Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine as well as the author for this ARC. I’m happy to provide my honest and unbiased opinion.
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Author: Chuck Wendig
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine
Publication Date: September 26, 2023
Trigger Warnings: Graphic violence, cult mentality
This book is about an evil apple variety. Enough said. Honestly, I feel like saying too much more will damage the nuances that are so delicious in this book. This is the second book by this author that I’ve read and I was, once again, blown away. Chuck Wendig is a unique voice in horror. He’s a master of pacing so, even though this book is thick, it won’t feel like it’s long. This is one of my favorite things about reading Wendig’s books. I’ve seen a few comparisons of Chuck Wendig’s work to Stephen King’s work. I can see how some readers can make this comparison as Wendig and King both have a tendency to write hefty tomes that deal with a wide variety of themes presented in unique ways. I think their writing styles have some similarities but very different voices. They’re both on my autobuy list from this point on. Would I call Wendig the new King? No. That would be unfair to both. This particular book, however, did call up King more than the other book I read, which was ‘The Book of Accidents”. It evokes the small town and coming of age horror that many of us love so much in King’s work.
Wendig has created a cast of characters that we love and hate. He has given us several different subplots to latch onto when we need them. Each storyline is cathartic and feeds the beast. This book is suffused with religious overtones and cult horror. Even though the idea of an apple can sound a bit silly at first glance, Wendig plants a tale ripe with a cult mentality as well as mob mentality.
Go into this book knowing as little as possible. It would be very easy to spoil this by reading early reviews. Don’t. This book is amazing and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Who knew 500+ pages of evil apples in a small town could be so disturbing, disgusting and downright ass-kicking? 😂 This was a blast!

In the small town of Harrow there is a tiny orchard, the owner of which is down on his luck. One day he discovers a different type of apple and takes a bit from this different tree. It's grafted, planted and before you know it, there is an orchard full of of....strange apples. Apples that make people feel great. Apples that reverse aging, improve eyesight and put arthritis in its place. The town cannot get enough of these apples and BLACK RIVER ORCHARD goes on to tell us why. Don't YOU want to know? You'll have to read this to find out.

Filled with characters I both loved and hated, for me this book had a distinct early Stephen King vibe. It reminded me a lot of Salem's Lot-not plot-wise, but in the way that SL focused on the lot and its history over the years. In this way, a relationship with the town is built and it becomes a character in its own right.

The characters here-wow. The disgust billowing off the townfolk when they get a whiff of the new lesbian couple in town. The horror represented by having a type of sexual B & B within town limits. God forbid! (I have seen other reviews talk about this book being over-inclusive, and I just can't even with that. They almost sound like a resident of Harrow.)

Even though this book is about Harrow, its residents, and its apples, it's also about a lot of other things, buried just underneath the rich soil. Racism. Casteism. Sexism. Rising hatred of anything deemed "other." There are other things in that soil, too. Hateful things, and Wendig drags them all out into the open air. It's ugly to look at and also a painful reminder of what the real world is like these days.

Yes, this book was long, but I was never bored. Each scene is important and builds upon the next until everything is woven into the dark tapestry that is BLACK RIVER ORCHARD. With a mix of folk horror, body horror and psychological horror, this book delivers the goods just in time for the Halloween reading season. As such, I highly recommend it!

*Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

Wendig simply can't miss. He churns out thick books pretty frequently, which gives me pause, but the writing stays strong, the characters stay unforgettable, and the plot continues to make you turn the pages. Black River Orchard is no exception. This is probably the weirdest and most out there of his books, but it works.

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig is a fantastic small New England town horror story. Wendig creates a haunting tale that kept me up at night. We discover that a new apple that tastes like heaven leaves people feeling more confident and healthy. However, things start to sour as the apple takes root in the community. This engaging story looks at community, power, and the very human side of evil, but with a touch of paranormal thrown in.

Black River Orchard was an unsettling book in the best way possible and perfect to kick off the spooky season. Wendig uses multiple POVs and jump cuts to keep the suspense high, while the overall book has a slow-burn feel as you discover more about the history and future of the apple. The cast of characters is diverse and interesting. It is a book you can sink into and enjoy. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a superb autumnal horror story, especially those who like plant horror.

