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What Members Thought
This was FANTASTIC and I cannot wait for more in this series. Perfect way to start off my 2018 reading year. Full review to come.
Genre: Fantasy fiction
Writing Style: Compelling; Descriptive; Lush
I tried to go to bed an hour ago. I was just going to read one more chapter. Here I am, an hour later and I've finished the book. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, it would twist or turn. I think this is going to be a very popular series and I can't wait to book talk it. ...more
Writing Style: Compelling; Descriptive; Lush
I tried to go to bed an hour ago. I was just going to read one more chapter. Here I am, an hour later and I've finished the book. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, it would twist or turn. I think this is going to be a very popular series and I can't wait to book talk it. ...more
This book was a mixed bag. The world building was really interesting, and it was an easy read. But... nothing happened for most of the book. It took 3/4 of the book to get to the plot that was mentioned in the summary blurb, and I nearly DNF'ed so many times before then. There were hints throughout that something wasn't right in the palace, but without something concrete until that late in the book, I wasn't really interested.
Also, when I wasn't actively reading the book, I forgot all about it. ...more
Also, when I wasn't actively reading the book, I forgot all about it. ...more
So good! Clayton creates a lush world that I could taste, smell, and fully see. The Belles centers people of color, empowers women, and normalizes queer people. Can not WAIT for book two.
Lush and horrifying at the same time, it’s a story that forces the reader to think about standards of beauty and how we manipulate our appearances. I’m curious to see where the series goes from here.
I liked what this book is trying to do and the commentary on obsessing over beauty was good, but I found it to be especially slow moving. The story didn’t really get started until close to the end. I did love the descriptions of this beauty obsessed world and I am interested to see what happens next.
I think I would have enjoyed this book if I'd read it rather than listened to it. It took me a while to get into it. The world-building is good, the characters are good, but there is a strong theme of bullying which I would have preferred to have read quickly rather than at the narration pace.
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Belles exist to create beauty in a gray society. Camille aspires to be the best but as the Belle to the royal family, she is drawn into palace intrigue and begins to find that what she has been taught is not what is real.
Apr 13, 2017
Adrienne
marked it as to-read
Jan 30, 2018
Sharon
marked it as to-read
Feb 06, 2018
Becki
marked it as to-read
Feb 20, 2018
Destiny
marked it as to-read-high-priority
Dec 08, 2018
Rose Anne
marked it as to-read
Aug 11, 2020
Morgan
marked it as to-read-ya
Jul 07, 2021
Meredith Fickes
added it
Oct 23, 2023
Leah
marked it as dnf
