Black River Orchard
Ratings14
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings14
Average rating4.1
A small town is transformed when seven strange trees begin bearing magical apples in this masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents. “Chuck Wendig is one of my very favorite storytellers. Black River Orchard is a deep, dark, luscious tale that creeps up on you and doesn’t let go.”—Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus It’s autumn in the town of Harrow, but something besides the season is changing there. Because in that town there is an orchard, and in that orchard, seven most unusual trees. And from those trees grows a new sort of apple: strange, beautiful, with skin so red it’s nearly black. Take a bite of one of these apples, and you will desire only to devour another. And another. You will become stronger. More vital. More yourself, you will believe. But then your appetite for the apples and their peculiar gifts will keep growing—and become darker. This is what happens when the townsfolk discover the secret of the orchard. Soon it seems that everyone is consumed by an obsession with the magic of the apples . . . and what’s the harm, if it is making them all happier, more confident, more powerful? Even if something else is buried in the orchard besides the seeds of these extraordinary trees: a bloody history whose roots reach back to the very origins of the town. But now the leaves are falling. The days grow darker. It’s harvest time, and the town will soon reap what it has sown.
Reviews with the most likes.
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.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with an eBook copy to review.
Black River Orchard embodies all that's trademark Chuck Wendig: cutting wit, dynamic characters, and an eerily unsettling premise, this time centered on a very peculiar apple tree. Wendig excels in weaving a tapestry of horror and fantasy, plunging us into the foreboding heart of the small town of Harrow
The story dives deep into the shadowy corners of the townsfolk's transformations as they consume the enchanting yet nefarious apples, creating a chilling atmosphere that Wendig fans will find all too familiar (some easter eggs for fans of his other works) and eerily satisfying.
His knack for exploiting our deepest fears and desires is on full display, morphing a tale of simple ambition into a full-blown, relentless nightmare. The narrative threads bind us to an escalating horror that makes the town of Harrow a memorable stop in the annals of macabre fiction.
My only gripe would be that the story occasionally extends beyond what feels necessary. A modest trim (50 or so pages) could have heightened its already potent impact.
Regardless, the narrative's draw remains unforgettable. The combination of Wendig's snappy dialogue, atmospheric horror, and unique story spinning keeps the pages turning late into the night. If you are on the lookout for a twisted tale that haunts your thoughts long after the final page, Black River Orchard awaits your visit.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, Del Rey, and the author for the advance copy.
