Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a review copy. Chuck Wendig's "Black River Orchard" was a tour de force of horror. Good characters, good story, and entertaining. I will say I thought it was a little bit bloated at times but that was really my only gripe with it. I enjoyed my time with it and Wendig has written another novel that sucks you in. Although it may be a while before I can look at apples the same way again.

This was my first book by Chuck Wendig and it blew me away!

Going into it I only knew three things: 1) there’s a mysterious tree, 2) it grows magical apples, 3) people in town are acting weird.

There’s a deceptive simplicity to this story that could lend reviewers to include not-so-need-to-know details that could spoil the experience. Trust me, this one is worth going into blind.

Chuck is an exceptional author. The way he took his time in developing the characters and the story — and the research he put into understanding and explaining the history, varieties, and diversity of apple flavors?! — was nothing short of masterful. And left me craving apples.

The book was shocking, weird (and wholly original), sometimes laugh out loud funny and other times emotional. He created a thought-provoking social commentary, taking an experience we can all relate to on some level and putting a horrific spin on it.

It was an easy story to get lost in and I enjoyed the experience immensely. Honestly, the deeper into the book I got the more I wanted to devour his entire backlist. This is sure to be one of my favorites of 2023.

Huge thank you to the publishers for the arc!

Update: My review will be posted on instagram (@bertyinbookland) the week of September 11th.

I think he is a talented writer, but. . . Lots of characters, lots of subplots, lots of different types of horror. It was a lot generally. I felt pulled in different directions but not into the story. The characters were broad, and the author seemed to be trying too hard to make them quirky. By the end, the story spun out.

I’d heard amazing things about Chuck Wendig’s books but this is the first of his that I’ve read and I am floored by his writing talent. At only 3% into this book I had to stop reading to start writing this review because THE WAY HE DESCRIBES THINGS. IT’S SO VIVID. You’d think reading 2 full pages about the experience of eating an apple would be boring and weird but suddenly I have never wanted to eat an apple more in my life. The way he talks about the feelings associated with eating an apple, the scent, the texture, the experience….I’ve never read anything like this. The way that he writes is pure poetry. The way that I’m already impressed and I’m not even 10 pages in as I’m typing the first part of this review.

The writing is really good. Really flowery but not in a way that’s hard to understand like flowery writing can sometimes be. But the plot took too long to get going. For the first 30% of this book, I was wondering where this was even going because at this point the conflict or mystery wasn’t even clear yet. It just felt like a mishmash of different points of views and all I was getting from it was that there are apples that taste amazing. I was kind of wondering what the point was. Honestly, this book could’ve been cut a solid 100 pages at least. The first half was just rambling and I didn’t really get the point. By the 50% mark all you know is that something is off about the apples that give you abilities, though they are addictively delicious, and some minor background info on the characters. That’s pretty much it. Over 200 pages and that’s all your get. Fantastic writing, but too much filler in a too slow moving plot.

The beginning was too wordy and the setup of the story was overkill. However, Chuck Wendig is a fantastic writer. Only someone with true writing talent could write like this. I’m just a big plot reader and prefer a super entertaining plot driven book with mediocre writing over a slow moving plot with amazing writing. I can appreciate good writing when I see it though. I just kind of need you to get to the point sooner.

The ending was really fun though, and I was wondering how they were going to get out of this mess. An evil apple cult definitely is an imaginative idea! Really really enjoyed the last 20%. I am definitely eager to try another Chuck Wendig book. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because I enjoyed the latter part of this book and the author is a very talented writer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

I have tried Chuck Wendig before, and I always fizzle out around 35%. It feels like you are being forced into the story and there are just way too many plots happening. Another author I want to like, but just can't get into.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

"Black River Orchard" by Chuck Wendig is a chilling masterpiece that artfully blends horror with a haunting sense of inevitability. Set in the picturesque town of Harrow, the story unfolds as the arrival of seven peculiar trees heralds a transformation that will grip the townspeople in ways they never could have imagined. Wendig's prose is enchanting, luring readers into the mystery of the orchard and its magical, sinister apples. As the characters become entangled with the apples' allure, Wendig crafts an atmospheric narrative that explores the dual nature of desire and darkness. The pacing is skillfully orchestrated, allowing tension to build gradually until the ominous climax is reached. With a cast of compelling characters, including the orchard's enigmatic guardian, Wendig delves into their complexities and motivations, making them both relatable and unnerving. The story's exploration of power, temptation, and the hidden history of the town adds layers of depth, ensuring that "Black River Orchard" is not just a horror tale, but a thought-provoking examination of human nature. Wendig's ability to create an atmosphere of both beauty and dread is nothing short of remarkable, making this book a haunting and unforgettable read that will linger in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

In the small Pennsylvania town of Harrow, something sinister is stirring in Dan Paxson's apple orchard. With autumn upon him, Dan more than ever needs an apple harvest that will set him apart from other farmers; one that'll get him out from underneath the overdue bills and the looming cost of Calla's college tuition.

