The Belles is set in a fantasy world that's a bit steampunk, but cuteness reigns supreme. People have teacup sized elephants for pets, eat sugar coated beignets, and send messages to each other via tiny personal dirigibles. I imagine this world's color scheme being pink and various pastels. Clayton also plays with beauty in interesting ways. The citizens of Orleans value beauty above all else, but unlike our world, where one standard is often prioritized above others, beauty in Orleans can take a variety of shapes and shades and often changes at the drop of a pin. I had some pacing issues with the story. It was so obvious that there was a rotten core to the kingdom's cute facade, and it felt like a lot of hinting and whispers before we got anything substantial on that end. The world was so enjoyable that I wasn't too bothered.