All the women in Ariel Scarlet's family die before the age of forty. Family legend blames a cursed Victorian necklace, and Ariel is determined to discover who cursed it and why.

Sophey Cartwright works in Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities. She can help Ariel find out the truth... but is Ariel ready to face the past and choose her own place in history?

The first instalment in the Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities trilogy, building on short stories set in the Bezzina's Emporium world. A coming of age story set against the background of a magical antiques shop, this urban fantasy combines elements of mystery, horror, and magical whimsy. For fans of Discworld and Maggie Stiefvater, Rotting Trees is a young adult novel about family, privilege and the complexities of facing the past.
Look out for news of book two in the trilogy in 2026!
About Francesca Astraea
Born in Rochford in 1995, Francesca decided at an early age that the worlds inside books and television were infinitely preferable to the real one. Initially put off the idea of being a writer because it requires one to sit alone and ignore people, she now finds sitting alone and ignoring people to be the most satisfying parts of the job. You can find her via her online handle: FrancescasWords.