The Belles

Dhonielle Clayton

Feb 2018 · Sold by Disney Electronic Content

About this ebook

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. But it's not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision. With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever. Dhonielle Clayton creates a rich, detailed, decadent world of excess and privilege, where beauty is not only skin-deep, but a complete mirage. Weaving deeper questions about the commodification of women's bodies, gender equality, racial identity, and vanity with high-stakes action and incredible imagery, The Belles is the must-read epic of the season.

Ratings and reviews

Our main character is Camille, a Belle, who can manipulate the body and personality of others. And in this world called Orléans, people are gray as a default; the Belles put give them "beauty" and changes how they look from their original self and gives them color. This was a gorgeous and lyrical book that was enthralling and captivating. This world was scary and twisted— a reflection of our own society and the dream of the "ideal beauty." The book starts off slow and builds the mysterious world of Orléans— but after the first hundred pages or so, the world is fast-paced and the stakes are high. I loved so many of our three-dimensional characters and their relationships with Camellia. The bodyguard is professional but soft-hearted. Ambrosia's sister-like relationship with Camellia is loving, but it can change within a heartbeat from competition. This book has so many important messages about beauty, feminism, and competition. Trigger and content warnings for sexual assault, torture, animal cruelty, misgendering of a trans character, and the use of the "bury your gays" trope.

Original, thought-provoking dark fantasy! The Belles are held in regard, just below the royal family. They train, from childhood, to control beauty, shaping beauty in others. Raised in solitude, vying for the coveted spot of "favorite" ( Belle to the royals), Cahighrmellia and her sister Belles arrive in Orleans naive and unaware of the trials they'll face. Extremely descriptive of fashion / beauty and slow moving, at times. Good book for book clubs and schools about social issues. First book in a series. Waiting to see where the next book takes us! 3 1/2 stars. Voluntarily read ARC, thru Netgalley and publisher, for honest review.

Really good! Nearly halfway through I read Sophia calling Camellia "favorite" as "slave". The tension and slow unwinding of society read like a terrifying (but beautiful!) flower opening. I'd like to add several trigger warnings (I couldn't find any content warnings before purchasing and I think others should know) for attempted sexual assault, several violent physical assaults that include murder and attempted murder, and body horror. I can't describe that last one without spoiling the book. The framing is very good and empowering though, I made it through without any panic attacks (a rarity). Can't wait to read more! (After a beauty nap to calm my nerves.)

About the author

Author Info:

Dhonielle Clayton is the coauthor of the Tiny Pretty Things series. She grew up in the Washington, DC, suburbs on the Maryland side and spent most of her time under her grandmother’s table with a stack of books. A former teacher and middle school librarian, Dhonielle is cofounder of CAKE Literary—a creative development company whipping up decidedly diverse books for a wide array of readers—and COO of the non-profit, We Need Diverse Books. She's got a serious travel bug and loves spending time outside of the USA but makes her home in New York City, where she can most likely be found hunting for the best slice of pizza. You can also find her online at www.dhonielleclayton.com or follow her @brownbookworm.