THE BELLES is all that is great about fantastical dystopian YA – grittiness and horror wrapped in layers of glitter and silk. I really loved this original premise, and how Clayton juxtaposes the beauty of makeup and fine clothes and elegantly styled hair with the reality of how they are achieved – I had to take a second to pause when reading about how Camellia straightened a girl’s nose, I thought I was going to barf! It’s THAT effective.

Clayton’s lavish descriptions of the land of Orléans – its fashions, its citizens, its cuisine – all really bring the fantasy world to life. I got the inexplicable urge to go for afternoon tea, just because of this book. All those details about the little cakes and chocolate – don’t read this book on an empty stomach. I’m serious. *Crams sweets into mouth*.

My only real qualm with the book is that it feels a bit too long to me, but that’s probably just a personal thing. I also wasn’t a fan of Auguste – there was a lot of chemistry between him and Camellia, and I enjoyed the development of their relationship, but I found him to be a little irritating. Again, that’s probably just me!

AND! I WANT! A TEACUP! DRAGON!

So if you are looking for a unique dystopian fantasy with rich world-building, beautiful descriptions and a touch of horror, THE BELLES might just be for you. I’m definitely going to be reading the next book in the series!

The word that jumps out at me most from this review is 'opulent.' Everything about this book is opulent. From that absolutely stunning cover image to the map on the inside cover (sneak peaked on the author's twitter if memory serves), to the gorgeous descriptive writing everything about this book is dripping with opulence. 

I definitely wasn't expecting to like this quite as much as I did. I think this may be because I'm more attracted to the 'floofy dresses and drama' genre than I think I am? The heavy dose of magic that accompanies those elements definitely helped me to enjoy it more than I did The Selection which is inherently a very different book but has some elements one might compare. 

  I think Camellia as a character is fabulously written. You know that old-ish saying about you wearing the clothes rather than the clothes wearing you? I think that applies to Camellia. In the hands of a lesser author, she would have been nothing more than a hanger for descriptions of pretty dresses and a vague plot about a love interest. In this case, however, she's strong at the same time as being hugely ambitious - not always a character trait writers are comfortable bestowing on women. I read Forest of 1000 Lanterns just after reading this and I couldn't help but notice they both have characters with these kinds of personalities. I believe it was Justine of I should Read That who was remarking that we need more characters who are ambitious and I couldn't agree more. 

I also think this plot is utterly enchanting at the same time as being terrifying. The world which Clayton has built will, I'm sure, resonate with many as it did with me. The ability to change one's entire appearance (not painlessly but fairly quickly) is something I know I shouldn't want, yet found myself wishing for. Clayton clearly understands this and has managed to craft a plot where she exposes the negatives of her own world while never feeling patronizing or preachy. The story starts off fairly superficial and gradually becomes something so much more before you know it you're embroiled in political turmoil. 

I adored this book. I hope that's coming across. 

There is an element of romance, for those interested. It's not the core of the story (unlike many other similar books I could name) but it does play an important part - though not, I believe, in the way most will suspect. 

I am just so grateful for this book. It's the perfect example of a title that could have been another pointless frilly book on a shelf but instead transcended all of the clichés and nonsense and chose to tell a powerful, thought-provoking story with a phenomenal main character and a gorgeously crafted setting. If you were on the fence about this one I hope I've pushed you firmly on to one side or another!

My rating: 5/5 stars

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Such a beautiful book!
There is a deep exploration of Ugly Vs Beautiful, and what attributes are really attached to both in society, what makes us perfect? What would we sacrifice to be beautiful? Does changing ourselves make us insecure or strong?
This book examines deeply ideas of sisterhood: loyalty, rivalry, betrayal, and difficult relationships such as Sophia & Charlotte, and Camille &:Amber, and how our own ambitions can damage these strong ties as we grow up.
I found the vivid, magical world of The Belles simply stunning, the painted description of the created kingdom transports you there with an ease and unveiling that is almost cinematic. I liken the extravagance and wonder to the Capitol in The Hunger Games.
The authors epilogue that details her inspiration for the book is truly touching and I think we can all relate to having experienced that "monster" at times, which I found a strong, inspiring addition.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

The Belles is a study in contrasts that is compelling and artfully written. Beautiful and lush, it is also full of darkness, intrigue, and violence. Set in world obsessed with physical appearance, the author deconstructs the concept of beauty and the illusion of effortless glamour. In this world, Belles are the only people born beautiful and have the ability to change the appearance of others. Everyone else has naturally grey skin, red eyes, and straw-like hair, but those who are wealthy enough to regularly secure the services of a Belle can be beautiful.