Almost like magic, an apple so red it's nearly black appears on Dan Paxson's apple trees. As the town slowly but surely gives the "Ruby Slipper" apple a try, something dark begins to surface within it. People are changing in Harrow, something lurks within the orchard. You see, these are far from ordinary apples--these apples will make you different.

Chuck Wendig has an uncanny ability to deliver a horror novel unlike anything I've ever read: first with his epic masterpiece "Wanderers" then later with the fall book of the season "The Book of Accidents." Not unlike its predecessors, "Black River Orchard" makes a strong first impression with atmosphere alone; Wendig's descriptions and character formations are second to none. Instantly, you find yourself dropped into a Bucks County, Pennsylvania apple orchard in the heart of harvest season.

"Black River Orchard" steadily marches toward a descent into utter madness; it is a dreadful, horrifying, "Salem's Lot"-like story of a small town taken over by something dark, something so much greater than themselves. Perhaps more than Wendig's other novels, "Black River Orchard" truly "goes there." The end is a culmination of hysteria and visceral horror--I was completely engrossed in the story despite its ridiculousness. But because the story is so brilliantly-crafted, even then absurd pieces worked.

Without a doubt the horror book of the fall, "Black River Orchard" will have you never looking at an apple the same way again.

"A small town is transformed when seven strange trees begin bearing magical apples in this masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents.

It's autumn in the town of Harrow, but something besides the season is changing there.

Because in that town there is an orchard, and in that orchard, seven most unusual trees. And from those trees grows a new sort of apple: strange, beautiful, with skin so red it's nearly black.

Take a bite of one of these apples, and you will desire only to devour another. And another. You will become stronger. More vital. More yourself, you will believe. But then your appetite for the apples and their peculiar gifts will keep growing - and become darker.

This is what happens when the townsfolk discover the secret of the orchard. Soon it seems that everyone is consumed by an obsession with the magic of the apples...and what's the harm, if it is making them all happier, more confident, more powerful?

Even if something else is buried in the orchard besides the seeds of these extraordinary trees: a bloody history whose roots reach back to the very origins of the town.

But now the leaves are falling. The days grow darker. It's harvest time, and the town will soon reap what it has sown."

I mean, I totally wouldn't touch those apples would you?

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc! I've been wanting to read another Chuck Wendig book since I read The Book of Accidents.

This book was amazing!!! I don't think I'll ever look at an apple the same way again! I was a bit nervous because of the size of the book but the pacing of this book was perfect. I didn't want to put it down plus the short chapters made it feel like it went so much faster.

Loved the characters, the plot and the atmosphere! Very creepy and unsettling!

Suppose an Apple was so terrific that you couldn’t stop eating it. Suppose it made you whole and healthy.
Suppose you were a struggling father that just wants to pay to send his kid to college…and then it turns out you have found something much more than a goldmine?
A very good novel about light and darkness…about the fight of free will. How a bit of amazing can change the world.
Only, maybe it is not as amazing as you thought….
I enjoyed this novel. Well written, well plotted and well completed. I do recommend. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC.

Many thanks to Random House/Ballantine Publishing, Chuck Wendig and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this for an honest review!

An evil apple orchard with a cult-like following compels people to do naughty deeds? Sign me up!
There are many enduring tales that center around the apple. Snow White, The Garden of Eden Tale just to name two. Symbolizing many things, namely temptation, knowledge, and sin, the apple in this story promises to deliver all of those things. So, if this tale feels familiar, maybe the answer is in the fruit. Otherwise, Chuck Wendig has created a mesmerizing and compelling tale that is reminiscent of some of the best of Stephen King or Dean Koontz. It is creepy and grotesque but also elegantly weaved into a story with much to offer to those with an open mind. While his tale may seem far-fetched to some, to others that is the fruit on the tree, so to speak.

