The Scent of Youth by Mandi Martin
The Scent of Youth
by Mandi Martin
Welcomed by kind souls, Josiah earns his keep as a skilled vermin remover and helpful stable hand. But when a rat-borne illness strikes the town, Josiah’s unique abilities bring him to the attention of the imposing Duke.Within the castle walls, caught in the strange dynamic between the Duke’s son Bergen and the formidable Helga – children and ogres in one – Josiah’s life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of the spirited Nadia. Their shared love of poetry ignites a passionate connection, but joy is fragile, and loss leaves an indelible mark.Unbeknownst to Josiah, Helga’s deep-seated hatred of children is taking root within the Duke’s domain, setting in motion a chain of events that will irrevocably alter his destiny…
My Thoughts
Mandi Martin has created a tome of a book which begins by being centred around Josiah and his unique ability to catch rats ,thanks to his over sensitive sense of smell , in a world which is plagued by them . As we move with Josiah through his life from school , where he is bullied due to his strange looks, to his meeting and time with Mary, his independence away from his controlling father and weak willed mother to meeting Nadia and coming to the attention of The Duke and Helga, the child hater.
This is a story that reminded me very much of The Pied Piper with its concentration on the rats and their removal by a boy with a strange ability and sense of smell. The description of the characters is excellent and they draw you into their world, overrun by rats and disease. Each character that Martin into reduces brings a new dimension to the story and changes Josiah’s life in some way, not all for the best but I annoy say more without give in too much away.
There is plenty to take away from this book for any young adult reading it with many undertones running through it about bullying and how we should , or shouldn’t treat others , to how people change as they come in contact with others.
The story is incredibly well written and moves at a fast pace showing the reader what life is like for Josiah and how he changes between the first chapter and the last page.
An excellent read from an author who is worth watching out for.
About Mandi
I’m an Isle of Wight author with Birmingham roots. Writing became an outlet after a late diagnosis of autism, and it became more important after health problems also came about. I take my style and inspiration from classical novels and folklore. Some of my royalties are given to charities that supported me, but my main aim is to take people on a journey
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