A fully engrossing read that I couldn’t put down. Fell asleep reading this late at night then woke up in the morning and read nonstop to finish it. Have to say the ending was a bit of a let down after the rest of the book, seemed quite cut off and too harsh.

Other than the ending I’d say this was a perfect read for a winter. Greatly enjoyed the characters and tone of the book. The story was very original at first but devolved into something more common.

Still giving this five stars as it was one of those rare books I couldn’t put down.

I wanted to read this book because of the way that scent can transport us. The sense of smell is the most evocative of all the senses, just a whiff of perfume, cut grass or baking can transport us back to another place and time. Bauermeister centers her story on Emmeline, a girl growing up in an idyllic island setting, with a father keen to teach her about the marvels of nature by using her senses. She is obsessed with the scents that are stored in bottles in drawers in their home, but has no idea what they are or how they were made. Soon Emmeline is forced to leave her island home, along with its mermaids and magic. It’s how she attempts to understand her childhood as an adult that frames most of this magical, lyrical tale. A perfect read on a cold winter day