Scent of Darkness

(Paperback)

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Description

The author of Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire returns with a magical, seductive story about the power of scent--and about what happens when a special perfume renders a young woman irresistible. Deep in the bayous of Louisiana exists a world of fortune-tellers, soothsayers, and makers of potent elixirs. Among them is Evangeline's grandmother, Louise, a master of scent-making and perfume. And when Eva is eighteen, Louise leaves her the ultimate gift-a scent created just for her. However, the bottle comes with a warning- do not remove the crystal stopper unless you want everything in your life to change. From the moment she places a drop on her neck, Eva is the object of intense desire to everyone around her. Strangers follow her down the street, a young boy appears at her door asking for a favor, and two men-one kind and good, the other dark and exciting-fall madly in love with her. As her greatest gift becomes an unbearable curse, Eva will be forced to wonder if it is possible to truly love someone evil and to question the true nature of her grandmother's legacy.

Reviews

Sumptuous. . . . A story of first love, obsession, youthful sexuality and coming of age. The Washington Post

To give away the twists and turns in Scent of Darkness . . . would certainly be unfair, for Scent of Darkness is thoroughly engrossing. The New York Journal of Books

Boys, you give them your heart and they just want to sniff your blood. Entertainment Weekly

Berwins prose is poetic and measured, and her enchanting novel will leave readers searching for a scent of their own. Amber Peckham, Booklist

Berwins Creole-flavored romance . . . will provide plenty of pleasure to readers who enjoy a touch of magical realism in their fiction. Fans of such atmospheric writers as Alice Hoffman will find much to enjoy here. Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

In Scent of Darkness, Berwin has created a compelling story surrounded by the mysterious and exotic world of New Orleans, where tarot cards foretell whats yet to be, and fragrance is viewed as an ethereal, mystical creation capable of changing ones life forever. Amber Castens, The News-Gazette

Author Bio

Margot Berwin is the author of the best-selling novel Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire. Her work has been translated into nineteen languages. She earned her MFA from the New School in 2005 and lives in New York City.