What do you think?
The Man of Wind and Moss
The Blair Witch Project meets Cabin in the Woods by way of Grady Hendrix in this gruesome, mythology-inspired storm of witchcraft, demon curses, and millennial-age angst all wrapped in a folk horror tale about six college friends who go on a weekend getaway in the woods—and the supernatural deals they make to survive.
Marco Wonder is about to turn 30, and he hates it.
Without job prospects, without a girlfriend, without a sustainable future, he desires something to anchor him, to give him direction in life. Unlike his brother, who found his purpose by returning to Puerto Rico to discover himself, Marco has no such aspiration to return to his roots. Instead, Marco decides to risk it all and confess his love for his best friend Pansy during the last hurrah before their college friend group continue on their separate ways through life.
Except, he’s worried Pansy isn’t interested. She’s also pregnant, and an item with her on again, off-again
boyfriend Dean. But as Marco joins his friends for a weekend getaway to a cabin in upstate New York, they will soon discover a demonic creature older than forest, waiting to give direction to those who find
themselves lost, for a bloody cost.
As the group crumbles apart because of sexual escapades, misplaced confessions, and eerie mishaps, they soon find themselves at the mercy of the Man of Wind and Moss. After a heinous and tragic ordeal, only Marco, Pansy, and their friend Sasha, a witchy and headstrong academic, survive.
But their trauma does not end when they are released from the forest. Unbeknownst to Marco, Sasha may have made an impulsive decision to save them all. Because Dean also returns from the woods… Only he’s a little tweaked …missing some fingers…missing his eyes…and driven by the Man of Wind and Moss to enact its bloody purpose.
Marco Wonder is about to turn 30, and he hates it.
Without job prospects, without a girlfriend, without a sustainable future, he desires something to anchor him, to give him direction in life. Unlike his brother, who found his purpose by returning to Puerto Rico to discover himself, Marco has no such aspiration to return to his roots. Instead, Marco decides to risk it all and confess his love for his best friend Pansy during the last hurrah before their college friend group continue on their separate ways through life.
Except, he’s worried Pansy isn’t interested. She’s also pregnant, and an item with her on again, off-again
boyfriend Dean. But as Marco joins his friends for a weekend getaway to a cabin in upstate New York, they will soon discover a demonic creature older than forest, waiting to give direction to those who find
themselves lost, for a bloody cost.
As the group crumbles apart because of sexual escapades, misplaced confessions, and eerie mishaps, they soon find themselves at the mercy of the Man of Wind and Moss. After a heinous and tragic ordeal, only Marco, Pansy, and their friend Sasha, a witchy and headstrong academic, survive.
But their trauma does not end when they are released from the forest. Unbeknownst to Marco, Sasha may have made an impulsive decision to save them all. Because Dean also returns from the woods… Only he’s a little tweaked …missing some fingers…missing his eyes…and driven by the Man of Wind and Moss to enact its bloody purpose.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2026
About the author
Alex Gonzalez
6 books92 followersAlex Gonzalez is a WGA screenwriter and horror fiction writer. Born and raised in Florida, he now lives in Brooklyn and is the co-founder of the horror zine You Are Not Alone. His screenplays have been optioned, and a feature of his is in development with Ulladulla Pictures and Extra A Productions (Little Woods, The Giant). He currently teaches horror writing workshops with Catapult.co., and his most recent short story “Die Cuban” was published on the Catapult website.
(Source: Amazon)
(Source: Amazon)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't know that I agree with the publisher's decision to compare this novel to The Blair Witch Project — other than a small bit of it taking place in the forest, there aren't a lot of similarities — but it's definitely a gruesome and wild ride. It's unique and well-written and genuinely scary in parts, and at the same time I kind of mostly hate read it because all of the characters are immature and annoying and the entire thing is hella depressing. And Sasha, girlfriend … maybe develop a modicum of self respect because he is absolutely not worth it and why would you want to be someone's backup plan anyway?
And, yeah, the above paragraph pretty solidly sums up my experience with this book, I think. If you usually enjoy folk horror, there's probably a good chance that you'll enjoy this one because it really is scary and refreshingly unique (and not at all like The Blair Witch Project). I'm not sure I ever truly understood who or what the Man of Wind and Moss was supposed to be or why he was so intent on being such an evil prick, but I definitely wouldn't want to encounter him in a dark alley … or, um, forest.
And the main character? He's unlikeable, sure, but he's also a complete dumbass so there's that. Everything that happened in the last third(ish) of this book could have been avoided if he had just, you know, not been stupid? Don't look your gift goats in the mouth and all of that … or however that idiom goes.
Trigger warnings include gore, human death, and animal death. There is a scene involving a cat that I will never ever get out of my head, so thank you very much for that, Alex Gonzalez. And the goats too. Those poor, poor goats.
So, yeah. I did enjoy this one and the author is obviously a talented writer, but also I was kind of rooting for the villain by the end because how could you not?
3.7 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 29, 2026.
And, yeah, the above paragraph pretty solidly sums up my experience with this book, I think. If you usually enjoy folk horror, there's probably a good chance that you'll enjoy this one because it really is scary and refreshingly unique (and not at all like The Blair Witch Project). I'm not sure I ever truly understood who or what the Man of Wind and Moss was supposed to be or why he was so intent on being such an evil prick, but I definitely wouldn't want to encounter him in a dark alley … or, um, forest.
And the main character? He's unlikeable, sure, but he's also a complete dumbass so there's that. Everything that happened in the last third(ish) of this book could have been avoided if he had just, you know, not been stupid? Don't look your gift goats in the mouth and all of that … or however that idiom goes.
Trigger warnings include gore, human death, and animal death. There is a scene involving a cat that I will never ever get out of my head, so thank you very much for that, Alex Gonzalez. And the goats too. Those poor, poor goats.
So, yeah. I did enjoy this one and the author is obviously a talented writer, but also I was kind of rooting for the villain by the end because how could you not?
3.7 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 29, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF 9%
Wtf are we even doing here my guy?!
I'm sorry—usually my reviews are a little more sophisticated than this, but I refuse to let this take up anymore of my time.
"Marco always thought Paula had a sexual appeal to her and in stolen glances and drunken wine talk, he sensed the feeling was mutual. The way she'd always ask about Pansy and the other girls he'd slept with always teetered out of gossip and into prying. It always had a way of leaving the safety of banter and going into something a bit darker than flirting. There were a few brief moments in the past, fleeting things, things he honestly didn't recall often when she straight up asked how he fucked. What was he like in bed? Was he generous? In the same way she drew a diagram of the friendsgiving seating arrangement, she once drew a crude illustration of a pussy. Even shading it in to show it was in heat. A detail she added only to make Marco cringe and blush, and for her to bust up laughing, poking the pen between his ribs."
Wtf are we even doing here my guy?!
I'm sorry—usually my reviews are a little more sophisticated than this, but I refuse to let this take up anymore of my time.
October 3, 2026
Well this was weird as hell…and apparently exactly my kind of weird.
The Man of Wind and Moss had that slow, creeping kind of horror where you spend half the book thinking, “Okayyy…something is definitely not right here,” and the other half needing to know WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON. It’s dark, atmospheric, a little unhinged, and just unsettling enough that I was completely hooked.
I especially loved the mix of grief, obsession, folklore, and that constant feeling that something sinister was lurking just beneath the surface. It wasn’t overly gory or trying too hard to shock me - it was just deeply and uncomfortably creepy.
