Scent of Magic (Five Senses, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

Andre Norton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1999

An orphaned child and captive scullery maid, young Willadene possesses an uncanny ability to sense and understand the magical odors that pervade her world. It is this remarkable talent--or curse--that carries her far from the fetid kitchen into an apprenticeship with a revered herbalist and untimately to the highest circles of the Ducal court. But there is depravity lurking within the castle's walls, inspiring brazen treacheries and usurpations--and foul abduction as unthinkable as it is unexpected. Something horribly strange and forbidden struck at the dawn of a new day of corruption and terror. And an innocent girl finds the heightened sense that has been her fortune is now drawing her down into a maelstrom of evil.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Are you among the many whose first fantasy book was an Andre Norton young adult novel? Scent of Magic is the latest in a long line of good old-fashioned Norton sword-and-sorcery tales. As always, Norton provides an intriguing premise: in this world, both good and evil magic are tied to plants and their scents.

The orphan Willadene has "the ability to recognize and name the most subtle of mixed scents," including the taint of evil. After she saves Hawice the Herbmistress from a magical trap, Hawice brings her to the Ducal castle. There Willadene meets the Duke's sheltered daughter Mahart, who is preparing for a marriage that will give her father an heir. Willadene also works with Nicolas, who spies for the Duke. When Mahart is abducted after meeting Prince Lorien, her intended fiancé, Willadene, Nicolas, and the Prince set out to find her and track down those responsible. Mahart and Willadene prove brave and resourceful, equal partners in the final struggle.

The writing isn't always up to Norton's standards; sentences are sometimes of baroque complexity. But fans of the Witch World series and those nostalgic for fairy-tale fantasy should seek out Scent of Magic. --Nona Vero --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

The veteran Norton concocts a heady mixture of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and aromatherapy in this new magical adventure. Scullery maid Willadene, 16, no sooner escapes from her cruel Aunt Jacoba's tavern than her gift, the ability to nose out the auras of Good and Evil, leads her into the service of innocent young High Lady Mahart, the victim of gorgeously wicked Aunt Saylana, who is scheming for the ducal throne of Kronengred?and more. To counterpoint her adolescent girl heroines Willadene and Mahart, Norton swirls familiar ingredients into her time-tested story recipe (the Witch World series), such as the intrepid spy Nicolas, the dashing warrior-prince Lorien, assorted evil uglies both human and unearthly and an enigmatic creature named Ssssaaa, the most intriguing of the lot. After 60 years of creating popular fantasy worlds, Norton can be forgiven the few dangling ends and generally conventional approach of this aromatic Disney-esque sword-and-sorcery tale.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Eos (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380784165
• ISBN-13: 978-0380784165
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #929,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good novel by the author, February 18, 2001

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scent of Magic (Five Senses, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Norton - although I was worried at first, December 2, 2000

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Scent of Magic (Hardcover)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent high fantasy, July 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Scent of Magic (Hardcover)

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.