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig will be available on September 26, 2023.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

What a dark, twisted read!

This was so much more than I expected! From the first page I was pulled into this story and with every flip from one character’s point of view to the next I found myself anxious over what was going to happen. And then as events unfolded, I was transfixed and utterly captivated by the tale this author was laying out. Even when my suspicions were correct, I was still unable to stop reading, such is the storytelling here. I felt the pull of this book when life demanded I get busy. I found myself turning the story over and around in my mind and trying to figure it all out and then diving back in each time I found a moment to open it back up.

I highly recommend this to those that enjoy a story with flawed characters, a dark, horrific storyline, and twists that you might see coming but still amazingly will spin you in circles.

Well done horror about....apples? What is it about the Ruby Slippers apple that's making people in the town of Harrow go, well, off the wall? Dan grows them, his daughter Calla doesn't eat them and everyone is impacted by them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good worldbuilding and character development (although this could have been trimmed a bit_ as well as nice storytelling make it a good read.

The premise of this novel sounded excellent, but the execution fell flat for me. The writing felt a bit clunky.

Everyone has been talking about Chuck Wendig as the new Stephen King and as someone who has only read a couple King I can see how this is true. King has a different approach to writing style but I got the same vibe that King gives.

This book is thick but the movement and intrigue makes the read something that I wanted to devour. The idea surrounded by apples was unique in changing a symbol that is biblical for the moment of wickedness in the Bible. This usage was brilliant and created an intriguing premise to read about. Not going to lie as someone who is absolutely picky about the fruit I eat and apples being one of the only ones this book had my stomach turning.

I do however think that the beginning and end moved quickly but the middle suffered from the length a little bit. But not enough to rate it any lower. I personally enjoyed this book a whole lot. Just keep in mind if you are like me it could get your stomach rolling.

Wendig is always a good choice. I've been reading Chuck Wendig for a while now and each and every book has been entertaining and enjoyable. I think Chuck really shines with creating voices for characters big and small alike. When I read his books, this one is no exception, I feel like I'm a voice actor working for audible and I can clearly hear and see each character I'm reading about. The story itself is engaging and fleshed out like always.

Thank you Random House (del rey/ballantine imprint) for Black River Orchard via NetGalley. Apples. Always a theme of temptation and the darker side of humanity. Crunch in readers (dive in) and enjoy. This story will grab you right away and take you into a dark story that will sneak up on you and hold on.

I am such a fan of Wendig's work, he brings the scares but also the humanity and with a richness of writing and storytelling that just works for me. I loved the main characters, Dan and his obsessions, Calla and just wanting her to get out, and Emily with her complex messiness (I really connected with her story) and how even challenging themes on violence and John's character were filled with depth and purpose to the plot. There is a lot of reflect on with this book and I like that in a horror story, I love that darker plots can still be literary and discussion starters.

Black River Orchard, by Chuck Wendig

Short Take: Horror with heart, but also, mythology set in the age of social media.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

Hello my beloved nerdlings, and welcome to early autumn! I’m definitely more of a summer fan, but there is something about pulling out the cozy sweaters and warmer blankets that’s oddly comforting. And of course, it’s also apple-picking season, and I do love me a big old Red Delicious (yes I know they are controversial I said what I said).

Ok, that was kind of a terrible segue into my most recent read, but look, I have just read over 500 pages with the word apple on each and every one of them, sometimes appearing several times, and now I have apples on the brain. But believe me when I say that I am not complaining.

Once upon a time, there was a struggling orchard owner named Dan Paxson, who had a beautiful, brilliant daughter, and not much else. Until the day Dan began growing the Ruby Slipper apple - a variety with skin as dark and velvety as night, a magical taste and even more magical effects.

Soon, all of Dan’s dreams are coming true - especially his darkest ones. And everyone else who eats the Ruby Slipper also begins changing - and not for the better.

If you’re getting a fairy-tale vibe from the description, you aren’t far off. In fairness to the author, apples have played the part of “temptation” in a lot of our major literary works. From Eve to Snow White, everybody loves a crunchy, juicy one, right?

