Oh, I fell in love with this book from the first page. Dhonielle Clayton has such a way with words. Not only could I clearly envision the world she spun in my mind, I could hear, taste, and smell it, too. How rare that is. The initial excerpt reminded me of "The Hunger Games," particularly in that the population in the world of "The Belles" color their hair, skin, and eyes, with a multitude of colors, much like the residents of The Capitol in "The Hunger Games." (And, just to be clear, I loved "The Hunger Games" series when I read it and remain a fan.) This fantasy simultaneously evokes futuristic and vintage imagery, calling on something of a steampunk aesthetic. I've hungered for more diverse books and this one meets that need. Many of the proper nouns in the book are derived from French and, though the world is fictional, call one's mind to the Caribbean. The excerpt wasn't long enough, left me wanting more, which means I loved the book. The beginning chapters emphasize outer beauty, and I'm eager to know how the plot will play out - I'm sure that the characters' investment in physical beauty will be counteracted. How? I can't wait to find out.