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Love this book series and I can't wait till book 3 is given a publication date. The Belles has such a unique take on magic and Dhonielle Clayton has a beautiful writing style. ❤

Finally wrote my review of The Everlasting Rose

https://www.gillyreads.com/review-the-everlasting-rose-by-dhonielle-clayton/

I‘m not having luck with 2nd books. This one was a lot of skulking in shadows and worrying about being caught. Not enough action and not enough characters to really care about. Bailed.

A great sequel to The Belles! This was so much fun and the world building just continued and got crazier than I thought it could. This is a brilliant series that showcases the power struggle that is the beauty industry in a fantasy setting that lets this story tells truths that aren't always easy to see. I especially love the way that loyalties are so unpredictable here! 💗

“Maman never told me what to do when the world falls apart like a dress ripped at its seams, the beads scattering into faraway corners, the fabric a storm of shredded pieces left destroyed and unrecognizable.” #FirstLineFridays

Books read in June. For the most part some really excellent reads.

I don‘t usually like to focus on books I disliked but I feel I need to say I would NOT recommend reading the new Nora Roberts.

I loved the Belles, but I‘m not sure about this follow-up. The claustrophobic, immediate setting of the first book served the story so well. The sequel felt more floundering and exposed. I liked that there were actions from the first book that could be forgiven but not redeemed here. I think there was some clever parallels and commentary for our own world amidst this high fantasy. I only wish it had felt a little more focused.

The second installment in The Belles series was pretty good. This world is so fascinating and I am no beauty connoisseur (my idea of makeup is chapstick). I did enjoy the first one more (it was a 5 star read for me), but this continued the storyline in a very satisfying manner. 3⭐️

Finally picking this one up ❤️ I was lucky enough to hear Dhonielle Clayton speak at Sydney Writers Festival last year, so it‘s even signed.

Overall, I really liked this, despite instances of ableism and fatphobia. The revolution, which had been simmering in Orléans, has boiled over. Camelia, once the favourite of the queen, has gone on the run; now, she seeks to overthrow the queen, save the Belles, and bring change to the kingdom. Great look at how far we go for beauty, government corruption, and resistance.

Ms. Dhonielle Clayton is not messing around. For such an opulent fantasy world so different from our own, there are plenty of parallels, like this passage here.

Though this isn‘t a #ReadYourSign book, it 100 percent could be. It has big Leo energy for sure.

Loved this sequel and can‘t wait for the final book in the trilogy!

Finishing this up this weekend! 😊📚📖

Well this was underwhelming.

I decently enjoyed the first book, but this one was so rushed and the plot was a disaster and nothing really went anywhere. I don‘t know. I‘m not inspired to read the next when it comes out.

I really loved Belles, but The Everlasting Rose had way too much going on and a super rushed ending. The romance in the first book felt more genuine than the one in this book, although again it wasn't the heroine's main focus, which was nice. Some of the plot lines were dropped, others ended before they began. But I still recommend book 1, and I will always be up for Clayton book no matter what!

Weekend reading! 😁📚📖

Um, I would like a teacup dragon, but not if I had to live in this book's world.

I enjoyed this second installment. It seemed to tie everything up nicely which makes me very curious about where it is headed in the third book.

This is the second book in The Belles series. I didn‘t enjoy this book as much as the first one. I felt like it was missing the action of the first one. I saw on Goodreads were there is going to be a third book. So I am very interested in seeing what happens in that book. This also completes the prompt finish in day for the #Booked2020 reading challenge.

I enjoyed the storyline. The ending left me wanting more, as in another book in the series. I am not disappointed at all. I can‘t say that I am overly excited about it though because I am just not into fantasy. I wanted to step outside my genre and I did and it was okay. It took me a while to read though so maybe it‘s time to step back in. 😉🙂

Do I sleep or do I read? 🤷🏾‍♀️ I just finished book 1 and, although, this is not my favorite genre, I want to know what happens next. I may get started but I‘m going to be so irritated at myself if there is a book 3 and I have to wait two years for it to be released.

Day 6 of #7covers7days #covercrush 😍😍😍

I just don‘t think this series is for me 😭 But the cover is so gorgeous.

I liked this second book in The Belles series, but not quite as much as the first one. Although much of the main plot feels like several things I‘ve read before, I still really enjoyed the unique and interesting world itself. The writing is a bit flowery, and a few things could be more fleshed out, but overall a fun continuation of the series. I‘ll read the next one. Three and a half stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Okay, I just had to know what happened so I bought this one right away. 🙈

Cocoa is not a reader... yet! 🦔

So excited to finally start reading this! The first book was so, so good.

