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/.

website

Author Insight

Words You Can See

As a reader, I love getting so immersed in a story that I can see it like a vivid picture. If I can practically smell or taste what the characters are experiencing, it's even better. I loved fleshing out the world of Crowley, England. I wanted to give readers a visceral experience as they read about Trevor's and Arabella's journeys. How about you? Do you love stories filled with details? Or do you just like enough to give you an idea?

Book Excerpt

Bitter Fruit

I’d been studying the grimoire all afternoon. Unfortunately, I hadn’t made any progress. How does one study the future?

The hour was late, and as usual, I was famished. It was a short jaunt, full of mud-filled quagmires, over to Abramelin Street in the West End. The roadway was clogged with chimney sweeps and other workers headed home for the evening. A brisk wind surged, forcing me to pull my cloak tighter. My destination was just up ahead—a grimy three-story red-brick building that housed Mr. Wigglesby’s office. The plain wooden door opened, and Lance stepped out. My brother appeared haggard. Normally, his hair was perfectly coiffed. At that moment, however, it stood on end as if he’d repeatedly raked his fingers through it. He looked up, and his grimace disappeared when his eyes landed on me.

“Arabella, what are you doing here?”

I smiled sweetly. “Care to have supper with me?”

Lance opened his mouth, then slammed it shut. His face contorted. “If you expect me to eat with them, you’re mistaken.”

“Them?” Confused, I whirled around and saw Trevor and Tamar Bartholomew approaching. “I assure you that I didn’t have either of them in mind.”

Lance stood beside me. “What do you want to do?”

“Discover what they want of course.” I held my chin high and stared down my nose at the couple. “They were gone for a month. Something brought them back.”

“Or someone,” my brother so astutely observed.

Why did he have to point out the obvious?