An apple was blamed for Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden. So are apples inherently evil? It sure seems that way in this new horror story from Chuck Wendig. Dan Paxson is excited to have gotten scions from a rare apple tree to create an orchard--his dream and his father's before him. Maybe now he can restore honor to the family name. It takes five years but finally the first harvest is ready. The apple his daughter names the Ruby Slipper (There's no place like home!) is a huge hit. People cannot get enough of them, almost like they are addicted. But a few holdouts sense evil lurking there...

Building horror make this a perfect read for the fall season. Truly creepy and pretty gory at a times. Good character development makes you love to hate the evil guys and root for the resistance on the edge of your seat. My favorite was John Compass, the ex-army sniper turned Quaker pacifist. I loved his courage and loyalty to his friends.

I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve said this before, horror books don’t scare me anymore. So a book has to have a really good story and keep you on the edge of your seat. This is one of those books. A good story that keeps you reading. It didn’t feel like it was 500+ pages either. I liked the premise (apple orchard, small town, all hell breaks loose). I thought it was original (and educational) and creepy with some humor thrown in. Definitely a must read.

Thanks NetGalley for the Arc!

First, I'm currently sleep deprived because I couldn't put the book down towards the last 90%.
The first 50%? Almost abandoned the book.

The "introductory stage" where we meet all the characters dragged on too much for my liking. Ya know the type of book where it's fine reading, but then you put it down for, ya know- life? Then when your options are tiktok or tv or reading.... this book did not beat out the former two. Most of the relationships fell flat which could have caused my boredom in the first half. I just didn't feel any feely-vibes between any of them (apart from Joanie and Graham). The book just felt so blah in the beginning, but I have enjoyed the authors' other books so kept going.

I did find the idea fascinating. I enjoyed the main characters development (Dan Paxson) especially in his daughter's POV and wish that would have gone deeper. Heck I could have gotten rid of like five characters just to get down deep in this guy's desperation.

A crackling story filled with engaging characters and of course magic apples. There are many elements to this book that you will love and hate, but the author blends them all together for one blasting story.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion

I’m a huge fan of Chuck Wendig. His novel Wanderers is one of my top favorite books. His The Book of Accidents scared the bejeezes out of me. Invasive had me seeing killer ants everywhere.

But folks, Chuck surpassed himself with Black River Orchard. I will never be able to eat another red apple again. Maybe no other apples. Or if I do, it may not be for some time.

Chuck Wendig is bats**t crazy! This book is bonkers!! He even explains in his author note that he knows he’s weird and that this book is weird.

And I couldn’t turn away. I admit I read most of this in the daylight. I knew going in that this book was Horror with a capital H. I didn’t realize how much. For the first third of the book, I thought, oh this isn’t so bad. I can handle this. The last third had me putting my kindle down to slow my heart down. I felt like I needed to hide my eyes behind my fingers like you would in a scary movie. (Doesn’t work that way in books, does it?!)

In a small town there is a new orchard with seven apple trees that produces the most luscious deep dark red apples that the townsfolk can’t get enough of. And then everything changes.

I don’t want to go into any other details without giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say…. If you read only one scary book for the Halloween season, it needs to be Black River Orchard.

*Thanks so much to Del Rey Books and to NetGalley for the gifted advance eGalley!*

I am kicking myself for not reading Wendig before now. This is a cleverly crafted horror novel about what happens what some apples go bad - love the metaphor here, too. This book has so many layers and unique characters. Some I loved and rooted for, while others I loved to hate. I don’t want to say much about the plot because I think mystery should unfold while reading, but I think it had lots of details and made this an easily believable horror world. There weren’t any plot holes or missing details that made me feel lost. Instead, I was gripped for all 500+ pages of this novel. Can’t wait to tackle his backlist some day.

Black River Orchard is horror story that will make you both love and fear something you would never expect: apples. It's a wild ride from start to finish that is sure to keep you turning the page as if your life depends on it. Chuck Wendig has a very specific style to his horror books, and if you like his style, then you will certainly have a fantastic time Black River Orchard.

