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The Elegance Of Decay
Six friends. One impossible opportunity of a lifetime. Two weeks on a wilderness cliffside documenting a strange bloom of moss that’s changing faster than it should. Creeping farther overnight. Breathing damp rot into the cracks around them.
Then the accidents begin.
As fear fractures the group and old trauma resurfaces, the survivors must tether together long enough to escape a living wilderness that refuses to let go. On this mountain, nothing stays dead for long, and the moss never stops growing.
Then the accidents begin.
As fear fractures the group and old trauma resurfaces, the survivors must tether together long enough to escape a living wilderness that refuses to let go. On this mountain, nothing stays dead for long, and the moss never stops growing.
- GenresHorror
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2026
About the author
Stoney Brooks
4 books17 followersStoney Brooks is a good old fashioned SoCal boy, with a healthy touch of Gypsy blood. After multiple moves, he’s landed back in his childhood stomping grounds of San Bernardino County, dragging along his wife, two kids, and smattering of barnyard critters.
A finance professional by day, he holds multiple distinguishing titles. By night, he crafts dark stories tinged with just a touch of humor to cut the tension. Stoney is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild.
A finance professional by day, he holds multiple distinguishing titles. By night, he crafts dark stories tinged with just a touch of humor to cut the tension. Stoney is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 11, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In all sincerity, I struggled with this book a lot. There was no elegance nor decay, which was a shame as I felt this sounded like such a great, psychologically tense story, with a great twist, which sadly never came..
I found the characters quite superficial, their problems trivial and very juvenile. To be fair, most of them were just douchebags and I was desperately hoping that at least one of them have a wildcard up their sleeve, but alas.. All of them were just so unnecessarily horny and borderline alcoholics. Why was that the main tension point chosen, when you have human eating magical alien moss at your doorstep?? These people are getting eaten alive by moss but all their focus is to get drunk and fuck and it just missed the mark for me.
I was also expecting a bigger focus to be on the actual moss and science of it. Part of what makes nature horror terrifying is the believability of it all and I think this was a huge missed opportunity. Equally, as the villain of the story, the moss hardly even features and when it does, the suspense and terror doesn't land as effectively as the blurb made me believe. Considering this was a research trip, I'm amazed we learned hardly anything about the natural world or the purpose of this expedition. Aspects of it had so much potential, particularly atmospheric scenes that felt like Annihilation.
The pace of the narration also felt off and it was difficult to discern the timeline of events - was it days, hours or minutes? Have no clue. There were also unnecessary interludes midway through tense action scenes, which took away from the suspense. Someone's getting murdered but let's backtrack to this one random memory about Reid's EMT days. Making characters human and relatable is important but that should not come at an expense of the action and the plot.
The writing style was actually good and perhaps the main thing that pushed me to finish, but overall I would not recommend this book.
In all sincerity, I struggled with this book a lot. There was no elegance nor decay, which was a shame as I felt this sounded like such a great, psychologically tense story, with a great twist, which sadly never came..
I found the characters quite superficial, their problems trivial and very juvenile. To be fair, most of them were just douchebags and I was desperately hoping that at least one of them have a wildcard up their sleeve, but alas.. All of them were just so unnecessarily horny and borderline alcoholics. Why was that the main tension point chosen, when you have human eating magical alien moss at your doorstep?? These people are getting eaten alive by moss but all their focus is to get drunk and fuck and it just missed the mark for me.
I was also expecting a bigger focus to be on the actual moss and science of it. Part of what makes nature horror terrifying is the believability of it all and I think this was a huge missed opportunity. Equally, as the villain of the story, the moss hardly even features and when it does, the suspense and terror doesn't land as effectively as the blurb made me believe. Considering this was a research trip, I'm amazed we learned hardly anything about the natural world or the purpose of this expedition. Aspects of it had so much potential, particularly atmospheric scenes that felt like Annihilation.
The pace of the narration also felt off and it was difficult to discern the timeline of events - was it days, hours or minutes? Have no clue. There were also unnecessary interludes midway through tense action scenes, which took away from the suspense. Someone's getting murdered but let's backtrack to this one random memory about Reid's EMT days. Making characters human and relatable is important but that should not come at an expense of the action and the plot.
The writing style was actually good and perhaps the main thing that pushed me to finish, but overall I would not recommend this book.
October 20, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review has been cross-posted.
OMG!!!! I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down!!!
It's fast-paced, well written, based on interesting premises and it just hooked me up from page 1.
A group of friends goes on a scientific expedition in a remote area and camps out on the ledge of a mountain...and everything starts going wrong and doesn't stop till the end! Seriously, this book is absolutely terrifying and it's relentless. It doesn't give you time to breathe because you simply have to know what happens next.
The constant sense of being a prey to some unfathomable malevolent entity, the body horror.... oh the body horror!!!!
I still feel a bit queasy thinking of a very particular scene... iykyk
I had so much fun reading this! I found the interactions between the characters genuine and the dialogue believable and flowing freely. I'm quite frankly fed-up with stilted dialogue, especially in high tense scenes but I didn't have to worry about that in this book.
Honestly, highly recommended, especially if you like nature related horror, body horror and a book that gets straight into action!
OMG!!!! I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down!!!
It's fast-paced, well written, based on interesting premises and it just hooked me up from page 1.
A group of friends goes on a scientific expedition in a remote area and camps out on the ledge of a mountain...and everything starts going wrong and doesn't stop till the end! Seriously, this book is absolutely terrifying and it's relentless. It doesn't give you time to breathe because you simply have to know what happens next.
The constant sense of being a prey to some unfathomable malevolent entity, the body horror.... oh the body horror!!!!
