Dhonielle Clayton

Dhonielle Clayton is an American author and advocate known for her young adult fiction and her work promoting diversity in literature. As the Chief Operating Officer of We Need Diverse Books, she has been instrumental in advancing representation of marginalized voices in children's and young adult publishing. Clayton's most notable works include The Belles series (2018-2023) and her contribution to the collaborative novel Blackout (2021), which she co-wrote with prominent authors including Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon. She holds advanced degrees from multiple institutions, including an MFA in creative writing from The New School. Beyond her writing career, Clayton serves as president of Cake Creative and Electric Postcard Entertainment, two book packaging companies. She works as a sensitivity reader for children's literature, helping to identify and address stereotypes and inauthentic portrayals of Black characters. Since 2019, Clayton has co-hosted the publishing industry podcast Deadline City with author Zoraida Córdova, where they discuss various aspects of the publishing world and share their professional experiences.

Readers praise Clayton's rich world-building and descriptive writing style in The Belles series, with many highlighting her ability to weave social commentary into fantasy narratives. Reviews focus on her skill at crafting complex characters and addressing themes of beauty standards and power. What readers liked: - Immersive fantasy settings - Strong character development - Exploration of beauty and social pressure - Diverse representation in YA fiction What readers disliked: - Pacing issues in later books of series - Some found descriptions too detailed - Plot predictability mentioned by multiple readers Ratings across platforms: - The Belles: 3.8/5 on Goodreads (38,000+ ratings) - Blackout: 3.9/5 on Goodreads (11,000+ ratings) - Amazon reviews average 4.2/5 One reader noted: "Clayton excels at creating lush settings that feel real." Another commented: "The beauty industry critique felt relevant and thought-provoking." Critical reviews often mentioned: "Too much time spent on descriptions slowed the story" and "Character decisions became predictable."

The Belles (2018) In an alternate fantasy world where beauty is controlled by magical Belles, sixteen-year-old Camellia discovers dark secrets about her powers and her society.

The Everlasting Rose (2019) The sequel to The Belles follows Camellia as she leads a revolution against the oppressive beauty-obsessed regime of Orleans.

Blackout (2021) A collection of six interlinked stories set during a summer blackout in New York City, with Clayton contributing one of the romance narratives.

The Marvellers (2022) Follows eleven-year-old Ella as she becomes one of the first conjurors to attend a magical school in the sky, the Arcanum Training Institute.

The Conjurors (2023) The second installment in the Marvellers series continues Ella's journey at the magical school as she faces new challenges and mysteries.

Pretty Penny (2024) A young adult novel exploring themes of wealth, class, and identity at an elite prep school where students can purchase social currency.

Tomi Adeyemi writes fantasy novels featuring Black protagonists in rich magical worlds, with themes of power and identity central to her stories. Her Children of Blood and Bone series explores similar themes of beauty standards and societal pressure as Clayton's The Belles.

Karen Strong creates middle grade and young adult stories centered on Black girls navigating supernatural elements and personal growth. Her work, like Clayton's, focuses on complex family relationships and cultural identity within fantastical settings.

Justina Ireland writes young adult novels that blend historical elements with fantasy and social commentary. Her Dread Nation series examines societal hierarchies and prejudice through a speculative lens, similar to Clayton's approach in her works.

L.L. McKinney crafts contemporary fantasy retellings with Black protagonists at their center. Her A Blade So Black series reimagines classic tales with modern perspectives on race and identity, matching Clayton's interest in updating traditional narratives.

Tracy Deonn creates contemporary fantasy that weaves together magic systems with explorations of heritage and identity. Her Legendborn series combines Arthurian legend with Southern Black culture, sharing Clayton's focus on magic and cultural representation.