Black River Orchard is basically about a town where some apple trees start bearing magic apples that people eat, become addicted to, and weird shit starts happening. That's honestly all you really need to know going into this book. Also, you will learn a lot about apples, probably more than you really need to know, but honestly I enjoy having this excessive apple knowledge at this point. I also want to go try a lot of apples now. Anyway, let's get to the review!

We largely follow Dan, developer of the problematic magic apples, and his daughter, Calla, who consistently puts up with her dad's apple obsession. We also meet some additional POV characters, such as: Meg and Emily, a married couple who recently moved to town; Graham and Joanie, another married couple that live in town, though they actually rent their house out fairly often and also live in a nearby city; and lastly, a man named John Compass who ends up having quite a history that ties in well with other events in the town. It's a pretty large cast, as most of Wendig's novels tend to be, and we spend plenty of time getting to know all of them. A cast this large can often feel overwhelming and hard to keep track of, but Wendig works his magic and somehow creates individual, unique characters with distinct storylines and personalities that makes it easy to follow along.

When Dan's magic apples start making the rounds, people in town start losing their minds a bit (and by "a bit," I mean absolutely, completely going crazy). Calla is one of the few who hasn't eaten an apple and it stuck trying to figure out what is going on, as well as how to stop it. This is a pretty intense story at times, and there's plenty of gore and gross things that happen along the way as people become more and more addicted to the apples, which leads to a culmination of events that are difficult to comprehend. In addition to the present day apple issues, there are additional layers to this story including past events that combine John Compass' storyline with the present. Everything happening in this town has a long history that goes back to intertwine with the indigenous Lenape peoples that previously lived on the land, and I really love how Wendig managed to tie all of this together.

Wendig has a very verbose style of writing and pacing that really takes its time to set up the story, allow characters to develop, and build tension, which all works really well creating a slow burned and complex horror story that never leaves a moment for boredom. I love how much time and effort Wendig puts into developing his characters, as well as how much detail is put into developing history and background for both them and the setting. There's an ever-present creepiness that permeates the entire atmosphere of the story and really leaves the feeling of not knowing what to expect.

Black River Orchard is a very "on brand" story for Wendig when compared to his other work, and while part of me really loves that, I also somehow felt as though I'd read this book before or parts of it just felt very familiar. I always have a great time with the crazy stories that Wendig takes us on, but I find I really have to be in the mood for a lot of side journeys and what feels like a bit of rambling at times (it's not actually rambling because everything plays into the plot, but it just feels like a lot of digressions) in order to fully appreciate his work. If you've read Wendig before and know whether you like his style or not then you'll probably have a good idea if this book will work for you or not.

If you like a slow burn horror that unleashes creepiness at every corner and has a constant sense of unease, then Black River Orchard is the perfect fit. For me, it didn't end up clicking as much as some of his other books, but I still had a great time with it and will certainly be giving all of my apples a suspicious glance before I eat them now...

*I received a copy of Black River Orchard courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Do you like apples? Do you have a favorite variety? Granny Smith? Gala? Honey Crisp? Braeburn? In Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig he gives us a wicked tale of one certain apple.

"Dan Paxson has never felt like much. But now he has his own orchard of special apples. Apples that make him feel stronger and powerful. People are begging for his apples. But there's always a price..."

Wendig takes a common fruit - the apple - and makes you afraid of it. At least the one that Dan Paxson grows - the Ruby Red Slipper. The craziness begins slowly but crests in a wild ending. The book is long but the chapters are short. Lots of characters but Wendig makes it easy to keep up. Lomg wrapup at the end which is unusual but nice to see where certain characters landed.

Some interesting notes from the author in the acknowledgements. Horror fans will love this one. Wild story from Wendig.

Dan Paxson’s apples are like nothing else the folks of his home town have ever seen.