Basically weird woods, bad vibes, questionable decisions. What more could I ask for?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No notes.
Give me more of whatever the hell this was.
The Man of Wind and Moss had that slow, creeping kind of horror where you spend half the book thinking, “Okayyy…something is definitely not right here,” and the other half needing to know WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON. It’s dark, atmospheric, a little unhinged, and just unsettling enough that I was completely hooked.
I especially loved the mix of grief, obsession, folklore, and that constant feeling that something sinister was lurking just beneath the surface. It wasn’t overly gory or trying too hard to shock me - it was just deeply and uncomfortably creepy.
Basically weird woods, bad vibes, questionable decisions. What more could I ask for?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No notes.
Give me more of whatever the hell this was.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been a genre fan for a very long time, and I'm actively sad to see the direction in which it is heading, as evidenced by books like these.
Where do I even begin ...
Well, it is described as gruesome, and gruesome it is. In the most disgustingly visceral way imaginable. If pages upon pages of graphic descriptions of vomiting and excreting are your thing, you're in for a real treat. The problem seems to be that the author confuses disturbing the audience with disgusting them. The former takes literary skill and psychological manipulation and such, the latter ... not so much.
For another thing - and this may be controversial and therefore scary in its own right to discuss - this is the kind of book that leans heavily into the race aspect without really saying anything profound about it. Specifically, it is the kind of book where someone's race is the first thing you learn about them - and is then used as a crutch to shore up the notable absence of character development.
Erewhon, the press behind this, specializes in publishing marginalized/minority voices and stories - a great mission and many kudos to them. I can only hope their other books use it in a more meaningful and thoughtful way.
But the main thing here, whatever race the characters may be, they are just not interesting. Maybe because they so closely align to their terrible generation, maybe by design. But the 30-year-olds in this book act about 21 - and not a particularly mature 21 either.
It's basically the cast of Friends - if Friends was ethnically, but curiously not in any other way, diverse. The group dynamics are incestuously close, mostly focused on one tedious triangle around the protagonist. Why is anybody's guess, because he's a loser (and not a charming one, either) through and through, even with their admittedly low-set bar. And yet, this tedious triangle takes up an inordinate amount of page time, because, once again, there's nothing else of interest to rely on.
Mind you, there is a folk horror-eque plot aspect that could've been quite interesting, if it didn't get buried under all the whining and navel-gazing and will-they-or-won't-they garbage.
So yes, it's easy to see the book didn't sing for me. Which is lamentable, because I think this writer can actually write, but nothing about his stylistic and narrative priorities worked for me, and I hated his characters.
Maybe this book will sing for you. Or screech. But reading/reviewing is a subjective business, and for me, it was time wasted. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Where do I even begin ...
Well, it is described as gruesome, and gruesome it is. In the most disgustingly visceral way imaginable. If pages upon pages of graphic descriptions of vomiting and excreting are your thing, you're in for a real treat. The problem seems to be that the author confuses disturbing the audience with disgusting them. The former takes literary skill and psychological manipulation and such, the latter ... not so much.
For another thing - and this may be controversial and therefore scary in its own right to discuss - this is the kind of book that leans heavily into the race aspect without really saying anything profound about it. Specifically, it is the kind of book where someone's race is the first thing you learn about them - and is then used as a crutch to shore up the notable absence of character development.
Erewhon, the press behind this, specializes in publishing marginalized/minority voices and stories - a great mission and many kudos to them. I can only hope their other books use it in a more meaningful and thoughtful way.
But the main thing here, whatever race the characters may be, they are just not interesting. Maybe because they so closely align to their terrible generation, maybe by design. But the 30-year-olds in this book act about 21 - and not a particularly mature 21 either.
It's basically the cast of Friends - if Friends was ethnically, but curiously not in any other way, diverse. The group dynamics are incestuously close, mostly focused on one tedious triangle around the protagonist. Why is anybody's guess, because he's a loser (and not a charming one, either) through and through, even with their admittedly low-set bar. And yet, this tedious triangle takes up an inordinate amount of page time, because, once again, there's nothing else of interest to rely on.
Mind you, there is a folk horror-eque plot aspect that could've been quite interesting, if it didn't get buried under all the whining and navel-gazing and will-they-or-won't-they garbage.
So yes, it's easy to see the book didn't sing for me. Which is lamentable, because I think this writer can actually write, but nothing about his stylistic and narrative priorities worked for me, and I hated his characters.
Maybe this book will sing for you. Or screech. But reading/reviewing is a subjective business, and for me, it was time wasted. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
September 21, 2026
There is something very unsettling about being lost in life, especially when everyone around you seems to have found their direction. In The Man of Wind and Moss, that anxiety becomes the foundation for a wildly grotesque, folkloric nightmare that explores the terrifying reality of wanting something to give your life meaning. Marco's impending thirtieth birthday has him questioning everything, from his uncertain future to his unrequited feelings for his best friend. What begins as a weekend away with his college friends quickly descends into something far more sinister when the group encounters an ancient entity lurking within the forest. Equal parts eco horror and body horror, with a heavy dash of dark folklore, the novel delivers plenty of visceral, stomach-churning moments, but its beating heart is the emotional ruin beneath the carnage. The characters' messy relationships and complicated desires feel painfully human, making their unraveling all the more disturbing. There is an especially compelling tension in the desire to belong and the fear of being left behind, with cultural identity and grief expertly woven into the horror. The terror thoroughly refuses to be confined to the woods. The trauma follows these characters home, transforming their already fragile state into something horrifying. The result is a wonderfully vicious reminder that sometimes finding direction comes at a high price that no one should be willing to pay. The Man of Wind and Moss is an unflinching, emotionally charged descent into the wild, where the things waiting among the trees may not be as scary as the things we carry deep within. Thank you to Erewhon Books for sending me a copy for review. You can pick this book up September 29th, 2022 wherever you buy your books! Full coverage coming soon from Cemetery Dance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars
This is the second or third horror novel this year that I've read where a diverse friend group ends up having sexual thoughts about each other and having relations with each other and honestly, I think I need to put a moratorium on this trope.
Initially, I gave this 3.25 stars, but the more I think about it, this novel is more of a 2.5 star read. The entire thing is extremely cliche. It's the usual horror story about an unlikable group of friends going on a vacation and staying in a cabin in the woods. They do stupid things which then causes a supernatural entity to stalk them and start killing them off one by one. Yada yada yada.
With these kinds of stories, there's a fine line between serious and campy. This novel manages to hop back and forth between both. The story dives into erotic horror and those scenes were both gross and funny. They're horny during life-or-death situations and it's all so over the top. There's also an occult plotline that somewhat strengthened the cliched storyline and made the novel a bit more interesting. So, if you're into that blend of horror/supernatural subgenres, then you might fare better than I did.
I did like the MMC's ruminations on undergoing a quarterlife crisis as a Latino man and I wanted more of it. But then that'd be a different story entirely.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc.
This is the second or third horror novel this year that I've read where a diverse friend group ends up having sexual thoughts about each other and having relations with each other and honestly, I think I need to put a moratorium on this trope.
Initially, I gave this 3.25 stars, but the more I think about it, this novel is more of a 2.5 star read. The entire thing is extremely cliche. It's the usual horror story about an unlikable group of friends going on a vacation and staying in a cabin in the woods. They do stupid things which then causes a supernatural entity to stalk them and start killing them off one by one. Yada yada yada.
