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.
Emmeline grows up on a remote island in British Columbia, unaware of the world outside. Her father is full of magical stories about mermaids and focused on the art of capturing scent memories. When the day comes that Emmeline must leave her island, she must learn to navigate a strange new world, and it is scent that guides her.
I was captivated by Emmeline's story from the very beginning and I had no clue how it was going to end, but I was happy to be along for the ride. Scent and memory are forever intertwined for people. Smells hold memories and allow us to travel through time.
Her father often said, "Let the smell introduce itself. Now open the back of your mind. Listen to the story." So, Emmeline learned to read people and situations because of scent. "Sometimes there were those unreal perfumes, jumbling and talking too loudly--but underneath them I could always find the person."
As Emmeline finds her path in this strange, new world, she also discovers what is important. "People lie Emmeline, but smells never do."
I so enjoy Erica Bauermeister's writing. Her beautiful, lyrical way with words. They are rich and sumptuous and bring with them a magical way of looking at the world.
I have never been disappointed with an Erica Bauermeister novel. I appreciate the Kindle copy for review, but now I need to buy a print copy so I can highlight it.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Erica Bauermeister here and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Read 3/20
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5/5 Stars
I really like her work, too, so I'm not surprised to see this is so good.
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