Series: The Belles, Book One
Publisher: Gollancz
Format: ARC**
Published: 8th February 2018
Number of Pages: 448
Book: For Review*
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythical, Mystery, Coming-Of-Age, YA
Recommended Age: 12+
Contains: Violence, Alcohol References
Author's Site: Dhonielle Clayton
Blurb From Goodreads:
I am a Belle. I control Beauty.
In the opulent world of Orléans, the people are born grey and damned, and only a Belle's powers can make them beautiful.
Camellia Beauregard wants to be the favourite Belle - the one chosen by the queen to tend to the royal family.
But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favourite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that her powers may be far greater - and far darker - than she ever imagined.
When the queen asks Camellia to break the rules she lives by to save the ailing princess, she faces an impossible decision: protect herself and the way of the Belles, or risk her own life, and change the world forever.
Review:
“Even if the pain crescendos in waves so high it pulls screams of anguish from their throats, or if the cost threatens to plummet them into ruin, the men and women of Orléans always want more. And I’m happy to provide. I’m happy to be needed.”
In a world cursed with ugliness, greyness and insanity, though that can create beauty are coveted above all else. The Belles have been gifted by the Goddess of Beauty to return colour and uniqueness to the people of Orléans.
They are raised to believe that beauty is everything and they are raised to join the Royal Court, where one of the six sisters will be named the Quueen’s Favorite and live in the palace alongside the Royal Family.
Camellia Beauregard wants to be the Favourite. She wants to make the people beautiful - as beautiful as can be. Because, after all, who would not wish to be beautiful?
But the rosy image and the Palace’s gilded walls hide a darkness, a rottenness. There are talks of other Belles and the sisters keep hearing screaming and crying - and no one will tell them the truth.
The Belles were raised a certain way, but Camille soon realises their education hid many of the truths of what it is to be a Belle. And as she grows more entangled in the games of the Queen and the ruthless Princess Sophia, Camille begins to feel awfully out of her depth...
In a world where beauty is everything and rotten cores lurk behind sweet smiles and magicked facades, can one ever know what is real?
I have heard so so much about The Belles over the last year and basically all of it has been so positive. So when I began reading, I did so with rather unattainably high expectations. But my Gods, if it didn’t meet every single one of them! This book... this book! From the cover and description, I was expecting some frilly princess-esque story where the pretty girl just wants to find her prince!I could not have been more wrong. The Belles may look gilded and beautiful, but it hides a dark monster of a story that utterly overwhelmed me. It was beautiful and it was horrible and it was so very clever.
Nowadays, we’re constantly assaulted with 'ideals of beauty' - that we must be a certain shape, have a certain appearance to be beautiful, most of which are just purely unattainable or even unhealthy.
So imagine a world where a beautiful girl could make you look however you so desired. With magic! At a price. What would you pay? What would you be willing to give? What wouldn’t you give, to be accepted and admired...?
But do you see what I mean? The Belles may look like a pretty, light read, but it isn’t. It is so deep, so dark, so very needed. It tackles so many issues and I honestly just want to hug Dhonielle Clayton for writing this absolutely stunning beautiful breath-taking book.
Camille - Oh, my sweet Camille! She was just such a precious little flower - I wanted to hug her so much. Brave, caring, dedicated, loving and open minded, she was such a breath of fresh air in the murky depths of the court. Camille was just so wonderful and I loved how much she cared about everything and everyone. Plus it was so so wonderful to see her grow as the book went on.
I adored all of her Belle sisters too - some of my favourite scenes were when they were all together. The six of them are so sweet and you can just feel how much they adore each other, even when they’re fighting. I really wish they’d showed up more because the dynamics were just wonderful.
I can’t really say too much about the other characters, at the risk of spoilers. Pretty much no one was as they first appeared - and I loved that so much. I was constantly guessing about everyone’s intentions, their secrets, their personalities... I just loved it – and I adored who I shall call the rotten one, who was just so terrifying that I loved every scene because I honestly had no idea what they’d do next.God, this book! This plot! This writing! This world! Maybe writing this review (or attempting to anyway) right after reading it was a bad idea, because I’m still so completely and utterly wrapped up in how absolutely wonderful everything was and how much I just loved every single thing about The Belles. For one, the writing was just absolutely scrumptious - beautiful and lavish and haunting. The plot was utterly hooking and full of twists and betrayals. And the world was just incredible and so very very unique and brilliant. I honestly can’t get enough of this world - it is just... so unlike anything I’ve ever read about before.
Oh, and I need someone to invent teacup dragons. I never knew I needed something in my life so much until reading The Belles. Because oh my god can you imagine? Wouldn’t that just be the best?Seriously though, the amount of issues covered in this book was stunning - and all of it was done with so light a touch. It was like pure magic - these stunning descriptions of the world, the beautiful flowers and women, the beauty of everything around, all hiding this rottenness and deceit and insecurity... Just pure genius.
The Belles may be one of the first books I read in 2018 but I already know it’s going to be a favourite of mine. It absolutely took my breath away and I cannot express to you all how much I adore it and how simply everyone must read it. It has such an important message about body image, bullying and family - about doing what’s right not what’s easy. And I just... I could just go on for days about The Belles, I truly could. This review is already nearing essay length and I apologise for rambling like this. It’s just hard to be articulate when my mind is so very blown. Just... wow. Wow. Please, just read The Belles. It’s something everyone ought to read - but especially teenage girls.
On that note, Dhonielle, just... thank you. I know you say this book contains monsters (and it most certainly does) but it also contains magic and I just want to thank you for it - for all of it. For sharing your monster with us and allowing us to exorcise our own monsters in this book.
I need to go lie down now and mourn the end of this book and lament the wait until book two. Sigh. It’s so very far away.
Star Rating:
5 Out of 5
Read this book if you liked:
Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Fallen Isles Trilogy by Jodi Meadows
Happy Reading
Megan
* This book was received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review** Quotes used are from a proof copy and may have been changed in the finished book