I loved this book. A gripping and well-written exploration of living and working in extractive capitalism. There was a lovely alignment in the descriptions between humans and the environment. The concept of arborescence was beautifully explored, and the structure of the novel, jumping slightly ahead in each section, made it immensely readable, as you are eager to see how the world adapts as arborescence becomes more widespread. Lots of thoughtful reflection on anthropocentric climate change, and what it might mean for humanity to become fully rooted (pun intended) in the natural world it has for so long been decimating. Davis creates a believable near-future world, exploring how it would adapt to the existence of arborescence, and also commenting on the increasingly technological world we live in, through reflections on remote-working and AI. This book was poignant and asked important questions, but had a levity to it that didn't make it feel prescriptive or too heavy.

A stunningly original book. People are turning into trees - seemingly willingly and as a way to preserve the future of the planet. The rest of the world grapples with this new development and the loss that comes with it.

A couple at the forefront of the experience navigate their changing relationship as one rockets to prominence as an expert on the topic and the other is dragged along to manage her schedule in a world where he is increasingly redundant as a worker.

Life for people continues yet is irrevocably altered. Davis' imaginings of how daily life would change are so well considered and even quite profound at times. As science races to catch up with this mass transformation, we explore whether humans are worth saving.

This book perfectly captures the exhausting, overwhelming, terrifying, urgent moment in which we currently find ourselves. And it gives us both loss and hope.

An incredible book. I rarely re-read and I want to go straight back into this one.

This book is so fascinating … from beginning to end. I was enamored in the story and the way it was presented. It’s a weird writing, but deep, like a journal entries, but not, like a stream of consciences, but not exactly.
The whole premise of this book, I cannot begin to explain how important and elevated it was - people becoming trees, the environmental impact of humanity and the state of the world in this near future. Bren as a main character was so relatable and I was on his side the whole time. He’s work with the alternative intelligence was so strange, that dystopian future that is set up and the slow decline that came with it. Less people, more trees and still there was something not exactly good enough, or real enough for our human nature to change.
I am missing words to explain how I felt, but by the end it was just hope. There were so many sad moments, losing people without losing them, your friends and family just deciding to continue life as something else and to give to the earth, refusing to take and destroy anymore, that was powerful and beautiful, but also hard and sad for the ones left behind. It touched me to my core. The thing I love the most about dystopian scenarios is the hope, that small light at the end of the tunnel: “…maybe we’re worth saving … Some of us.”
There are strong stands here that may put some people off, but too bad for you if think that we are not the problem and we shouldn’t do anything to change what it’s happening with our environment right now: “It’s hard, I think, to know you are the problem. That to fix it you need to excise yourself. You still want to be a part of something. You want to exist. And yet in merely existing you destroy. You are the problem.” Caelyn is a much layered character and I really appreciated her role all through this narrative. I loved her and Bren’s banter. Also this has a lot of humor, it made me laugh so often in the first half, then it got progressively morose and sad, but I still loved it. The fictional comic series that Bren and his friend loved to read and the main entity Voidstar, were such a great additions of sci-fi stories, so beautiful and transcendent. I haven’t read from Rhett Davis before, but now I would ready anything else he puts into the world.
This is a very special book, I cannot recommend it enough. It filled me with meaning, and hope and positivity. And it made me think. I would think about it for a long time and I will try to be a better human just for the sake of other good humans that are doing the same.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Fleet for providing e with the ARC.

Vibes: thriller that is sad but hopeful, climate anxiety, vignette style
Verdict: pick this up if you're looking for a unique, thought-provoking thriller that is full of hope and sadness at the same time (doubly so if you like climate fiction)
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Note for NetGalley users: 'send to Kindle' had funky formatting that made dialogue difficult to parse, built-in reader had no issues though! (this doesn't affect my rating, just an FYI)

It's difficult to put into words what this novel is and how I feel about it.

On the surface, it's a thriller about a couple who investigate people who are convinced they can turn into trees. Beneath that, though, is a masterful and poetic presentation of how it feels to be muddling through life - stuck, but not able to do much about it - while worrying about what we're doing to the climate and what happens when AI really advances. We see snippets through the vignette-style which is executed flawlessly.

Arborescence is so topical and yet it feels timeless. I can't do the plot any justice without revealing spoilers so I'll leave it there, but the very real threat of climate change with the unbelievably relatable monotony of the characters' lives makes for a thrilling and exceptionally compelling story.

The only critique I have is that there are sections describing a comic book story (Voidstar) that started to pull the pacing down for me after about the half way mark. It's not too intrusive and it doesn't detract from the story too much but it did affect my enjoyment so not quite a 5* for me.

With thanks to Netgalley and Fleet | Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What makes a person want to be a tree?

Bren and Caelyn are a couple searching for purpose in an increasingly detached world. Bren works for a faceless company and suspects that most of his coworkers, and employers, are AI. Caelyn is adrift, until she pioneers the investigation and scientific research into a growing movement of people who believe they can turn into trees. She names it arborescence. What sounds like a fringe conspiracy soon becomes something real. To many, including Caelyn, it is the key to saving the Earth from humanity’s self-destruction.

As unbelievable as the premise may sound, it’s a compelling hook, and the beautiful writing kept me reading. There’s a subtle vein of horror whispering through the pages, but don’t worry, this isn’t The Happening. This is a story about what it means to be human. While AI gradually replaces what makes us human, arborescence offers a chilling alternative: to abandon humanity entirely.

Bren and Caelyn are interesting, well-drawn characters, and I found myself invested in their journey. The fragmented scene style may not suit everyone, but the brief, sometimes seemingly inconsequential moments and thoughts from Bren (the POV character) add depth and personality to the characters.

If you enjoy thought-provoking speculative fiction that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished reading, this is one for you.

Arborescence by Rhett Davis is a very inventive and original novel and highly topical. Thought provoking. I think it pairs quite well with Emily Buchanan's Send Flowers.