This was creepy and disturbing yet still fascinating. Just like the other books I have read by this author. You can feel the horror creep up on you as more and more people eat the Ruby Slipper and though I did feel that it dragged a little in the middle (mostly cause I was telling the unaffected to hurry up and stop the crazy apple eaters and save the day before the orchard took over the world!) it was still a good read.

I will happily eat my grocery store cosmic crisps and pink ladies and stay far away from fresh orchard apples, at least for a little while after reading this book. I did find the authors notes after the story interesting in which he was describing his experience with the special apples you kind find not in grocery stores.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC of Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig.

Dan Paxson wants one thing: to fulfill his father’s dream of being a successful apple orchard owner. However, when Dan presents his new apple at the local farmer’s market, it becomes clear this is one good apple. Before he knows it, the apple is everywhere, being enjoyed by more people than he ever imagined. But it quickly becomes clear that this apple is not normal. Neither is what it does to people.

I was skeptical of the book at first. A book about evil apples? No thanks. But Chuck Wendig masterfully crafts this horror into something that’s not cheesy or overdone. It kept my entire for the entire time, despite being quite a hefty read. I needed to know what happened while I was simultaneously disgusted at many points. This checks all the right boxes as far as horror goes. A perfect read for fall!

5 ⭐️

You will never look at apples the same way again.

One taste of this book is all it took. Much like the forbidden fruit described within, one bite just wasn't enough. I devoured the short chapters. Wendig skillfully introduced the core characters early on, he's got a knack for developing significant investment in his characters.

I love that the book has multiple prologues (similar to The Book of Accidents), and multiple interludes. Those interludes enhance the backstory. The research Wendig put into this book (and apples!) is on display throughout.

I won't spoil any of the plot, but you'll be in awe of the way Wendig spins this tale of horror. The scariest scenes were so vivid, with roots and tendrils digging deep into my imagination. I cannot recommend this book enough. Horror at it's best; scary, emotional and hard to forget.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eArc. All opinions are my own.

Ya’ll…you know the new Chuck Wendig book is batshit bonkers bizarre when he actually has to include an author’s "caveat" afterwards letting readers know that even HE knows "this story is a culmination of all the fucking weirdness inside of me". Which as a reader, I appreciated (and chuckled a bit over), because after I finished BLACK RIVER ORCHARD in the middle of the night -exhausted and bewildered- it was nice for Uncle Chuck to be there, waiting patiently for me, prepared to explain that yes, he agrees: this book is really fucking weird.⁣
⁣
Let me be a little more clear: BLACK RIVER ORCHARD is one of the most unhinged books I have ever read. Without giving much away, the book is about a small town transformed by dark magic when seven strange trees start bearing magical apples. As one could probably infer, people eat the apples, all kinds of crazy f*cking shit starts to happen. You have no idea.⁣
⁣
No seriously. I’m telling you right now, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FUCKED THE SHIT GETS IN THIS BOOK. ⁣
⁣
That being said, I loved it. All the stars. #BlackRiverOrchard is my favorite Chuck Wendig book ever (and WANDERERS was a JBC TOP 10 title). This has the hallmarks of a classic Chuck Wendig novel: it’s horror infused with humor; part SALEM’S LOT, part IMAGINARY FRIEND, it’s dark and twisty, funny, emotional, and super violent. And did I mention weird? The book is truly bizarre. In all the best ways. And I promise you will NEVER look at **shudder** apples **shudder** the same way ever again.

First of all, this book was too long, it stressed me out seeing how long was left as I read because I'd read for what felt like forever and it's all STILL FOURTEEN HUNDRED THOUSAND HOURS LEFT, so I had to turn that feature off.

Second, I don't think I can eat an apple any time soon after reading this one.

I loved the small town vibes, the eerie way things started to unfold that had me questioning where this was headed. The characters were fantastic, a nice balance of likeable and unlikeable. I would think I wasn't invested in certain characters and then something would happen and BOOM I was bothered.

The ending was interesting in how there was this answer that somehow no one thought of until the end. A little too neat for my liking BUT there was an aspect we get at the absolute end ... this perspective not only made me giggle but made the neatly tied bow and the LONG ass book worth it.

Looking for other work by this author now!

Another great read by Chuck Wendig. I always look forward to his latest book, and this one did not disappoint. I could not put it down once I started!

