Rotting Trees

by Francesca Astraea

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?

A Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiquities novel.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Hi! I mostly use this space to keep track of books other people have recommended, but occasionally I add reviews, which are either very earnest or an absolute tyre fire of emotional vomit. I'm over on Insta, sometimes, @francescas_words. I write about books (and other things) over at francescasthoughts.com. Say hello if you see me!

Oh yeah I write books sometimes? Here's my ~professional bio~

Born in Rochford in 1995, Francesca Astraea 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. She lives in Southend-on-Sea.

You can find her short stories at https://francescaswords.wordpress.com, and support her by joining the No. 1 Readers' Club at https://patreon.com/francescaswords.

Reviews

[readbytaylah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming and enchanting read. So well written and incredibly captivating. Definitely recommend if this is the genre of book you read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[em · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a whimsical, emotional and entertaining story! From the get go I was intrigued by Ariel and her personality. I saw parts of myself in her, from her worries to the way she saw the world. I found myself rooting for her, despite her flaws and mistakes. The background characters were also interesting and well fleshed out, especially Sophey and Seb.

The plot itself was like nothing I’ve ever read. The way Astraea weaved together different timelines and generations worked incredibly well. I also loved the magical, witchy elements. They really made this book feel special, there was just enough magic to feel real without this book falling into the fantasy category.

There were also enough moments that commented on the current social climate that makes this book relevant. I appreciate how Ariel reacted to certain situations, it felt realistic for how a 15/16 year old would act, and only added to her character and my enjoyment of the novel.

Overall, this was a fantastic read. It combined real emotions and struggles with magic and witchcraft that came together to create a unique reading experience. I hope to read more set in this world with these characters.

[Summer Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Francesca, for giving me the opportunity to read Rotting Trees as an ARC!

I went into Rotting Trees with no idea what to expect but nothing I read had crossed my mind in advanced. This whimsical, magical story is filled with history, enchantments and learning about how to navigate relationships of all sorts, seeing what is truly right, wrong or in that grey area. And how to deal with that grey area.

I really enjoyed being in Bezzina’s Emporium. The place felt like magic. Like earth tones, mismatched crochet blankets and the smell of coffee. It was like comfort but in a way that keeps you on edge, like you want to sink into it but you’re not sure whether to trust it.

All the action which took place in Bezzina’s was great to read, particularly the magic. I would have liked a slightly deeper understanding into the magic that existed in this world (can everyone do it? Is it just accepted as something that happens? Where did it come from?) but I found it fascinating and witchy, adding to the vibe of the shop. I also really liked Sophey and Ernest, they were really lovely characters who I could picture with ease.

I was really invested in the curse and I would love to know what came about from this, however, I did find some of the family history a little dull, but this is a personal preference from someone who isn’t overly history inclined. For those who love delving into the past, this would be right up your street!

I did find Ariel a bit irritating, which may have been intended, but her character was quite rude and frustrating at times. Watching her develop did help, and toward the end of the story she became more likeable, and while I do think this was part of it, she wasn’t my favourite protagonist. I loved Rocket though, I would die for Rocket.

I definitely think if you are a history lover or invested in a family tree, this book is perfect for you. It is well written and filled with some exciting concepts, I was invested the whole way through, and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you again, Francesca!

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ || 🌙✨ Whispers of Magic in Rotting Trees ✨🌙


Strengths:

Atmospheric world-building: The setting of Bezzina’s Emporium is rich, mysterious, and instantly draws the reader into a place where every artefact seems to hold a secret.
Unique magical concept: Instead of reusing typical fantasy tropes, Astraea weaves her own blend of charm and eeriness, making the story feel fresh.
Engaging tone: The writing balances whimsical fantasy with a darker, haunting undercurrent, giving the book a distinctive style.
Character intrigue: The characters are layered, with their intentions and loyalties not always clear, which adds suspense and depth.
Series potential: The book lays strong groundwork for future installments, sparking curiosity about what comes next in the Emporium’s world.


Areas for Improvement:

Slow start: The pacing in the opening chapters takes time to build momentum, which might test the patience of readers looking for immediate action.
Unanswered questions: Some plot points feel left hanging—understandable for a series starter, but slightly unsatisfying if you want full closure.
Character development: While intriguing, a few characters could have been fleshed out more to create stronger emotional connections.


Overall Thought:
Rotting Trees is a captivating introduction to Francesca Astraea’s magical universe. Its originality and atmosphere outweigh its slower beginning, making it a solid 4-star read. Fans of magical mysteries and eerie fantasy settings will find it both enchanting and promising for what’s to come.

[Belinda Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rotting Trees was truly such a pleasure to read. It is such a unique story with fleshed out characters that you are bound to adore. There are so many things to love about this book, but I think the writing style might be my favourite part. Bezzina's Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiques is such an interesting place, and the descriptions of this shop are so vivid and enchanting. Ariel is a great protagonist. Her thoughts, feelings and actions feel realistic for a teenage girl, and I really loved witnessing her character development as the story progressed.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you are looking for something emotional, thought-provoking and most importantly, magical.

