Book Review: The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Hello TBF readers,

I recently read THE BELLES by Dhonielle Clayton (also the co-author of TINY PRETTY THINGS) and I am still reeling from this fantasy novel. Check it out:

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.

But it's not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite, the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land.

But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie, that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.

With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide: save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles, or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.

First of all, let's take a moment to appreciate the book cover. The super fancy text, the beautiful girl with a fierce face, the color palette. Gorgeous!

Our heroine, Camellia, is a strong, relatable character. While Camellia doesn't know how to fight or hunt, qualities that are often associated with "strong" female characters, especially in fantasy novels, Camellia possesses loyalty, curiosity, and bravery. These characteristics definitely keep her alive during the hostile, glamorous court. In addition, one would expect that Camellia, someone possess beauty in a fantasy world where beauty is a commodity, would be vain and arrogant. However, Camellia desperately wants to help the people of Orleans especially the royal family. It is refreshing to see a main character in a fantasy novel rely on brains instead of brawn.

The heart of this novel is questioning and examining beauty standards in a fantastical and creative form. As a Belle, Camellia brings beauty to both men and women. She can change a person's hair, eye color--simple things. But once customers start demanding more complicated matters such as body shape, Camellia hesitates. She is brought up to believe that our unique characteristics, the shape of our lips, the slope of our noses, are what makes us unique. That what makes us unique makes us beautiful. As Camellia starts questioning other characters' ideals of beauty, the readers are asked to the same questions within our own world.

I highly recommend THE BELLES for fans of The Uglies trilogy.

You can pre-order THE BELLES at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Indiebound. You don't have to wait too long as THE BELLES will be in your hands next week, February 6th.

That is all for today. Be sure to check out the blog for more fun, TBF posts!

Miranda

TBF Book I am dying to read-Roshani Chokshi

Hi all,

I am back with another Friday fun post. And I am so excited. One of my favorite authors, Roshani Chokshi is releasing a new book in February. I read her first book The Star-Touched Queen right after it came out a couple of years ago. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. I was so excited when I saw she was coming to tbf and even more excited when I saw she would be releasing a new book.


Best-selling author Rick Riordan introduces this adventure by Roshani Chokshi about twelve-year-old Aru Shah, who has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she'll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?


One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru's doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don't believe her claim that the museum's Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light,Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.


But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it's up to Aru to save them.


The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?













This book comes out on March 27th 2018. Of course the cover and release date are subject to change. As usual sorry for the weird white highlights. Still trying to figure out how to not do that, I think I am getting closer.


Have an amazing day,


Anica

Book Review: The Star Touched Queen

Hi everyone! I hope you all have a few extra hours because I have just found a book that you need to read!

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...

But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.

Wow… I picked up this book expecting a whimsical story with an influence of Indian mythology and a decent plot. What I got was so much more. Maya is a young princess with a horoscope predicting a marriage of death who has learned to fend for herself in a world that fears her. The romance of this story is captivating and mysterious as the plot twists in unexpected directions (and after all of the YA books I’ve read, it’s hard to surprise me). The world that is crafted in the story is both fascinating and multifaceted. The beauty of the world created is so vivid it is as if you could smell the flowers in the gardens and taste the jewel fruit (yes, jewel fruit… read the book!). The descriptions are so beautiful that I want to slip into the world and walk in the halls of Akaran or sit under a tree in Bharata.

The references to Indian mythology was a special treat because I did not know much about those stories but I found them beautiful. However, my favorite part of the book was the subtle theme of empowering women and the growth of Maya throughout the story. The story starts out with a young female being married off for political reasons. She had little control over her life and was bartered off like an item. Throughout the story Maya learns about herself and becomes confident in her decisions. Maya grows to trust in herself and she is an equal to her husband in the ruling of their kingdom. I loved this aspect of the book and I think this is what turned The Star Touched Queen from very good into truly memorable.

Fans of Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge and Caraval by Stephanie Garber will adore The Star Touched Queen! To make it easier for y’all to get your hands on this book here is a link to take you to the Monroe County library system (the best place in the world besides Barnes and Noble, right?)

https://catalogplus.libraryweb.org/?section=resource&resourceid=829350590&currentIndex=1&view=fullDetailsDetailsTab

I hope that all of you will get a chance to pick up this book and give it a try! Trust me, you will not regret it. Have a wonderful rest of your January and stay warm!

Until next time,

-Laura

Friday Fun Post: An Upcoming TBF Book I'm Dying to Read

What's up fellow book lovers! Katie C. is here with the next Friday Fun Post!

There are a lot of authors coming to TBF this year, which means so many books to read before this may. But out of all the books on my forever growing TBR pile, i'm pretty excited to read The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton.

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful

But it's not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite, the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land.

But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie, that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision

With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide: save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles, or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.

(Also feel free to Adore the beautiful cover, but just keep in mind it might not be final)

Dhonielle Clayton is an author that i just discovered this year and i am so glad that i did! The Belles seems like such an interesting book to me, especially since it's based on the concept that beauty is something that people are born without and must be obtained later in life. In addition to such a cool idea, The Belles also looks to be filled with danger, high stakes, and saving the world, all things I can spend hours with my head inside a book for. But on a personal level, Clayton's novel reminds me of The Uglies, a book I read for school back in sixth grade and loved! I guess that's why, out of all the upcoming releases in 2018, this one really stuck out to me. This book will be released February 6, 2018, and I cant wait to read a book that will bring back good nostalgia but be entirely new at the same time!