I still feel a bit queasy thinking of a very particular scene... iykyk
I had so much fun reading this! I found the interactions between the characters genuine and the dialogue believable and flowing freely. I'm quite frankly fed-up with stilted dialogue, especially in high tense scenes but I didn't have to worry about that in this book.
Honestly, highly recommended, especially if you like nature related horror, body horror and a book that gets straight into action!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
The Elegance of Decay was absolutely a 5-star read for me. I started it one evening, then downloaded the audiobook so I could keep going on a road trip the next day. That road trip got me through about three-quarters of the book, and even though I was tired from the drive, I still couldn’t put it down that night. I stayed up late because I had to know how it ended.
The premise hooked me straight away: six friends on a research project, isolated on a manmade platform 300 feet up on a mountainside, studying a biological specimen. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, as it turns out.
This was a fast-paced page-turner with plenty of tension, horror and gore. If you have a weak stomach, maybe don’t read it over dinner. Some of the imagery is not for the faint-hearted — and the eye scene? Don’t get me started.
The character backstories did distract me a little in places and created a slight lag for me, but I also felt they were necessary. They helped explain how everyone came to be part of the group and gave context to the relationships and tensions between them.
What impressed me most was the way the story handled the threat. I love books and movies where the enemy feels almost impossible to defeat, and you find yourself wondering how on earth the poor humans are going to survive. As a reader, I kept thinking: surely the author has a plan to resolve this? Right, Stoney Brooks? You did have a plan. And what a brilliant one it was.
This was gripping, intense, and hard to put down. I don’t often want to rate beyond the scale, but this one absolutely earned it.
5 stars.
The Elegance of Decay was absolutely a 5-star read for me. I started it one evening, then downloaded the audiobook so I could keep going on a road trip the next day. That road trip got me through about three-quarters of the book, and even though I was tired from the drive, I still couldn’t put it down that night. I stayed up late because I had to know how it ended.
The premise hooked me straight away: six friends on a research project, isolated on a manmade platform 300 feet up on a mountainside, studying a biological specimen. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, as it turns out.
This was a fast-paced page-turner with plenty of tension, horror and gore. If you have a weak stomach, maybe don’t read it over dinner. Some of the imagery is not for the faint-hearted — and the eye scene? Don’t get me started.
The character backstories did distract me a little in places and created a slight lag for me, but I also felt they were necessary. They helped explain how everyone came to be part of the group and gave context to the relationships and tensions between them.
What impressed me most was the way the story handled the threat. I love books and movies where the enemy feels almost impossible to defeat, and you find yourself wondering how on earth the poor humans are going to survive. As a reader, I kept thinking: surely the author has a plan to resolve this? Right, Stoney Brooks? You did have a plan. And what a brilliant one it was.
This was gripping, intense, and hard to put down. I don’t often want to rate beyond the scale, but this one absolutely earned it.
5 stars.
October 17, 2026
Well, this is exactly why I don't need to be going on any wilderness adventures! 😂🌿
The Elegance of Decay takes something as ordinary as moss and turns it into absolute nightmare fuel. A scientific expedition in the wilderness goes horribly wrong, and the deeper things spiral, the more unsettling and brutal this story becomes. The setting alone had me stressed, especially with the characters trapped in such a dangerous situation.
I loved the creeping dread, the survival horror, and the gruesome moments that made me cringe. There is something especially terrifying about not knowing what you're up against or how you're supposed to fight something that is part of the natural world around you. The tension kept building, and I was completely hooked as everything started unraveling.
And that ending? I was NOT prepared for that! I love when a horror book manages to surprise me and leave me sitting there thinking about what I just read.
If you love nature horror, disturbing imagery, and stories that make you want to stay safely inside your house, definitely add this one to your list. Stoney Brooks brought the nightmare, and I am here for it!
The Elegance of Decay takes something as ordinary as moss and turns it into absolute nightmare fuel. A scientific expedition in the wilderness goes horribly wrong, and the deeper things spiral, the more unsettling and brutal this story becomes. The setting alone had me stressed, especially with the characters trapped in such a dangerous situation.
I loved the creeping dread, the survival horror, and the gruesome moments that made me cringe. There is something especially terrifying about not knowing what you're up against or how you're supposed to fight something that is part of the natural world around you. The tension kept building, and I was completely hooked as everything started unraveling.
And that ending? I was NOT prepared for that! I love when a horror book manages to surprise me and leave me sitting there thinking about what I just read.
If you love nature horror, disturbing imagery, and stories that make you want to stay safely inside your house, definitely add this one to your list. Stoney Brooks brought the nightmare, and I am here for it!
Review of advance copy
I love wilderness and survival horror, and The Elegance of Decay is definitely one of my favorites of this year in that genre. It reminded me of The Ruins by Scott Smith. There was constant tension and literal high stakes survival throughout the book. I really liked the group dynamic going on, starting off as a group of friends, and then the stress, anxiety, fear - and the moss - start creeping in. The setting was original (and highly anxiety-inducing) as well; camping in the woods going wrong is nothing compared to trying to survive on a platform on the side of a cliff. A terrifying must-read for fans of eco-horror 🌿
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"A haunting, deeply atmospheric descent into the wilderness where the past refuses to stay buried."
First, I want to start by thanking the author for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible story. This is the third book I've read by him, and with each new work, he manages to surprise me even more.
The plot follows six friends who get the chance to investigate something deeply sinister out in the wilderness, and wow—everything that unfolds left me utterly speechless. Every single chapter left me craving much more, pulling me deeper into the mystery. As fear fractures the group and old trauma resurfaces, the survivors must tether together long enough to escape a living wilderness that refuses to let go. On this mountain, nothing stays dead for long, and the moss never stops growing.