With these kinds of stories, there's a fine line between serious and campy. This novel manages to hop back and forth between both. The story dives into erotic horror and those scenes were both gross and funny. They're horny during life-or-death situations and it's all so over the top. There's also an occult plotline that somewhat strengthened the cliched storyline and made the novel a bit more interesting. So, if you're into that blend of horror/supernatural subgenres, then you might fare better than I did.
I did like the MMC's ruminations on undergoing a quarterlife crisis as a Latino man and I wanted more of it. But then that'd be a different story entirely.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc.
September 29, 2026
(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
I don’t understand how marketing strategies work. ‘The Blair Witch Project meets Cabin in the Woods’, the synopsis said, but the only thing in common with the Blair Witch Project is that there is a forest and something in it, and the witch herself is another completely different character. I mean, it could have said ‘The Ritual’, as well. Or any other horror where a forest is present. Then there is ‘Cabin in the Woods’, and now I am confused, because yes, there is a literal cabin in the woods, but that’s where similarities end? Well, there is also a book and something in the woods, but does that mean it could also be ‘Evil Dead’?
Anyway, sorry for the rant. Let’s get to the story itself: I think this is going to be hit or miss, and sadly it was ‘miss’ for me. I could not stand the main character, something that made their stream of consciousness kind of unbearable: he was whining the whole novel!; I wanted to grab Sasha by the shoulders and tell her he just was not worth it, have a higher self-esteem! All of the female characters were just... not it; I thought the ethnic background would have more depth and that some of the more repeated details would be more important; the rhythm was all over the place and reminded me of being in a traffic jam (you go, stop, stare at nothing, go, stop, go, stop). I am still ranting, aren’t I? I just had such high hopes for this book!
In the more positive side, some of the scenes where really creepy and very well done, specially at the beginning. Then there were the more graphic ones, which made sense most of the time (although I am NEVER going to forget the splinter scene, and I can’t say that as being something good, gross does not equal scary), and the idea of the Man of Wind and Moss was a very intriguing one and had its own set of rules, which is something I always like when dealing with folk horror. I must admit there were moments where I was rooting for him, he just made a deal and these characters broke it, so he was looking for payment, as simple as that.
To sum up… this is sadly a no for me, and it made me realize that lately there has been this... drifting, let's say, from scary to gross, that I really do not enjoy. And let's be honest, what is the first thing that will come to your mind when talking about this book? Yeah, the splinter scene. And that is not what I want in a novel.
I don’t understand how marketing strategies work. ‘The Blair Witch Project meets Cabin in the Woods’, the synopsis said, but the only thing in common with the Blair Witch Project is that there is a forest and something in it, and the witch herself is another completely different character. I mean, it could have said ‘The Ritual’, as well. Or any other horror where a forest is present. Then there is ‘Cabin in the Woods’, and now I am confused, because yes, there is a literal cabin in the woods, but that’s where similarities end? Well, there is also a book and something in the woods, but does that mean it could also be ‘Evil Dead’?
Anyway, sorry for the rant. Let’s get to the story itself: I think this is going to be hit or miss, and sadly it was ‘miss’ for me. I could not stand the main character, something that made their stream of consciousness kind of unbearable: he was whining the whole novel!; I wanted to grab Sasha by the shoulders and tell her he just was not worth it, have a higher self-esteem! All of the female characters were just... not it; I thought the ethnic background would have more depth and that some of the more repeated details would be more important; the rhythm was all over the place and reminded me of being in a traffic jam (you go, stop, stare at nothing, go, stop, go, stop). I am still ranting, aren’t I? I just had such high hopes for this book!
In the more positive side, some of the scenes where really creepy and very well done, specially at the beginning. Then there were the more graphic ones, which made sense most of the time (although I am NEVER going to forget the splinter scene, and I can’t say that as being something good, gross does not equal scary), and the idea of the Man of Wind and Moss was a very intriguing one and had its own set of rules, which is something I always like when dealing with folk horror. I must admit there were moments where I was rooting for him, he just made a deal and these characters broke it, so he was looking for payment, as simple as that.
To sum up… this is sadly a no for me, and it made me realize that lately there has been this... drifting, let's say, from scary to gross, that I really do not enjoy. And let's be honest, what is the first thing that will come to your mind when talking about this book? Yeah, the splinter scene. And that is not what I want in a novel.
October 2, 2026
DNF at 20%.
First thoughts: Did I get an unedited ARC instead? Nope. This was the actual finished product. I deeply regret pre-ordering.
- HORRIBLE writing. So many mistakes, not just typos but switching tenses for no reason, using the present instead of the past (this book is written in past tense, dude, why are you using the present tense), forgetting that the word "had" exists so that somehow actions that happened years ago are written as though they happened just now, using random actions as dialogue tags, saying "Keith was upset" instead of doing literally ANYTHING to show it....
- Flat characters. Nobody has any dimension to them, least of all the narrator, who is a loser, and not in a sympathetic way. Just an annoying way. There was also no sense of camaraderie between the "friends", nor any real tension. It's moreso like the author shoved contrived dialogue lines into random characters' mouths in order to direct the plot. There was an effort to give us the feeling of a friend group, but has the author ever actually been part of a friend group?
- Plot that basically revolves around "oh no, gory thing is happening....dumb joke...another gory thing.... oh let's not forget this extremely contrived love triangle/square except all of the characters are completely cardboard..." My eyes are glazing over. It's difficult to make gory folk horror boring, but Alex Gonzalez has achieved this, so congrats to him I guess?
I am really disappointed as I loved the author's first book. On the other hand, it makes me feel better about my own writing.
First thoughts: Did I get an unedited ARC instead? Nope. This was the actual finished product. I deeply regret pre-ordering.
- HORRIBLE writing. So many mistakes, not just typos but switching tenses for no reason, using the present instead of the past (this book is written in past tense, dude, why are you using the present tense), forgetting that the word "had" exists so that somehow actions that happened years ago are written as though they happened just now, using random actions as dialogue tags, saying "Keith was upset" instead of doing literally ANYTHING to show it....
- Flat characters. Nobody has any dimension to them, least of all the narrator, who is a loser, and not in a sympathetic way. Just an annoying way. There was also no sense of camaraderie between the "friends", nor any real tension. It's moreso like the author shoved contrived dialogue lines into random characters' mouths in order to direct the plot. There was an effort to give us the feeling of a friend group, but has the author ever actually been part of a friend group?
- Plot that basically revolves around "oh no, gory thing is happening....dumb joke...another gory thing.... oh let's not forget this extremely contrived love triangle/square except all of the characters are completely cardboard..." My eyes are glazing over. It's difficult to make gory folk horror boring, but Alex Gonzalez has achieved this, so congrats to him I guess?
I am really disappointed as I loved the author's first book. On the other hand, it makes me feel better about my own writing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Man of Wind and Moss coming out 9/29/2026.
Marco and his college friends are approaching 30. He decides they need a trip before their lives start changing. Marco's friend has the perfect cabin in upstate New York for the getaway, and she's been encouraging him to tell Pansy how he really feels. "That's what Nature is for." Pansy is pregnant by her on again off again boyfriend Dean, who is also a part of the friend group and on the vacation as well. Pansy's sister, Doll, Sasha, Keith complete the friend group.
