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 There's so much history there, and Wendig's enthusiasm and historical references add extra dimensions to his novel.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

Like a hot apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this novel was delicious with every bite. Wendig strikes gold on everything he writes and this beauty is no exception!

In a town that seems normal, something sinisterly sweet and delicious blossoms, threatening to reign hell upon the unsuspecting citizens.

Wendig, in a Stephen King esque style, beautifully weaves a narrative of not just horror but the beauty of relationships found within that horror. Never in my reading life did I ever think I would read a horror novel based around apples but as usual, Wendig pulls it off and I ate it up piece by juicy piece.

Black River Orchard should land on everyone’s TBR list for it will be the perfect read to usher in the fall, when apples are at their best.

I give this novel 🍎🍏🍎🍏🍎/5

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!

In the small town of Harrow something evil is growing…seven apple trees that display unusual growth and produce an irresistible fruit. There is a mystery behind how Dan Paxton came across these special apple trees. Despite his daughter Calla’s reservations about a successful orchard, surprisingly it all seems to be working out. When Calla notices her dad and everyone else who eats the apples changing she can no longer ignore the warning signs…something is terribly wrong with the apples. For most, the taste of the apple makes you crave another and another until you see the “truth” and begin changing into something “better” and more powerful. As with every gift there comes a price…and Calla will need all the help she can get to stop the evil from spreading.

Black River Orchard is another fun horror novel from one of my favorite authors Chuck Wendig. As with many of his novels, there is a unique cast of characters which form a sort of good vs evil situation. I think this would be the perfect novel to read in Fall not only because of the season and the apples but also the introduction of some very creepy harvest monsters. There was also a fun nod to his Wanderer’s series, for those who have read it, that I thought was a nice touch. Although this novel takes place in the same “universe” as Wanderers it’s not necessary to have read that series…that being said if you have read it then you are already prepared for the graphic nature of these books…if not, this is your warning. My favorite character was John Compass and I would love to see him brought back in a future story even if it’s just as a cameo. A frightening tale of evil, greed, and power…I may never eat an apple again.

There's been a lot of discourse about "the next Stephen King" and whenever I read a Chuck Wendig novel, I think: this is it, he's the one.

Black River Orchard is a novel about family, generational trauma, colonialism, the seductiveness of 'becoming better', and, perhaps most importantly: apples.

First off: for the most part, this was the aesthetic autumnal book of my D R E A M S.

The foundational story here is incredible - a man, whose suicide attempt is averted via the delivery of paperwork giving him ownership of familial land that was stolen from him by a mysterious man in white, simply wants to realize his father's dream of building an orchard. And build that orchard, he does, taking scionwood from a mysterious tree that he goes hunting for in the middle of the night and fostering those trees until they start to produce fat apples, so blood red they're almost black. His daughter? She names them the Ruby Slipper (tastes like home, but we're soon going to find out we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto).

The apples act like a 5-hour energy drink - one bite makes people feel more vital and alive. But one bite also addicts them and soon people are buying apples by the tens, by the bushel. And the more they eat, the more the people of Harrow become a little left of center.

This story follows several people - Dan (he owns the orchard), Dan's daughter Calla, Joanie (Dan's old flame from high school), Emily (new to town and her wife's been eating apples), and John (a man leading a life of peace after a prolific career as a military sniper, now dedicating his life to the search for an ancient Lenape apple and a friend that's disappeared).

We see how the apple impacts Dan, enshrining himself in power through a secret, uppercrust society in his town called the Crossed Keys that his father had always wished he'd been a part of. Calla, who just wants to go to Princeton, but sees her formerly dorky dad turn into someone cruel. Joanie, dealing with a shitty judgmental neighbor. Emily, watching her wife descend into madness for the apple. And John, discovering that his friend has died and trying to understand how it happened.

The bones of this story were fantastic - it felt folkloric, really. A cautionary tale that reminds you if it's too good to be true, then it probably is. A reminder than people, at their foundational levels, aren't always good and the seduction of want will make them change into people you can't recognize.

Critically? Chuck's a very political guy and I agree with all his politics. There were a LOT of things in here - little dabbled commentary about his political leanings. I didn't have a problem with them, but I did feel like they were going to wrap up in a tidier overarching message. That didn't happen here, so they felt... perhaps a little out of context? I think they could have easily wrapped up into an overarching message since the antagonists here are people that take and think for themselves, but maybe the intent was for the reader to make that connection. Not sure. It did feel disjointed, though.