This story has carved a permanent place in my memory, overflowing with relentless suspense and psychological horror. I loved savoring every single chapter. Stoney Brooks is undeniably talented, and I congratulate him immensely on this stellar work. The ending left me deeply unsettled, as I never saw that twist coming.
If you are looking for a story that leaves you completely breathless—especially if you love "people going into the woods" horror—this one is an absolute must-read. Five stars without a second thought. 🌲🏕️💀
First, I want to start by thanking the author for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible story. This is the third book I've read by him, and with each new work, he manages to surprise me even more.
The plot follows six friends who get the chance to investigate something deeply sinister out in the wilderness, and wow—everything that unfolds left me utterly speechless. Every single chapter left me craving much more, pulling me deeper into the mystery. As fear fractures the group and old trauma resurfaces, the survivors must tether together long enough to escape a living wilderness that refuses to let go. On this mountain, nothing stays dead for long, and the moss never stops growing.
This story has carved a permanent place in my memory, overflowing with relentless suspense and psychological horror. I loved savoring every single chapter. Stoney Brooks is undeniably talented, and I congratulate him immensely on this stellar work. The ending left me deeply unsettled, as I never saw that twist coming.
If you are looking for a story that leaves you completely breathless—especially if you love "people going into the woods" horror—this one is an absolute must-read. Five stars without a second thought. 🌲🏕️💀
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📖 BOOK REVIEW: The Elegance of Decay by Stoney Brooks 🌿💀
Looking for your next spine-chilling read? If you love eco-horror that crawls right under your skin, you need to add The Elegance of Decay by Stoney Brooks to your TBR immediately!
The story follows Dustin, a postgraduate researcher, as a seemingly academic venture spirals into a terrifying battle against nature itself. Described by the author as an eco-horror thriller in the vein of This Wretched Valley and The Ruins, this book perfectly balances atmospheric dread with fast-paced, heart-pounding terror.
Brooks masterfully explores the beauty and horror of natural decomposition, building an environment that feels like a dangerous character all on its own. It is visceral, unsettling, and utterly addictive. Once the decay sets in, you won’t be able to look away.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (5/5)
Looking for your next spine-chilling read? If you love eco-horror that crawls right under your skin, you need to add The Elegance of Decay by Stoney Brooks to your TBR immediately!
The story follows Dustin, a postgraduate researcher, as a seemingly academic venture spirals into a terrifying battle against nature itself. Described by the author as an eco-horror thriller in the vein of This Wretched Valley and The Ruins, this book perfectly balances atmospheric dread with fast-paced, heart-pounding terror.
Brooks masterfully explores the beauty and horror of natural decomposition, building an environment that feels like a dangerous character all on its own. It is visceral, unsettling, and utterly addictive. Once the decay sets in, you won’t be able to look away.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (5/5)
Review of advance copy
This was my favourite Stoney Brooks book yet. It is like a mix between The Ruins by Scott Smith with some acrophobia thrown in (well at least for me. I don't like heights).
The dread builds beautifully as you get deeper into the book, and you can feel the hopelessness of the situation throughout. Books like these are always terrifying because you never quite know what it is that you are supposed to be fighting.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Stoney Brooks books I have read (and I have read them all), but this is his best one yet. If he keeps going on this upward trajectory, I can only imagine what he is going to produce next.
The dread builds beautifully as you get deeper into the book, and you can feel the hopelessness of the situation throughout. Books like these are always terrifying because you never quite know what it is that you are supposed to be fighting.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Stoney Brooks books I have read (and I have read them all), but this is his best one yet. If he keeps going on this upward trajectory, I can only imagine what he is going to produce next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read the Advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was my first honor type of book and I am definitely hooked. I was sitting on my couch with a blanket and a thunderstorm while reading this short book and I LOVED it. Definitely worth the read. I could see this being turned into a movie. Can't wait to read more from this author!
This book was my first honor type of book and I am definitely hooked. I was sitting on my couch with a blanket and a thunderstorm while reading this short book and I LOVED it. Definitely worth the read. I could see this being turned into a movie. Can't wait to read more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An early look at The Elegance of Decay by Stoney Brooks—a skin-crawling botanical survival-horror novel scheduled for publication on Tuesday, October 15, 2026.
The Elegance of Decay is a triumphant, terrifyingly atmospheric creature feature that breathes fresh, rotting life into botanical horror. Stoney Brooks expertly proves that the natural world can be just as hostile and calculating as any traditional slasher. It is a highly recommended autumn pre-order for survival horror enthusiasts who don't mind a healthy dose of visceral gore.
The Elegance of Decay is a triumphant, terrifyingly atmospheric creature feature that breathes fresh, rotting life into botanical horror. Stoney Brooks expertly proves that the natural world can be just as hostile and calculating as any traditional slasher. It is a highly recommended autumn pre-order for survival horror enthusiasts who don't mind a healthy dose of visceral gore.
October 17, 2026
I received an ARC copy from the author and am choosing to leave my honest review:
This is the very first time I have ever read anything by Stoney Brooks and I must say that I absolutely love the way he tells a story. From the very beginning, I was sucked right into his world.
