This book is darker than I thought it’d be.
It’s about beauty, for sure. It’s about how far some people will go to be the “most beautiful in the world,” and it’s about those who are ambitious beyond their control to bring that beauty to the surface.
Camellia — or Camille, as she likes to be called — is a Belle. She and her Belle sisters essentially “control” beauty, and beauty is a commodity that is revered above all else.
The story opens with Camellia in her carriage, last in line to showcase her talents for the Beauté Carnaval, which I believe is an annual thing in the Imperial Kingdom, in an attempt to be named the new favorite by the Royal Court. Being a favorite is all Camellia and her sister Belles have ever wanted. Unfortunately, as perfect as her performance was, nothing goes the way that she imagined it would.
And being the favorite isn't as glamorous as it seems.
Right from the beginning, the world-building is impressive. I don’t know if anyone else picked up on it, but there’s definitely a heavy French influence to the setting. My imagination was taking me to the Palace of Versailles, and Marie Antoinette, only because when I think “beauty,” she was the first queen to pop into my mind, for some reason.
The writing is gorgeous; the food delicious; and I just loved how quickly I was able to transport myself into the Imperial Kingdom. I loved our main character, even though her stubbornness got on my nerves from time to time, but right away you know she’s a character who’d rather speak her mind freely, and she’s not shy about her feelings. Which can be both a blessing and a curse.
There was a potential love interest in here that I was on board for, but he turned out to be a bust, and the betrayal that Camellia felt over having all of her secrets blabbed made me feel betrayed, too. He deserves whatever’s coming to him, and I hope it’s not easy.
I loved, loved, LOVED Remy, though. He's a stoic, by-the-book soldier who's been put in charge as Camellia's Royal Guard, and their relationship started off kind of contentious, but eventually they warmed up to one another. He comes off cold, but he's got a soft spot, too.
Overall rating for me is probably a 4.5, but I bumped it up a star because I just loved the twists and the turns, and the ending left me hopeful and laughing because the mystery surrounding one of Camellia’s sister Belles was answered in the only way that the sister Belle knew how. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
It’s about beauty, for sure. It’s about how far some people will go to be the “most beautiful in the world,” and it’s about those who are ambitious beyond their control to bring that beauty to the surface.
Camellia — or Camille, as she likes to be called — is a Belle. She and her Belle sisters essentially “control” beauty, and beauty is a commodity that is revered above all else.
The story opens with Camellia in her carriage, last in line to showcase her talents for the Beauté Carnaval, which I believe is an annual thing in the Imperial Kingdom, in an attempt to be named the new favorite by the Royal Court. Being a favorite is all Camellia and her sister Belles have ever wanted. Unfortunately, as perfect as her performance was, nothing goes the way that she imagined it would.
And being the favorite isn't as glamorous as it seems.
Right from the beginning, the world-building is impressive. I don’t know if anyone else picked up on it, but there’s definitely a heavy French influence to the setting. My imagination was taking me to the Palace of Versailles, and Marie Antoinette, only because when I think “beauty,” she was the first queen to pop into my mind, for some reason.
The writing is gorgeous; the food delicious; and I just loved how quickly I was able to transport myself into the Imperial Kingdom. I loved our main character, even though her stubbornness got on my nerves from time to time, but right away you know she’s a character who’d rather speak her mind freely, and she’s not shy about her feelings. Which can be both a blessing and a curse.
There was a potential love interest in here that I was on board for, but he turned out to be a bust, and the betrayal that Camellia felt over having all of her secrets blabbed made me feel betrayed, too. He deserves whatever’s coming to him, and I hope it’s not easy.
I loved, loved, LOVED Remy, though. He's a stoic, by-the-book soldier who's been put in charge as Camellia's Royal Guard, and their relationship started off kind of contentious, but eventually they warmed up to one another. He comes off cold, but he's got a soft spot, too.
Overall rating for me is probably a 4.5, but I bumped it up a star because I just loved the twists and the turns, and the ending left me hopeful and laughing because the mystery surrounding one of Camellia’s sister Belles was answered in the only way that the sister Belle knew how. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.