But this particular fairy tale is of the “dark and demented” variety, and Duckies, I am sooooo here for it. I don’t say this lightly, but having read a few of his works now, I believe that Mr. Wendig is one of the best authors writing horror today. Black River Orchard is a perfect example of his skill. Although he is brilliant at setting the story in a very specific time and place and making it come alive, the characters are where this author goes from “pretty darn good” to “I am not the same after reading this book.”

Even when they are messy (Emily), or conflicted (John), or just teenager-brained(Calla), I love them for the richness of their humanity and interior lives. Particularly John, and I’m doing my darnedest to not get into spoiler territory with his story, so you’ll just have to trust me on this. His meditations on violence, when it is wrong vs. necessary, will stay with me for some time to come. And my orange house cat will henceforth be known as Orange Lump.

But if you think that Black River Orchard is some highfalutin, pretentious, trying-too-hard-to-be-intellectual book, you would be way way WAY off-base. Because the scares run deep and wide, hammering on multiple levels of my psyche and even my gag reflex. (As a multi-decade horror reader, I thought that I couldn’t be shocked by gore anymore. I was wrong.)

Trust your Aunty Nerdy, this is the book you want to ring in spooky season.

The Nerd’s Rating: FIVE HAPPY NEURONS (and a big old Red Delicious with a dollop of peanut butter. Or some friend Halloumi cheese. I will not be trying any exotic apples anytime soon.)

overall I was really enthralled with this totally unique and original story from Wendig, who is easily becoming an author to watch. definitely Stephen King-esque horror following lots of characters - but that’s also its biggest detriment. like King, Wendig’s books would benefit (at least for me) from being edited down a bit. although I appreciate all the character building here it just takes WAY too long to get to the point, and there are even several side stories that really could’ve been completely cut without impacting the plot of the book. it was definitely an enjoyable read, perfect for the fall season, but be prepared to skim a bit.

This one wasn’t quite for me. It was a solid novel with lots of diverse characters trying to live together in a small town.

I think lots of people would enjoy this as it has high elements of folk horror. I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters. One of the many main characters, Dan, was a prime example. This is a novel about insidious possession. Specifically, an evil apple. I get that the people eating the apple would change. But I found myself not liking anyone. With the exception of Calla, Dan’s daughter. I wanted her to just run away to Princeton.

Again, it has all the great horror elements I’ve come to love from the authors work. Just couldn’t quite love any of the characters.

"True evil is real. But it's still a human. evil. Even if it comes from outside of us, I think at the end of the day, it only wins when we let it in".
Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read Wendig's latest novel. Having read his most recent novels over the last five years, his narrative structure and reflection on human nature continues to evolve with greater complexity. Wendig does his research, bringing a new fascination to apple hunting which is where this story of ambition, betrayal, failure and moral compromise spins into a damn good horror story.
The three century span which provides the historical context for the cursed apple orchard brings some realism to the story, leaving me wanting more on the three other eras where the evil emerges. This novel begs for a sequel (or perhaps prequel).
Lastly, Wendig's story is driven by strong characters and a variety of relationships- taking the time for character development makes the betrayals and moral compromise poignant. Kudos to the other for taking the poisoned apple trope to the next level, with a healthy serving of gore and haunting transformations.
Excellent! Looking forward to a follow up.

I feel like Black River Orchard is the first truly horror book I’ve read by Chuck Wendig, and fortunately, it’s not the type of horror that scares me. On the flip side, though, I don’t care for this story style. But I do love Wendig’s writing style and his ability to tell a compelling and immersive story. I must admit, though, that I missed the more sci-fiish twists I’ve enjoyed in his other tales.

I loved the attention to detail and the descriptive language used. The atmosphere is just so pervasive because of it. The ominousness of the apples is never a question. The only question in my mind was how did they become that way. Was it a play on the biblical story of Eve and the apple from the Tree of Knowledge? Did it have something to do with Native Americans who originally lived on the land? Or was it some other nefarious reason?

The characters are all so vividly developed - full of layers and nuances - from the teens to the oldest members of this community on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. They all feel authentic rather than like stereotypes of their prospective roles. And all have a moral grayness, making them endlessly fascinating and capable of falling prey to the evil lurking in their midst.