There was a LOT of gratuitous animal violence. Animal violence feels like such an unnecessary part of the horror genre. I hate it.

Finally, I think... sometimes his writing didn't work for me because it became unnecessarily sexual at times and that made me uncomfortable. It's a shame, really, because I think without those three minor details (which are purely stylistic writing choices) I think this book could have been a five star.

Most importantly, though: I was disappointed I didn't get a Halloween scene, but there was a cameo from the 12 foot skeleton from Home Depot and that's what matters the most.

Chuck Wendig, in his acknowledgements, recognizes that writers are weird, and they write weird stories. This was extraordinarily true in his newest book, Black River Orchard. The orchard at the center of the story is what the evil apple trees should have been like in The Wizard of Oz- except it would have turned a beloved classic into a gruesome nightmare inducing tale, unsuitable for children....and possibly most adults.

I don't want to give away many details because it is best if you go in not knowing much. In a nutshell, Dan, a farmer is a man who feels his father was never given what was rightfully his, and he is bound and determined to bring success to the family and leave a lasting legacy for his father. When he finds the apple tree his father had searched for, he starts an orchard that is successful beyond his wildest dreams. The apples it produces, not only are they delicious, but they are life changing. Life altering even. But it comes with a price.

The apples turn you into the best version of yourself. Or the most true version of yourself. And for some, the truth of who they are might be best left undiscovered.

As the orchard turns a town into a community unrecognizable, a select few are left to find a way to release the apples hold on their family, friends, and themselves.

Don't think a story about an apple orchard can be a gruesome horror tale? You're wrong. You'll never look at an apple the same again.

ALL the stars. Chuck Wendig has cemented himself as one of my favorite horror writers.

I usually enjoy CW books immensely. Loved the premise but it didn't work gor me, maybe too many characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Chuck Wendig quickly became one of my favorite authors after reading Wanderers, and its sequel, Wayward.

I received this book as a pre-release preview and I have to admit, I was skeptical that a book about an apple orchard would be captivating.

Boy was I wrong. This book includes some of the most macabre, horrific, effed up scenes and imagery in any book I've read, and I absolutely loved it. A story about an apple that is almost narcotic in nature went from a tale of a creepy cult to a tale of twisted horror and an absolute mind-f*** of an adventure. The last time something messed with my head this much was the movie Event Horizon. Yeah, it's been that long!

If you're into horror, I recommend picking this book up when it releases.

4 stars. I think this is my new favorite by Wendig. I loved the small town feel, I loved all the research that went into the apples, some of the history and legends surrounding lost apples... I don't even like apples, but it all sucked me right in.

In the small town of Harrow, Dan Paxson has recently won back land his father once lost to the town. He has been working to harvest a new kind of apple that will redeem his family's name and legend. What results is the Ruby Slipper apple. Just one bite is addicting. The apple has the power to make you your best self, or so it seems.

I loved the setup and the slow burn feel. It moves quickly despite it's length. The atmosphere is 10/10. A perfect fall/Halloween read.

I thought the characters were well done - I particularly adored John's point of view. I thought he made such an interesting character with the dichotomy presented by his military past and his pacificist present, and how he navigates that in a town full of evil. (He's also the most knowledgeable character on the subject of apples so when he brings out his apple hunting stories and legends I just loved those parts). There's very diverse representation throughout the story. I appreciate Dan Paxson's arc also - I can't say why because it's a spoiler, but it's unexpected.

I also thought the horror was well done. If you like plant horror - this is a good one to check out! It doesn't come in until the latter half of the book, but some of it was genuinely creepy.

I can't put my finger on why this wasn't quite a five star read. I have no real critiques, except that I maybe wanted a little more from it in the end? This is a story of good vs evil, and I had a similar complaint about SK's The Stand where the evil felt maybe a little mindless.

Overall - an excellent read. This will probably end up being a day one buy for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse for the egalley they provided for review purposes.

Apples seeded by a demon intent on destroying the world grow on and in human flesh and make the eaters evil. The demon part was a little too light, hence the need for a explaining section at the end; the history bits were good framing; the horror is pretty horrifying; the nods and shout-outs to actual people, various inspirations, and such were not too annoying; and the pacing was slow.