Shadowscent by P M Freestone
Aroma is everything in the Aramtesh Empire. Only prayers on sacred incense can reach heaven, and perfumes are highly treasured status symbols. Rakel, 17, has a remarkable talent for scents, but it isn’t enough to prolong the death of her father. The tattoos on Ash are those of an imperial bodyguard. Ash is required to accompany the caravan when his prince, Nisai, insists on going on a diplomatic mission to a remote province. Protecting Nisai while travelling is a nightmare. However, Ash finds it more difficult to keep a secret that could result in his banishment or death. When smoke leads Rakel and Ash to a field of the rarest flower in the Empire, they discover they have nothing in common.
Shadowscent by P M Freestone
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Flames consume the valuable blossoms, Nisai has been poisoned, and the two have “suspect” clinging to them like a foul odour. In a race to find an antidote before the imperial army hunts them down, their fates depend on them cooperating to understand clues, brave perils, and vanquish their own demons.
The Shadowscent duology is set in a world where smell rules the five senses and perfume is more valuable than money. Prayers must be offered up with incense. There are as many myths and stories about Scent Keepers as there are feathers in their costumes, and they are adored by the populace for acting as intermediaries between the gods and human rulers. This is a book where the gods feel very close and where myth and reality converge, just like the other works I’ve picked. The Darkest Bloom’s plot is a typical quest fantasy; the main characters must gather various materials for an antidote in order to save the poisoned prince.
P. M. Freestone depicts scent in the series with such an expressive eye for detail and a keen nose. They motivated me to give it greater thought in my own work. In fact, I went with them to assist in creating a perfume inspired by the black dakhai, the world of Shadowscent’s most expensive flower and the title “darkest bloom.” Learning more about the notes and components that go into a single perfume, how much each component costs, and other information was fascinating.
