Bitter Fruit

Teens

synopsis

Synopsis

Sometimes actions can be more poisonous than any fruit, especially when dark magick is involved… Arabella Cuthbert lives in a magickal world where females aren’t valued. Her future includes a husband, children, and endless days tending house unless Arabella can prevent it. When the young Spelltwister stumbles across a name in an ancient tome, it leads her to the crotchety proprietress of White’s Antiquities and her malus malum. Esther White reveals a way for Arabella to have everything she’s ever wanted—fill the bad apple with the souls of seven evil men. The task makes Arabella question everything she’s worked for, but has she bitten off more than she can chew from the rotten apple? Is it too late to change things again? All Things Dark & Magickal is a young adult series featuring time travel and retold fairy tales.

bio

Author Biography

SF Benson loves putting a spin on a story. She primarily writes romantic fantasy with unusual characters in unexpected circumstances. SF’s books feature diverse and strong characters who have to work hard to get to their happily ever after. Sometimes the playing field is fraught with supernaturals. Other times it might be a pervasive magic. No matter how you look at it, her characters know how to meet the challenge and get what they desire—love! Published since 2016, SF has released sixteen books in five different series and has appeared in four anthologies! Under Nadirah Foxx, she’s written six books on the darker, steamier side of life. Curious about what all SF Benson and her alter ego, Nadirah Foxx, might be up to? Check them out at https://www.authorsfbenson.com/.

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Author Insight

Potential For Good

Arabella had more than one opportunity to do the right thing with her magick. In this scene, she even had a slight suspicion about her aunt, but as usual, Arabella didn't act. She always seemed to go along with whatever was happening until it was too late.

Book Excerpt

Bitter Fruit

When I returned to the shop, I pondered if it were some sort of manifestation affecting the atmosphere. Aunt Esther flitted from corner to corner in the overstuffed front room. I was waiting for a stack of merchandise to crash to the floor when she came to an abrupt halt in front of me.

“You’re back,” she mumbled. “We must move up our efforts.”

“Why?” I fumbled with the tie on my cloak. “What’s happened?”

“Your stepbrother has returned.”

“Trevor was here?”

Aunt Esther’s gaze flickered to the ceiling. “Of course he was here. He brought the Bartholomew girl with him.”

“Troubling indeed,” I said and retied the strings. “Perhaps if I spoke to him… Find out what he wants…”

“No!” My aunt speared me with a dark glare. “We finish what we started! Forget about the boy.”

There was something about her tone that unnerved me just a bit. I reckoned the possibilities of defying her, but then I thought about what was at stake. I wanted more power, and I couldn’t get that by going after Trevor. Not yet, anyway.

“Very well,” I said. “Where do we start?”