His daughter Calla dubs them “Ruby Slipper” apples, because they make you feel like there’s no place like home. Or so most of the other folks around Bucks County, Pennsylvania say. Calla wouldn’t know. She hasn’t tried one, but damn near everyone else has. Free samples at the farmer’s market will get folks’ attention, after all. Dan says that he developed them himself, grown from scionwood grafted onto existing trees.

Maybe they’re a miracle. Maybe they’re something else. You see, no one in town really knows why the judge decided to change an old ruling and cede the land the orchard occupies back to Dan. No one alive, anyway. Still, the orchard that had been his father’s dream is now his reality. Calla isn’t a fan of apples, preferring to focus on her boyfriend Marco, his track career, their upcoming application to Princeton, and life anywhere outside of Bucks County. Still, if her dad’s weird hobby turns out to drive her social media follower numbers up, so be it. She’s a born influencer, after all.

The discovery of a corpse downstream from the Paxson’s orchard stirs things up, though. There’s a mystery lurking in Bucks County, and Calla is starting to get nervous. Could her dad be responsible for the man’s death? Who would kill someone over an apple tree? Why is her dad not sleeping? Why is everyone in town suddenly so addicted to the Ruby Slipper? Calla is having a difficult time knowing who to trust anymore.

There’s an evil lurking in Bucks County, and it may have just found a new outlet.

Chuck Wendig has knocked it out of the park with Black River Orchard. He’s had a knack for horror writing for years, as evidenced by the runaway success of Wanderers back in 2019. His latest book showcases his own love of heirloom apples and a frightening amount of research into the process of cultivating new varieties, as well as a deep understanding of the sheer horror potential of a rural area. I absolutely loved this book, and I hope you do too.

I don’t know that I can eat another apple any time soon, though.

Black River Orchard is available to purchase as of today, 9/26/23. My utmost thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for a fair review.

This review originally appeared here: https://swordsoftheancients.com/2023/09/26/black-river-orchard-a-review/

I love Chuck Wendig! I don’t think that I’ve read any of his work and not rated it 5 stars. Black River Orchard is another chunky, slow building story but there is so much going, that you never find yourself bored.

Dan Paxton is struggling to make his late father’s dream of owning a successful orchard reality, until he finds *the* apple tree needed to graft and produce in his orchard. The result is a beautiful, nearly black apple that tastes incredible. He takes his bounty to the local farmers market to sell to the town of Harrow. All it takes is one bite and you’re addicted. Not only does it taste delectable, but it has healing properties unlike anything you’ve ever seen - your vision increases, you become more youthful, you’re stronger, faster, those aches and pains in your back and joints? GONE. Nearly everyone wants them and they’re soon treating Dan differently. He used to be looked down upon, treated shitty, ignored, but now he’s being inducted into a secret club, being treated as one of the elite. The apple trees have transformed his life, there’s no doubt they’re different than any other apple before, they even produce in the off season! Dan finds not only is he physically changing but he’s also climbing to the top of the social tower in his community, leading his little cult of apple eaters and searching out those who don’t eat the apple, including his very own daughter Calla. The repercussions for refusing the apple are grave. That sweet little old lady you see in church, your neighbor, grocery store cashier and mail man… they’ve all become harmful, hostile monsters and they’re looking to expand their orchard and take over the world.

Aside from Dan’s POV, we have several non-apple eaters who are trying to stop Dan and his evil apple: John, an apple hunter who’s best friend and fellow apple hunter Walter went missing, Calla, Meg, a new town resident and Joanie, who’s moved back to the area with her husband. I enjoyed everyone’s POVs and didn’t find myself disinterested at any time during the book. As always, Wendig’s work is written in a way that makes me want more despite the fact that it’s usually a big ass book, because it’s just so good! On a side note, I never thought I would learn so much about apples 🤣

TLDR: I loved it, you’ll love it… read the damn book!

