The Belles

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered because they control Beauty, and Beauty is coveted above all else. The people of Orléans are born grey; only a Belle's talents can transform them.

But it is not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favourite — chosen by the queen to live in the royal palace, tend the royal family, and be recognised as the most talented Belle in the land. Once she and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favourite is not what she dreamed. Behind the gilded walls live dark secrets, and Camellia learns that the essence of her existence is a lie, and that her powers are greater and more dangerous than she imagined.

When the queen asks her to risk her life to help the ailing princess by using her powers in unintended ways, Camellia faces an impossible decision: save herself, her sisters and the way of the Belles, or change her world forever. Book one of The Belles.