So if you're as intrigued by The Belles as i am, make sure to get it as soon as it comes out and say hi to Dhonielle Clayton this May at TBF! this is book blogger Katie C., signing off!

Book Review: Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Hello everybody, it’s Amy. Today I’ll be reviewing Brigid Kemmerer’s novel, Letters to the Lost. This book is amazing- deep and hauntingly beautiful, yet realistic and light at the same time.

Juliet Young always writes letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. It's the only way Juliet can cope.

Declan Murphy isn't the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he's trying to escape the demons of his past.

When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist writing back. Soon, he's opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they're not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks will fly as Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.

Letters to the Lost is one of the most heartfelt and touching books I’ve ever read. The author did an amazing job not only telling, but showing the situations and mindsets of the characters in such an emotional way. The voice in this novel, whether it is Juliet or Declan, is so realistic, raw, and honest. Juliet’s grief is palpable- you can sense her hopelessness, and even if you’ve never experienced grief like her’s, you can strangely understand. She’s not ready to move on, and that can be applied to so many situations in life. Her half of the story is extremely compelling, but it was Declan's that truly drew me in.

“You know what sucks? If you pick on someone weak at school, you end up suspended [...] But people can say whatever they want to a guy with a reputation, and no one cares. People actually root for it.” 

Being in Declan’s mind is especially thought-provoking- he’s fully aware of his reputation and knows he’s on a seemingly inevitable path to self-destruction. He’s bitter, abrasive, and unruly towards others, and people expect the worst from him in turn. But as in all things, there's more to the story- almost nothing in his life is present in mine, but by the end of the novel, I understood. In addition, this book has great character development as the bond between Juliet and Declan strengthens them both. They push each other to do “unexpected things,” and, unintentionally at first, begin to heal. The story unfolds so naturally, and the storytelling is so honest and heartbreaking while still being entirely realistic. Given the plot, you might think it’s emotionally heavy, but somehow it’s the perfect balance of bittersweetness. Just like life is, not all of it is centered on one thing, and their high school experience and friends are so relatable. 

At its core, this book is about two teenagers on two completely different orbits deciding to share their grief, thinking that no one else would understand. This is also the story of the few people who didn’t give up on them, but more importantly, it’s about the special connection they forge with each other that helps them redirect their lives onto paths of their own choosing.

So I’ll leave you with this quote, and hope you decide to pick this book up,

“We’re all united by grief, and somehow divided by the same thing.”

Amy

Letters to the Lost in the Monroe County Library System , Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads

Friday Fun Post: An Upcoming TBF Book I'm Dying to Read

Trying to choose one book of the many upcoming TBF releases is hard, but after going through the lists of soon to be amazing reads, I think I have to say that I'm most excited for Tamora Pierce's Tempests and Slaughter.

Cover may not be Final

Arram Draper is on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram realizes that one day–soon–he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.

Earlier this blogging season I had the privilege of reading Tamora Pierce's Wild Magic, which takes place in the same universe as this upcoming book and series. In this installment, instead of following Daine and her adventures in Tortall, we'll get to enjoy the rise and inevitable adventures of wizard, Numair Salmalin, one of my favorite characters from Wild Magic. I'm excited to read and enjoy his path to power. 

Tempests and Slaughter is set to release on February 6th. Hopefully all of you will go out and read as soon as it's available. I know I will!

Theresa  

TBF 2018 Design Contest

Hello TBF readers!

Are you creative? Are you an inspired artist? Are you an inspired songwriter and performer? Are you a TBF fan? We are looking for YOU!

It is time for the TBF Design Contest. We are looking for program designs, T-shirt designs, and a TBF theme song.

Here is all the information:

We are looking forward to your creations!

Happy designing and singing!

Miranda

Book Review: The You I've Never Known

Happy 2018! We're just five short months away from TBF and I bet you all are counting down like we are. This month I read Ellen Hopkin's most recent novel The You I've Never Known which came out in February 2017.

For as long as she can remember, it's been just Ariel and Dad. Ariel's mom disappeared when she was a baby. Dad says home is wherever the two of them are, but Ariel is now seventeen and after years of new apartments, new schools, and new faces, all she wants is to put down some roots. Complicating things are Monica and gabe, both of whom have stirred a different kind of desire. Maya's a teenager who's run from an abusive mother right into the arms of an older man she thinks she can trust. But now she's isolated with a baby on the way, and life's getting more complicated than Maya ever could have imagined. 
Ariel and Maya's lived collide unexpectedly when Ariel's mother shows up out of the blue with wild accusations: Ariel wasn't abandoned. Her father kidnapped her fourteen years ago. What is Ariel supposed to believe? Is it possible Dad's woven her entire history into a tapestry of lies? How can she choose between the mother she's been taught to mistrust and the father who has taken care of her all these years?


The thing that stood out to me the most about this novel was the incredible writing. The story is told mostly in verse with some excerpts in prose mixed in throughout. The true raw emotions of these characters were portrayed through the writing that leapt across the page, both literally and figuratively. Despite the fact I have never experienced a lot of the experiences Ariel and Maya went through I still felt everything they felt because of the beautiful verse. And alongside these heartfelt and emotional moments were occasional pages full of friendships both old and new. Each character felt real to me, whether it was one of the two protagonists or their families or even the secondary characters and I loved that. And no spoilers, but there's several incredible twists in here that kept me guessing until the end. All in all I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it to those who love a story about self discovery, growing up, and finding your real family. Make sure to check out Ellen Hopkins at TBF this year!

-Claire

check out the book here

goodreads amazon barnes & noble