Dhonielle Clayton's The Belle - Book Review

Hello all, 

So here is the first book from NetGallery that I got the pleasure to review. I wish this had been a better start. 

The Belle By Dhonielle Clayton

Blurb: 

'Looking for the next big groundbreaking event in YA? This is it.' Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series

Welcome to the dark decadence of Dhonielle Clayton's sharp tale of beauty, obsession and magic. . . 

I AM A BELLE. I CONTROL BEAUTY.

In the opulent world of Orléans, the people are born grey and damned, and only a Belle's powers can make them beautiful.

Camellia Beauregard wants to be the favourite Belle - the one chosen by the queen to tend to the royal family.

But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favourite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that her powers may be far greater - and far darker - than she ever imagined.

When the queen asks Camellia to break the rules she lives by to save the ailing princess, she faces an impossible decision: protect herself and the way of the Belles, or risk her own life, and change the world forever.

'Sumptuous and original worldbuilding, heart-pounding plot and gorgeous prose.' Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Season

'A whip-smart writer with grand, grand talents.' Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist

'Breathtakingly beautiful and deeply unsettling.' Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author 

Star Rating: 3/5

What I Expected:I thought when I was getting into this book more a magical world, more fantasy and danger. I was expecting a thrill that came with some added beauty and happiness. A great romance and something that would make me smile at the end. 

What I Got: What I got was a vein book that contained a great deal of Orlean's myth in it. There was magic, some rushed suspense and hints at two romances. There was a lot of triggers in this book that people must be careful of. There was an edge to what could be a harsh beauty world. 

Review: The book started off great and gripping. I found myself loving the myths about Orleans that she offered in this book. There was so much that you could sink your teeth into it. That was both a great thing and a bad thing. There was a detail, lots of talks to do with food, never view elements. There was a strange take on the rich and poor classes via beauty and how you looked. I found at times it was overly rushed then would be to slow in other parts. The pace just seemed off. The constant beauty focus didn't connect with me, however, I think a lot of people who like that sort of thing would love it. There are large parts of the book where Amber seems to be lacking in the focus of our main character who is meant to be concerned about her best friend. 

There were many times that the writing felt to torn in too many directions. I did like the danger that was offered by doing these sort of beauty treatments. I did think that for most of the book that it lacked a true villain or one that was well defined. I felt there was too many ties to Cinderella that wasn't as well pulled off as I expected. 

This to me didn't feel like a mainstream publishing book more like an Indie or Self Publishing book. I'm sorry I didn't love it more. 

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Thank you for stopping by for my NetGallery review and I hope that you will check back for more. 

Kristal McKerrington