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!

I thought this book was both suspenseful and horrific but I couldn't stop reading it. I finished it rather quickly and found it to be quite spectacular. I am recommending it to all my friends and family.

What a terrific novel! Wendig always swings for the fences and this is no different. The characters of BLACK RIVER ORCHARD live and thrive. They haunted me and made me cheer for them. A terrific novel by a terrific author. Highly recommended!

This was my first Chuck Wendig book and after hearing about his works and people raving about them, I figured I'd give him a try. Black River Orchard did not disappoint. I will never look at apples the same way again. This was a very unique way to write a horror novel.

Really enjoyed this one! Wendig’s books always go by so fast for me and that is mostly due to his characters being so realistic and compelling. Horror elements were great as well. Would especially recommend if you enjoy literary books as well.

This book started out decent and interesting enough. I got about 13% into the story (over 600 pages), but it wasn't working for me, and I didn't want to go through the whole book only to give it a low rating when I knew I was not liking it. I wanted to like this book. I will still try and check out earlier works by this author, but this one was just not for me, unfortunately.

Well, that's the end of my love affair with apples.

Seriously, though, I really enjoyed my first foray into Chuck Wendig's work, and I plan to add a few more of his books to my TBR list. This book had a sort of Needful Things vibe while feeling as fresh and unique as a Ruby Slipper apple.

When Dan Paxson successfully cultivates the perfect apple in his small orchard, it looks like he is about to realize all his dreams (and those of his father, who had tried and failed to grow his own apples). Along with his teenage daughter, Calla, and her boyfriend, Marco, he begins to sell his Ruby Slippers at a local farmer's market. Soon, half the town is hooked--and the more they eat of these apples, the stronger, sharper, better they seem to become. And if they are crueler? Seems to them a small price to pay. Of course, some who taste the apples sense their fundamental wrongness, and soon the town splits into those who would do anything to consume more of these addictive fruits, and those who realize that the apples are transforming people into monsters--figuratively, and possibly also literally.

It's a meditation on the source of evil, both internal and external, and the things we do to fill the holes inside of ourselves. It's also an engaging and delightfully creepy story with a small-town feel and a cast of well-sketched characters.

Perfect horror novel for the fall.

I loved this, and I didn't. It seemed very drawn out, and twice as long as it should have been, with tons of unnecessary filler. The premise and story were quite good.

Fun, creepy, a great read! I won’t look at apples the same way ever again. Chuck Wendig is becoming a favorite author of mine.

I didn’t have much hope for this one, and reading chucks previous works I thought the newer ones would be better but my opinion hasn’t changed. The writing is quite political regardless of the plot and when I read a fiction novel, unless it’s about fiction politics I don’t want to read about issues I see on tv every day

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

Ruby Slipper apples, with their dark reddish black hue and amazing flavor, is sweeping the town of Harrow off their feet. Everyone who eats the apples seems to change, and never seem to be without an apple. They're stronger, faster, seeminly better versions of themselves.
But not everyone in Harrow likes apples, and those who haven't eaten the apple are noticing that their friends and family members are starting to go dark and turn against any of those who haven't eaten the apples...

Do you want to know about the history of apples in the US? Do you? Well, son, you're gonna *learn* in this book. And also have the pants scared off of you, maybe you won't be eating any apples this fall when the crops start hitting the shelves...
I really enjoyed this book, apple history lesson and all (honestly, I love those books where you can tell the author Did Their Reseach and by God they are going to USE that research so all that time was not wasted. Or maybe Chuck Wendig just really likes apples? It's just as spooky and creepy and gory as you want a Wendig horror novel to be, with the added bonus of non-manogamous sex houses, generations of possessed people, and a sinister tree lurking on a long forgotten island waiting to be rediscovered. Great book...I just kind of wish it was a little bit shorter. 640 pages? Who has time for 640 pages???? Me, apparently. I devoured the whole dang thing in just a few days.

I love Chuck Wendig!! I think he’s amazing, however; this one was hard for me to finish. At times there was so much going on; it was difficult to keep the storyline straight. But as in true Wendig fashion, there is always some strange twist. Will recommend to others just because it’s Chuck Wendig!!

4.5 stars

Joy is not what I expected to find within the pages of "Black River Orchard." Scares, blood, and gore – yes. But joy? That’s not something you typically find in a horror novel.

But Chuck Wendig had so much fun writing his latest release that his joy and enthusiasm for the story seep from the pages. Case in point, he even says in his acknowledgements that "Black River Orchard" is “a culmination of all that f*cking weirdness inside of me.” So he let it all out … his weirdness … had fun with it and released it into the story. And it must’ve worked a twisted sort of magic because the novel is glorious.

The story itself is akin to something Stephen King would’ve written in the early years of his career, what with a small town being consumed by evil when its citizens eat a magical apple. It’s a weird, creepy tale for sure; one that turns darker and bloodier as the story progresses.

And it’s captivating, which is good because it needs to be since the book is 550 pages. To be honest, I’m not sure it really had to be so long – I’m sure a lot of the story setup could’ve been condensed – but nevertheless, the pages fly by. Both the story and the characters draw you in from the very beginning, and, of course, there’s the author’s underlying infectious joy to pull you along. You can’t help but read and read and read without complaint.

It looks like Wendig’s weirdness is my kind of weirdness – I just loved this book. So keep bringing it, Chuck. I’ll read everything you and your weirdness think up.


My sincerest appreciation to Chuck Wendig, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.