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

Camellia is a Belle, a girl with the gift of Arcana. And with her Arcana, she can turn the dullest person into the most beautiful. The Belles are seen as precious for their beauty rejuvenates while others must purchase treatments. Without the Arcana of a Belle, a person will revert to grey skin and straw hair. But only those who can pay for the exclusive treatments can be made beautiful. Every generation of Belle dreams to be the Queen’s favorite, but it isn’t just lavish living and parties. Dark secrets are lurking in the palace and truths that Camellia may wish she never found out. The Belles takes vanity to a whole new level. As the story unfolds Dhonielle Clayton paints a world of color and majesty. Her descriptions were so vibrant and refreshing. Each new setting is brought to life for the reader and you can’t help but see how beauty has made the upper class desperate. People are constantly comparing themselves to others. Some bordered on the edges of obsession with their looks, willing to pay for daily treatments to try and become the next fashion idle. The Belles are raised in a sheltered life and taught all the beauty laws before being shown to the people of Orleans. Watching Camellias' realization of how the world works was captured so well. And as the plot progresses, her reactions to the more horrifying aspects of her new life kept me riveted. While I suspected some of the plot points, I didn’t guess them all. This was a fascinating read with a magic system I have never encountered before. I can’t wait to see how the story progresses. Camellia’s character development has only begun, and it has already been a worthwhile journey.

I knew from reading the synopsis of this book that I would immediately love it. The concept and plot of this story is superb, while its development is slow and steady. We meet our main character, Camellia, immediately and it’s through her naïve eyes that we are carried through the story. Since Camellia is essentially an outsider and separate from the bulk of society on account of her gifts, I believe that she worked as a great protagonist since readers are able to accurately and realistically learn about this creative universe through her perspective as she herself learns. Her slow character development led readers in a natural direction that was easy to follow. I absolutely fell in love with the mystery behind the true nature of this magical, fictional New Orleans. My only complaint concerning this story is its writing style, which is technically only a matter of taste. I spent the first several chapters forcing myself to read rather than enjoying myself. However, once I became used to the writing style, I eventually came to love and enjoy it. Overall, this is a completely original and thoroughly unique story which conveys a clear message that the author skillfully intertwines with the plot and heart of the story. Such a message is not thrust down reader’s throats, but told in a fashion that allows readers to develop their own perspective of the matter. The story works almost as an interpretative, symbolic piece representative of the struggles each and every individual likely feels each time they look in a mirror. I’m definitely anticipating book 2 of this series!

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.

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.