Who knew a horror book centered around an apple could be so good! I loved this one.

Dan wants to fulfill his father's dream of having an orchard. The apple growing in his orchard, though, is a variety that's been unseen for years and has sinister side effects when eaten.

This book really surprised me with the depth of the characters, the social commentary, and the creepy vibes throughout.

Apples now scare me. I’d say that’s a win for the author! I’m surprised this isn’t getting more buzz. Thought it was really well
Done! Creepy, and kept me wanting more!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book I heard lots of my book friends talking about...something strange is happening in the town of Harrow. The trees are not only changing leaves but their apples are having magical powers. When people bite into them, they get more powerful and can't stop eating the apples. Then things really get dark...I should have read this book in the fall when I first got it, the timing would have been better but this was a scary and imaginative book unlike any Ive ever read. Its very dark and twisted and I was speechless but I also loved that about it!

I’m giving up. I want so badly to like Chuck Wendig’s books. He seems like such a fun person and he makes stories sound so fun. But every time I try to read them, I just can’t seem to get into them.

I doubt I will ever look at apples the same way again. Holy smokes this was incredible. I cannot wait to get into more of his books!

Unique, fresh horror, as only Chuck Wendig can dish out. I've will never look at apples in the same light and will forever read anything he writes.

This was great,

I can't believe how many feelings this book made me have, I kept thinking and feeling such contradictory things, my opinions kept changing, I switched sides multiple times, it was such a fun read. I was sp heavily invested, I read thru this in two sittings it was absolutely absorbing unputdownable.

The subject matter was so unique, and that's not easy to do in a world full of unoriginality, where everything is only bits and pieces of other things that are also bits and pieces of other things, and I'm sure this is no different, but at least it's something that I've never come across, and I've read a lot of books.

I don't consider myself someone that loves horror but I find myself reading a lot of it between T.Kingfisher, Grady Hendrix, and Stephen King, it's books like these that are the reason I keep turning back to them.

This was the kind of horror that works for true horror lovers, and the casual horror reader alike. There is depth and intense characterization and the best kind of suspense, and none of those things came at the cost of the writing. Wendig could write a lot of Booker winners under the table. A strong solid 5 stars, this book alone is enough to make Wendig a must read author for me,

Black River Orchard: Where Delicious Terror Takes Root

Chuck Wendig's Black River Orchard isn't just a horror novel; it's a creeping vine of dread that slowly wraps around your mind and squeezes the life out of complacency. Set against the backdrop of the idyllic yet troubled town of Harrow, Pennsylvania, the story unfolds like a slow-burning nightmare, drawing you deeper into its web with each page.

A Forbidden Feast for the Senses

The catalyst for Harrow's descent into madness is the arrival of seven strange trees in the abandoned Paxson orchard. These aren't your average apple trees; they bear fruit of an intoxicating crimson, promising an otherworldly taste that's both addictive and deadly. As the townsfolk succumb to the fruit's allure, their darkest desires and primal instincts come to the fore, painting a grotesque portrait of human nature's corruptibility.

Wendig's masterful storytelling shines in his vivid descriptions. He crafts a sensory feast of both beauty and horror, making the orchard feel like a living entity with a malevolent hunger. The scent of the forbidden apples, the chilling whispers in the wind, the grotesque mutations inflicted by the fruit – all these elements combine to create a truly immersive and unsettling atmosphere.

Characters You Can't Help But Love (and Fear)

Black River Orchard isn't just about the creeping horror; it's also about the flawed and desperate individuals caught in its grip. We have the struggling single father, Dan Paxson, haunted by the ghosts of his past and torn between protecting his daughter and succumbing to the orchard's dark temptations. Then there's the enigmatic Edward Naberius, a figure shrouded in mystery who seems to hold the key to both the orchard's origins and its potential undoing.

Each character, from the naive teenagers to the grizzled town elders, is meticulously crafted, their motivations and fears laid bare with brutal honesty. You find yourself rooting for them, even as they make questionable choices, because their desperation feels all too real.

