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A review by elchucochick
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
4.0
Orleans reminded me of the Capitol in the Hunger Games. Everyone was obsessed with beauty, fashion, and gossip. But in this world, beauty comes at a steep price. Body modifications by the Belles are painful to the point that people need pain relievers to endure them. These changes are also temporary. They constantly have to have their look refreshed. Belles can have harmful effects if they do too much before their arcana (the energy they use to perform modifications) are replenished.
Camille has wanted to be the best Belle, the favorite of the royal family, like her maman. As the story unravels, the façade of this perfect place begins to crumble. She begins to question everything she thought she knew.
At first the beauty aspect was hard for me to get into. But the mystery was enough to keep me reading and ultimately it had a good payoff. I can't wait for the sequel. The story is vivid and well-written. I hope to see future books delve into some of the other characters thoughts (like Edel and Amber).
Camille has wanted to be the best Belle, the favorite of the royal family, like her maman. As the story unravels, the façade of this perfect place begins to crumble. She begins to question everything she thought she knew.
At first the beauty aspect was hard for me to get into. But the mystery was enough to keep me reading and ultimately it had a good payoff. I can't wait for the sequel. The story is vivid and well-written. I hope to see future books delve into some of the other characters thoughts (like Edel and Amber).