Reviewed by Kaelin Lee, age 16

Shadowscent by P.M. Freestone

Scent is everything in the Aramtesh Empire, where perfumes are coveted status symbols and scent keepers hold mythical power. 17-year-old Rakel is a skillful expert when it comes to fragrances, but it isn’t enough to save her dying father from the rot. Ash is the imperial bodyguard and friend of Prince Nisai, but he’s burdened with a secret about himself that could have him executed. Rakel and Ash have nothing in common until they are both framed for the crime of poisoning Prince Nisai. Now to protect their fates, they must escape and work together to find the antidote that will cure the prince – all while racing against time and the imperial army on their trail.

What initially piqued my interest in Shadowscent was its unique, fantastical plot, which did not disappoint. While the beginning was slow, when Rakel and Nisai finally started their quest to save the prince, the adventure was enthralling and action-packed. They had to traverse far lands to collect rare ingredients for an antidote that might not work. This perilous journey gave the author opportunities to introduce interesting characters along the way that helped or hindered their mission. There were obstacles at every turn up until the end where mysteries, plot twists, and a cliffhanger ending unraveled seamlessly. The author also did an amazing job fleshing out the fantasy world of the Aramtesh Empire. The world-building was incredibly immersive, from the made-up creatures to the mini-history lessons about the empire. The vivid setting descriptions additionally made it easy for me to imagine the story in perfect clarity.

However, the book’s downside was definitely the lack of character investment. Even though it was a dual POV in first person, switching between Rakel and Ash, it felt third person omniscient in the lack of emotional thoughts the main characters had. Their lack of feeling during every scene, especially life-risking ones, made them unrelatable and without humanity as characters. Without any character development or likeability shown in their personalities, I was left feeling unattached to the characters, making me not care about any danger they faced. The risk was lower as a reader without stakes. Plus, their relationship with each other was weakly crafted in dialogue and action when their situation should’ve created unbreakable, special bond readers could root for.

Overall, the book is good for fantasy and adventure readers who focus more on the plot rather than the characters.

2.5 stars of 5 stars

Find this book in our catalog: Shadowscent

Catalog Number: YA FIC FREESTONE,P

401 pages