Rating: 
Summary: Another good novel by the author
Review: Andre Norton is one of those rare authors who can continue to create new characters and settings in well developed plots. The present book introduces Willadene, a bedraggled waif fostered to a distant cousin to work as a scullery maid in the cousin's inn. Her future prospects are scant, with the cousin wanting to give her in marriage to a bloated drunkard of evil character who frequents the inn - a typical medieval notion of an arranged marriage. But Willadene's sensitivity, which makes her ill working in a tavern kitchen, turns out to be an asset to a dealer in herbs and cosmetics, and even more of an asset to the Duke's household.Events carry Willadene into a grand and dangerous adventure. The Duchy is infested with evil which must be rooted out. She becomes involved with the Duke's daughter, the chancellor, a visiting prince, and "the bat," as the story moves forward to an action filled climax. The story seems to jump forward in a few spots, and switches between actions of different characters, but overall it's a good tale.
Rating:
Summary: Another good novel by the author
Review: Andre Norton is one of those rare authors who can continue to create new characters and settings in well developed plots. The present book introduces Willadene, a bedraggled waif fostered to a distant cousin to work as a scullery maid in the cousin's inn. Her future prospects are scant, with the cousin wanting to give her in marriage to a bloated drunkard of evil character who frequents the inn - a typical medieval notion of an arranged marriage. But Willadene's sensitivity, which makes her ill working in a tavern kitchen, turns out to be an asset to a dealer in herbs and cosmetics, and even more of an asset to the Duke's household. Events carry Willadene into a grand and dangerous adventure. The Duchy is infested with evil which must be rooted out. She becomes involved with the Duke's daughter, the chancellor, a visiting prince, and "the bat," as the story moves forward to an action filled climax. The story seems to jump forward in a few spots, and switches between actions of different characters, but overall it's a good tale.
Rating: 
Summary: THIS WAS EXCELLENT
Review: I first discovered Andre Norton quite by accident two years ago when I began an avid reader of fantasy quite also by mistake. This book was excellent. She is from the time when people wrote stories to take you away to far away worlds and places that only the imagination can lead you to. Scent of Magic was a great find for me. The characters were well developed and the story line was well done. I enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I really tried to enjoy this book, since I've liked other books by Andre Norton, but this one just doesn't have much of a plot. The two main characters are both strong, interesting women. The descriptions are vivid and detailed (too much so, in fact, bogging the book down). The book revolves around an interesting situation, with a scullery maid who can actually smell evil and ward it off with herbal concoctions. But the two heroines mostly just hang around the castle, attending lunches and making feeble attempts to identify the villains, until the last couple of chapters. At that point they have a bizarre and not very believable adventure that leads to a not very interesting climax. This was a boring book.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad.
Review: I really wanted to like this book.The problem is ,I didn't.It was just so terrible.It didn't get anywhere,the characters were impossible to understand,and it was so filled with pointless stuff,so that by the end when they faced the bad-guyes,there was virtually no room left.
God knows why I finished this book.I suppose it was because Norton is one of my all-time favorites.But she really blew off on this one,god knows why she thought we care about Mahart;or Willadene.If you actually want Norton books that are good,read Wind in the Stone,Breed to Come,or the Elvenbane.This book is a waste.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Norton's best .
Review: I've pretty much always liked Norton .After Black Trillium I was immediatley drawn into her work .But this is slow moving and pointless .Willadene is completely un -satisfying .If she just sensed evil why doesn't she tell Halwice or Vazul ?If you want a good example of Norton's work ,try Wind in the Stone or Black Trillium(which is also written b Marion Zimmer Bradley and Julian May ).Don't waste your time on this .
Rating:
Summary: Super storytelling by a Grand Master of Fantasy and SF!
Review: Norton has consistently produced such good fantasy, that it is no surprise that SCENT OF MAGIC once again shows her to be the top in her field. There is a lot more here than first appears on the surface, and the language is a bit less straightforward than in many of Norton's earlier works, but it is a nice escape to a world filled with court intrigue, royal romance and black magic, too. It will especially appeal to fans of Norton's "Witch World series" and is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Fresh
Review: Norton's prose and characters had me hooked within the first 35 pages. This is a rich story with thrilling, original action sequences and characters possessing grit and presence. Very clever storytelling. My main complaint is that the story wasn't filled out in 2-3 volumes. This was a wonderful tale and I really think there was room for more. The story had something of an epic feel but by necessity much of the background was summarized. The ending is rather flashy, and perhaps jarring when contrasted with the subtlety of the rest of the book. Minor points, this book is excellent. This book is far above and beyond most fantasy novels in terms of quality of writing and entertainment value. This is my first Norton novel and I'm beating my head against the wall for having missed out on her books for so long.
Rating:
Summary: Fresh
Review: Norton's prose and characters had me hooked within the first 35 pages. This is a rich story with thrilling, original action sequences and characters possessing grit and presence. Very clever storytelling. My main complaint is that the story wasn't filled out in 2-3 volumes. This was a wonderful tale and I really think there was room for more. The story had something of an epic feel but by necessity much of the background was summarized. The ending is rather flashy, and perhaps jarring when contrasted with the subtlety of the rest of the book. Minor points, this book is excellent. This book is far above and beyond most fantasy novels in terms of quality of writing and entertainment value. This is my first Norton novel and I'm beating my head against the wall for having missed out on her books for so long.
Rating:
Summary: loved it.
Review: one of my favorite andre norton books. it was wonderful, through and through. the characters were superb.
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