It starts off simple enough, a group of friends go on a hiking excursion, coordinated by a mutual friend who has taken on an obsession with obtaining samples of a strange moss that is growing in areas on the mountain. This moss is not just like any other. There is something much darker about the way it grows and behaves. I found that each character in the story felt genuine and they have their own individual personalities. We have the annoying couple who seem to argue all the time, the science/biology geek/student and the girl he has a crush on, the MMC, a paramedic who seems to be trying to tackle the things from his past that haunt him and the foreign exchange student whom everyone loves. Despite the conflict going on between various characters, we learn that each of these characters seem to be fighting their own internal demons, insecurities etc. As if that wasn't enough of a recipe for disaster, they are soon thrust into a world of uncertainty and what started off as a fun time among friends/aquaintances soon becomes a fight for survival. The situation feels impossible and you are on the edge of your seat asking yourself "How are they going to get off the mountain? How will they survive? And most importantly what the heck is going on in this place?" All of these questions and uncertainty of it all becomes quite suffocating and you can feel the sheer panic of the situation. This worked well and kept the adrenaline running at full speed. One accident leads to another and then another and then another. Things go from bad to worse and I found myself really feeling for each of them and praying they would find a way to escape. At first the author gives us a bit of something to unsettle us and make us question everything, but soon things ramp up and it becomes 😳 pulse pounding. The ending was quite heart wrenching and I honestly didn't see it coming but it landed hard. A punch right to the gut.
I am however going to say that it felt very much like The Ruins. There are events that although altered still closely resemble that story which was a bit disappointing. All in all though this one is still worth the read! I am definitely going to check out some other books written by Stoney though because I love the writing style and character arcs. It was a very fun ride!
This is the very first time I have ever read anything by Stoney Brooks and I must say that I absolutely love the way he tells a story. From the very beginning, I was sucked right into his world.
It starts off simple enough, a group of friends go on a hiking excursion, coordinated by a mutual friend who has taken on an obsession with obtaining samples of a strange moss that is growing in areas on the mountain. This moss is not just like any other. There is something much darker about the way it grows and behaves. I found that each character in the story felt genuine and they have their own individual personalities. We have the annoying couple who seem to argue all the time, the science/biology geek/student and the girl he has a crush on, the MMC, a paramedic who seems to be trying to tackle the things from his past that haunt him and the foreign exchange student whom everyone loves. Despite the conflict going on between various characters, we learn that each of these characters seem to be fighting their own internal demons, insecurities etc. As if that wasn't enough of a recipe for disaster, they are soon thrust into a world of uncertainty and what started off as a fun time among friends/aquaintances soon becomes a fight for survival. The situation feels impossible and you are on the edge of your seat asking yourself "How are they going to get off the mountain? How will they survive? And most importantly what the heck is going on in this place?" All of these questions and uncertainty of it all becomes quite suffocating and you can feel the sheer panic of the situation. This worked well and kept the adrenaline running at full speed. One accident leads to another and then another and then another. Things go from bad to worse and I found myself really feeling for each of them and praying they would find a way to escape. At first the author gives us a bit of something to unsettle us and make us question everything, but soon things ramp up and it becomes 😳 pulse pounding. The ending was quite heart wrenching and I honestly didn't see it coming but it landed hard. A punch right to the gut.
I am however going to say that it felt very much like The Ruins. There are events that although altered still closely resemble that story which was a bit disappointing. All in all though this one is still worth the read! I am definitely going to check out some other books written by Stoney though because I love the writing style and character arcs. It was a very fun ride!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Brooks writes creepy, creative stories with twists of whimsy. I don’t think he’s trying to write literary fiction. He’s here to give you a wild ride, and sometimes you just have to hold on through the cringe and the completely ridiculous. I’m usually more than happy to do exactly that.
This one, though? This one was rough.
This felt HEAVILY inspired by The Ruins, even a little too closely at times. (The cell phone, come on now.) But then there was one moment where the moss did something with a very unexpected host that felt genuinely original, and I thought, “Oh, hell yes. THIS is what I came for.” And then it was over almost immediately and never touched on again.
The writing also wasn’t what I’m used to from Brooks. The setting and logistics of this suspended research camp were so confusing. I could never quite picture how these college kids had managed to build a fully functioning campsite, complete with leveled platforms, tents, coolers, and a sitting area, into the side of a cliff hundreds of feet above the ground. Then there were cringey lines like “Her body couldn’t take many more ouchies,” which gave me enough secondhand embarrassment to make some of the actual horror scenes easier to tolerate.
And if you’re going to give characters specific professions, I’m going to notice when they don’t seem to use those skills. One character suffers a compound femur fracture after a roughly 25-foot fall, and the paramedics’ immediate response is to sit him up and give him Advil. Baffling. At that point, I had to assume we were doing satire and move on.
If this one didn’t work for you either, don’t write Brooks off. I’ve enjoyed his other books enough to absolutely recommend giving him another shot. This one just wasn’t his best showing for me.
Stoney. My guy. Honestly… what happened here? I love you enough to tell you when you’ve wandered too far into the weeds. I wish you’d trusted your own weird ideas instead of cluttering them up trying to make the book wilder.
*in my firmest motherly tone*
I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.
Grateful to NetGalley and BookSirens for the ARC and for their ongoing courage in letting The Hateful Reader judge things. Thank you to WLR Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: Oct 15 2026
This one, though? This one was rough.
This felt HEAVILY inspired by The Ruins, even a little too closely at times. (The cell phone, come on now.) But then there was one moment where the moss did something with a very unexpected host that felt genuinely original, and I thought, “Oh, hell yes. THIS is what I came for.” And then it was over almost immediately and never touched on again.
The writing also wasn’t what I’m used to from Brooks. The setting and logistics of this suspended research camp were so confusing. I could never quite picture how these college kids had managed to build a fully functioning campsite, complete with leveled platforms, tents, coolers, and a sitting area, into the side of a cliff hundreds of feet above the ground. Then there were cringey lines like “Her body couldn’t take many more ouchies,” which gave me enough secondhand embarrassment to make some of the actual horror scenes easier to tolerate.
