Since Princess, now Queen Sophia sent Camellia, Edal, Amber and Rémy on the run, Camellia has been stewing in anger and fear. Mainly, the former as she plots to stop Sophia from reaching coronation day. Some of it is revenge-motivated after all Sophia has put her friends through, but also because she knows it’s for the greater good. With the help of an underground group whose goals align with their own even as they work to undermine the emphasis on beauty work the Belles are known for, and several other allies, Clayton delivers another stunning chapter to The Belles world that shows different isles locations, the origins of the Belles and changes their world forever.

Camellia has really gone through the wringer. Even though a month has passed (the time lapse isn’t clear) and the group has hopped from boarding house to inn, the bounty on their heads keep getting larger. Camellia’s anger has grown as her fury at what Sophia has done is compounded by the newsies. She’s built a prison, she’s creating more Belles from Arabella’s blood, and threatening to use the desire for beauty to essentially sell Belles to people at the highest bidder, turning them from treasured gifts to used toys for the rich. There’s no regard for their feeling or humanity, it’s just supply and demand. The themes of beauty commodification and capitalism are in full view here as well as the message of how beauty can distort people’s perceptions as the public are willing to swallow lies as long as they’re “pretty” and keep their worldview intact.

The lore is also expanded as Edal reveals a fourth aracana besides Age, Aura and Manner, Glamour which is vital when the girls need to disguise themselves even though it requires great skill and focus that the girls can’t afford at the moment. Once again, Clayton hints at a greater danger, that using this Glamour may be harmful to their health but it doesn’t get explored. Maybe in the final book. The origins of the Belles veers into sci-fi territory that is both creepy and awesome with the body horror that I mentioned earlier. Also Arabella’s Belle-book gives insight to why Camellia’s blood is more prized than the others with a chilling garden metaphor.

Camellia herself goes through little development as she’s reacting more to the circumstances she’s trapped in. There’s a brief wreastling back and forth about whether Camellia is too trusting and naive as Edal repeatedly warns her not to trust the Iron Ladies or Amber because they have agendas befitting themselves, but this is put aside when the coronation day comes.

I’d say, Camellia’s arc is less about growth but a demonstration of the slow erosion of Camellia’s sense of innocence as she blames herself for the growing death toll, for not stopping Sophia earlier and for being more willing to hurt others in order to get to Sophia. There’s also her choice to develop a poison that will kill the arcana proteins, rendering the Belles useless and could stop the supply/demand. It’s a reoccuring options akin to a spy’s suicide pills but it unfortunately goes nowhere.

There is also an underlying message about the futility of “sorry” after the fact, apologizing because you were just following orders or traditions doesn’t make up for pain and suffering, highlighting that Camellia is hitting a breaking point in being able to forgive others despite knowing their reasons. She can’t find it in her anymore after what she’s seen.

Still the book ends in a happier note amidst the darkness. Clayton decides to forgoe the sophmore book being the heroes lose before triumphing in the final. Instead, there is a big power shift that will portend to changes for Orléans, implying the final book will deal with the aftermath of the changing Beauty system.

The book is darker even as Sophia herself isn’t present for most of it. Her presence is clustraphobic through her spying post balloons and false news that keep Camellia and her friends on their toes. Her new experiments, and casual carelessness with the Belles, and the public eating it up because it means more beauty work for them is chilling. The apathy breeds indifference that allows greater evil to occur. Also there’s plenty of body horror as the inbreeded/failed Belles that are kept chained, drained and hidden have such features as multiple eyes and mouths, no skin etc. Basically, the prettiest shells have a rotton underbelly.

At least, the underground resistance, the Iron Ladies have built up a web of allies. They represent a new world where beauty doesn’t have to be the center of everyone’s world, breeding obsessions like Sophia and centering one’s uniqueness is an interesting alternative even as Camellia is wary of what her role would be in the new world. I’m interested in seeing what they’ll do in the next book especially with the potential of Lady Arane becoming the new leader of the government.

The other characters get brief interesting scenes but no background is given to what they’ve been experiencing. Like Edal who’s always been the most rebellious and adverse to the Belle life is the most hostile and distrusting. I want to know how her time on the Fire Isle’s tea house affected her? Was her experience with Prince Alfred the reason why she’s so mistrusting of everyone’s intentions now? What made her lose her idealism?

Same with Amber who’s need to win and put herself first make her the obvious betrayer. I want to know what she’s thinking as the other Belles seem to prize their sisterhood, why does she not? But we’re not given any insight to their thoughts.

Remy is given more spotlight as Camellia gives into the feelings. Both because Remy is a good man, but also to harden herself against Auguste’s betrayal, make herself forget. While I ship them, Camellia’s intense desire for Rémy and Rémy’s willingness to reciprocate felt like it came out of nowhere. It’s implied it’s been a few days since they escaped (or a month, again unclear) and they’ve had no communication about their feelings. How did Camellia get over Auguste so fast and start seeing Rémy as more than a brother? When did Rémy start to see her as more than a duty? It just felt like there were some vital relationship bonding scenes skipped to go from platonic to jealous-will-they-won’t-they.

I know it seems like I don’t enjoy this book, I did. It was engaging to the end and filled with action and intrigue. It just put the plot before the characters at the moment which is fine. It’s necessary, one cannot have much self-reflection while one is on the run.

But I wanted to add because I forgot in my last review how much I enjoyed Clayton’s world in her unique technologies like balloons for everything. Post-balloons, news-balloons, gift-balloons, transport-balloons, it’s very fun. Plus the teacup animal craze that I just picture the most adorable baby dragons and zebras and elephants. I love it all.

I’d say it’s a good book. It’s just that with all the potential avenues and perspectives to explore, Clayton keeps it narrowly focused, making it feel like it loses a vital character connection for the sake of plot, lore and narrative progression. Hopefully, the final book will be able to blend the two seamlessly again.

4 stars.