I found the backstory interesting, though the story may have gone a tad too far into the absurd. This is why this style of horror story doesn’t scare me. I have trouble suspending disbelief due to the twists and turns it takes. But if you enjoy Stephen King’s novels and similar ones, this is just the type of tale you will love, and it’s perfect for this time of year. You may even think twice before bobbing for apples.

I had the lucky fortune to pick this book up after a string of disappointments. It really highlighted the skill of the writing - this was descriptive yet funny, deeply set the scene and left me no choice but to love the characters.

I knew Chuck Wendig was good, but this book really sealed the deal for me. I was wanting fall vibes to kick off the season and this delivered. Poison apples and creepy orchards, cults and the supernatural, this story hit all the right notes.

We follow multiple perspectives and there was not a single one that I was unhappy to jump to. They all brought a different view to the events happening in this small Pennsylvania town and added to the story in their own way.

Fantastic all around, this one will stick with me. And I might think twice before I bite into an apple.

"Is this really a 544 page horror book about... checks notes... apples?!", You ask. Why yes, yes it is! I have really loved Chuck Wendig's books in the past, but deciding to hit that "request" button on a bigass book about apples was a hard ask, even for me. I am pleased to report that I have no regrets, and a brand new knowledge of apples that I never asked for, but am strangely okay with. Let us talk about things I loved in this book:

►It is set in the same world as The Wanderers, methinks! I mean Easter eggs from books that kind of hadn't happened yet? Oh hell yes.

►The use of Wegner's. If you are from Pennsylvania and follow politics at all, you will know what I mean. Thank you, Chuck, for making me spit out my drink in laughter.

►I somehow felt compelled by this complete mess of characters. Like- please don't misunderstand, every one of these folks is a hot mess. But I'll be damned if I didn't end up invested in them, and kind of... liking them? Certain ones, that is.

►Oddly enough, the whole "magic apple" plot completely worked. I am bad at suspending disbelief, but I didn't even have to here. The author made it just... work. I can't explain how, maybe magic apples? 🤷‍♀️

►It is so delightfully messed up! I mean, you'll see when you read it, but these apples are not... they're not making folks sit around singing Kumbaya, okay? They're doing all kinds of weird stuff to the community. And when you think about what happens if these apples are unleashed on a larger scale... yep.

►The humorous bits were just perfectly positioned throughout. Like it could have been very heavy, but there were just enough funnier and lighter moments that you didn't want to succumb to the apples.

►I was just so completely hooked that it did not in any way feel long. That's just it, I needed to know all the things, and so it was very readable.

Bottom Line: I literally drove down my street, saw some apples on the road, and confidently told my children "bet that's a 'spitter apple'", so Chuck Wendig should probably go to the corner and think about what he's done.

The only thing stopping this from being a 5 star read is that it's so long I know I'll never read it again, but omg I am claiming this as the intro to my horror-reader era. I am so ready to get back to my roots and this was the ONE to do it with. So freaking gross and scary and awesome and disgusting and fun and badass and holy shit I don't know what else to say. Damn. You should read this.

Wendig has such a way with creating an eerie ambience and he knows how to crank up the discomfort level of his readers. This book was such a good deep dive into how power, greed, and evil can sprout, blossom, and spread through small towns. All of the characters were interesting and had unique backstories and it felt like you could actually care for them.

This book was so good, so spooky, and just wonderful. I loved it.

Black River Orchard is as juicy and tart as the apples set at the heart of this page-turner. I adored the Grimms' Fairytale atmosphere and the deep, archetypal satisfaction of poison apples that date back to the allegory of original sin, and probably far further back than that. Chuck’s enigmatic and otherworldly apples, so deep red that they border on black, hold an inexplicable allure – bite into one, and you'll find your senses heightened, desires multiplied, and strength amplified. Wendig's vivid prose weaves the history of apple cultivation and lore with multiple narratives that all connect back to these deadly trees. The suspense in the first half of the book is mesmerizing as the story delves into the insidious darkness that often accompanies unchecked desires. Sadly, I have to dock a star because the masterful pacing and interwoven narrative in the first half of the book degrade into cliché monster chases and full-force heady action that doesn’t let up. In the end, I mourned the loss of the creepy mysterious vibe that the beginning of the story so vividly captured. A great book, but not perfect.