Still not a fan of Clayton‘s writing style, but I appreciate everything she‘s saying about beauty, slavery, freedom, and the hierarchy of society. If nothing else, it was a fun read that kept me entertained while I did chores and ran errands.

This book was so much fun! I wish there could have been a third book or continuation of the story. I would recommend reading both books. Strong female lead, magical, adventure, and diverse cast. #poc #strongfemalelead #dragons #beauty #summerread #romance #adventure

This is the sequel to The Belles which I loved, but I have to say this book just sucked me right in, the story had me holding my breath at moments, not sure if I wanted to know what was going to happen next, I laughed, I cried, and I raged, it's been a long time since i had this emotional of a response to a book, Bravo Dhonielle Clayton, i hope there's more to come for these amazing characters.

Starting a new commuter book!! This is the second installment in the Belles series. The first book was nice! This book as the author states in her dedication is for the Angry Girls. Let‘s see if it‘s true !!

1. The Everlasting Rose
2. Yes! @wanderinglynn
3. Walking, dancing, and sometimes swimming
4. This is Oreo. She‘s a pomchi (a Pomeranian and Chihuahua mix)😊🐕
@DebbieGrillo @MinDea #humpdaypost #bookfitnesschallenge #dogsoflitsy

Hi strangers! Work has been crazy and my reading has taken a hit as a result. Doesn‘t help that I couldn‘t find anything that really grabbed my attention so I bailed on a few titles. This hold came in and got me out of my slump. Made great headway during a 4 hour drive today. #currentlylistening #audiobook

Read 2019-06-18 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫🎧

I enjoyed getting to know Edel better but Camille continues to annoy me. It‘s a well built world but there are aspects that were lacking explanations.

TBH, I didn't enjoy as much as the 1st. I still love the world, which is as lovely as it is treacherous. But the plot meanders a lot w/o a real emotional latch. Camille travels for most of it, w/o gaining or accomplishing much. The depth & darkness from The Belles are less prominent here. While the Iron Ladies are interesting new adds, we don't spend enough time w/them. I know there's a 3rd book coming, so maybe I try reading the 3 books together.

I enjoyed this second book in the Belles series, which continued the world-building. In this world, beauty is a commodity and only Belles have the magic. I felt the ending closed out the story but am told there is another book coming that will focus on Edel, one of the side characters, which I would definitely read.

Meh. Meeeeh. I kept reading because I kinda like the 'verse and I /really/ liked the first book, but if this hadn't been a sequel I wouldn't have read past the first 50 pages. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't do it again. If that makes sense? Idek anymore.

So. Much. Purple. Prose. And. Similies. Usually, I can ignore it, but literally every description is written like that and it got so tiring. Also, I bailed at 91 pages because nothing interesting happened and the thing between Camilla and Remy was just so sudden and ugh. Very disappointed. The first one hooked me and was so, so good. But this? 😣

I am loving this series! I finished this one last month and forgot to put this up. Clayton‘s world building is amazing and I can‘t wait for the next book to come out. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Day 5 of #EclecticSpringBreak! Dhonielle Clayton conversed with us about how hard adulting is, female relationships, and beauty as we discussed the Belles series!

EclecticReaders.fireside.fm/64
#EclecticReaders @EclecticReaders @Merethebookgal

IDK wassup with these books. Puffy stories aren‘t my thing, but then here‘s this. Case in point, teacup pets. What‘s the point? Except now I want one. Also, I have to deal with the tension of thinking beauty standards suck, and yet how fun is it to play! My brain space doesn‘t have time for the Belles, yet what a lovely, lazy read.

Another dark, intriguing book about beauty set in a world that seems idyllic but is rotten just beneath the surface. In book two that rottenness is in full view and I had a hard time putting is down! I love all the lush descriptions and it was nice getting to see more of the world. I‘m interested in seeing where the author takes book 3!

Wild Friday night 🤓 🥃

Awesome first line from The Everlasting Rose. So excited to read this.

A baroque, full-speed, horror-filled sequel to the first book. There‘s a lot of running around and speechifying at srsly idiotic times. Also, Sophia is just so BAD and most of the remaining Belles are just so decent and GOOD and EXPLOITED for their BLOOOOOOD. I guess this one annoyed me some, but I also ended up liking it OK. Whew. 3.5⭐️

Just finished reading this book with some really wicked #royalty. #HalfBloodBingo #TradedBook #LiteraryLuck

LOOK WHAT IS ON HOOPLA DIGITAL!! #YA #fantasy #series #WeNeedDiverseBooks I am excited!

Toddlersaurus inadvertently matched my book to her sick day movie. 😊