Imagine a society where beauty is prized above all else and where the inhabitants' natural state is grey skin and red eyes. Camellia is a Belle, a special and rare member of the Kingdom of Orleans, who can change the appearance of others. The Belles are raised separately until they are teenagers and are prized because they can control beauty. The most coveted position for a Belle is the "favorite" who lives with the Royal family and takes care of their beauty "needs". Camellia arrives in Orleans quite naïve and only wanting to do and be the best. Very quickly she senses something sinister in her world, and her priority becomes survival, and protection of the other Belles and the people of Orleans. I loved the lush detailed descriptions of the colors, the fabrics and the food. The characters were interesting and well developed. The Belles was very thought provoking in terms of how beauty obsessed our own society is and made me think a lot about our own values. I'd like to know more about the history of the fictional Orleans and how this bizarre society came to be. Luckily there is a sequel.