel for it, but once I did, I couldn't put the book down. Terrific teasers and secrets throughout the story as it unfolds. The ending drove me from page to page, stunned by the way things played out. The sequel will be in high demand. (Trigger warning - assault)

Today six girls who considered themselves sisters were turning sixteen. There were also to make their debut Camilla arriving in a clear and beautiful carriage and she was the last in line. This was the first time camilla visited the imperial island, the first time she had ever left home. Camilla felt like she never wanted to return home. One minute here was richer than a thousand minutes home. Camilla knew her life was about to transform that night. Camilla was a Belle and controlled beauty. Camilla wants to be the one who makes the royal family beautiful. Camilla wants to be the one the queen picks as her favorite. She wants the power the comes with being her majesty’s favorite. Camila knew if she could be better than Amber she will be chosen. Camilla’s mother tells Camilla she must be the favorite just like her mother before her before she died. The favorite shows the world what is beautiful. She reminds the people of Orleans what is essential. Camilla and her sisters had been prepared for this day since their thirteenth birthday- all the lessons. The lectures, and the practice. She knows exactly what to do it’s been rehearsed. The crowd believes Camilla and the others were born knowing how to make them beautiful. They don’t know how hard Camilla has worked to perfect the traditions and master the arcana, how she struggled to learn all the rules. As the carriages are lined outside the palace Camilla is outside and a boy talks to her which is forbidden yet she is not afraid of him. It is forbidden for men to be alone with Belles outside the confines of beauty appointments or to speak to them unless the conversation relates to beauty work. They were not to fraternize with non-Belles. Camilla did something different and against the rules to show what she could do and because of that she went to the best teahouse but was not the favorite Amber was chosen. Then Camilla and Amber had an argument and Camilla pushed Amber and Amber fell down and Amber said some very mean things. Time went by and then something that had never happened before Camilla was summoned back to the palace and the queen and asked to assume the duties of the favorite. But none will tell her where Amber is. Elizabeth only told Camilla what Amber had done in exchange for some beauty treatments.
I read about 40 % of this book and really couldn’t get into this book. I didn’t connect with the characters or the story . I won’t rate this unless I have to as I didn’t finish this book. I am sure others will enjoy this book.

I wanted to love this book so much. First off, the cover is absolutely stunning. It provides just a hint of the lush, magical world of The Belles. And yet… Well, when authors I love rave about this book as well, it makes me all the more excited. This is the first book by Clayton that I’ve read, her fantasy debut. While I enjoyed it for the most part, there were also some glaring issues which prevented me from clutching the book to my heart in merriment.

TW: Sexual assault

What a luscious, gorgeous, delectable world Clayton has created. We dive right into the action from the very first page. The world of Orléans and that of the Belles is filled with beauty and wonder. I cannot get over the concept of this novel. How incredibly unique to have a handful of women control beauty. And yet how dreadful for them to control it as well–pushed and pulled in a variety of directions all for the rich and glamorous who can afford it.

There were times I didn’t quite understand how the magic–or arcana–of the Belles worked, but as the story progressed and we followed Camellia into her world, I found myself comparing the Belles’ work to that of a modern-day plastic surgeon. People can change their looks on a whim–at the right price, of course–pale moon skin color or tawny brown the next, flowing black hair or brilliant red the next. The people of Orléans are born as Gris, gray-skinned, red-eyed, but the Belles can make them beautiful. The unfortunate part is that the beauty never lasts, and the Belles are always in business.

However, as I continued reading, I came across a handful of problems and personal dislikes. While I liked the world-building to an extent, I eventually felt like I was reading a laundry list, whether it was colors, fabrics, or food (which all sounded delicious actually). I loved that it gave off an elegant utterly decadent 1700s French style, à la Marie Antionette. But that also meant there was a dark side, and we saw just how much some people were willing to pay for beauty.

The characters were conniving and yet…confusing. I loved how close Camellia and her sisters were, and I just had to keep reminding myself they’re only sixteen. Yet sometimes I thought their antics were very two-faced, especially that of Camellia and her best friend, Amber. One of the most uncomfortable part was in the last few chapters and what happened with Claudine, one of Princess Sophia’s ladies-in-honor (ladies-in-waiting?). Claudine is the only queer woman in the book and her fate made me a bit uncomfortable. I thought it was horrible to use her in such a way to show how bad one particular character was. (Thank you, Destiny @ Howling Libraries, for pointing that out to me.) But besides that, the princess also announces Claudine’s marriage to a gentleman who is quite possibly a known serial rapist. Not to mention this same person also attempted to sexually assault the main character! No good! I also found some of the characters to be very flat, especially Rémy and even the queen. (Though I quite liked Rémy and his role at the end of the novel in regards to helping Camellia.)

The writing style also fell short for me. There was a lot of room for stronger sentences instead of the typical “noun verb direct object” style. I don’t know if that’s Clayton’s usual style of writing as this is the first book I’ve read by her, or if it’s because this is her first fantasy book. Regardless, I’d like to see more intricate writing.

