The Belles, Dhonielle Clayton
The Belles, Dhonielle Clayton
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The Belles

Author: Dhonielle Clayton

Narrator: Rosie Jones

Unabridged: 12 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/06/2018

Synopsis

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.

About Dhonielle Clayton

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 nonprofit 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 DhonielleClayton.com or follow her @brownbookworm.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Emily May on February 27, 2018

"Don't you want to be beautiful?" Woah. The Belles is a monster hidden behind a pretty facade of dresses, magic, and beautiful writing. The world and story slowly build through stunning descriptions, as the author peels back the layers of society's obsession with beauty, revealing all the uglines......more

Goodreads review by Emma on August 13, 2018

4.5 stars! I had a lot of fun with this story and cannot wait to see where things go from here! TW: sexual assault, "bury your gays" trope The writing style of The Belles is one of it’s most prominent points. The prose is decadent, entrancing, and lavish. For me personally, it was a little too flowery......more

Goodreads review by Roxane on July 18, 2017

I am guessing this is the first book in a series? A trilogy? All I know is that I want to know what happens next. The Belles is richly, gorgeously detailed in the accounting of the world of Orleans and the Belles, young women who are bred to create beauty amongst the citizenry. It took a bit to get......more

Goodreads review by Samantha on March 07, 2018

2.5 stars! This book was such an addictive, fast-paced read. But I did feel it fell apart towards the end, mostly because the "twists" felt very obvious. The characters also feel a tad flat at times, and some elements of the world building were weak. But overall, an enjoyable read if you want a page......more

Goodreads review by Nicole on February 12, 2021

I started reading this book right after I saw it for the first time on Goodreads. It promised an enjoyable YA read and gladly, it didn’t disappoint. I didn’t read the whole premise and I’m glad I didn’t because it reveals events that won’t happen till 50% of the book. Yes, the main events and the mo......more

Quotes

“A voluptuous, dazzling fairy tale of desire, ambition, and unrelenting beauty.” Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author

“Clayton creates a rich, luscious world, gripping plot, and strong characters that’ll have you wanting the sequel ASAP.” BuzzFeed

“Decadent food, beautiful dresses, and a kick-ass girl that’s gotta save the day…The Belles is a fantastic commentary on beauty and race, with female friendships.” BookRiot

“Introduces readers to a world in which magical Belles control the essence of beauty…This book kicks off a new series you absolutely won’t want to miss.” Paste magazine

“Exciting and beautifully imagined…The page-turner factor is high with Clayton’s lush descriptions, the perfect amount of intrigue and delicious mystery, and a surprising love story. Camellia is a strong heroine whose impulsive nature gets her in trouble, but it’s her resilience, strong moral character, and firm sense of self that many readers will admire.” RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!)

“Author Clayton’s exotic world is perfectly matched to narrator Jones’ breathy and silky-smooth voice. Her pronunciations of names and locations are simultaneously foreign and familiar. Her pitch and cadence flow like sweet honey—neither sharp nor rushed. Her character voices are crisp and flawless, refreshingly recognizable without being exaggerated.” Booklist (audio review)

“Narrator Rosie Jones introduces Camellia Beauregard and her sisters with a posh British accent…The large cast of characters is no obstacle for Jones, who comes with a full stock of voices. She routinely switches up her cadence and sometimes drops her accent entirely to bring variety to the courtiers who are vying to control Camellia’s talents, including the benevolent Princess Sophia, whose sweet voice becomes utterly terrifying as the tale unfolds.” AudioFile

“With wonderfully descriptive language, Clayton builds a grand and lavish world, carefully chipping away at the veneer to reveal its dark, sinister interior…An undeniable page-turner.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The dual natures of ugliness and shame, the commodification of beauty and of women, the drive for perfection at any cost, the widening of one girl’s moral landscape—all of it comes into play here. But even as it does, the action never slows.” Booklist (starred review)

“Strong themes are interwoven in this fantasy, including choice and envy. This work challenges readers to reflect on their notions of beauty. Through the actions of the characters, teens will understand what a beauty-obsessed world really looks like…A must-have addition to libraries.” School Library Journal

Awards

  • BuzzFeed Books Pick
  • School Library Journal Top Pick
  • Kirkus Reviews Pick
  • New York Times bestseller
  • BookRiot Pick
  • Paste Magazine Pick
  • Refinery29 Pick
  • Goodreads Choice Awards
  • YALSA Amazing Audiobooks
  • Children’s & Teen Choice Book Award
  • Lodestar Award
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