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A review by looseleafellie
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
5.0
I ripped through this book in a day and have no regrets. The descriptions of the opulent futuristic city of Orleans were absolutely gorgeous, and the story was perfectly paced to keep me up reading late into the night.
I liked our protagonist Camellia right from the start, though I worried that she might end up being the typical rule-hating YA heroine who rebels just because she can. However, her somewhat rebellious nature followed naturally from her character development, and she made an excellent foil to the also-rebellious but deliciously evil Princess Sophia.
Overall, I would describe The Belles as resembling the Uglies trilogy with a dash of The Hunger Games and The Selection thrown in, but with enough heapings of originality, charm, and flair to avoid seeming derivative. This is definitely one for any dystopia-lover’s shelf, especially if you’re looking for something fresh and unique. I, for one, am eagerly looking forward to the sequel.
I liked our protagonist Camellia right from the start, though I worried that she might end up being the typical rule-hating YA heroine who rebels just because she can. However, her somewhat rebellious nature followed naturally from her character development, and she made an excellent foil to the also-rebellious but deliciously evil Princess Sophia.
Overall, I would describe The Belles as resembling the Uglies trilogy with a dash of The Hunger Games and The Selection thrown in, but with enough heapings of originality, charm, and flair to avoid seeming derivative. This is definitely one for any dystopia-lover’s shelf, especially if you’re looking for something fresh and unique. I, for one, am eagerly looking forward to the sequel.