I've been lucky enough to be friends and writing buddies with Anne Lyle for a few years now, and indeed was a beta-reader for a very early draft of her historical fantasy The Alchemist of Souls ("historical fantasy gets dirty.") If you haven't read Anne's books yet, but you yearn for tales of political intrigue, swashbuckling swordsmen, and a very unique take on the Elizabethan era, I recommend you start now.
In the mean time, you could try a couple of perfumes inspired by two of the characters from the series. Earlier this year, Anne and I decided we'd have some fun creating fragrances for Mal Catelyn and Coby Hendricks, and after much hard work and sniffing, I'm delighted to unveil the finished products to you.
Maliverny
Imagine a dusty bar in a London touched with strange magicks and filled with wonderous, dangerous travellers from the New World. Imagine you're a swordsman tossed into peril and political intrigue against your will...You're starting to imagine Mal Catelyn's world...Maliverny is a tribute to the Elizabethan era, blending together precious woods, incenses, and spices from the New World. A base of sandalwood and frankincense is topped with warm black pepper and cinnamon. A hint of tobacco ties it all together.
Hendricks
Imagine fleeing your homeland and living in disguise amongst men who cannot know your secrets...Imagine finding yourself thrust into a world of magical and political machinations - and the man you want most believes you're a boy...You're starting to imagine Coby Hendricks' world. A beguilingly unisex blend of herbs and fruits, Hendricks starts with clean, clear notes of juniper and coriander, spiked with exotic cassia and light touches of lemon and bergamot. Winding through it all is just a distant whiff of gunpowder.
To celebrate the launch of these two lovely (and surprisingly Christmassy) scents, Anne is running a competition to win some samples on her blog. Take a look, leave a comment, and be in with a chance of trying Mal and Coby for yourself. And be sure to check out the books while you're there - you can read the first three chapters of The Merchant of Dreams and The Alchemist of Souls for free!