Camellia Beauregard is one of the latest Belles being introduced to society. Powerful and ambitious, she hopes to be named the Favorite and work in the palace beautifying members of the royal family. However, nothing is as simple as it appears and she soon finds herself in a dangerous world that she is unprepared for. Full of twists and turns, this book was compelling, terrifying, and laden with vivid imagery.

The world-building was detailed and thoughtful. The lifestyles of the wealthy are outrageously hedonistic. They even own miniaturized wild animals as pets, i.e., bears, lions, and even dragons. Decadent food is constantly available and those who overeat simply have a Belle remove excess pounds. Princess Sophia is reminiscent of Marie Antoinette in many ways, and by the end of the book I was sort of hoping she would be guillotined!

There are scenes that evoke things like plastic surgery and child beauty queens, calling into question our own societal obsession with physical appearance and the impossible standards many feel they must live up to. Camellia sees the innate beauty of those who cannot see it in themselves and I found myself feeling sad for them. I liked the fact that in this book, in-fashion looks (changing minute to minute) are incredibly diverse in terms of skin color, hair texture, and degree of curviness.

The story itself is fast-paced and engrossing with plenty of intrigue. I began to suspect one of the later revelations partway through, as there were definitely several clues throughout the story. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that I was a little underwhelmed with the love interests and I wanted to experience more of Camellia's emotions in some parts of the book. I might have liked the book to be a bit longer. However, I absolutely want to continue on with the series and can't believe I have to wait to find out what happens next!

I received this e-book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Before I began this book I wondered if it was possible that I'm entirely the wrong audience for this book: I'm nearly 50, have only worn make-up for amateur dramatics, and I have zero interest in beauty or fashion. That I found 'The Belles' utterly compelling, the characters and story thoroughly engaging, and the 'themes' of the book terrifyingly thought-provoking just goes to show that right audience or wrong, Dhonielle Clayton has written a book that I will not forget in a hurry.

Camellia is a head-strong, fierce, competitive young woman who wants to 'the favourite' - the Belle chosen to serve the Queen and her family at the Palace. When she gets her heart's desire, however, she finds that there's a far darker side to both palace life, and the 'arcana', the Goddess-of-Beauty-given power that enables a trained Belle to change not only the outward appearance (hair, eye, and skin colour), but the physical form of a person receiving a Belle beauty treatment. Unfortunately, Princess Sophia, the Queen's younger daughter is a wilful, selfish, controlling monster, and Camellia and Sophia clash in increasingly dangerous ways.

This story fascinated and repelled me by turns. The story is beautifully done - the world-building is just the right level of engaging without being overdone exposition. The characters, especially Camellia and Sophia, are believable, three-dimensional and very real.

And my first question, on completing the book, was 'Will there be more?'

This book blew me away. From the incredible writing and mesmerising descriptions, to the detailed characters and plot twists. I loved everything about this book. I can’t even think of something bad to say. I feel so lucky to have been approved on NetGalley to read The Belles before it comes out in February. At first I didn’t know what to expect from this book and I think that is why the story has completely captivated me and the ending has left me wanting more. As any good book should.

In Orléans beauty is everything and without it you are nothing. The Belles were created to gift the people, known as the Gris, with beauty after they were cursed with grey skin, red eyes and straw like hair, cursed for life. The Belles can use their talents to transform how people look and because of that they are precious to the people of Orléans, most of all to the Queen and the Princesses. Camellia is a Belle, but it isn’t enough. She wants to be the favourite, the one the Queen picks to live in the palace and tend to the royal family. It is all she has ever wanted, but not everything is as it seems. Camellia soon learns that there are secrets lurking within the castle and that her powers could put her in grave danger. The Queen has asked her to do something that seems impossible and it could mean risking her life to help the princess who hasn’t woken from her coma. Camellia has to make a choice and either one could have grave consequences.