I thought about giving this 2.5 stars, but the ending and the light shed of a lot of the Belles’ history and how they’re raised, along with what Camellia and Amber did together (girl power!) helped bulk this up to a full 3 stars. I also have some hope for the next book in the series, and that queer woman (if there are any in the next book) receive better treatment.

Hello happy readers! So I didn’t have any new books to share this weekend but I did get some reading done so yay! One of the books I was able to finish is a new release I got thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, for an honest review, The Belles (The Belles #1) by Dhonielle Clayton. I didn’t know a ton about the book when I requested it just that I had seen it around on many anticipated reads sections and when I saw it the summary was rather intriguing so I wanted to give it a go.

Rating: 4 Stars

Camellia is a Belle. She is one who is not born gray and dammed but full of color and able to control beauty in others. Beauty is a commodity and Belles are raised and trained to use their gifts to beautify. Camellia wants more than to be any Belle she wants to be the favorite chosen to serve the Queen of Orleans. When Camellia and her sisters arrive at the palace to be sorted to the proper slots it becomes clear there is much more to the world than they were raised to believe. Danger, intrigue, secrets and half-truths are everywhere including their own guardians. Their gifts may be more powerful than anyone realized and when propositioned with a request by the Queen herself to risk her life she is caught between pleasing the queen and trying the untried or save herself and her sisters.

So this book appealed to me in the form of seeing beauty as a commodity in a more literal sense. I am not the make-up type of girl mostly because I don’t have the patience to figure it out or the energy to do it but I love watching other looks and how they can be transformative. As many people base things on first impressions and looks (beauty) is how most people (women especially) are judged I was curious about this world.

The first start of this I was a bit concerned because I didn’t really like Camellia. She was vain and a bit selfish and it was harder to really feel for her character at first. I say this because as the story progressed I did grow to like her. There were moments where she felt just a bit static at times where later progress seemed to come out of nowhere so it was a bit out of synch to me. There was a bit of romance as well that just never felt viable for me so I wasn’t too invested though I feel I should have been. Though he did have some of my favorite lines. Another platonic relationship was nicely developed and had me invested but had a rather unsatisfying ending and the lack of concern to even ask about it bothered me a bit given the connection there before.

"I don't mind it. Sometimes it reminds me that I'm awake."


"Love is when hearts beat together."

That probably sounds like a lot of negative things but they were just little things and overall they didn't stop me from enjoying the story. If anything when I grew to care for Camellia it was even more rewarding. I did enjoy the slow burn and build of the story and how many different strings that started to tug and play their way into the larger picture over time. It was beautifully written and paced nicely keeping the suspense and danger building. We got to know many characters. I really enjoyed some of the ladies of honor, the other Belles, Remi, Bree and some of the royals and guardians and look forward to learning more about many of them and their roles in the future books. While you didn’t get to know as much about some they had their own uniqueness to them that had nothing to do with their beauty treatments. There is also much more to this world than beauty and my favorite moment is when Camellia is trying to help some see their own unique beauty that is there already. I have some theories about the next book and what I think this one has lead to. I felt some deeper meaning to beauty than what is on the surface and it deepened the story that much more.

I am excited to learn more about the world not in the court or high society but the regular every day markets and such which we only got glimpses of. I also look forward to getting to know more about the sisters and characters. While there were a couple moments with Camellia and Amber that felt a smidge off I am hoping at least one can be explained later. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Until next time…

I'm going to start this review by just plain saying: READ IT. NOW. DO NOT QUESTION, JUST DO. Because let me tell you, it will be worth every moment of your time.

I first heard about this book about a year ago, and it shot straight to the top of my 2018 anticipated reads, and happily it lived up to my mountain of expectations. The world building is rich, ambitious, vibrant, sinister and thought out to a T. The characters are diverse (yes!), complex, interesting and compelling. Need I say more? I found this book very refreshing in the giant bubble of YA fantasy. Also, Remy. Just, sigh.

Also, I would like to point out that I am now a complete wreck because the last hundred pages or so just literally blew me away! It changed the game, and I need book two immediately.

I eagerly awaited this title after reading about it in social media. It exceeded all my expectations. The characters, the setting, the universe. I loved all of it. I immediately sought out the author’s other books as well. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5/5

Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian

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

Pages: 448

Author Website

Amazon 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!

I’ve been hearing talk about The Belles for months now, and, for the most part, it totally lived up to the hype. The idea that Belles have the power to change a person’s appearance/ demeanor is fascinating to me. The world building was great, but I wish there was more. I was constantly asking myself why and how. I get that Camilla didn’t have the answers or was so used to her situation that she didn’t ask questions, but I want to know how the world came to be this way, and not just because of a myth. Unless the gods are actually interacting with the characters, I need more explanation than that.

I love that diversity is welcome and accepted in this world, and that the narrator’s brown skin is considered beautiful. I truly enjoyed this one.

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.