Things start to get weird as soon as they arrive and find out the must hike in to the cabin. There's also a gruesome scene with a hunter that was lost in the woods. The friends manage to find the cabin in the dark, so they try to forget about the hunter. Until they find his friend on a hike the next day. Chaos ensues. Unbeknownst to Marco, witchy Sasha believes The Man of Wind and Moss has come for those that are truly lost.
Despite really despising Marco's need to profess his love to pregnant Pansy, I really enjoyed this book. Dude, read the room 🤦♀️ I didn't really like any of the characters, but I couldn't put it down. I do wish there was a better understanding of The Man of Wind and Moss, and the magic/evil behind him.
I'll definitely check out more from Alex Gonzalez!
Marco and his college friends are approaching 30. He decides they need a trip before their lives start changing. Marco's friend has the perfect cabin in upstate New York for the getaway, and she's been encouraging him to tell Pansy how he really feels. "That's what Nature is for." Pansy is pregnant by her on again off again boyfriend Dean, who is also a part of the friend group and on the vacation as well. Pansy's sister, Doll, Sasha, Keith complete the friend group.
Things start to get weird as soon as they arrive and find out the must hike in to the cabin. There's also a gruesome scene with a hunter that was lost in the woods. The friends manage to find the cabin in the dark, so they try to forget about the hunter. Until they find his friend on a hike the next day. Chaos ensues. Unbeknownst to Marco, witchy Sasha believes The Man of Wind and Moss has come for those that are truly lost.
Despite really despising Marco's need to profess his love to pregnant Pansy, I really enjoyed this book. Dude, read the room 🤦♀️ I didn't really like any of the characters, but I couldn't put it down. I do wish there was a better understanding of The Man of Wind and Moss, and the magic/evil behind him.
I'll definitely check out more from Alex Gonzalez!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Folk Horror is my favorite genre. This book had a lot of potential but I think it fell short in some areas.
All characters are very unlikeable and immature, there was really no character growth, and I didn't really feel like rooting for any of them in the end. I wish there had been one redeeming character among them. That being said, likeable characters are not a requirement to make a good book.
Who/What the Man of Wind and Moss actually was was only ever vaguely explained. He made a deal with these clueless 30-somethings and they didn't deliver their side, so can you blame him for trying to collect on the debt? So many creatures from folklore or neither good nor evil, they simply abide by rules and many times those rules are contracts and transactions.
A lot of what was meant to be scary was really just gross. I really could have lived without the toilet scene, ew. Gross does not equate scary. But then Dean showing up without eyes, that is unsettling!
Overall, not a bad book, but also not the best folk horror I have read. 3/5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC copy of this book. This review does not reflect the opnions of the author or publisher. All opnions are my own.
All characters are very unlikeable and immature, there was really no character growth, and I didn't really feel like rooting for any of them in the end. I wish there had been one redeeming character among them. That being said, likeable characters are not a requirement to make a good book.
Who/What the Man of Wind and Moss actually was was only ever vaguely explained. He made a deal with these clueless 30-somethings and they didn't deliver their side, so can you blame him for trying to collect on the debt? So many creatures from folklore or neither good nor evil, they simply abide by rules and many times those rules are contracts and transactions.
A lot of what was meant to be scary was really just gross. I really could have lived without the toilet scene, ew. Gross does not equate scary. But then Dean showing up without eyes, that is unsettling!
Overall, not a bad book, but also not the best folk horror I have read. 3/5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC copy of this book. This review does not reflect the opnions of the author or publisher. All opnions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The blurb for ‘The Man of Wind and Moss’ includes some of my favourite words in relation to horror and references ‘The Blair Witch Project’ which is my all-time favourite film. So I went into this with high expectations and assumed it would heavily focus on the entity and its lore. Unfortunately for me I got less of this and more interpersonal drama between some incredibly unlikable characters. The characters, particularly Marco, all feel like they’re emotionally and socially stunted in their early 20s. I think this choice supports the themes of accountability (of lack thereof), intergenerational conflict / blame and helps display Marco’s lack of direction and how incredibly pathetic his approach to life is. My problem is that I was just expecting a bit more witchcraft, demonic entities and folklore so was ultimately a little disappointed.
One theme in particular I found interesting was that of identity and belonging, especially in relation to Sasha. I would have loved to hear more about her difficulties in trying to find a coven and ultimately becoming a solo practitioner. Perhaps even some more coverage on how her racial identity intersects with her witchcraft. I think this could have easily been explored further but it wasn’t. On Sasha, I liked how I was kept guessing throughout as to whether her intentions were good or not as we see her through Marco’s paranoid eyes.
There were some scenes in here which were absolutely foul. During the splinter scene I had to pause and ask myself what I was doing with my life, because it was so disgusting.
I found the take on nature being evil to be interesting. I didn’t find it compelling overall though as I found the lore to be underdeveloped and I’m not sure I’m quite on board with it as a concept, but it was at least novel to me.
Lastly, I listened to this on audio and found the narrator amazing. There’s a scene around the 65% mark where Marco is incredibly angry and Moreira absolutely killed it here with expressing the rage Marco is feeling in that moment.
Overall my expectations for this book’s direction impacted my enjoyment of it slightly. But, I think Marco was written well and I enjoyed the themes. I just wish they were explored more thoroughly and that the entity’s folklore was more of a focus.
I received an ALC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
One theme in particular I found interesting was that of identity and belonging, especially in relation to Sasha. I would have loved to hear more about her difficulties in trying to find a coven and ultimately becoming a solo practitioner. Perhaps even some more coverage on how her racial identity intersects with her witchcraft. I think this could have easily been explored further but it wasn’t. On Sasha, I liked how I was kept guessing throughout as to whether her intentions were good or not as we see her through Marco’s paranoid eyes.
There were some scenes in here which were absolutely foul. During the splinter scene I had to pause and ask myself what I was doing with my life, because it was so disgusting.
I found the take on nature being evil to be interesting. I didn’t find it compelling overall though as I found the lore to be underdeveloped and I’m not sure I’m quite on board with it as a concept, but it was at least novel to me.
Lastly, I listened to this on audio and found the narrator amazing. There’s a scene around the 65% mark where Marco is incredibly angry and Moreira absolutely killed it here with expressing the rage Marco is feeling in that moment.
Overall my expectations for this book’s direction impacted my enjoyment of it slightly. But, I think Marco was written well and I enjoyed the themes. I just wish they were explored more thoroughly and that the entity’s folklore was more of a focus.
I received an ALC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh my lord, the body horror in this book is OFF THE CHARTS. Also, I will forever be changed by the cat scene 😭
📖 The Plot:
Marco plans a camping trip for his lifelong group of friends with one very specific goal in mind: convince the woman he’s been in love with forever that they should be together. The only problem? She’s pregnant and dating one of his other close friends 🫠
But what starts as a man pining after his friend’s girlfriend quickly turns into something much, much worse when the group has a run in with a vicious forest spirit known as the Man of Wind and Moss.
Five friends go into the forest. Only three make it out.
And while those three think they’ve left the worst behind them, it turns out something followed them home.
💭 My Thoughts:
This book was SO well written. It’s my first book by Alex Gonzalez, but he definitely caught my attention with how vivid and absolutely disgusting his writing can be 😂
I will say, if you want a book full of characters you can root for… this is definitely not it. Everyone is kind of awful and wildly immature. For a group of thirty somethings, they act much more like messy twenty year olds, and I spent a lot of the book thinking Why are any of you doing this??
