The Belles

By: Dhonielle Clayton

Narrated by: Rosie Jones

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.

©2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A+

So good! This voice actress made it feel like a full cast audio performance. Loved it!

Awesome

I loved this audio book! The plot was amazing and it left me wanting more.

Scrumptious and Titillating

It was interesting, imaginative and well written. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

I passed this book by so many times because the cover was so MEH. It’s just so bland, but, as I rushed to get into work I just hit play. I’m SO GLAD I did. It’s a fantastic story told fantastically. The voice actor is phenomenal. The story itself is well written, a rollercoaster ride for sure. The idea, the character arcs, ALL great. You love, you hate, you love again. So glad it’s a series. Really well done. Again, the cover does not do the story justice. I love that beauty is every shade and every body type. This book really doesn’t favor one over the other. It’s beautiful. Really enjoyed it.

Amazing!

I really loved the story and the voice reading it. I have often found it hard to listen to audio books due to less than enthused and entertaining readers, not the case with this book! Looking forward to the sequel!!

Enjoyable

I liked this book! Thinking about reading the next one in the series! Very different

Brilliant

I imagine some folks will have a certain kind of expectation about this book considering the author is a WOC. I imagine that they'll read this and be surprised that The Belles won't read the way they expect. I imagine they'll be doubly surprised to learn that all the messages they thought weren't there, actually are.
Kudos to the author for this brilliant fantasy. The language is lush. The world building was inventive and intelligent and downright delicious. The characters were as they should be. Not a MarySue in the house and each one forced to earn the reader's regard.
Can't wait for the encore.

Stick with it!!

When the action starts, it doesn't stop! It is so good! I have to get the second one asap!

Steampunk Fantasy Fiction (YA)

Beautiful Descriptive Writing
I admire a writer that has the creativity to build otherworldly places within the pages of a book. Dhonielle Clayton does it. And does it well in this steampunk series.

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the ostentatious fantasy world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else.
-
For Camellia, being a Belle is not enough. She wishes to be chosen by the Queen to be the Favourite. The most Desired Belle
-
The story begins wrapped in cuteness, sprinkled with glitter, scented with flowers 🌸 It made me “awww” and “oooh” as I read.
-
Somewhere in the mix, the plot turns Dark. I’m talking Monstrously hideous exposing a villain of epic proportions.
-
There is an underlying message here, playing off the human obsession with vanity and outward appearances.

Loved this book☺😍

Though provoking , twist and turns great questions. what is beauty and why can't we love ourselves? why don't we believe others when they find beauty in who we are before the adornments. Why do we trust so easily and tells secrets to ppl who haven't earned our trust? read the book start a book club engage young readers even your children.