And if you’re going to give characters specific professions, I’m going to notice when they don’t seem to use those skills. One character suffers a compound femur fracture after a roughly 25-foot fall, and the paramedics’ immediate response is to sit him up and give him Advil. Baffling. At that point, I had to assume we were doing satire and move on.
If this one didn’t work for you either, don’t write Brooks off. I’ve enjoyed his other books enough to absolutely recommend giving him another shot. This one just wasn’t his best showing for me.
Stoney. My guy. Honestly… what happened here? I love you enough to tell you when you’ve wandered too far into the weeds. I wish you’d trusted your own weird ideas instead of cluttering them up trying to make the book wilder.
*in my firmest motherly tone*
I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.
Grateful to NetGalley and BookSirens for the ARC and for their ongoing courage in letting The Hateful Reader judge things. Thank you to WLR Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: Oct 15 2026
October 18, 2026
I like this book, but…it was not my fave. I loved the idea of this story. And from what others have said, it’s a good thing I’ve never read The Ruins lol. I loved the mix of characters, but I had to ask myself, why were half of them there? This was a research trip, not a summer camp. Cece, omg WHY WAS SHE THERE???? She should’ve just been tossed over the side right from the beginning. I wanted to slap the sh*tv out of her so many times.
Moving forward. I have questions. The carts. One minute Reid is wondering where the rest of them are with the carts, but then suddenly Reid is right next to them and starts to help push them…? That was a miss.
I did love how they suspended this set up on the side of the cliff. But realistically how does 5ft x 10ft give six people that much room? Tents, coolers, chairs…yeah, I get that Felipe was below them, which was messed up.
The phone ringing, I get this part, but how did Reid see a screen light up when there was no phone?
If the miss was eating through the frames and tarps, how did Felipe’s not fall long before the top one started being eaten through?
The cave system. Both Reid and Molly were climbing all over the stuff, yet they were fine…how? And when Molly spotted the light but they said they couldn’t break through to see if it went further, why didn’t they use the drill that Tevin had used to set the platform up with?
They were so many things that left me scratching my head, that I spent more time trying to figure out how they weren’t noticed. Why the fuzz would bring alcohol there when you’re literally 300ft above ground on the side of a cliff? 🤯
But Dustin and that eye, that was wild. That was the only seriously gross and nasty part of this whole book.
Sadly, I am disappointed in this one. But it definitely won’t put me off from reading more. I love these books overall and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Moving forward. I have questions. The carts. One minute Reid is wondering where the rest of them are with the carts, but then suddenly Reid is right next to them and starts to help push them…? That was a miss.
I did love how they suspended this set up on the side of the cliff. But realistically how does 5ft x 10ft give six people that much room? Tents, coolers, chairs…yeah, I get that Felipe was below them, which was messed up.
The phone ringing, I get this part, but how did Reid see a screen light up when there was no phone?
If the miss was eating through the frames and tarps, how did Felipe’s not fall long before the top one started being eaten through?
The cave system. Both Reid and Molly were climbing all over the stuff, yet they were fine…how? And when Molly spotted the light but they said they couldn’t break through to see if it went further, why didn’t they use the drill that Tevin had used to set the platform up with?
They were so many things that left me scratching my head, that I spent more time trying to figure out how they weren’t noticed. Why the fuzz would bring alcohol there when you’re literally 300ft above ground on the side of a cliff? 🤯
But Dustin and that eye, that was wild. That was the only seriously gross and nasty part of this whole book.
Sadly, I am disappointed in this one. But it definitely won’t put me off from reading more. I love these books overall and can’t wait to see what comes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Three hundred feet above an Arizona valley, metal platforms have been screwed into a cliff. The Elegance of Decay has an excellent central image, and Stoney Brooks understands the queasy appeal of botanical horror at its most primitive level. Growth is acquisitive, so to speak.
My difficulty was that the atmosphere often promised more than the prose or pacing could finally sustain. The book repeatedly approaches an uncanny register, then explains, reiterates, or hurries past the more disturbing elements. The dialogue is swift and occasionally slips into the unrealistic. Its claustrophobia works; its escalation is less assured. The people in it are a problem, though not, I think, a failure of effort. They are sketched fast and sketched with some affection, and I wanted to feel their losses more than I did, but the book moves so briskly from one trouble to the next that the limited affection I had for them slipped on by. A death has to land on someone, to put it mildly, and I rarely felt there was a someone there. The prose is serviceable and sometimes sharper than that, with the odd image that made me look up, but it does not dwell over them, and its elegance, to borrow a word from the cover, is mostly in the title.
I do strongly believe that there is a sharper novel somewhere inside this one, damp at the edges, greening over, and will definitely be keeping an eye out on Brooks’ later works. Thank you to Netgalley and WLR Publishing for the ARC.
My difficulty was that the atmosphere often promised more than the prose or pacing could finally sustain. The book repeatedly approaches an uncanny register, then explains, reiterates, or hurries past the more disturbing elements. The dialogue is swift and occasionally slips into the unrealistic. Its claustrophobia works; its escalation is less assured. The people in it are a problem, though not, I think, a failure of effort. They are sketched fast and sketched with some affection, and I wanted to feel their losses more than I did, but the book moves so briskly from one trouble to the next that the limited affection I had for them slipped on by. A death has to land on someone, to put it mildly, and I rarely felt there was a someone there. The prose is serviceable and sometimes sharper than that, with the odd image that made me look up, but it does not dwell over them, and its elegance, to borrow a word from the cover, is mostly in the title.