[Francesca Astraea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread my exclusive (Word document) edition for note-taking for mirrornovel (book two!) and genuinely forgot to take notes after a while because I'd forgotten that quite a lot of this book is intended to make readers say 'NO ARIEL, NO,' and I was busy saying 'NO ARIEL - wait I made you do this.' Oops?
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In which I figured out how to add a sampler to the list of editions! You can find the actual sampler on my website here: https://francescaswords.com/2024/07/1...

[mars · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an ARC review, thank you to the author Francesca Astraea for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was such a nice cozy fantasy and perfect as a palate cleanser until the 80% mark. The last 20% of the book made me hate this book, it made the whole plot useless as it got brushed away. This was described to us as a queer story which I was really excited about, being queer myself. I naturally started shipping the main characters together but I couldn't feel much romantic chemistry between them, they just felt like good friends despite everyone asking "is she just a friend or?". I like to think this might change in the next book but in this one it just did not happen. It also appears that not everyone who got offered the ARC got told there was queer rep in it. I do not want to spoil the main plot (not that it ends up truly mattering in the end) but racism was used in such a weird way, it felt like a plot device. The reveal of the reason for Grace and Ariel's falling out was dragged out for so long, I didn't think it would be something so big, I thought it would be some teenager drama since it was barely touched on throughout most of the book. I did enjoy the scenery descriptions and it made me want to visit Southend. I also liked the curse and its origins even though I didn't enjoy the ending. I wish we had read about more customers' stories from Bezzina's Emporium, I really liked the ones we read about. In the end, this book wasn't what I expected at all and I don't think it was for me.

[mads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

Rotting Trees is a story about how Ariel, who’s family has been cursed for decades, tries to save her lineage by taking the help of the employees in a cooky, strange, and magical antique shop.

I was very excited about this fantasy book when I saw the premise and that it had queer representation, but it ended up falling flat for me. I enjoyed the beginning, the atmosphere felt cozy and chill, the mystery surrounding the curse was intriguing, and I was excited to find out the backstory. When we did get to the backstory, I think it was set up to be interesting, but when combined with the reason why Ariel and Grace fell out, it felt a bit on the nose and tacky when using that sort of racism as a plot device. I liked some characters, like Sophey, but I wish we learned more about her. Similarly, I wish the world this is set in was more fleshed out. More information about the magic, the curses and the society surrounding it would have benefited the storytelling. If the curse plot was more developed, especially towards the end, I would have felt more fulfilled. It almost fizzled out, when I had higher hopes for a more triumphant end of the main storyline. I think this was a good enough palette cleanser, but ended up not being for me!

[Lisa Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rotting Trees surprised me, and I immediately recommended it to a few friends who have tween and teen kids where I know they enjoy fantasy. In a story about uncovering a family curse, it brings the serious issue of modern unconscious racism into light, in a moment which is understandably jarring, because the main character is suddenly made aware of the impact of her prior behaviour. We as the readers have the same shock of processing the revelation as she experiences.

The world building of magic being real is very light, but I enjoy the focus being kept on the main character and her story. Having also enjoyed some short stories set in the same magical emporium, it’s about the characters, rather than serving as a role play guide style explanation of how and what.

I was worried some cliches would appear due to poor decision making from a teen, but in a pleasant surprise these are avoided. Friendships gently develop, it reads very naturally.

Not a light read in message given the circumstances of the curse, and the current day reveal, but a very easily readable book.

[Katie (winenwordsblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive an Arc for this book. I have been trying to get more into fantasy novels recently, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this book. Let me tell you… it did not disappoint. I was hooked after the first couple of chapters. The history, the emotions, and the twists were sooooooooo good. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I don’t want to give too many details away because I think this book would be enjoyed the most if you don’t know too much about it going into it. All I will say, though… I really think you should give it a try. 

[Lily B · Rating 4 out of 5]

These characters stayed alive in my mind. Good story with some unexpected turns and an important underlying message.

[Emily | bookswith.emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rotting Trees was such a whimsical and magical read, I absolutely loved the plot. Ariel was such a great main character and she had amazing character development. I enjoyed reading her story and learning about her family and the curse necklace.

The plot kept me entertained from the start and I was eager to uncover the background of the necklace. I liked how different timelines were weaved together seamlessly to create the bigger picture. I loved the setting of Bezzina’s Emporium of Magical Artefacts and Antiques, the descriptions of the place were wonderful and allowed me to create the shop in my head. It is definitely a place I would want to visit if it was real.

This book was written really well and the emotions were portrayed incredibly thorough the pages. Despite the book having the magical element, it felt very realistic as the magical element wasn’t farfetched. I would love to revisit this world again and read about these characters, it was a great book. I recommend this read if you enjoy whimsical and magical stories.