A Harvest of Unnerving Truths

Black River Orchard is more than just a chilling tale of supernatural terror. It's a scathing commentary on human nature, our insatiable desire for pleasure and power, and the lengths we'll go to for survival. It delves into themes of addiction, family dysfunction, and the struggle between good and evil, leaving you with a lingering sense of unease long after you've finished the last page.

A Must-Read for Horror Aficionados and Beyond

If you're looking for a horror novel that will stay with you long after the final scream, Black River Orchard is a must-read. It's a masterclass in suspense, character development, and world-building, guaranteed to send shivers down your spine and leave you questioning the darkness that lurks within both the orchard and ourselves.

Chuck Wendig does it again. He has rapidly become one of my must-read authors, and Black Orchard just continues a long line of great horror reads. Heirloom apples, folk horror and biting social commentary. What more could you want from a book?

Loved this book but probably won't be eating any apples any time soon! This is one of my favorite authors and this book is one of the reasons why! A cult built around apples with a lot of crazy towns people! I would highly recommend this book!

Chuck Wendig is a force, and I'm terribly grateful that he has moved further into the horror genre. His stories are always entertaining, quick, and fun.

This was such a fun time! A horror novel set in a small town with evil apples. It felt original. I loved the small town aspect and it reminded me a lot of a Stephen King novel. Dan does not have it easy and he is determined to show others who he can really be. There are some interesting characters in this town, and they are not always kind. A fun, enjoyable read that is great for Autumn and Halloween time!

A decadent, dreadful decent into an archaic evil that's as addictive as it is fruitful. Dan unwittingly unleashes this darkness upon almost everyone around him, planting seeds of pure hellishness along the way as he tries to get his family orchard off the ground. Each and every character has such an emersive storyline that you can't help but be chewed up and swallowed like the apples in the book. Crisp, cold, and undoubtedly one of the best horror books of 2023. Wendig knows how to spin a tale that is so good it will become an instant classic.

I requested this one because Jordysbookclub loved it, so I had to read it for myself. I can honestly say I will never look at apples the same ever again.

This is a fantastic horror novel from one of the contemporary masters of the genre.

Chuck Wendig is known for his interest in apples, and yet by the end of this book I had pretty much no desire to eat another apple ever again in my life.

The narrative moves back forth between an old secret society, a present day apple farmer looking to move up on the social ladder, and how his dark bargain will come to change his town and the unsuspecting people who live there.

Horror elements aside, the novel is a great read for its ideas about small towns and their social structures, the things that people are willing to do to try and change their social status, and how some secrets should stay buried.

3.5 stars!!!

I've read a few Chuck Wendig books and I always have the same complaint, they're all too long. It didn't negatively impact my enjoyment as much as it has in the past but I did reach a point were I was like "what? There's still 200 pages left?" The concept of this story was very interesting, a "magical" apple that lowkey brainwashes people? Shortly after finishing this post I saw a post about a fake apple that only grows in this one specific place that apparently is the most delicious apple in the world and my first thought was "DON'T EAT THAT" and I thought that was a lot of fun. This book has overtaken my brain and I can't stop thinking about it, but at the same time it's not all good things. I didn't enjoy a majority of the POVs that you follow and thought most of the characters were annoying. Overall though, I had a fun time reading this and read it a lot quicker than I thought it would. Despite thinking his books are too long, I would be interested in reading more by this author. I think he does a good job flushing out the world, and in this case, the magic, and the overall plots are very interesting and like nothing I've read before.

Chuck Wendig is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror authors. And. Black River Orchard is perhaps one of his best. His complex eerie story. This book was both horrific and emotionally. Devastating in all the best ways. The fairytale elements within the horror worked well.

I may never eat another apple but what a book! It is dark and twisted and I could not stop reading. I enjoy this author and the way he lays out characters separately before the plots come together. Off-putting with a touch of gruesome.

3.5 stars, rounded up 4. This was a decently good book, but it was WAY too long. Some of the chapters, or sections I should say, could have been lifted out. I did love all the descriptions of apples and biting into them and stuff.

I love Chuck so much. This book was dark, weird and everything you could expect from Wendig, Not sure if I will eat an apple the same way ever again. I loved the characters. The dread. Some extremely messed up parts that had my saying, "oh heck naw" multiple times. This book is a must read for any horror fan!