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roannasylver's review
4.0
Still 4 stars (because beautiful and emotionally devastating writing) but not quite as high a 4 stars as the first one... I’m still formulating thoughts, but either the plot kind of got a bit disjointed in the last 1/3 or so, or I did (which is more than possible; brainfog is very real).
Like a couple people died and I’m not sure exactly... why. Or about some other peoples’ motivations, which kind of seemed to make turns that didn’t make much sense to me - BUT, again, all of this could just be my own brain-fail. As spoons decline, so do braincells. Also it looks like there’s going to be a third book so I’m assuming a lot of this will be answered! Looking forward to that!
Like a couple people died and I’m not sure exactly... why. Or about some other peoples’ motivations, which kind of seemed to make turns that didn’t make much sense to me - BUT, again, all of this could just be my own brain-fail. As spoons decline, so do braincells. Also it looks like there’s going to be a third book so I’m assuming a lot of this will be answered! Looking forward to that!
akookieforyou's review
2.0
As much as it saddens me, I must say how disappointed I am with this sequel. It feels inferior to book one in almost every way possible. The Belles took an overused plot idea (futuristic/alternate reality dystopian world, where one special person starts a revolution), and added a super unique and fascinating twist to it. I love the fact that the world of this series is so beautiful on the outside, while harboring some dark and twisted mysteries underneath. And it's very upsetting that this book went down the typical route that all sequels of this genre go down, making everything annoying and just plain boring. The romance was blander than Raisin Bran, the side characters gave me a headache, and the ending was over too quick. Overall, this was a big struggle to finish, and I'm not sure if I'll bother with any more books set in this world.
nervesofscared's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
dragonwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
After defying Sophia and waking Princess Charlotte, Camellia, Amber, and Remy are on the run to avoid her wrath. Sophia is quick to take advantage of their departure, declare her mother and sister dead, and schedule her coronation in seven days, effectively securing the throne. The Belles and Remy meet up with Edel in the Spice Isles and try to plan how to put the still-living Charlotte on the throne. While they plot and plan, they learn new things about the Belles, including new abilities and new allies, but Edel suspects that Amber has been corrupted by her time in Sophia’s court. As the coronation gets closer, Sophia closes in, picking off Camellia’s allies one by one, while making stricter and harsher beauty laws. Desperate to save her sisters and her home, Camellia makes a reckless gamble and moves to face off with the mad Queen of Orleans.
Sophia made an excellent villain, and the narrator did a wonderful job of portraying her cruel simpering. Camellia really suffers in this book, losing her sisters one by one until she’s all alone and only has to rely on herself, but I like how she faces Sophia alone at the end. The little dragons were an adorable addition to the group, and I loved them! But Edel annoyed the crap out of me! I was more or less happy when she was captured and I didn’t have to put up with her anymore. Amber’s further betrayal seemed a little strange to me, but her ambition was always strong and powerful, so it does play to her character. And I KNEW that August would get a redemption, though I’m glad Camellia didn’t fully forgive him and had her happy ending with Remy. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but since book 3 is about Edel, I’m skipping it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, and Suicide
Minor: Slavery
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
3.0
3.5/5
I really liked this book. I feel like it did a great job closing the story but I can't wait to see what's next for the characters.
I really liked this book. I feel like it did a great job closing the story but I can't wait to see what's next for the characters.
honeybeeg's review
4.0
This is a fun story. With a complex world, unpredictable characters, and adventure it stays interesting page after page. Again, I couldn’t set this book down and devoured it as quickly as I could. A great sequel to the first novel and I throughly enjoyed the continuation of the adventure.
maryadaley's review
4.0
This book perfectly wrapped up the chaotic storyline of “The Belles” while also raising plenty of its own questions about politics, norms, and beauty
therealbel's review
3.0
I loved the first book in this series. This one felt... less meaty... it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t excellent... :/
laura_cs's review
5.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Everlasting Rose is a brilliant follow-up to The Belles!
After narrowly escaping with her life along with her sister, Amber, and former palace guard, Remy, and reuniting with Edel, Camille is still not out of danger as Princess Sophia gets closer and closer to the throne--and completely enslaving the Belles. Old friends make appearances, and lead to new allies in the goal of making sure that Sophia never becomes queen and that the newly reawakened Charlotte is rightfully crowned instead.
Dhonielle Clayton's prose is phenomenal with lush descriptions, intriguing characters, and many, many twists and turns. Readers of the first book, The Belles, will be satisfied with the ending but also somewhat devastated at the loss of more books about this unique, vivid world and amazing cast.
As a side note, this duology also contains a power-hungry and devious villain who is perhaps one of the most terrifying to ever exist. So, recommending this duology to readers who enjoy horror would not be a mistake.
The Everlasting Rose is a brilliant follow-up to The Belles!
After narrowly escaping with her life along with her sister, Amber, and former palace guard, Remy, and reuniting with Edel, Camille is still not out of danger as Princess Sophia gets closer and closer to the throne--and completely enslaving the Belles. Old friends make appearances, and lead to new allies in the goal of making sure that Sophia never becomes queen and that the newly reawakened Charlotte is rightfully crowned instead.
Dhonielle Clayton's prose is phenomenal with lush descriptions, intriguing characters, and many, many twists and turns. Readers of the first book, The Belles, will be satisfied with the ending but also somewhat devastated at the loss of more books about this unique, vivid world and amazing cast.
As a side note, this duology also contains a power-hungry and devious villain who is perhaps one of the most terrifying to ever exist. So, recommending this duology to readers who enjoy horror would not be a mistake.
psychotherabee's review against another edition
3.0
This review can also be found here.
I was disappointed to have to give this three stars after how much I loved The Belles. It must be noted the author did have health problems during the time she was writing this book, so she must be commended for producing what is effectively still a good YA fantasy book.
I still love Camellia as much as I did in the first book. I still love the matriarchy and the relationships formed along the way in this novel. The magic, the world-building — this book still has everything I enjoyed about the prequel.
What I didn’t like was that feeling where you don’t know where something is going. I didn’t understand what was going to happen for most of the book, and when it happened, it seemed pointless and disappointing. It felt as though the characters were going on a journey for the sake of having something to do, and honestly you could read the beginning and skip to the end and everything would make sense.
There was plenty of drama — Clayton is very good at building this up. The stress was real reading this novel. But the character deaths seemed very pointless, and it was disappointing how some characters never got redemption. The ending felt quite quick as well, although I was still pleased by it. It’s tough to follow up such a great first novel, The Everlasting Rose certainly tries to do that, but just falls short.
I was disappointed to have to give this three stars after how much I loved The Belles. It must be noted the author did have health problems during the time she was writing this book, so she must be commended for producing what is effectively still a good YA fantasy book.
I still love Camellia as much as I did in the first book. I still love the matriarchy and the relationships formed along the way in this novel. The magic, the world-building — this book still has everything I enjoyed about the prequel.
What I didn’t like was that feeling where you don’t know where something is going. I didn’t understand what was going to happen for most of the book, and when it happened, it seemed pointless and disappointing. It felt as though the characters were going on a journey for the sake of having something to do, and honestly you could read the beginning and skip to the end and everything would make sense.
There was plenty of drama — Clayton is very good at building this up. The stress was real reading this novel. But the character deaths seemed very pointless, and it was disappointing how some characters never got redemption. The ending felt quite quick as well, although I was still pleased by it. It’s tough to follow up such a great first novel, The Everlasting Rose certainly tries to do that, but just falls short.