The first thing I noticed about this book was how Clayton brought everything to life. As I was reading the descriptions of Orléans and the way of the Belles, I could see the vivid colours, taste the delicious delicacies and smell the flowers blooming. Everything was so clear and it felt as though I was right there, that I was Camellia. I haven’t felt that strongly for a book in a while and I found myself wanting to read more and more. As the story progresses and we learn more about the world of Orléans, their customs and the history of the Belles, the secrets unravel in such an intriguing way. Not everything is as it seems and there is always a hint of something darker lurking.

I was so interested in how Clayton came up with the idea of this novel and how she exposed the darkness that comes with wanting to be beautiful and what people would be willing to risk to achieve it. Her note at the end of the book put it all into perspective. How much would we change about ourselves if we could? It’s a dangerous question to ask and shows our obsession with waning to be perfect, something that is mirrored perfectly in The Belles.

All of the characters in this book were amazing, each with their own voice and they were so well developed, which is something that can be difficult to do when there are a lot of characters. Camellia is kind, strong, so sure of herself and inspiring. She wants to do so much good for the people of Orleans, but at the same time she yearns for the times with her sisters and before she became the favourite. She has a strong voice that wants to be heard and eventually is, proving that staying quiet never helps a situation.

The Belles had me gasping in shock and my blood boiling, cursing the spoilt Princess Sophia who is never satisfied with her looks and is, in fact, monstrous. She elicited such a strong reaction in me and that is when you know a character has really come to life, even if they are cruel and vindictive.

The last quarter of the book had me flipping through the pages faster and faster, needing to reach the end. There was twist after twist, as horrifying details emerged and the lives of the characters were at risk. The Belles has left me wishing I had the next book in my hands because I need to know how it will all end.

Overall, this book has become one of my favourites very quickly. Definitely in the top ten and it is one that I could read again, which isn’t something I say often. It challenges our ideas of what is beautiful and shows us how far some people will go to reach those standards, even if it destroys who they are inside. This book deserves all the love it is receiving and more. A five star read for me!

"The Belles" has one of the most interesting concepts I've seen in YA sci-fi/fantasy fiction for a long time. Set in the grandiose world of Orléans, The Belles are the only people born with beauty, and the power to give others beauty, in a society of people who are born with gray skin, ashy hair and red eyes. Once the Belle's arrive at court they are embroiled in the dark secrets and plots of the Royal family and their courtiers.

As the first in what will be a series of books, "The Belles" had a lot of world building to do. Dhonielle Clayton takes no shortcuts in introducing the reader to the world she has created and the Belle sisters and why they are special and their function in society. The writing is incredibly descriptive and inventive. The world of Orléans seems to borrow heavily from the French renaissiance period with steampunk influences (e.g. the post-balloons) and is just full of rich characters and opulent settings which lend themselves to no end of descriptive writing.

Obviously one of the main plot points of the book is that most of the characters appearances change regularly within the book and I found that quite difficult to keep track of. I found it confusing to keep characters in my head and almost impossible to imagine how the Belle's were making their beauty changes. It felt so unnatural to keep imagining people changing things that in our society are so piviotal to who somebody is and how you recognise them, e.g. skin colour, bone structure and body shape. However, as I got to the halfway point in the book the story just swept me along and although I didn't have a strong image in my head of each character I managed just fine.

The last 100 pages of "The Belles" were breathtaking. The pace of the action was fantastic and I liked that it didn't follow the usual YA sci-fi/fantasy tropes. The first half of the book hints at the darkness to come, but when the secrets start to unravel the plot gets more and more threatening and becomes far more twisted than I ever would have expected when picking up the book.

I feel like this book has done a wonderful job of building the world and introducing the characters and I can't wait to continue the series and hopefully get to know the other Belle's more and see how the plot develops.

