Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

5 reviews

brookey8888's review

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

This was fun and different! 

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• 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!

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Content Warnings

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.

coymeld's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

periwinkle_flora's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Belles started off as a interesting tale of a world filled with beauty - Beautiful people, pretty landscapes, and gorgeous magical powers. I liked the protagonist - Camellia - at first. She's determined, fearless, and creative, which makes her stand out from her sisters in the competition to work inside the castle as "the Favorite". As the book took us further on the main character's journey, it held onto my interest, yet the events made me frustrated. I wish Camellia did more. Her personality becomes flat and observant and doesn't grow or explore the world + systems around her. Regardless, I enjoyed the mysteries in the castle, but the main character really made the book "meh" for me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, and Bullying

Minor: Death of parent and Grief

lagiven's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

The prose of this book is the best part because it creates the perfect atmosphere for its world and parallels the obscene opulence that centers the Belles. At times, the writing is juxtaposed against horrifying scenes that make this book so fascinating and so disturbing. Most of the characters are solid although some are flatter, and the plot really picks up in the last third of the book. 

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Content Warnings

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