This review took me awhile to write. Why, you may ask, didn't you like the book... I mean, you have it for stars?
The answer is in the nature of the book itself. Black River Orchard is an ambitious thriller/horror story which has a show build. The book is written in first person limited view with multiple point of view narrators. Wendig gives you time to get to fully know the major point of view characters. Time to care what they think and why they make their choices. No where is this more apparent than in his writing of Calla and Dan Paxson.
We are privy to the complete point of view from each of this father and daughter as they and their relationship changes throughout the book. It is how this relationship finishes that made the review so hard for me (as the father of a newly minted teenager) to write. It was also the main source of this book ending as a 4 star instead of higher.
The general story is pretty well covered in the blurb and it really got me thinking about heirloom apple varieties (Botany of Desire first introduced me to this topic) and the way Wendig treats it is as serious as the search for any other lalost history... fictionalized of course, but mainly (I think) the characters themselves being the fictional part.
If you are a fan of Dean Koontz, middle period Stephen King, or Clive Barker (or, of course, Chuck Wendig), you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
#thriller #horror #Wendig #BlackRiverOrchard

Another knockout read from Chuck Wendig! I'll be honest and say this is actually my first experience with Wendig's horror writing; I've read Wanderers twice, and have The Book of Accidents staring at me from my bookshelf as I type this. Queue me starting this book and immediately being hooked. What I loved about Black River Orchard is the absolutely unique premise that this horrible "thing" spreading throughout the town is all because of an apple tree. I just love apples man, and this author wrote a creepy AF horror novel based on them. It's a beautiful time to be alive. There are themes of greed, deceit, cultism, debauchery - I could go on, but just read this book. It can be long winded in spots and the overuse of "wokeness" kinda got to me after a while, but I loved all the characters, the rich history sprinkled throughout the story and all things apples.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Del Ray publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book! All my thoughts are 100% my own and uninfluenced in any way.

Black River Orchard
Check Wendig, 2023

Like most of us, I grew up eating apples.
We’ve heard stories involving apples; Snow White, the Garden of Eden.
After reading this book, I will be more selective in choosing my apples.

We know it’s a horror story, starting out, so that’s no surprise.
But Chuck Wendig’s poetic writing keeps it from being completely horrible.
His descriptions of indoor and outdoor settings, as well as the relationships between characters, make the places and the people all very real.

The locations and historical details taught me things about places I’ve heard of but never been to.
There’s a lot of beauty in Pennsylvania.
There was a lot of research done for this book, and it is more interesting for that.
Occasional interludes take us out of the immediate activity to understand a little more about the back-story.

As the story builds through the seasons, so does the tension.
Short chapters allow the reader to stop and breathe for a moment.
But we’re never allowed to think the worst is over.
It grows like a tree, branches reaching out and roots digging deep.
Is anyone immune to the power of the apple?
I would like to think I am.

When I was about halfway through the book, I walked into the break room at work and on the table was a bag of red apples. That was just a little creepy.

Howya Like Them Apples?

Wow! What a book! There's so much to say about it. This shocking and suspenseful story has so many twists, I'm going to take extra care not to give any spoilers. Be warned: Chuck Wendig is a trickster. He draws you in with likable underdogs and kind strangers, but then turns what you believe on its head.

In Black River Orchard, Wendig has created a number of memorable characters, but what he's done with the apple is magnificent. I once wrote a paper on the golgi apparatus for my college biology class and found a book devoted to it for a resource. My professor was surprised that someone actually wrote an entire book about it. I was similarly surprised by everything there is to know about apples. There's so much history there, and Wendig's enthusiasm and historical references add extra dimensions to his novel.

I used to go to orchards to pick apples. I'd climb up a ladder and stick my unprotected head into the enticing deep shade of an apple-laden leafy bough, sometimes snapping a stem to eat one right off the tree. I don't believe I'll ever do that again.

Thank you muchly to Mr. Wendig, Random House, Ballantine, and Del Rey Publishers, and to NetGalley for a free advance reader's copy. My opinions are my own, however, uninfluenced by any obligation to them. This is a deliciously terrifying read!

The season veteran, Chruck Wendig, is at it again. And in Black River Orchard, an apple frenzy leads to a deadly frenzy with the people who live in the town. Seven mysterious trees dangle your desires. There is hidden meaning and blatant messages, in this masterfully crafted tale. There is poetic and cinematic prose within, to knock you flat on yor backside. This is Wendig at his most daring. And you should not miss out!

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig. Although the book is long, it is fast moving and one that you can't put down. I loved the use of the apple as the source of evil and the symbolism of it. An apple orchard appears in a small town and consuming the apple makes you stronger. It brings evil into the heart of the person and soon the town is overcome.

This book was nuts! Nuts in a good way. I was so unsettled the entire time reading this book. I was also at the edge of my seat the entire time trying to figure out what would happen next to our tattered group. Initially I did not like Calla but she grew on me by the end. The ending was perfect and I loved the interludes between the chapters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read and review Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig. All opinions are my own.

