Hello Lovelies!
Today I am reviewing The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton! This book came out of 2018, and I have heard many mixed reviews, but the summary looked exciting, and I saw it on Libby, so I decided to listen to the audiobook! I hope you enjoy the review and tell me your own thoughts below!
Synopsis
Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, 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 Orléans 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 Orléans 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.
Plot
I wasn’t really sure if this book was going to be worth the hype around it, but it exceeded my expectations and more. I think this book made a really fantastic point about beauty and how far people will go to feel beautiful and be the best.
The Belles, who were born with beauty, want everyone to feel beautiful inside and outside, but everyone else is only concerned with their physical appearance. That made the book such an interesting read.
Characters
There were times I hated and loved Camellia. Some of her decisions didn’t sit well with me, but I like how she ultimately chose to do the right thing. One of my favorite (and most hated) characters was Princess Sophia. She was just so twisted and evil I think she was just a really well-written villain.
Last Thoughts
The world that Dhonielle Clayton wrote was so imaginative and detailed, I completely lost time while I was reading. The little details of Orléans, teacup pets, post balloons, etc., just made this fantasy come to life in my mind!
Rating
I give this book
I hope you enjoyed my review! Let me know if you decide to read this book!
XOX Shelby