I do strongly believe that there is a sharper novel somewhere inside this one, damp at the edges, greening over, and will definitely be keeping an eye out on Brooks’ later works. Thank you to Netgalley and WLR Publishing for the ARC.
November 1, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher to an ARC copy of this book.
WOW - I've been going through a bit of a dry spell with good ARCs and went into this expecting to have similar issues. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised. The Elegance of Decay doesn't live up to it's title but what it does give you is a forced proximity survival horror with some starkly brutal body horror with a lovecraftian-esq twist.
I really enjoyed this book, including the flawed and ultimately unlikeable characters (which let's be honest is most university students when they're doing what they think they do best. Details about the potential cause of the impending doom is seeded early and semi-often, which did leave me frustrated at our somewhat idiotic characters - but in a way that was intentional. If you like your horrors with characters you want to root for then The Elegance of Decay might not be for you - but if you want some body horror and some characters that are so self absorbed you almost don't feel too bad when they meet their demise then give this book a go. It's fast paced, doesn't pull it's punches and has given me more of a fear of rock climbing than I already had.
WOW - I've been going through a bit of a dry spell with good ARCs and went into this expecting to have similar issues. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised. The Elegance of Decay doesn't live up to it's title but what it does give you is a forced proximity survival horror with some starkly brutal body horror with a lovecraftian-esq twist.
I really enjoyed this book, including the flawed and ultimately unlikeable characters (which let's be honest is most university students when they're doing what they think they do best. Details about the potential cause of the impending doom is seeded early and semi-often, which did leave me frustrated at our somewhat idiotic characters - but in a way that was intentional. If you like your horrors with characters you want to root for then The Elegance of Decay might not be for you - but if you want some body horror and some characters that are so self absorbed you almost don't feel too bad when they meet their demise then give this book a go. It's fast paced, doesn't pull it's punches and has given me more of a fear of rock climbing than I already had.
Review of advance copy
What if the wilderness you came to study was actually studying you?
The Elegance of Decay by Stoney Brooks takes readers from a remote scientific expedition into an eerie fight for survival, where isolation, fear, and an unnatural moss-like growth turn the wilderness into something far more dangerous than expected.
Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Survival Horror
Found Family
Romantic Tension
Dustin’s scientific obsession, Reid’s impulsive protector energy, Molly’s determination, and Felipe’s outsider perspective create a messy group dynamic where trust is constantly tested. As the danger escalates, their relationships become just as compelling as the mystery, with jealousy, loyalty, fear, and the need to survive constantly colliding.
The atmosphere is eerie, claustrophobic, and unsettling, making this a great pick for readers who enjoy character-driven horror mixed with mysterious wilderness threats.
Read this if you like: The Ruins by Scott Smith, The Troop by Nick Cutter, or Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
The Elegance of Decay by Stoney Brooks takes readers from a remote scientific expedition into an eerie fight for survival, where isolation, fear, and an unnatural moss-like growth turn the wilderness into something far more dangerous than expected.
Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Survival Horror
Found Family
Romantic Tension
Dustin’s scientific obsession, Reid’s impulsive protector energy, Molly’s determination, and Felipe’s outsider perspective create a messy group dynamic where trust is constantly tested. As the danger escalates, their relationships become just as compelling as the mystery, with jealousy, loyalty, fear, and the need to survive constantly colliding.
The atmosphere is eerie, claustrophobic, and unsettling, making this a great pick for readers who enjoy character-driven horror mixed with mysterious wilderness threats.
Read this if you like: The Ruins by Scott Smith, The Troop by Nick Cutter, or Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
October 11, 2026
In all honesty when I read the blurb I was really interested in reading this story. Until I started it and all it did was put me to sleep.
I find it hard to believe that faced with a moss that’s this dangerous all you can think about is having sex and getting drunk. The male characters in this were so cringe because why is it that you are seriously injured and all you can think about is if your girl is getting it on with someone else. Or was that also the work of the moss?
All I’m left with after reading this is a lot of questions. I wish the author had given us more to work with here. Where did Tevin and Felipe’s bodies disappear to because they kept changing locations. I also couldn’t for the life of me picture the platform.
A lot of the characters back stories also seemed completely unnecessary in my opinion because how was it any helpful to the business at hand?
The premise for this was so good but the execution really did fall short for me.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I find it hard to believe that faced with a moss that’s this dangerous all you can think about is having sex and getting drunk. The male characters in this were so cringe because why is it that you are seriously injured and all you can think about is if your girl is getting it on with someone else. Or was that also the work of the moss?
All I’m left with after reading this is a lot of questions. I wish the author had given us more to work with here. Where did Tevin and Felipe’s bodies disappear to because they kept changing locations. I also couldn’t for the life of me picture the platform.
A lot of the characters back stories also seemed completely unnecessary in my opinion because how was it any helpful to the business at hand?
The premise for this was so good but the execution really did fall short for me.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I rounded this rating up to 3 stars for the concept. I do like eco-horror and I think the aspects of the "monster" in this novel were interesting and could have been worked into a more thrilling storyline.
From the start, the prologue was completely unnecessary and could have been eliminated with any information from it easily given via dialogue at some point early in the story. I struggled to get through the frequent character internalizations, and reminiscing that took away from the "horror" of the story. It often came at inappropriate times which would have been better served by increasing the terror.
The characters were a group of extremely unlikeable airheads and dorks. I didn't care one whit whether they survived or not, I just wanted to get to the scary parts.
In summary, I would say this has potential but needs a page one rewrite.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the start, the prologue was completely unnecessary and could have been eliminated with any information from it easily given via dialogue at some point early in the story. I struggled to get through the frequent character internalizations, and reminiscing that took away from the "horror" of the story. It often came at inappropriate times which would have been better served by increasing the terror.