I have read a couple of Wendig books in the past with Wanderers being the favorite, but Black River Orchard might just inch ahead to first place. Let's start with the fact that the amount of research this author did about the history of apples, Native Americans, the Delaware River area, and so much more is astounding. This is an epic story craftily weaved with multiple POVs and great characters (likeable and very much unlikeable). The publisher has it listed as general fiction, but for me this was straight up horror. A story of good vs. evil with apples, greedy town folk, folklore, and ancient evil at the core. Do you need to read this? A resounding, YES. Black River Orchard will come out on September 26, 2023.

I bought apples.

Seriously, this is probably the exact opposite of what you should want to do after reading the evil apple book, but thanks to Chuck Wendig, my kid and I went to the store and bought a couple different varieties of apples to try. Just…don’t be surprised if you do the same.

And, yes, I do call this the evil apple book because it totally is. It’s also utterly unique, suspenseful, horrific and completely compelling. It’s got that small town horror vibe mixed with a little history and a lot of unspeakable evil. And apples.

I loved this book and can’t wait for Wendig’s next offering!

• ARC via Publisher

Black River Orchard is a slow building horror thriller that keeps you coming back for more, even knowing where it all must inevitably lead. Mankind has long been tempted to evil by the apple, this story is no exception. It will make you look twice at those bushels of apples at your local farmer's market.

Wendig knows how to flesh out a brilliant horror story and this is no exception! Small-town folk horror at its finest. Despite being long, there was nothing that felt without purpose and it unfolded in such a tense way. The suspense was totally built up! I love how everything came together and the writing flowed so nicely. Every character felt so unique and distinct from each other. I have my favorites but I like how all the storylines came together. Totally recommend to all horror fans!

I already made myself a t-shirt that says “Chuck Wendig Ruined Apples for Me.” So, thanks for that, Wendig!

I selected "Black River Orchard" because it has been awhile since I got to read a book from Chuck Wendig so this was a real treat.

What I liked about "Black River Orchard" was the pacing. It flowed very well from page to page and person and person. Normally, I don't care for multiple point of views but in this case, it worked.

The characters were not complex, but they were still more than one-dimensional. I especially liked the young character of Calla. She acts and sounds like a teenager in that she's a mix of mature and immature that is completely with reason.

The set up of the orchard and the undercurrent of ominous is also well done. I felt the tension from the start and it never lets us right to the end.

It does get a little confusing in the 'aftermath'. That section is very short so it doesn't ruin the overall reading experience and the very end section is very good.

A solid 4-star for me and a reminder that I need to get more Chuck Wendig books on my list to read.

Let's talk about apples! Granny Smith, , Red Delicious, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Gala....need I say more. So many apples! Yes, I'm never eating apples again after reading this novel.

This was such a unique premise. Do you remember hearing an "apple a day will keep the Dr. away"? Well this then is your cup of tea(maybe without apple flavoring)!

Wendig has found a way to make the apple part of a horror novel!

So long story short without giving too much away: Dan is trying to make a living being a farmer in PA and has found this apple that just is super yummy. He grows a bunch and takes it to the local Farmer's Market, and it is a hit! Everyone wants some and would just die to have more.

This is where things get weird. What is in the apple? Why are people just devouring them? There is history to said Apple and I loved how the author delved into it with all the different POV's. I wanted more of that history it was super intriguing

I loved this book almost until half way through, the premise was so original and the characters were super developed. However, I felt half way though it lost it's steam, but it certainly picked it up on the last third! The first third was soooo good! So unique! And did I say I loved the characters in it! This is super reminiscent of good vs evil and the ending tied it all up so well

PS there is a cat! Loved the tie

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This one gave me the same vibe that The Ocean at the End of the Lane did. Very similar in voice and tone. There were some political pot shots, but they were limited to a single character. That led me to believe that was the character’s perspective, not necessarily the author’s perspective. I generally dislike this, but it was interesting to see it limited to a single character’s POV as opposed to throughout everyone in the book, like I usually see. All in all, this was an incredibly well written story. Wendig’s writing has an almost lyrical quality without being purple prose. His character’s are fleshed out as much as they can be. And speaking of characters, Joanie was the best out of all of them. I have a habit of latching onto a side character, and Joanie was that character. She was amazing. Tough, gave no f*cks, and was just unabashedly her. The story is set up nicely for a sequel, however I think it would also lend to the horror genre by leaving the ending there, making us question whether or not the Apple will return.

Huge thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!