Black River Orchard is available today. A big thank you to Del Rey for sending me my finished copy along with several apple-y goodies! 🖤🍎

Chuck Wendig is an author that I will read anything he writes. Black River Orchard did not disappoint! It is a perfect fall/Halloween season book. You will never look or think about an apple tree/apples in the same way. It is also a hefty read coming in at close to 550 pages. It is not a book that I will soon forget.

I felt the characters were well developed. I liked the people we are supposed to like and the enemies are easy to dislike. The characters hit many diversity groups. The book also covers many current society issues. I did appreciate that the book did not get into the authors personal political views. I will knock off a star or two if a book gets to pushing political views, left or right.

I would highly recommend buying Black River Orchard! Mr. Wendig is a masterful storyteller. It is a long book but it moved along well.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of Black River Orchard. #NetGalley #ChuckWendig #BlackRiverOrchard

Wendig immerses us in the world of Dan Paxson, an ambitious farmer who hopes the rare apple he introduces will be the key to the fortune his father always wanted. What follows is a nightmarish descent into the madness and evil of desperate desire. Dan's daughter Calla bands with others to fight for their lives. The book is a page-turner with engaging characters and dialogue and a nagging sense of foreboding.

I love Chuck Wendig and this was no different! It was dark, unique and thrilling. I loved the characters and all the literary elements. Definitely a well written fall story!

You'll never look at an apple the same way again. Black River Orchard gives you a glimpse of the chaos that must live inside Chuck Wendig's brain, in the very best way.

In the small town named Harrow, a dead-broke, down on his luck orchard owner gets much more than he bargained for with his new crop of apples. The apples themselves are a huge hit with customers; as soon as they finish one, they immediately crave another. Plus, consuming the apples has other benefits, besides the taste. Townsfolk who eat them are suddenly finding themselves changing, and all their small imperfections disappearing. But something more than tree roots lies in the soil of the orchard, and it hungers for more.

I adored this book. I know it might seem long, but the chapters are short and the pages fly by. There's some allegory in the story, and some very smart observations, but above all else, Black River Orchard is unsettling. Put this book on your Spooky Season TBR, immediately! Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey Books for the chance to review this advance copy. Black River Orchard is available for purchase everywhere you buy books now!

I love reading his books! He never disappoints and his latest horror story is truly a freaking masterpiece.
Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

Wendig has crafted such a dark and creepy tale.

The writing is excellent- no surprise there- and there is a great mix of character development and plot.
His writing style is so different and brilliant. In such a way that works magic!
The writing style is incredibly unique! And I freaking love it.
If you are true fan of the horror genre, this book is an outstanding gift to the literature world.

Black River Orchard is creative. It’s unputdownable. And it’s damn good!
This book is magnificent and if you’re a fan of his previous titles you’ll love his newest.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine & Del Rey for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I’ve never been so glad to be one of those people who really only likes apples in baked goods. Really.

I’ve also never had an opportunity to flex my geography degree in regards to Quakers, Pennsylvania, and the apple (yes, geography has a ton to do with the apple–geography has a ton to do with everything) while reading a book so much before.

This book was fabulous. Absolutely, positively, fan-flipping fantastic. Did I have moments when I thought the characters were dumb? Yes. Did I find some parts predictable? Sure. Do I care? Not one bit. This is horror on some kind of quasi-epic scale, because even though the meat of this book doesn’t take place over longer than maybe a traditional school year, the story itself is epic in scale, owing to how far back in time it truly stretches and how pervasive the horror truly is.

If you’re looking for a book that feels like autumn, this book fits the bill: Trees, rushing river, crisp air, leaves falling and gathering on the ground waiting to be blown away into large piles, apples ripe and round on their branches, flies glutting themselves on the last of the rotting summer berries, that feeling of susurration and suspension when the earth is settling down before it goes dormant for winter.

