April Reviews: The Belles and To Kill a Kingdom

 

 

Hello lovelies~ I want to share some YA fantasy novels

I read in the month of April.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Published February 6th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Page: 440 pages

Synopsis

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, 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. 
 
Review

The story thrust you into an intriguing mysterious world of color and beauty. The story opens with the Belles' placement in society. And the society's constant need for beauty and perfection. The concept of beauty varies in colors, shapes, and sizes. No one truly look like how they were born. People are modified so much that they do not resemble their family members. However, those with money, can modify and color themselves, within limits, as much as they desire. The cases vary in extremes but there is a dark side to this world.

This story has such a fresh take on the need for perfection. In many cases, the body modifications are plain unnecessary but society calls for newness, and the families of wealth full into the trends. The constant need to be unique takes away the qualities and values of being human.
Have you read this fantasy novel? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

 

 

 

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Published March 6th 2018 by Feiwel Friends
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Page: 342 pages

Synopsis

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most - a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever

Review

It had me at the intro of mermaids depicted as brainless wannabe humans whereas the sirens are much more deadly, mysterious, and superior.

This superior race has been at war with the humans since their ocean goddess Keto died many generations ago. They live to eliminate the humans and to find the missing stone of Keto to restore the Siren's full powers to dominate the world. The desirable qualities of sirens are emotionless, obedience, deadly, and merciless. When the princess of the Sea Queen was forced to live among the humans, she learned to feel and she admired the desires of humans to be more than their nature. She saw their ability to make their own choices.

I enjoy the different view of the two races. I haven't read stories about the sirens so the world is just fascinating. A great team of supporting characters and the mystery surrounding their world makes a perfect story.