Customer Reviews

Scent of Magic

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Andre Norton is one of those rare authors who can continue to create new characters and settings in well developed plots. The present book introduces Willadene, a bedraggled waif fostered to a distant cousin to work as a scullery maid in the cousin's inn. Her future prospects are scant, with the cousin wanting to give her in marriage to a bloated drunkard of evil character who frequents the inn - a typical medieval notion of an arranged marriage. But Willadene's sensitivity, which makes her ill working in a tavern kitchen, turns out to be an asset to a dealer in herbs and cosmetics, and even more of an asset to the Duke's household.

Events carry Willadene into a grand and dangerous adventure. The Duchy is infested with evil which must be rooted out. She becomes involved with the Duke's daughter, the chancellor, a visiting prince, and "the bat," as the story moves forward to an action filled climax. The story seems to jump forward in a few spots, and switches between actions of different characters, but overall it's a good tale.

When Norton described the villain as having 'thick, blubbery lips', I started to wonder whether 'Scent of Magic' was one of her half-hearted, co-authored novels which are usually not worth reading. However, this book turned out to be vintage Norton. Not one, but two feisty heroines: a middle-aged herbalist and her apprentice combat an ancient evil, newly sprung to life.

When at the top of her form, this author magically transports her reader right into her fantasy world. This is one of Norton's books where I can actually see, taste, and feel through the senses of the heroine, who starts out as an abused scullery maid and ends up (through her own talent and courage) as a savior of the kingdom. If you liked Norton's Witch World books, 'Scent of Magic' is definitely for you.

This was my first Andre Norton book and I must say I liked it very much. Scent of Magic is a return to classic high fantasy-- with an interesting premise of people having the power to smell evil. Young scullery maid Willadene is elevated into the highest society of court for her special powers...but she is caught in court intrigues that go deeper than just evil. When the high lady Mahart is taken, Willadene sets out on a journey with the spy Nicolas to rescue her. Through all is woven scentes, both evil and good, and a story of a miraculously scented flower.

The court intrigue was done quite well, though I felt that Sherwood Smith's Court Duel did a better job. The only major quibble I had with the story was the flat characterizations. Willadene and Mahart were not very well developed at all, and I would really liked to have seen more of the elusive and enigmatic Nicolas. Still, the plot is almost enough to make up for that lack. If you like the genre of high fantasy, you will find Scent of Magic enjoyable.

What can I say. This is vintage Andre Norton. Given the woman's age reviewing her books now is a bit like commenting on the dancing bear. It's a wonder she can still write at all, let alone write with her usual wit and craft. What I enjoyed most about this story was that it lacked the political correctness that her younger co-authors seem to throw into all their joint efforts. Scent of Magic has characters and a story and they go about their business supporting good and warring with evil. If you're a Norton fan this is something to be treasured as probably one of her last books in her own clear style.

This is the first Andre Norton book in my library, and it won't be my last. I very much disliked the author's science fiction, but the fantasy is amazing. The characters were very fleshed out and the plot was twisted with evil.

Quite similar to _Crown Duel_ or _Court Duel_ by Sherwood Smith...maybe not as good as those two, but has the ability to grasp the reader from beginning til end.

This was my first encounter with Andre Norton's works, and unfortunately it was not a pleasant one. While the plot hints in passing at a rich magical worldview, the book is hamstrung by poor writing and editing.

I started marking particularly atrocious examples about two-thirds of the way through, so these quotes are only from the last section of the book:

---------
"His body, toughened as well as he could exercize muscles most men did not even guess they might posses, served him well." (p333)

"Find the way down to the lower land he did." (p334)

"Again she felt the pressure of his fingers closing about her upper arm.
'How did you know that?'
She buried her nose in that untidy bundle her amulet had become.
'There was the scent of aspicen fern -- that and black evil!'" (p290)
---------

Characters are one-dimensional and do not develop over time, with little emotional attachment on the part of the reader. Dialogue is trite, and description mostly revolves around uses of the words "stench" and "evil".

No offense intended to people who enjoyed this book, or to Andre Norton (who is writing for a younger audience, maybe 11-14), but this book could have used a lot more time with an editor wielding a large red pen.

This was my first encounter with Andre Norton's works, and unfortunately it was not a pleasant one. While the plot hints at a rich magical worldview, the book is hamstrung by poor writing and editing.

I started marking particularly atrocious examples about two-thirds of the way through, so these quotes are only from the last section of the book:

--------
"His body, toughened as well as he could exercize muscles most men did not even guess they might posses, served him well." (p333)

"Find the way down to the lower land he did." (p334)

"Again she felt the pressure of his fingers closing about her upper arm.
'How did you know that?'
She buried her nose in that untidy bundle her amulet had become.
'There was the scent of aspicen fern -- that and black evil!'" (p290)
---------

Characters are one-dimensional and do not develop over time, with little emotional attachment on the part of the reader. Dialogue is trite, and description mostly revolves around uses of the words "stench" and "evil".

No offense intended to people who enjoyed this book, or to Andre Norton (who is writing for a younger audience, maybe 11-14), but this book could have used a lot more time with an editor wielding a large red pen.

I've pretty much always liked Norton .After Black Trillium I was immediatley drawn into her work .But this is slow moving and pointless .Willadene is completely un -satisfying .If she just sensed evil why doesn't she tell Halwice or Vazul ?If you want a good example of Norton's work ,try Wind in the Stone or Black Trillium(which is also written b Marion Zimmer Bradley and Julian May ).Don't waste your time on this .

I really tried to enjoy this book, since I've liked other books by Andre Norton, but this one just doesn't have much of a plot. The two main characters are both strong, interesting women. The descriptions are vivid and detailed (too much so, in fact, bogging the book down). The book revolves around an interesting situation, with a scullery maid who can actually smell evil and ward it off with herbal concoctions. But the two heroines mostly just hang around the castle, attending lunches and making feeble attempts to identify the villains, until the last couple of chapters. At that point they have a bizarre and not very believable adventure that leads to a not very interesting climax. This was a boring book.

Norton has consistently produced such good fantasy, that it is no surprise that SCENT OF MAGIC once again shows her to be the top in her field. There is a lot more here than first appears on the surface, and the language is a bit less straightforward than in many of Norton's earlier works, but it is a nice escape to a world filled with court intrigue, royal romance and black magic, too. It will especially appeal to fans of Norton's "Witch World series" and is highly recommended.