Writing about apples somehow always becomes a partially sensual and sinful endeavor. Wendig writes evocatively when people take bites out of the apples, making sure we know exactly how the juice gushes out, how it runs down their chins, their arms, sometimes further down. How it glistens and coats their skin. He writes about how exactly they take their bite, sometimes revealing their sin: an angry bite, a greedy bite, a lusty bite, etcetera. Not only are these apples cursed with the gift of a certain type of knowledge, but they are sin incarnate, revealing the hidden monsters inside all those who partake.

The characters are so explosively unique and wonderful on both sides of the story. It’s definitely never a story where you want to root for the bad guy or anything, but the antagonists in this book are more than what they seem, and the evil stretches.

I loved the ongoing themes of sin, white supremacy, misogyny, right-wing conservatism, conservation, colonialism, and fallen idols. It’s just a fantastic book and I can’t say anymore or I’ll start spoiling things. I just recommend you give it a try!

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Body Horror/Cult Horror/Folk Horror/Historical Fiction/Horror/Occult Fiction/Occult Horror/Psychological Thriller

I really liked the premise of this book. The orchard is super creepy, and the vibes are dark and disturbing. Especially once the people chowing down on those apples begin to act strange. However, the book felt way too long for me, and while I liked most of the characters we follow, especially Calla, I didn't care if any, with the exception of one of the apple eaters, survived.

Once we get closer to the end and stuff really starts to hit the fan with the apple-eating peoples things really start to take off and get weird in the best way. This book gave all the perfect vibes for the upcoming spooky season, and I will definitely be taking a second look at any apple orchards I happen to visit or drive by.. and since I live in Michigan where there are quite a few, I'll be doing that a lot!

Genre: Horror
Length: 544 pages
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Read If You: liked Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, are looking for a scary book this spooky szn

Wait, what even was that?!?! What a wild ride. “Black River Orchard” is absolutely unhinged, batshit, and scary. An evil orchard and an addictive apple. Buckle up, my friends.

If you like Stephen King, I think you’ll enjoy this book. The town, Harrow, reminded me a bit of “Salem’s Lot” and how the city itself became its own character. Chuck Wendig told the story through various perspectives (like King) including from the POV of a farm cat. The alternating points of view build the general feeling of unease as more townsfolk become obsessed with the apple.

There were so many elements in this story that made it scary. Wendig would insert the character’s intrusive thoughts in the middle of a sentence. This reminded me of “The Shining”! It was creepy and created even more anxiety.

I really, really liked this book! I read Wendig’s “The Book of Accidents” a couple of years ago but I think I like his latest even more. I know I’ve drawn some similarities between Black River Orchard and some of Stephen King’s works but I think Chuck Wendig stands on his own. Is he the new king of horror? I think it’s definitely possible!

As much as I enjoyed the book, I don’t think it’s for everyone! “Black River Orchard” is super dark and gory at times. Wendig inserts humor throughout the book to help cut the tension a bit. If you like to be scared- this one is for you! I promise you’ll hesitate to pick up the next apple you see.

Black River Orchard is out today (9/26)!! Thank you @netgalley and @delreybooks for the ARC. Can’t wait to read more from Chuck Wendig!

When choosing my next read the first thing I note is the author. When I see Chuck Wendig's name on a title, I expect an outstanding horror story that will raise many, many questions at the end. With BLACK RIVER ORCHARD, I got that and so much more. The town of Harrow, with all of it's twisted history, is a major character in the story. How a man with the best intentions, will grow an apple orchard in this corrupted/ contaminated soil and the fruit will lead Harrow's residents to discover the worst of themselves. I've seen many readers compare BRO to several of Stephen King's titles and I'd agree, but Wendig is no slouch at writing himself. He can definitely hit all the same "feels" as King and bring readers to a conclusion that they may not be exactly comfortable with. The book may seem long at 544 pages, but you really need this to get the full experience. Just be sure to give yourself plenty of reading time when you start.

This book is another very large one by this author. He write beautifully but sometimes it's just too much. I don't even know how to describe this book at all.