Rootfingers

by S. Alessandro Martinez

Something has awakened within the walls of little Wren Espinoza's new house. A house that once belonged to Isidoro Cervantes, an artist famous for his paintings depicting dark, surreal, and horrific subject matter, and who committed suicide after retreating from the society that once celebrated his work.

Now with new owners, an ancient force has manifested yet again, infesting the dark corners of the Cervantes House. An entity that feeds on creativity. An entity that forced itself into the role of Isidoro's muse.

An entity that desires to now use Wren and her family for its own artistic purposes.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

S. Alessandro Martinez is a Bram Stoker Award® -nominated author of Mexican and Spanish descent who writes horror and fantasy from middle grade to adult. He lives in a haunted manor and loves playing video/board games, practicing necromancy, watching bat videos, collecting skulls, visiting cemeteries, and generally lurking in the dark. The author of several books, as well as short stories and poetry which have appeared in magazines, anthologies, and websites. You’re always welcome to contact Alessandro here or by email at salessandromartinez@gmail.com with any comments, questions, esoteric rituals to bring forth ancient evil from times untold, or whatever you’d like.

Reviews

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

S. Allesandro wastes no time in plunging the reader into a terrifying world along with Wren. Wren's family moved into a house formerly owned by a tortured painter and odd occurrences start happening. Wren has to figure out what's real and what's not, while navigating her crippling fear. A quick read that I highly enjoyed.

[Francesca Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good short horror read! it's not my typical genre but I absolutely enjoyed it and devoured it in one sitting!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and furious nightmare fuel.

[Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm avoiding spoilers here, but hopefully this gives you an idea if the book is for you.

This novella delivers a powerful punch in just over 100 pages. The opening is immediately gripping, with short chapters that make it impossible to put down. As Wren, the main character, delves deeper into the unsettling realities creeping into her young world, the horror intensifies. It skillfully intertwines overt scares and graphic descriptions that vividly illustrate Wren's complex family dynamics. The entire book evokes a "Tales from the Crypt" vibe, offering a pure, unadulterated horror experience without needing a Cryptkeeper to guide you through it.

[Barbara Cottrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories about evil artists and S. Alessandro Martinez has given us a doozy in Isidoro Cervantes. Over one horrifying night, the undead painter torments a family and stalks a young girl. It's grim stuff, but I found myself admiring his eight-year-old protagonist, Wren Espinoza. Despite all the odds, she battles the monster in her new home. I won't tell you how the fight ends, but I will tell you that I admired the young girl very much. And this from someone who doesn't normally like plucky child characters. Highly recommended.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book at an author's book fair. My finds at such places have had mixed results, so I wasn't expecting too much.

What I found was a pleasant surprise! Rootfingers had an eerie setting that only built over time. Alessandro Martinez' ability to build suspense was compelling and thoroughly enjoyable!

[Tiffany Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried to win this through Goodreads Giveaway because it reminded me of Darcy Coates but I didn't so I bought it , definitely worth it , a haunted house from an 8 year Olds perspective very well done in 104 pages

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! True horror and not a happy ending!

A couple of weird grammatical errors that I’m surprised made it past editing, but I can over look these because the writing and story itself it out of this world!

I hope this gets expanded on someday!

[Merkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how you can build so much terror and creep into just over 100 pages. But this was scary from almost the first page.

[Kyle Rehdner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy and fun! Well worth checking out. 3.5 spooky stars.

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy and disturbing tale of art and obsession, with a dose of cosmic horror too. A terrifying little novella!

[Clare Lune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly creative. I love how each chapter title is a shoutout to a work of art.