The Belles initially captured my interest with it's STUNNING cover & cemented it's place on my top highly anticipated books of 2018 when I read the synopsis. I'm very intrigued by Orleans & it's inhabitants being gray since when I think of Orleans (real life), it's filled with color & rich culture. I'm very curious to learn all about why the people of Orleans are damned at birth, Camellia and the royal family. My biggest lure towards this title is undeniably the topics weaved into it's core such as the commodification of women's bodies, gender equality and racial identity mentioned in the synopsis. This is one YA Fantasy I wouldn't miss for anything in the world!