The characters were a group of extremely unlikeable airheads and dorks. I didn't care one whit whether they survived or not, I just wanted to get to the scary parts.
In summary, I would say this has potential but needs a page one rewrite.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ohhhhh. This was eery. Mossy. Creepy. Like bio horror? Eco horror? Ruins-y or if you ever watched the movie the fog. (That's what this reminded me of 🤷♀️) I was already stressed at the mention of platforms and cliffs. No ty. 🤣
6 friends go on an excursion and well, moss happens. The accidents that occur are movie worthy. Honestly the last like 40 percent of this I was truly hooked and i couldn't stop reading. It's a mindf*ck once you dive into it. And once I was into it I was THERE.
Once again Brooks nails the creepy, dread, "absolutely not, I would never" Factor.
The gruesome scenes were my absolute favorite. I def found myself cringing on occasion. I genuinely LOVED how this ended. My final reaction was WTF. I wasn't expecting that ending. 🤯 I'm just gonna stare off into the void for a minute.... It's unsettling in a good way. Nicely done 🖤
🖤Horror
🖤Expedition
🖤Mossy
🖤6 friends
6 friends go on an excursion and well, moss happens. The accidents that occur are movie worthy. Honestly the last like 40 percent of this I was truly hooked and i couldn't stop reading. It's a mindf*ck once you dive into it. And once I was into it I was THERE.
Once again Brooks nails the creepy, dread, "absolutely not, I would never" Factor.
The gruesome scenes were my absolute favorite. I def found myself cringing on occasion. I genuinely LOVED how this ended. My final reaction was WTF. I wasn't expecting that ending. 🤯 I'm just gonna stare off into the void for a minute.... It's unsettling in a good way. Nicely done 🖤
🖤Horror
🖤Expedition
🖤Mossy
🖤6 friends
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Elegance of Decay" by Stoney Brooks is a horror, mystery-thriller that depicts the lives of a group of friends who seek to explore and investigate something beyond their realm of discovery. Set against the backdrop of suspicion, deceit, and alienation in a remote mountainous terrain, the narrative portrays the terror experienced by characters once they are entrapped miles away from the human landscape. Various characters with different personalities feature in the novel: Reid and Dustin amplify the narrative's tension, and Molly becomes the center of friction, while others—Tevin, Felipe, and CeeCee—feature as the early symbols of doom and tragedy.
Written in a concise manner with a conversational style, Brooks' narration engages the reader and urges him/her to keep turning the pages forward.
Overall, a good and unique reading experience for readers interested in environmental horror and contemporary mystery fiction.
Written in a concise manner with a conversational style, Brooks' narration engages the reader and urges him/her to keep turning the pages forward.
Overall, a good and unique reading experience for readers interested in environmental horror and contemporary mystery fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really enjoyable botanical horror read! The pacing was great for most of the book, with short chapters, characters I actually liked (except like one), and a survival situation that kept getting worse. I especially enjoyed how the moss gradually became a bigger part of the story, turning something so ordinary into a genuinely unsettling threat.
The survival aspect worked really well for me. Accidents, injuries, and the constant danger made the situation feel increasingly desperate, and I liked that the characters had to deal with something they couldn't easily understand or control.
The pacing did slow down a little towards the end, and some of the more dramatic moments didn't quite work for me. Still, I appreciated that the story committed to its dark atmosphere rather than taking the easy way out.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and unsettling botanical horror novel with an interesting premise and plenty of tension.
The survival aspect worked really well for me. Accidents, injuries, and the constant danger made the situation feel increasingly desperate, and I liked that the characters had to deal with something they couldn't easily understand or control.
The pacing did slow down a little towards the end, and some of the more dramatic moments didn't quite work for me. Still, I appreciated that the story committed to its dark atmosphere rather than taking the easy way out.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and unsettling botanical horror novel with an interesting premise and plenty of tension.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Elegance of Decay
*Spoilers warning.*
Biological horror about 6 friends set out on an expedition to study a type of moss that has never been discovered before. They camp on the side of the cliff unaware of the danger that surround them;, the moss slowly creeps across the cliffside and blooms everywhere, tempers flare and accidents happen. As their numbers dwindle, the team realize what was supposed to be a discovery of a new biological specimen was now a fight to survive.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. Pretty formulaic plot and very similar to The Ruins. The writing was good and story was an entertaining, fast read, but the characters were extremely unlikable, I was rooting for the moss toward the last 25% of the book. This is a pretty gory story so if you have a weak stomach I would avoid!
*Spoilers warning.*
Biological horror about 6 friends set out on an expedition to study a type of moss that has never been discovered before. They camp on the side of the cliff unaware of the danger that surround them;, the moss slowly creeps across the cliffside and blooms everywhere, tempers flare and accidents happen. As their numbers dwindle, the team realize what was supposed to be a discovery of a new biological specimen was now a fight to survive.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. Pretty formulaic plot and very similar to The Ruins. The writing was good and story was an entertaining, fast read, but the characters were extremely unlikable, I was rooting for the moss toward the last 25% of the book. This is a pretty gory story so if you have a weak stomach I would avoid!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My first eco horror and I thought it was great! Really enjoyed Brooks pacing and way of writing. The only thing I didn't really understand was how the camp platform was set up? 6 people on a cliffside expedition and there was somehow enough room for them all (almost) to have tents and a sitting area etc drilled into a cliff? But aside from that I didnt want to put this book down!
Brooks writes some very well written unlikeable characters, which is a blessing a curse because for almost all of them I felt no emotional ouch when something happened.
Absolutely loved the Moss and would've loved more science included but I do understand why it wasnt and i dont think its necessarily a bad thing.