This book did not work for me on many levels and I'm gutted because I wanted to like it so much.

I want to start by saying that I think a lot of people really will like this book, in the same way that a lot of people liked Red Queen, which was another book I didn't get on with. I just didn't enjoy it myself and I'm glad it's over. The only reason this isn't a one-star review is because of the representation. There aren't enough books with a non-white lead and it was good to see one here. Plus, the gorgeous cover (I'm a tart for beautiful book covers).

So. I found The Belles to be a pretty boring, shallow book with nothing I haven't read before, a load of characters that didn't get developed one iota and a whole bunch of telling-not-showing.

The central message of this book is, 'Society is dangerously obsessed with a narrow view of beauty and this is a bad thing'. Well, yes. I know. I don't need 450 pages of fluff to tell me that. What I wanted to see was a society dangerously obsessed with a narrow view of beauty AND AN MC WHO WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. And this was not what I got.

Camellia was boring. She had literally no thoughts in her head other than about people's appearances. She had no interests other than in beauty products and treatments. She seemed utterly clueless that the world she lived in, where people went for monthly Mystical Plastic Surgeries was bad. In the end, when she does try to bring about change, it's not against the toxic society she lives in but against a ridiculous comic-book baddie. Her narrative is filled with observations on what people and things look like and what people and things smell like and hearing her asinine thoughts for 450-odd pages was like being stuck inside the head of an extra off of TOWIE. Until the end of time.

She was also weak. She gets asked to do something about halfway through the book - it's a pretty big, important something and it's painfully obviously the morally right thing to do, only she dithers and delays her decision on whether to do it because if she gets found out she would be in a world of pain. Coward.

And if Camellia was dull, the supporting characters were paper-thin. Didn't really get a handle on them. Didn't care about them. The romance was cheesy, like a personification of the YA Brooding Hero (Twitter: @YAbroodingHero). It was no surprise that Orleans society placed such emphasis on external beauty when all the people living in it were utterly shallow and utterly hollow.

It's incredibly derivative of lots of other YA dystopians out there - The Jewel and The Selection spring instantly to mind. You know, the thing where the world looks really nice and fluffy, and the girls wander around in huge Gone With The Wind dresses but underneath it's all pretty rotten? In fact, take a look at the cover of the French version of The Belles - remind you of anything?

The writing was okay and I did get a feel for what the world looked like (steampunk Cypress Gardens) but the dialogue was clunky and there weird nouns with no explanation as to what they actually were. Things like a Belle-bun, Belle-trunk, Belle-rose. We don't actually get told how a Belle-bun differs from, you know, a normal bun. Or how a Belle-trunk differs from a normal trunk, other than a Belle-trunk is owned by a Belle.

I wanted to like this book so much, but I didn't enjoy it at all. Boo.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. I'd read some basics, so I had a general idea what it was about, but it still took me by surprise several times. I had my suspicions about two characters and was ultimately proved right twice, but the journey to get there was full of twists and turns.
I liked Camellia. She did her best at all times, in a place where she had very little power no matter how it looked. She learned a lot and grew stronger over the length of the book.
I think there could have been a little more explanation. Most things became clear through context as the story went on, but it took me out of the story to try and figure it out as I went.
AND THAT ENDING. Are you trying to kill us, Dhonielle? I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book...


I received an ARC for review. This did not affect my thoughts in any way.

An excellent start to a new YA fantasy series, which both has something important to say about the importance culture places on beauty and is a ripping yarn, full of intrigue and unexpected twists - and a bit of romance (hurrah)!

