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The Belles Dhonielle Clayton Books

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The Belles Dhonielle Clayton Books

A flavor of New Orleans runs through the royal city of Orleans in The Belles. There's intrigue, mystery, a touch of romance, and dangers around every corner. To be a Belle is to be blessed and cursed as you will see. The Belles have the power to transform people's appearance (including skin color) & their character, but only temporarily. There are those who want to make the changes permanent and those who are willing to break a Belle to be beautiful. This story has deep layers and loads of fun.Camellia is headstrong and gifted, which places her in danger. If you like strong female leads and if you like magic with a blend of science, this book is for you. Do you read the Mercy Thompson series? Did you like the Red Queen, or Mortal Instruments or any series with a dangerous world & magic? Then you'll like this book. Camilla is 14, and there is a lot of description at the beginning. Be patient. The pace will pick up, and it won't stop. Happy reading.


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The Belles Dhonielle Clayton Books Reviews

This book was a pleasure to read from beginning to end, even when what was happening was horrific. Not only that, it was a lot more subversive than I think it will get credit for. It's not only about how the worship of beauty creates both literal and figurative monsters, but the way in which we are all susceptible to becoming inured to everyday atrocities. Like all of the best stories, The Belles imitates what it criticizes a terrifying premise that's easy to miss when you're lured and soothed by the beautiful window dressings, the sensuous luxury, and the minutiae of everyday ambitions, excitement, luxury, schedules, details, and rivalries. Sure, this book is about How The Sausage Gets Made, but it's also about the ugly, cringing part of ourselves that sees behind the curtain and minimizes, dismisses, or tries to justify it. Now that's a mirror a lot of people aren't fond of looking into, and I think this narrative packs a wallop in a very pretty package covered in rosettes and glitter.
Dhonielle Clayton paints an enchanting and dark world in her latest novel The Belles. Camellia Beauregard was born a Belle. In a world where beauty has been stripped from its people, Belles are the only ones who can manipulate and transform them into something beautiful. Camellia and her sisters have been training for years for their debut, hoping to be chosen by the queen of Orléans to be the crown’s favorite, the ultimate form of validation for all their hard work. But being the favorite comes with consequences none of the girls could have prepared for and soon Camellia finds herself caught between royals that not only expect her to be the best, but demand it of her. Not obeying has dire consequence for Camellia, her sisters, and the entire kingdom.

Clayton’s writing takes you through a whirlwind of sensations. She captivates readers from the very first page, tapping into each of our senses with such ease. I not only saw Orléans, I felt it, heard it, smelled and tasted it. One of the things I loved about Clayton’s use of beauty is that it is all-encompassing in this world. It isn’t limited to the rich social spheres of Orléans. It is not just the people who must be beautiful, it is the homes, the teahouses, the fashion. Clayton’s descriptions are vivid and delectable; at times, it felt like I was devouring the words instead of reading them. Beauty has become the only way of life for those in Orléans, and for many this has become an obsession. There are some very ugly and terrifying characters in this one who make very chilling villains. They are willing to do anything to be beautiful and to control those who can wield such power. Inevitably, envy and jealousy are byproducts of a world that demands perfection. Though Camellia is the heroine of our story, she is not immune to these more ugly attributes. When one’s value is defined by how beautiful one is, morality takes a back seat and even Camellia find herself giving in when she knows she shouldn’t.

It’s clear from very early on that Camellia and the other Belles have been purposefully isolated from society. There is an undeniable innocence to them and they are told that vices like passion and even love can throw off the balance of their arcana, the essence of which makes them able to work their transformations. Whether this is true or not is yet to be determined, but I could not help but draw a parallel to how we as a society define beauty in girls. From doe-eyed models to lipsticks named Lolita, it sends the message that innocence is alluring and sexy, and any tainting of this especially with sexual experience, poisons the whole apple. This comes to a head when Camellia is attacked by one of her customers later on in the story. There is a particularly unnerving scene where Camellia is tasked with altering a woman’s body and with a writing instrument, marks the places that need to be improved. It was a jarring reminder of the stories I used to hear growing up of girls marking each other’s bodies with permanent marker, circling the parts they viewed as flaws.

I do wish we had the opportunity to get more acquainted with the other Belles. Though I do understand why they are kept separate from Camellia. Still, we are first introduced to these young women together and though some of them were driven by ambition and others by defiance, they form Camellia’s family and helped her become the person she is. We get a more complete glimpse of Camellia’s relationship with her sister Amber and though I wanted to worry over her like Camellia did, her unquestioned obedience and jealousy didn’t exactly endear her to me. I am much more interested in the rebellious Edel who I hope we get to see more of in the sequel. Another issue I had was the romance. While I can’t complain of the pacing as it feeds into the inexperience of Camellia, I fully admit I wasn’t moved personally by the allure of the love interest. I’ve always preferred the slow burn, so I’m awaiting the development of Camellia’s relationship with someone else.

Clayton’s writing is delicious, her story unique, and her commentary on beauty poignant. If you haven’t picked up The Belles yet, I encourage you to do so.
The beginning of this book wants you to think it's another YA parade of pretty girls wearing a variety of lush dresses and being treated like princesses because they're so special and unique. It WANTS you to lower your guard because this book is a send-up of all those various tropes and cliches, turning in into a wonderfully good thriller and unique fantasy novel. Not for the faint of heart, even for just the very vivid descriptions of body modification, this is definitely a five star book from a very promising debut author!

In my opinion, this book is really about the princess, and Camellia the viewpoint character, is her victim. But the princess is who steals the show. I might be reading into the book, but it seems to be implied that the princess has a personality disorder of some sort (and that her mother might also be mentally ill, but is undergoing a kind of treatment for it), and in that case her portrayal isn't anything remarkable in terms of neurodiversity. BUT... she makes an amazing villain. What I loved about this book was Camellia is entering a world she doesn't understand, and unfortunately other people can't explain it to her because they're all caught up in the webs of the princess. I haven't read a book with such an exciting, intelligent and capable villain since the earlier installments of the Red Rising series. So many times in YA books, the villains are either 1) distant, 2) over-the-top evil or 3) a set piece. The princess is none of those things. She runs the show in this book, so don't underestimate her!

Anyways, if you love fantasy thrillers, and you love subverted expectations, this is a book for you!!!
A flavor of New Orleans runs through the royal city of Orleans in The Belles. There's intrigue, mystery, a touch of romance, and dangers around every corner. To be a Belle is to be blessed and cursed as you will see. The Belles have the power to transform people's appearance (including skin color) & their character, but only temporarily. There are those who want to make the changes permanent and those who are willing to break a Belle to be beautiful. This story has deep layers and loads of fun.Camellia is headstrong and gifted, which places her in danger. If you like strong female leads and if you like magic with a blend of science, this book is for you. Do you read the Mercy Thompson series? Did you like the Red Queen, or Mortal Instruments or any series with a dangerous world & magic? Then you'll like this book. Camilla is 14, and there is a lot of description at the beginning. Be patient. The pace will pick up, and it won't stop. Happy reading.