The Scent of Youth by Mandi Martin

Blurb - Scorned for his unusual appearance and nature, young Josiah’s expulsion from school leads him to the grim world of rat-catching at the local orphanage. Amid new-found bonds and a simmering animosity, a longing for independence draws him towards the quiet life of a nearby village. 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… 

Review

The Scent of Youth is a truly compelling novel that explores a captivating storyline of fantastical folklore and thrilling adventures. Personally, I found this book to be completely immersive as it described the main character, Josiah’s resilience due to his different appearance and then following his expulsion from his school whilst also exploring Josiah’s unique abilities and the enticing chain of events that occur afterwards from his arrival to his new place of work as a “rat catcher” and his welcome at a castle, under the employment of a Duke, which is gloomy in comparison to the quaint little village he left, despite being impressive. Soon, whilst working under the the Duke and his wife, Josiah progresses from not only hunting rats to children due to his employers deep hatred for them, one of the many unpredicted but riveting turn of events. 

This novel was definitely an enjoyable read for me as I was invested by the first chapter alone and the mid-action opening and the idea of the strangeness of Josiah is established immediately as well as a foreshadowing of the relevance of the castle in the first chapter. Furthermore, the Scent of Youth struck out as having a spectacular storyline due to the character development of Josiah as the book resolves in a series of unexpected turns which always makes you want to read it continuously. Overall, this book is a good read for a fan of fascinating Young Adult Fiction based on folklore and a detailed plot.

              

Author Bio -  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.