One of the most imaginative stories I've ever read. The most intriguing, fascinating world, wow... It's a heady mixture of beautiful & delicious decoration and detail, with a truly exquisite sprinkling of wtf!!! It's so stunningly detailed...The eye-wateringly delicate and decadent descriptions of everything juxtaposed with the story's darker side is my everything❤️😱! The writing is incredibly accomplished––the pacing, dialogue, character arcs, romance, descriptions, settings, structure, all of it. Clayton's way with words is inspiring, and the execution of this amazing story idea is just magic. End of. I love, love, love this book. It has one of my all-time fave contrasting pairings––the utterly, heart-meltingly exquisite and delicate and glittery and innocent and magical and just outright seriously PRETTYYYYYY, paired with the, What. The. Actual. F*uck? When this pairing is done right, it's always sublime. Clayton not only does it to perfection––she takes it one step further. Seriously, you need to preorder this beauty asap, and then you'll know <3 <3 <3

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1991553602
https://twitter.com/London_Shah/status/953245193645502464

This review will be posted on my blog, Foxes and Fairy Tales on 01 Feb 2018
https://foxesfairytale.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/review-the-belles

Look at that stunning cover! Just look at it. So beautiful.

Anyway.... The Belles is nothing like what I was expecting. The concept is really unique and the world-building really original. There's a lot going on between the contest and sibling rivalries, corruption, royal intrigues and hidden mysteries.

I really like Camilla as a character. She was strong-willed and determined but also clearly cared about her sisters. I did really enjoy some of the more side characters, especially (potential love interest?) Remy but I would have liked to see a little more of the other Belles and their personalities. Amber, especially, we're told is Camilla's best friend/sister but I didn't really fell that come through. Hopefully, the sequel will have more of Amber, Edel and the other girls.

Clayton's writing is lovely and very descriptive. It's a perfect fit for a story all about beauty, appearances and colourful dresses. There's a great tension which creeps in as the plot thickens and darker aspects become more obvious. The Belle magic is very well thought out and interesting, but there were a few occasions where I thought the world-building and magic systems could have used a little more explanation.

Vibrant, rich and completely immersive. I couldn't put this book down. Dhonielle Clayton's imagery was beautiful and I couldn't stop thinking about how this would look on screen.
I was taken by complete surprise and didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, and now I'm eagerly anticipating a sequel.

Sumptuous (at times almost edible) prose, a completely immersive world and perfectly paced up till the last sentence, Dhonielle Clayton has created an important and timely novel which forces us to take a closer look at, and challenge, society's obsession with beauty and perfection.

I was captivated from the first pages upon reading this book and how descriptive and imaginative the world building is. The rich and beautiful words Dhonielle Clayton uses to expresses each and every detail is so magical.

This book although intoxicating and fun,has a deeper hidden meaning in the pages. It deals with what people strive for in today's society but beauty is only skin deep. I need to know what happens next!!

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.

Addictive reading.

I love how this book is written from the start - languid and pretty, the words are truly fitting and make for a nice read as we are introduced to Camellia and her powers. The writing works with the story as the words are written as beautifully as the characters are meant to be.

Camellia is also the hero we need. She has so many great character traits throughout this book, she’s charming, strong, empathetic, compassionate, and she makes for a great lead character throughout the story. The comraderie also Camellia has with her sisters I enjoy in The Belles, it feels like a sisterhood and they support Camellia well when they appear within the plot.

I’ve heard so much about this book and it totally makes sense why as this book goes on and with the (excellent) plot not fully resolved, I really need the second book soon!

I kind of see this book everywhere, so great book or deception?

Imagine a world where beauty is a commodity you can buy, obtain through magic. Since thousand of years humans have been cursed by the god of Sky, they became gray without colors, to help them the goddess of Beauty created the Belles. They are humans who can magically transform the physique aspect of any person by changing the skin color, the nature of the hair, weight, size... This process is tiring, but especially painful and the saying, we must suffer to be beautiful takes all its meaning in this book. I really liked the questioning around the physical, and the social pressure to be systematically fashionable, in the norm is a real constraint in our society and the author makes a scary parallel in this book.

Our heroine Camille takes her role very seriously. She dreams of being the first Belle, but she does not suspect the political games she will have to confront and divert. The court is a bloody world like the old courts of Europe. Moreover, there is a lot of reference in French in the book and as a French person it made me smile. Camille is for me very naive at the beginning of the book and it will take some time for her to learn, it is also an ambiguous character who is not always friendly, but you can blame it on her education.

