Francesca's Words

Books and Stories in the world of Bezzina’s Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities by Francesca Astraea

A shop you never plan to visit. A proprietor who knows what you need, even if you don’t. Bezzina’s Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities welcomes you for a cup of tea and a browse of the bizarre, the mysterious and the occult.

The Bezzina’s Emporium trilogy is a coming-of-age series following Sophey Cartwright and Ariel Scarlet as they find their way in the world and grapple with questions of legacy, ownership and belonging. Book one, Rotting Trees, is variously a cosy contemporary fantasy, a magical mystery and a family drama. Book two, mirrornovel (full title and details coming 2026) continues the adventures of Sophey and Ariel with new threats to the shop and its staff, more ethically-questionable antiques and of course lots of tea and cake.

The Bezzina’s Emporium short stories are non-sequential and, although they exist in the same world as the books – you might spot some familiar faces! – you do not need to have read the books to enjoy the short stories or vice versa. Keen eyed readers may notice continuity errors between the books and short stories; I began the short stories in 2020 but did not begin planning the book trilogy in earnest until 2022.

The series can be enjoyed by young adults and grown up adults alike, but is not recommended for readers under the age of 14 (if you’re a parent of a keen reader, I recommend reading the book(s) yourself to decide if it’s suitable for them).