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brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I’ve never really read anything like this plot with the changing how people look and the power it might bring. This starts off kind of slow but after like 150ish pages o was entertained and wanted to know where the plot was going. I liked the main character even though she annoyed me at times. There’s a slight romance in this which was fine, but I’m hoping there’s a bodyguard romance in the next book, but I’m sure I’m wrong.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Violence, Bullying, Lesbophobia, Torture, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Blood, Body shaming, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Classism
tealstarlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed the world the Belles live in. The vivid and frothy descriptions are a great contrast to the disturbing side of life in the kingdom. There are charming elements in the relatively simple ways people live in this world: the unique postal system, the floating lanterns that can be changed according to mood/ occasion, and the bustling, almost Dickensian marketplaces.
The Belles' magic takes the place of plastic surgery. I wasn't expecting the vivid descriptions of the painful magical procedures, but they highlight the kingdom's obsession with beauty.
Random favorite thing that enchanted me in this book? The absolutely adorable idea of teacup animals!
Graphic: Slavery, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Sexual assault
I thought "The Belles" would be a simple sweet story with a bit of mystery. It was a pleasant surprise to see the story unfold to be more interesting than expected. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.cdoubet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Body horror, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Torture, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Death and Fire/Fire injury
coymeld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Rape, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
notsobinaryart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Classism, Medical trauma, Bullying, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Outing
thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Belles is an epic fantasy adventure that I found hard to start, but as the story picked up pace, I could not put down or stop reading.
The character development is very deep and thorough, the storyline plays on our vanity as humans and asks how far will we go to be beautiful.
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
dustghosts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
+ Through the narrator and her sisters’ POV, a refreshing celebration of diverse forms and interpretations of beauty
+ Representation/inclusion that feels natural and casual, only occasionally heavy-handed
+ Visceral and gripping descriptions, dialogue that feels True, a protag who is naive, charming, and morally challenged time and again.
- Pacing can be a bit strange— slow and meandering at the beginning, too fast near the end. Some of the protagonists largest concerns feel underaddressed as a result, and some situations (ie: her being
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Animal cruelty, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Body shaming, Torture, Toxic friendship, Murder, Physical abuse, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia
lagiven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Body shaming
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Slavery