As for my opinion about the book, I found it very intelligent in it construction and in the message of the author, the issues around beauty are coupled with a quest for power that easily embarks the reader. In addition, the action is great and there are some twits plot that I found very well done. The ending announces an equally exciting sequel. In any case, it's a series for me to discover and follow.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dhonielle Clayton and the publisher for ARC of The Belles in exchange for an honest review.
First thought; where can I get a teacup elephant/tiger/lion/crocodile/dragon?
Second thought; this book was so lush. I literally adored it, I stayed up while the early hours of this morning reading until I literally fell asleep and then once I got home today started again and read on until I'd finished.

The Belles has been appearing on my Netgalley dashboard for weeks now, but tell me off for Judging a book by it's cover, or rather its name, I presumed it was some kind of historical fiction about debutantes and therefore wasn't interested. I know, I know, I should have read the synopsis but a lot of my Netgalley choosing is done by looking at covers/titles if I don't know the author already, because I just don't get enough time to read every synopsis! But anyway, I digress. I then saw The Belles mentioned on a lot of other blogger's pages as one of the most anticipated reads of 2018 so I decided to give it a go, and I'm so glad I did!

The Belles creates a world which tears apart every concept of beauty we currently hold in today's western society, the celebrity culture and world of Silicon Valley, reality tv and the quest for perfection. Here, all people are created grey, their hair is dry and brittle, their skin the same, bristles grow from their upper lips and chins, their eyes are red, beauty is something nobody holds. Except for the Belles. Created by the Goddess of Beauty to restore beauty to the world, the people of Orléans rely on the Belles to give them long flowing locks, flawless skin in whichever colour they choose, muscles, shining eyes and even tempers, anything their heart desires to make them the fairest of them all.

But (unsurprisingly) there's a dark undertone to this story, which Camille and her sisters, the latest of the Belles to join society, soon find out. Worked to the bone and struggling to maintain their strength and connection to the Arcana in their blood, dominated by a verging on crazy princess, a queen too sick to protect them, and the secrets which lie at the root of the Belle's very existence.

Can Camille get the bottom of the problem and rescue herself and her sisters from the horrors of the royal court? You'll have to read it to find out!

The Belles is without a doubt my favourite book of 2018 so far, and all I can hope is that there's a next book and that it will be coming soon!!

4 1/2 stars. Woah. The Belles is a monster hidden behind a pretty facade of dresses, magic, and beautiful writing. The world and story slowly build through stunning descriptions, as the author peels back the layers of society's obsession with beauty, revealing all the ugliness that lies underneath.

In the fictional world of Orléans, a small number of girls called Belles are able to use magic to create beautiful (or, indeed, ugly) looks to the paying customer's desire. Camellia and her sister Belles have been trained their whole lives for their job, and each longs to be chosen as Her Majesty’s favorite - the one responsible for keeping the royal family beautiful and satisfied.

The descriptions are lavish, an effective juxtaposition with the darker plot lines that unfold. The ugliness in this beautiful world creeps out slowly, though I still found the earlier chapters compelling. Clayton's world was unique enough, and the characters interesting enough, to keep me enchanted until it was time to learn what was lurking under the surface, but it is the last hundred pages where the book really shines. In a horrific way.

Questions gradually arise about the origin of the Belles and their magic. Loyalties are also questioned. Camellia and the other Belles hear voices crying out in the night; voices of people who shouldn't be there. And there is a deliciously despicable villain whose desire for beauty, it seems, cannot be sated, and who made my blood pressure rise and my heart pound. Nothing like a nice bit of nastiness to keep the pages turning.

But, through it all, the real villain is society's obsession with, and expectations for, beauty. In a world where every part of a person can be changed - skin, hair and eye colour, bone structure, waist, breast and hip size, and more - no one is ever satisfied. In the insatiable quest for beauty, deep down, everyone hates themselves. Behind this mesmerizing fantasy of magic and terrible secrets, there is a sad tale, and one that many of us won't find completely unfamiliar.

Lots of originality and food for thought. Oh, and it's a damn good pageturner, too.