Wendig is a master of atmosphere and creepy gore. Expect no less when you read this. The characters are interesting and fleshed out. My singular complaint would be the dialogue…at times it felt...unnatural. Things are said that I can’t imagine that character actually saying in that setting…or ever. At times, it pulled me out of the story and made me cringe just a little. But if you can believe an evil apple then cringy dialogue shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

I dare you to unflinchingly devour an apple (especially a dark red one) after reading Chuck Wendig's latest. A deliciously dark story about what happens when one man gets all the power he's always wanted. Who won't he hurt to maintain his privilege? A devious tale about daring to be different and refusing to submit to what those in power (or close to power) deem good.

"Black River Orchard" by Chuck Wendig proved to be an utterly gripping and enthralling tale that had me completely hooked from start to finish. From the moment I picked it up, I found myself drawn into its intricate web of mystery and intrigue, making it nearly impossible to set down. In a manner reminiscent of the early works of Stephen King, Wendig skillfully weaves a narrative that effortlessly blends suspense, supernatural elements, and compelling characters.

The dark and captivating atmosphere of the book evoked a sense of nostalgia for classic horror stories, while still delivering a fresh and modern take on the genre. Wendig's writing style is immersive and immersive, guiding the reader through the twists and turns of the plot with a skillful hand. His ability to create vivid and three-dimensional characters is particularly noteworthy; their struggles, flaws, and moments of growth all contribute to a deeply resonant reading experience. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

EXCELLENT. This is a masterpiece of horror. I was legit afraid to read it after perusing some reviews, but I’m so glad I did. This author can WRIIIIIIITE!!! Dang the writing really knocked my socks off. I’m still reeling from how much I enjoyed the words itself let alone the plot and the characters. It was TIGHT. It was so so good. The characters and human and portrayed viscerally and with flaws and strengths and I found myself rooting for (almost) all of them. At a certain point I became frustrated with Emily’s loyalty to Meg, who treated her poorly (imo) even when she wasn’t eating the apples. But Emily came around and showed ME. Her self worth and awareness grew and I needn’t have worried about her. Speaking of not needing to worry about someone…Calla is a bonafide savage. Never thought I’d be so into her bc she’s a teenage wannabe influencer but I dug the crap out of her. She was fantastic on so many levels. Everyone was so well fleshed out and there was not one single solitary moment that I felt like dialogue felt off or inauthentic. It was so freaking good. The writing was just OUT OF THIS WORLD. Do I sound like a broken record yet? The plot…well, I’ll just let you enjoy the ride, but it was bonkers in all the best ways.

As a final note, thankfully apples have not been ruined forever for me. I will still eat apples after reading this, and it has even inspired me to go beyond the typical grocery store finds and explore the lesser known varieties that are available locally.

This is 4.5 rounded up to 5. I didn’t have QUITE the emotional connection I desire for this to be a solid 5 star read for me, but the writing was SO good that I think rounding up is only fair. Thank you sososo much to NetGalley and
Ballantine for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this even more than I’d hoped!

Ok. Sit down. Here, take this apple. Its fine. Go ahead and eat it. That’s right. Nothing wrong with that apple at all. What? Do I want one? No. I don’t think so. No, its not poison. Why would you ask that? I wouldn’t give you a poison apple. No…there’s nothing inside of it.

Listen. I’m not going to eat apples for awhile. Why? Well, its Chuck Wendig’s fault.

I read this book recently called Black River Orchard. I got it early via NetGalley. Its about a man who wants to start an apple Orchard and he picks a very special apple to make his trees. The apple seems great at first and then…its not so great. There are other characters too; a lot of other characters. The story never gets confusing though. Its told from multiple perspectives and ultimately it comes together very well. I’m trying to be a bit vague here because I don’t want to give away too many spoilers.

Black River Orchard is a really good book. Its slow when it needs to be, very gross when it needs to be, and extremely scary too. You’ll never look at apples the same way again. That’s both good and bad, because there are some really gross moments in this book but also you may learn a thing or two about apples. I know I did. If I ever eat an apple again, I want it to be a something different from a farmer’s market. Not a dark red one. Never a dark red one. You’ll notice that your apple is green and its fine. Just eat it ok?

And another thing I love about this book? The afterward goes into how Wendig came up with the story. I really love that.

