Emmeline lives an enchanted childhood on a remote island with her father, who teaches her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t explain are the mysterious scents stored in the drawers that line the walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates them. As Emmeline grows, however, so too does her curiosity, until one day the unforeseen happens, and Emmeline is vaulted out into the real world - a place of love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge. To understand her past, Emmeline must unlock the clues to her identity, a quest that challenges the limits of her heart and imagination.
Lyrical and immersive, The Scent Keeper explores the provocative beauty of scent, the way it can reveal hidden truths, lead us to the person we seek, and even help us find our way back home.
There were parts I loved, especially early on in the book. I liked how magical things seemed when Emmeline was viewing things as a child, and how that gently shifted as she matured. The book fizzled out in the last third, though. What felt like hints of magical realism before didn't carry that same intrigue. There was more telling than showing, things wrapped up too quickly and too neatly, and a cheesy epilogue.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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20 May, 2020:
Finished reading
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20 May, 2020:
Reviewed