But the BODY HORROR. Absolutely foul. So graphic. So well done. There were multiple scenes where I visibly recoiled while reading, and a few images from this book are now permanently burned into my brain.
My biggest complaint is that I wanted more information about the Man of Wind and Moss itself. I loved the concept of the entity, but I felt like we never really learned enough about what it was, where it came from, or exactly what it was capable of. I would’ve happily taken way more lore.
Overall, though, this is definitely one that’s going to stick with me. And unfortunately, I will probably still be thinking about some of those graphic scenes weeks from now.
Also go for the audiobook on this one! The narrator did an amazing job and it made listening to the graphic scenes even better 🥴😂
Thank you to RBmedia for a copy of the audiobook via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
📖 The Plot:
Marco plans a camping trip for his lifelong group of friends with one very specific goal in mind: convince the woman he’s been in love with forever that they should be together. The only problem? She’s pregnant and dating one of his other close friends 🫠
But what starts as a man pining after his friend’s girlfriend quickly turns into something much, much worse when the group has a run in with a vicious forest spirit known as the Man of Wind and Moss.
Five friends go into the forest. Only three make it out.
And while those three think they’ve left the worst behind them, it turns out something followed them home.
💭 My Thoughts:
This book was SO well written. It’s my first book by Alex Gonzalez, but he definitely caught my attention with how vivid and absolutely disgusting his writing can be 😂
I will say, if you want a book full of characters you can root for… this is definitely not it. Everyone is kind of awful and wildly immature. For a group of thirty somethings, they act much more like messy twenty year olds, and I spent a lot of the book thinking Why are any of you doing this??
But the BODY HORROR. Absolutely foul. So graphic. So well done. There were multiple scenes where I visibly recoiled while reading, and a few images from this book are now permanently burned into my brain.
My biggest complaint is that I wanted more information about the Man of Wind and Moss itself. I loved the concept of the entity, but I felt like we never really learned enough about what it was, where it came from, or exactly what it was capable of. I would’ve happily taken way more lore.
Overall, though, this is definitely one that’s going to stick with me. And unfortunately, I will probably still be thinking about some of those graphic scenes weeks from now.
Also go for the audiobook on this one! The narrator did an amazing job and it made listening to the graphic scenes even better 🥴😂
Thank you to RBmedia for a copy of the audiobook via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read rekt a while back and thought it was disturbing and excellent so I was pretty excited for this read. The Man of Wind and Moss is another incredibly dark yet addictive book by Gonzalez. I often see posts asking for recommendations on books that actually scared the reader (ie leaving the lights on, etc) and generally avoid those posts because fear is so subjective but also books don’t generally scare me. No flex but I think it’s just the knowledge that I can look up from the words or close the book at any time. But the bit in the first third where the group is in the woods trekking to the watering hole was easily the most creeped out a book has ever made me feel.
TMoWaM follows Marco, a man of Puerto Rican descent, stumbling through his 20s. He has a solid group of friends but tbh that’s about it. He misses his brother who emigrated to Puerto Rico years ago. He spends little time with his family and is just surviving. He’s given an opportunity to take his friend group out for a weekend at a remote cabin and seizes it as his opportunity to confess his love for one of his friends (who’s been dating another friend for years). Unfortunately nature has other plans and this becomes an incredibly fucked up horror story with folk, witchy and eco elements. The nature grafting concept is TERRIFYING to me and those are visuals I can’t easily shake. The first third of the book is spent setting up Marco and his place within the group and a lot of reviewers mentioned they seem immature. This is unequivocally true and you probably could’ve nixed the entire unrequited love bit, but to Gonzalez’s credit he really weaves this into a commentary on toxic masculinity that was fascinating.
It’s an unpleasant book. There’s animal harm and a lot of fucked up relationships of varying type. I was completely sold on this book after the group heads to the swimming hole but Gonzalez kept me engaged well past that. If you vibe with weird eco horror with unlikable characters and terrible decision making then this is an excellent read. It’s devastatingly visceral, gross and all around fucked up but made for a dope read.
TMoWaM follows Marco, a man of Puerto Rican descent, stumbling through his 20s. He has a solid group of friends but tbh that’s about it. He misses his brother who emigrated to Puerto Rico years ago. He spends little time with his family and is just surviving. He’s given an opportunity to take his friend group out for a weekend at a remote cabin and seizes it as his opportunity to confess his love for one of his friends (who’s been dating another friend for years). Unfortunately nature has other plans and this becomes an incredibly fucked up horror story with folk, witchy and eco elements. The nature grafting concept is TERRIFYING to me and those are visuals I can’t easily shake. The first third of the book is spent setting up Marco and his place within the group and a lot of reviewers mentioned they seem immature. This is unequivocally true and you probably could’ve nixed the entire unrequited love bit, but to Gonzalez’s credit he really weaves this into a commentary on toxic masculinity that was fascinating.
It’s an unpleasant book. There’s animal harm and a lot of fucked up relationships of varying type. I was completely sold on this book after the group heads to the swimming hole but Gonzalez kept me engaged well past that. If you vibe with weird eco horror with unlikable characters and terrible decision making then this is an excellent read. It’s devastatingly visceral, gross and all around fucked up but made for a dope read.
September 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/Erewhon Books for the ARC of this story, and RBMedia/Recorded Books for the audio version. All thoughts are my own.
Like many reviews I've seen, I feel like the buzz-word description of The Blair Witch Project meets The Cabin in the Woods by way of Grady Hendrix is insanely off the mark here. Nothing in this story gave me the feel of the two stories mentioned, other than that there's 'witchy stuff', woods, and a cabin. That said, this one was wild.
What I Loved
Alex Gonzalez can write some twisted stuff, man. This had some genuinely gnarly scenes in it, so it's not for the faint of heart or stomach. I enjoyed the folklore built into this. Gonzalez makes a little-over-quarter-life-crisis and the friend zone into horror tropes, and that was entertaining. As a personal anecdote, I had long considered myself a friend-zoned fella who was madly in love with someone who did not reciprocate (but would lead me on when it suited her), so Marco's original plight was a little close to home. But I can carry my head high knowing I wasn't quite as much of an idiot that Marco was, and it all worked out in the end for me.
What I Thought Could be Better
I didn't find any of the characters to be particularly likeable, but that's likely purposeful. Each person has a hefty dose of toxicity, and it was sometimes difficult to get through certain encounters without majorly groaning. I felt like the absentee brother was kind of a throwaway subplot, though I do concede that it helps solidify Marco's abandonment issues. Also, humans buying it in horrible ways? The more the merrier. But animals, especially cats? Whole lotta nope. At least he wasn't overly descriptive in that moment.
Audio Narration
Robb Moreira was the narrator for for this novel, and I thought he did a solid job.
Overall
This was a solid read leading into spooky season.
Like many reviews I've seen, I feel like the buzz-word description of The Blair Witch Project meets The Cabin in the Woods by way of Grady Hendrix is insanely off the mark here. Nothing in this story gave me the feel of the two stories mentioned, other than that there's 'witchy stuff', woods, and a cabin. That said, this one was wild.