Black River Orchard is an epic rollercoaster ride that starts slow and then rises up before plummeting toward the ending. And what an ending. Whoa.

But no, I won’t eat an apple right now. Maybe one day. Right now, I’m not sure I could eat one without thinking about this book.

Thanks a lot Chuck Wendig.

Seriously, though, you should eat that apple now. Enjoy it while you can. Then read Black River Orchard. I promise you’ll be ok. Nothing at all wrong with this apple….

Black River Orchard comes out on September 26, 2023. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group (via NetGalley) for the early digital copy of this book.

This was such a perfect blend of creepy and disturbing. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to the publisher for the arc!

What can I say but, wow! I don't think I've given a book five stars yet this year, this may be the first. This is my first Chuck wendig book, I had no idea that he was local to my area until he mentioned my hometown and several streets and locations I actually pass by. He even mentioned our local indie bookstore and Farmers market in his author's notes at the end.

This book is so good. What turns in from a harmless Apple that makes you better, faster, stronger, heal quicker, etc. And turns in to a raging cult that takes over a town. Who would have thought a book about an apple would be this interesting..it reminds me a lot of Stephen king with his writing and the supernatural elements.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing a ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Onward we go, so I requested this book due to the fact it was written by an author I am familiar with and who's works I have enjoyed in the past. This book was... good but not without flaw. The storyline was unique unfortunately I felt like the pacing and the length of the story was a little off. At almost 600 pages long. I felt like the same story could have been told with a few more pages skimmed off. This novel had a Stephen King-ish feel to it. Evil comes to a small town and all that mixed with some local folklore and all arriving through the vehicle of an cult creating apple. I know, I'm sounding a little spotty in my review here but honestly that's how the book felt as well. It jumped from topic to topic and pov to pov so quickly at times that it was hard to get a good flow going. I don't regret reading it but it's not making one of my top ten of the year either.

Let's get this part out of the way right off the bat; you (and I) will not be eating apples for a long while after reading Black River Orchard.

As always, Chuck Wendig created wonderfully full, complex characters to inhabit his tale. The sad sack wannabe 'big man in the county', Dan and his rebellious teen daughter Calla, her athletic boyfriend Marco, the feisty, free-spirited Joanie, the former military sharpshooter turned Quaker, John, and the perennial doormat Emily. These are our main protagonists, and they do their job very well. There are other, peripheral folks too, but they are only casually important to the story.

Evil inhabits an apple (or the tree it grows from if you put the tree first). The plot is original and horrifying and kept me turning pages long after I should have had a bite to eat (but NOT an apple). I took off one star because there were several parts where we were treated to long history lessons: how apples populated America, how islands in the river were used in the Revolutionary war, how the Native Indian tribes who were here first, evolved. And lots of passages of characters memories, which for the most part, added nothing to the story. This book could have been a much quicker read with a little judicious editing.

The action takes place over almost a years' time. The final chapter takes place a year later, wrapping up everyone's stories, how they are doing, where they are now sort of thing, and I liked that very much. What I didn't like was the Epilogue. It concerns a character we see briefly just a few times during the novel. I had already completely forgotten about this character until the epilogue. We didn't need them; it was another layer of icing on a cake that already had just the right amount of sweetness.

But will I continue to hunt down and read whatever Mr Wendig chooses to write? Oh yes, yes I will.

I truly had no idea where this book was going based on its description. Think about it… How can you write a book about apples and it be scary and actually good? Well, ask Chuck Wendig because he did it.
This story revolves around Calla who wants to be an influencer, but not on Insta and Tiktok (those are sooo last year), and is working hard academically to get in to Princeton. Her father, Dan, is carrying out his father’s dream to run an apple orchard and is off-the-rails excited about this brand new type of apple that he has been working for years to grow. It is finally ready for tasting and selling and for all to love. It’s the best tasting apple anyone has ever had —selling out at all of the farmer’s markets. People can’t get enough! But it’s changing everyone in the town…

There were a lot of characters in this book and it actually worked. Wendig took his time setting up the story and there was a lot of character development so it was fairly easy to keep everyone straight. I felt the pacing of the book worked really well with the exception of a portion in late first half of the book that seemed to drag a little. It recovers well, picking right back up to the perfect pace. I still thought this book was a little too long for what it was though.
Overall, I would definitely recommend it for a weird, eerie autumn read. PS I really loved the acknowledgments.