But overall I enjoyed! I loved the pacing, the Moss and I loved to hate the characters.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me access to this ARC in return for an honest review!
Brooks writes some very well written unlikeable characters, which is a blessing a curse because for almost all of them I felt no emotional ouch when something happened.
Absolutely loved the Moss and would've loved more science included but I do understand why it wasnt and i dont think its necessarily a bad thing.
But overall I enjoyed! I loved the pacing, the Moss and I loved to hate the characters.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me access to this ARC in return for an honest review!
October 15, 2026
Well, this had so much potential. Unfortunately, it was a letdown, though I kept reading with the hope that there'd be at least a twist or something similar in the end. There wasn't. The lack of tension, the unrealistic dialogue, and a tendency to find "The Ruins" between the lines made me cringe - and I like cringe! But this was too much (and not too much of a good thing). Too ambitious and so much confusing as well: trying to picture the scenes in my mind was a struggle, the scenes didn't make much sense. No real explanation of the moss, characters acting contrary to what comes naturally. Wha went wrong? Lack of research? Too much use of unreliable secondary sources? Anyway, apologies to the author, but this didn't work for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 24, 2026
What happens when a group goes out into the wilderness to study a moss species and instead the moss turns out to be more than expected? Leaving the group to fight for survival in an isolated wilderness landscape.
This book brings an creepy and unsettling vibe to the table a true biological horror, (ya know the whole moss trying to kill them) it took a minute to get into this book and pick up on who was who in the friend group but I was easily hooked. The characters are well written and the conflict/relationships felt very real. This book has just the right amount of gross/gruesome moments to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat. I definitely recommend you giving The Elegance of Decay a try!
I received an advance copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book brings an creepy and unsettling vibe to the table a true biological horror, (ya know the whole moss trying to kill them) it took a minute to get into this book and pick up on who was who in the friend group but I was easily hooked. The characters are well written and the conflict/relationships felt very real. This book has just the right amount of gross/gruesome moments to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat. I definitely recommend you giving The Elegance of Decay a try!
I received an advance copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, this book made me think of The Ruins. They are both about a killer plant of picking off a group of people. I quite liked The Ruins, and it was hard not to compare the two. This book is good on its own merits. The characters are all interesting and well fleshed out. Even the less likeable people feel realistic. The conflict between the characters is believable and not annoying. The horror starts pretty early on, and doesn't really let up. There are some really gross moments, and some deaths that made me sad. This isn't as raw and brutal as The Ruins, but it is a good time, and if you loved The Ruins, you'll probably love this. I received a free copy of this story and write this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Reader’s Copy Review
Rating: 4 stars
About: Six friends camp on a precarious cliffside while studying an unknown moss species. The trip quickly takes a dangerous turn as accidents, injuries, and the ever encroaching moss threaten the group’s sanity.
Thoughts: Brooks delivers an action-packed Eco thriller, building suspense between the characters and insidious wilderness at large. The very graphic portrayal of bodily harm was sufficiently nauseating and a good reminder that nature is brutal… and it hungers.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Rating: 4 stars
About: Six friends camp on a precarious cliffside while studying an unknown moss species. The trip quickly takes a dangerous turn as accidents, injuries, and the ever encroaching moss threaten the group’s sanity.
Thoughts: Brooks delivers an action-packed Eco thriller, building suspense between the characters and insidious wilderness at large. The very graphic portrayal of bodily harm was sufficiently nauseating and a good reminder that nature is brutal… and it hungers.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
October 23, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This one had such an eerie atmosphere, and I loved how the story had that unsettling feeling hanging over everything.
The darker tone and underlying mystery kept things interesting, although the pacing dragged a little in places. Tightening a few scenes and giving certain moments more room to make an impact would've made the story even stronger.
Overall, an enjoyable read with a haunting vibe. If you like darker stories with a little mystery woven in, this one might be right up your alley!
I really liked the character development throughout.
This one had such an eerie atmosphere, and I loved how the story had that unsettling feeling hanging over everything.
The darker tone and underlying mystery kept things interesting, although the pacing dragged a little in places. Tightening a few scenes and giving certain moments more room to make an impact would've made the story even stronger.
Overall, an enjoyable read with a haunting vibe. If you like darker stories with a little mystery woven in, this one might be right up your alley!
I really liked the character development throughout.
October 25, 2026
Stoney Brooks delivers another great book. His faculty for putting words together is bar none. His descriptions are amazing. He knows how to put words together; but its not just that—the descriptions, although wonderfully worded, which he seem so be a master at, also draw you into the story. And what a story. His books remind me a lot of an old series on ON/Select TV called "Tales From The Crypt". They are suspenseful, eerie, and entertaining. BUT his works are much less campy and much better written. The Elegance of Decay was an easy, entertaining read, with a heart wrenching, yet, good ending. I recommend this book to all horror/suspense fans.
November 2, 2026
This was a really fun, fast paced read. I really liked the premise: six friends isolated 300 feet up a mountainside on a platform looking for study an unknown specimen.
This book was really fun to read. Nonstop horror and gore. The backstories on the characters was a really great way to see how each one fits into the group and why there is tension between them.
I don't want to give anymore away here so Ill just say that this is a must read for fans of the horror genre. The author builds tension here not only between the six friends but also the threat they encounter. You might even think they might not survive. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
This book was really fun to read. Nonstop horror and gore. The backstories on the characters was a really great way to see how each one fits into the group and why there is tension between them.
I don't want to give anymore away here so Ill just say that this is a must read for fans of the horror genre. The author builds tension here not only between the six friends but also the threat they encounter. You might even think they might not survive. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
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