What I Loved
Alex Gonzalez can write some twisted stuff, man. This had some genuinely gnarly scenes in it, so it's not for the faint of heart or stomach. I enjoyed the folklore built into this. Gonzalez makes a little-over-quarter-life-crisis and the friend zone into horror tropes, and that was entertaining. As a personal anecdote, I had long considered myself a friend-zoned fella who was madly in love with someone who did not reciprocate (but would lead me on when it suited her), so Marco's original plight was a little close to home. But I can carry my head high knowing I wasn't quite as much of an idiot that Marco was, and it all worked out in the end for me.
What I Thought Could be Better
I didn't find any of the characters to be particularly likeable, but that's likely purposeful. Each person has a hefty dose of toxicity, and it was sometimes difficult to get through certain encounters without majorly groaning. I felt like the absentee brother was kind of a throwaway subplot, though I do concede that it helps solidify Marco's abandonment issues. Also, humans buying it in horrible ways? The more the merrier. But animals, especially cats? Whole lotta nope. At least he wasn't overly descriptive in that moment.
Audio Narration
Robb Moreira was the narrator for for this novel, and I thought he did a solid job.
Overall
This was a solid read leading into spooky season.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a review of a digital ARC. Shoutout to NetGalley!
Six friends on the cusp of their thirties, who have been treading water since college, embark on a weekend getaway in the Adirondacks. Only three return. An ancient, malevolent entity. A harrowing fight for survival. A secret bargain struck. But that is only the beginning, for there is a cost to be paid, and the Man of Wind and Moss will have his due.
This is a story of a crumbling friend group navigating those surreal, confusing, and often tumultuous years after college when “real life” begins and no one knows what the fuck they’re doing, set against a backdrop of some fun, witchy folk horror. Frienemies, unrequited loves, unhealthy obsessions, the search for acceptance amidst soul crushing loneliness and existential crisis… but also puking up bugs and soil and plants sprouting from several orifices.
Despite its bleakness and lack of a single likable/redeemable character, The Man of Wind and Moss delivers on multiple levels. The mythology behind the titular entity is creepy, unsettling and well-developed. The panic and sense of helplessness that comes with being lost in the woods is palpable. And the characters, though not overly complex, feel real.
I don’t know if the ending 100% worked for me, and based on the discussion questions included by the author at the end of the book, I may have come away with a totally different interpretation of the main character than the one he was going for, but overall it was a good read and I enjoyed it. If you liked Gareth Evans’ film “Apostle,” you might dig this book.
Six friends on the cusp of their thirties, who have been treading water since college, embark on a weekend getaway in the Adirondacks. Only three return. An ancient, malevolent entity. A harrowing fight for survival. A secret bargain struck. But that is only the beginning, for there is a cost to be paid, and the Man of Wind and Moss will have his due.
This is a story of a crumbling friend group navigating those surreal, confusing, and often tumultuous years after college when “real life” begins and no one knows what the fuck they’re doing, set against a backdrop of some fun, witchy folk horror. Frienemies, unrequited loves, unhealthy obsessions, the search for acceptance amidst soul crushing loneliness and existential crisis… but also puking up bugs and soil and plants sprouting from several orifices.
Despite its bleakness and lack of a single likable/redeemable character, The Man of Wind and Moss delivers on multiple levels. The mythology behind the titular entity is creepy, unsettling and well-developed. The panic and sense of helplessness that comes with being lost in the woods is palpable. And the characters, though not overly complex, feel real.
I don’t know if the ending 100% worked for me, and based on the discussion questions included by the author at the end of the book, I may have come away with a totally different interpretation of the main character than the one he was going for, but overall it was a good read and I enjoyed it. If you liked Gareth Evans’ film “Apostle,” you might dig this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When a book is described as “THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT meets CABIN IN THE WOODS by way of Grady Hendrix” then that is a book written just for me.
And woooo, buddy, did I love this.
A group of friends take a trip to a cabin in the woods and go hiking, so there are the comparisons to the movies. Not clear on the Grady Hendrix comparison. I guess cuz of the witchy stuff and that one time Grady Hendrix wrote about it? You could compare this to any of my modern gory horror favs, really.
Anyway, the friends go hiking — and some don’t come back and some bring back something with them. If anything, I was getting YELLOWJACKETS vibes from that part.
I really loved it; I hated that I had to keep putting it down for real life. Including a hike in the woods because I love a theme and enjoy scaring myself.
But wow — this is dirty and gory and disgusting. The body horror and nature horror and folklore horror is SO good. And like all good horror, it’s more than just the gore… it’s about social connection and social disconnection and cultural identity and grief.
One of my favorite horror books this year for sure. And let’s give it up for that cover as well… so great. So scary. I read this early from NetGalley but it’s going to be published in prime Spooky Season. MUST READ IT then.
And woooo, buddy, did I love this.
A group of friends take a trip to a cabin in the woods and go hiking, so there are the comparisons to the movies. Not clear on the Grady Hendrix comparison. I guess cuz of the witchy stuff and that one time Grady Hendrix wrote about it? You could compare this to any of my modern gory horror favs, really.
Anyway, the friends go hiking — and some don’t come back and some bring back something with them. If anything, I was getting YELLOWJACKETS vibes from that part.
I really loved it; I hated that I had to keep putting it down for real life. Including a hike in the woods because I love a theme and enjoy scaring myself.
But wow — this is dirty and gory and disgusting. The body horror and nature horror and folklore horror is SO good. And like all good horror, it’s more than just the gore… it’s about social connection and social disconnection and cultural identity and grief.
One of my favorite horror books this year for sure. And let’s give it up for that cover as well… so great. So scary. I read this early from NetGalley but it’s going to be published in prime Spooky Season. MUST READ IT then.
September 29, 2026
Dude. I expected this to be an eldritch horror story with folklore and forest horror. And there is that. But there’s also a strong thread of toxic masculinity, male self-loathing, and internalized racism that I didn’t expect. More than almost any other book I’ve read, the events here would never have happened if the protagonist had gotten some therapy.
Marco has a college friend group of Gen Zers who are frankly a lot more annoying than the Gen Zers I personally know. There are complicated tangles involving love, sex and rivalry that lead them to vacation at a cabin in the woods. A tragedy occurs with a lot of unexplained elements and half of their party doesn’t return.
That’s the first half of the book and it’s pretty tame considering what happens in the second half. There’s a scene with a sticker that made me shudder and take a break.
The ending was pretty chaotic. I liked the book overall, but I’m still thinking about how I feel. I had the alc and the narrator was pretty great. He threw himself into this narration and I was immersed.
I recommend this for horror fans but definitely read the trigger warnings. There are some warnings triggered for sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
Marco has a college friend group of Gen Zers who are frankly a lot more annoying than the Gen Zers I personally know. There are complicated tangles involving love, sex and rivalry that lead them to vacation at a cabin in the woods. A tragedy occurs with a lot of unexplained elements and half of their party doesn’t return.
That’s the first half of the book and it’s pretty tame considering what happens in the second half. There’s a scene with a sticker that made me shudder and take a break.
The ending was pretty chaotic. I liked the book overall, but I’m still thinking about how I feel. I had the alc and the narrator was pretty great. He threw himself into this narration and I was immersed.
I recommend this for horror fans but definitely read the trigger warnings. There are some warnings triggered for sure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m a fan of Alex Gonzalez’s writing. He excels at creating protagonists who are unlikeable, coated in self-pity, and who struggle with toxic masculinity. This book is no different in that our main character is described as such. None of the characters are particularly likable, which I’m fond of.
I personally prefer psychological horror, and this book was less suspenseful and more gross, but objectively speaking Gonzalez does a great job at painting these gross pictures. I thought the concept of the Man of Wind and Moss himself was creative, but I don’t know if he will be memorable to me; I don’t think he had enough presence in the story, but there’s this creepiness of feeling like you’re being watched.
At times I felt like there was too much going on, like why did we care about Marco’s brother at all? Some of the plot felt irrelevant and slightly repetitive. Marco does a lot of bitching and moaning. Maybe that was the point. Still, I did enjoy this book. It’s a spooky, witchy tragedy, that I found original and unique. I recommend this book to others!
Thank you, NetGalley and Erewhon for allowing me an early read of this book by one of my favorite authors!
I personally prefer psychological horror, and this book was less suspenseful and more gross, but objectively speaking Gonzalez does a great job at painting these gross pictures. I thought the concept of the Man of Wind and Moss himself was creative, but I don’t know if he will be memorable to me; I don’t think he had enough presence in the story, but there’s this creepiness of feeling like you’re being watched.
At times I felt like there was too much going on, like why did we care about Marco’s brother at all? Some of the plot felt irrelevant and slightly repetitive. Marco does a lot of bitching and moaning. Maybe that was the point. Still, I did enjoy this book. It’s a spooky, witchy tragedy, that I found original and unique. I recommend this book to others!
Thank you, NetGalley and Erewhon for allowing me an early read of this book by one of my favorite authors!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The Man of Wind and Moss has come, he comes when you are lost -a-come, he's here to protect, he's here to direct, and tally up the cost to come."
Alex Gonzalez's novel is a dark and twisted story about Marco and his friend group. They leave for a getawy to a cabin before figuring out their futures. With hopes of confessing and having this last moment with them, the group encounter something dark and ancient in the woods. Only three of them survive and make it back except the trauma from those events take route in taunting them. What they thought they had left behind comes back shaped as one of the friend's who went missing.
This was one of those novels I couldn't put down. It begins with this friend group and their dynamics are quickly explained. From the moment they leave for their trip, there is this constant sense of something not being quite right.
The intense moments were atmospheric and were portrayed in a way that lingered throughout the story. It does remind me a lot of The Blair Witch Project and Cabin In The Woods. The ancient evil and folklore aspect really made this creepy.
Many thanks to @erewhonbooks for the arc.
Alex Gonzalez's novel is a dark and twisted story about Marco and his friend group. They leave for a getawy to a cabin before figuring out their futures. With hopes of confessing and having this last moment with them, the group encounter something dark and ancient in the woods. Only three of them survive and make it back except the trauma from those events take route in taunting them. What they thought they had left behind comes back shaped as one of the friend's who went missing.
This was one of those novels I couldn't put down. It begins with this friend group and their dynamics are quickly explained. From the moment they leave for their trip, there is this constant sense of something not being quite right.
The intense moments were atmospheric and were portrayed in a way that lingered throughout the story. It does remind me a lot of The Blair Witch Project and Cabin In The Woods. The ancient evil and folklore aspect really made this creepy.
Many thanks to @erewhonbooks for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Man of Wind and Moss is one of those books that leaves you thinking, What the heck did I just read? But I loved every second of it. I finished it in a single day because I couldn't put it down. It's a blend of botanical, folk, and body horror that feels completely original.
Going in, I thought the story would mainly focus on the characters' time in the woods, but that's really only the beginning. There is so much more creeping beneath the surface, and the story becomes stranger and more unsettling as it goes on. We spend a lot of time inside Marco's head. He isn't always a particularly likable character, but I appreciated how deeply we got to explore his relationships with Pansy, Sasha, Dean, his brother, and even his own identity as a Puerto Rican who is not "from there." Nature is a constant, looming presence throughout the novel, the enemy. I spent the entire book not knowing what was going to happen next. The descriptions are vivid, unsettling, and will probably give me nightmares for the next few nights.
4.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC.
Going in, I thought the story would mainly focus on the characters' time in the woods, but that's really only the beginning. There is so much more creeping beneath the surface, and the story becomes stranger and more unsettling as it goes on. We spend a lot of time inside Marco's head. He isn't always a particularly likable character, but I appreciated how deeply we got to explore his relationships with Pansy, Sasha, Dean, his brother, and even his own identity as a Puerto Rican who is not "from there." Nature is a constant, looming presence throughout the novel, the enemy. I spent the entire book not knowing what was going to happen next. The descriptions are vivid, unsettling, and will probably give me nightmares for the next few nights.
4.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was not what I was expecting, however, it was an interesting read. I do think I would have liked much more with another mind setting but being compared to The Blair Witch Project I was expecting something different. This has nothing in common with The Blair Witch Project other than part of it being set in the forest.
That being said, the novel is creepy and very gruesome, with a lot of very descriptive weirdly disturbing scenes. I really liked the paranormal and folklore elementes in this story and how they added to the horror part.
The audiobook was fine, it was amazing but it did the job, however, I think this one would work better as a physical read given the creep factor.
I couldn't relate to the characters and that took part of the fun of reading the novel, they were interesting but a not complex enough. The story is interesting and I think if you like weird books, with gruesome horror scenes, this one is for you. It'll be for sure a wild ride.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for an ALC of this book, all opinions are my own.
That being said, the novel is creepy and very gruesome, with a lot of very descriptive weirdly disturbing scenes. I really liked the paranormal and folklore elementes in this story and how they added to the horror part.
The audiobook was fine, it was amazing but it did the job, however, I think this one would work better as a physical read given the creep factor.
I couldn't relate to the characters and that took part of the fun of reading the novel, they were interesting but a not complex enough. The story is interesting and I think if you like weird books, with gruesome horror scenes, this one is for you. It'll be for sure a wild ride.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for an ALC of this book, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Man, Alex Gonzalez's writing makes me feel a certain type of way. Angsty, listless, hopeless. He's excellent at crafting bleak narratives dominated by lost characters who aren't particularly redeemable, but in a way that still makes a reader care. And top notch at gore, which is a plus in my book. I love some gruesome body horror.
rekt was one of my favorite books of 2025 so I was super excited to get my hands on this one, and by and large, it didn't disappoint. While I don't think The Man of Wind and Moss quite lived up to Gonzalez's debut, and I did find myself questioning the whys and hows at times, I read most of this book in a sitting because it was so hard to look away. There was a lot going on in here and I'm not entirely sure everything came full circle as effectively as it could have, but I'm still going to be thinking about this one for a while.
4/5 stars.
Thank you to Erewhon and NetGalley for the ARC.
rekt was one of my favorite books of 2025 so I was super excited to get my hands on this one, and by and large, it didn't disappoint. While I don't think The Man of Wind and Moss quite lived up to Gonzalez's debut, and I did find myself questioning the whys and hows at times, I read most of this book in a sitting because it was so hard to look away. There was a lot going on in here and I'm not entirely sure everything came full circle as effectively as it could have, but I'm still going to be thinking about this one for a while.
4/5 stars.
Thank you to Erewhon and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Man of Wind and Moss
Alex Gonzalez
5/5
I've read 108 horror novels this year - and even though it's only late September, I'm confident this is going to be my favorite horror novel of 2026.
I went in based on the author, the title and the cover alone, and my experience was perfect; so I'm not going to write up any of my thoughts yet, or compare it to anything... but I will say I didn't go into it comparing it to anything else, and I truly think that was a benefit to my reading experience. I think comparisons create expectations that often alter our overall experience. (I'm guilty of this in my reviews)
So all I'll add is that the book was more than its horror elements.
Maybe my opinion is generational or maybe it's based on personal experiences. But this book just did it for me.
If our Goodreads taste aligns at all, just trust me. And you're welcome.
Alex Gonzalez
5/5
I've read 108 horror novels this year - and even though it's only late September, I'm confident this is going to be my favorite horror novel of 2026.
I went in based on the author, the title and the cover alone, and my experience was perfect; so I'm not going to write up any of my thoughts yet, or compare it to anything... but I will say I didn't go into it comparing it to anything else, and I truly think that was a benefit to my reading experience. I think comparisons create expectations that often alter our overall experience. (I'm guilty of this in my reviews)
So all I'll add is that the book was more than its horror elements.
Maybe my opinion is generational or maybe it's based on personal experiences. But this book just did it for me.
If our Goodreads taste aligns at all, just trust me. And you're welcome.
September 28, 2026
I get that when given an ARC, you should probably leave the review prior to the release or whatever, but I was sick for two weeks so here we are. Read this in the midst of my flu! I don’t venture into horror much beyond my go to Stephens (King, Graham Jones). So idk where the horror nerds are landing, but I feel like Alex is someone to watch if you’re into the genre. I’m biased though. A long standing fan of his brain and writing. Flew through this one. Gripping. Gross. Original. He’s not afraid to GO THERE, and there’s no shying away from how ugly we can be. To one another and to ourselves. Extremely honest and bleak. I’ve been watching Entourage for the first time (get off my back), and I guess I’ve been thinking a lot about how men so often don’t really love women, but love what conquering us proves to other men. (Straight men are gay as hell!) I appreciate the acknowledgment of that depressing truth (done here! In this book! Spoiler???) ANYWAY, this isn’t eloquent at all and half of it is more diary entry than book review. Whatever. Buy this book. Buy Rekt. Buckle up for a fucked up time!
I am still laughing that the dedication was “for my friends.”
September 30, 2026
A truly wild ride of a book. Themes of disconnection and being lost twist through the story as told by the narrator, Marco. He is close to thirty and living a stagnant life as his college friends begin to change and drift away. Marco plans one last weekend at a cabin in the woods to pull everyone together before everything changes. This, of course, is when the evil appears.
The book is described as gruesome and it really is. Characters are complicated and frequently unlikable. I was intrigued by which of the friends are given stronger backstories than others. I was frequently surprised by the direction of the plot. Dark, lots of detail involving viscera and bodily fluids. It has a lot of momentum and pulled me through the novel in a single afternoon.
Advanced reading copy from the publisher.
The book is described as gruesome and it really is. Characters are complicated and frequently unlikable. I was intrigued by which of the friends are given stronger backstories than others. I was frequently surprised by the direction of the plot. Dark, lots of detail involving viscera and bodily fluids. It has a lot of momentum and pulled me through the novel in a single afternoon.
Advanced reading copy from the publisher.
June 10, 2026
Thanks net galley for the arc to review!
This story is wild! We have botanical horror, gruesome bindi horror, ancient gods, witches and a friend group struggling to fully enter adulthood. It’s a late Gen Z nightmare! This author can lay down the gruesome descriptions and raw terror feeling in their prose. At points, I was tense and wanted to look away from the page. They also capture a young man’s struggle to find a place as a minority and financially struggling 30 year old. The character work is really lovely and deeply emotional. I felt the pacing was a little slow at times, but the horror sequences were like riding a bullet train! It all balanced out. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if these descriptions touch your dark soul, you will enjoy it too.
This story is wild! We have botanical horror, gruesome bindi horror, ancient gods, witches and a friend group struggling to fully enter adulthood. It’s a late Gen Z nightmare! This author can lay down the gruesome descriptions and raw terror feeling in their prose. At points, I was tense and wanted to look away from the page. They also capture a young man’s struggle to find a place as a minority and financially struggling 30 year old. The character work is really lovely and deeply emotional. I felt the pacing was a little slow at times, but the horror sequences were like riding a bullet train! It all balanced out. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if these descriptions touch your dark soul, you will enjoy it too.
September 30, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy.
***Spoilers***
A group of friends hike into the woods for one last get together at a cabin before life takes them in different directions. But of course the one selfish, witchy friend screws them all over by invoking an entity to get what she wants, and It needs to be paid back. Booze, shrooms, sex and miscommunications ensue and everything snowballs downhill. Animal sacrifice and screwing up something very basic during a spell makes everything even worse. The story gets super graphic so if body horror is your thing this book is absolutely for you.
Moral of this story is don't have witchy friends, don't covet what your friends have and don't do drugs people.
***Spoilers***
A group of friends hike into the woods for one last get together at a cabin before life takes them in different directions. But of course the one selfish, witchy friend screws them all over by invoking an entity to get what she wants, and It needs to be paid back. Booze, shrooms, sex and miscommunications ensue and everything snowballs downhill. Animal sacrifice and screwing up something very basic during a spell makes everything even worse. The story gets super graphic so if body horror is your thing this book is absolutely for you.
Moral of this story is don't have witchy friends, don't covet what your friends have and don't do drugs people.
September 20, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC in exchange for a review.
This was wonderfully descriptive - if you have a good imagination, the writing style will allow you to picture exactly what is happening to each person as it’s described. Marco is a completely different person by the end of the book, going through so much trauma in such a little time. I love the witchy element behind all of the horror. I went into this looking for a good horror novel to listen to, and it was 100% worth it. Not only is this a horror novel, this also deals with familial issues. I wouldn’t change anything about this story.
This was wonderfully descriptive - if you have a good imagination, the writing style will allow you to picture exactly what is happening to each person as it’s described. Marco is a completely different person by the end of the book, going through so much trauma in such a little time. I love the witchy element behind all of the horror. I went into this looking for a good horror novel to listen to, and it was 100% worth it. Not only is this a horror novel, this also deals with familial issues. I wouldn’t change anything about this story.
September 27, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I expected this to go a lot differently than it did, with more focus on the lore and entity but instead it felt like a slow start, minor focus on the man of wind and moss, and way more focus on the characters and their personal relationships. I needed more of the horror. The characters are all immature, annoying, and severely lack any self-respect with the most minor character growth, if I can even say there was any. I just had a lot of hope for this one that it did not live up to.
I expected this to go a lot differently than it did, with more focus on the lore and entity but instead it felt like a slow start, minor focus on the man of wind and moss, and way more focus on the characters and their personal relationships. I needed more of the horror. The characters are all immature, annoying, and severely lack any self-respect with the most minor character growth, if I can even say there was any. I just had a lot of hope for this one that it did not live up to.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The main character we are supposed to root for kind of sucks, but it doesn't feel intentional. Mean, narcissistic, and with a huge chip on his shoulder, but we're supposed to somehow like him more than this other terrible guy all with a backdrop of nature horror. Also, the women in this were done so dirty on the character level.
The premise and the writing style were great, but the protagonist just felt very unlikable.
The premise and the writing style were great, but the protagonist just felt very unlikable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews