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fkshg8465's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story was, admittedly, a little hard to get into at first. I reread the first chapter several times, but once I got past it, I was hooked. I also had to wonder if it was a satire about MAGA, but the author’s note at the end said nothing about it, so I’ll try to skip assumptions. But if you’ve read it, you may see some parallels there as I did.
I really liked what my friend would refer to as the unlikely friendships that were written. It was they who saved the works, after all! I liked the epilogue and the seed of doubt planted (yes, I meant that internally and unironically). And in between, I liked that a range of LGBTQ relationships were normalized while still acknowledging transphobia just a bit, although I was sorry that sex shaming was still ever present (pretty sure that’s a leftover disease of Puritan influence, and that was appropriate too, given the discussion of settlers, John’s commitment to the Quakers, and the purity of faith our heroes had in the value of humanity).
I will be seeking out more of this writer’s works.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
wyabook234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
While perhaps it’s a very slow burn and some interval chapters about the Orchard’s history can detach me from focusing on the main plot; which deserves my concern because I cared about the characters. Calla can be the typical teenage archetype that isn’t any different from all the other girls. However, I enjoyed the dynamic that grows between the Emily and John in their search for the truth and then their desire to get justice done for the town. John was interesting due to how restraint he might be as a Quaker while carrying the skills of a formidable veteran and ally. Joanie was both amusing and likeable in the early chapters. Later in the story, she becomes dedicated to fighting back against the apple cult’s control over lives.
The intoxicating effect of apples well influenced the town, as evidenced by the growing obsession of their eaters over several. It was then revealed that apples could either make these people into the worst of themselves or bring out who they are, such as Dan Paxton; who becomes more vile once his Apple Orchard becomes more popular. Despite his backstory bringing out some of his humanity, that is based on selfishness and revenger. Those unveilings of their selves become more apparent as the townsfolk get aroused by the Ruby Slipper taste and their dripping juices, which can be seen as their obsession developing through the course of their story.
The references to the main plot to the current decade and highlighting of social could detract in how they could make the story feel dated. However, you’ll be enjoying the body horror and tension once the situation becomes bad enough and the people change; mentally and physically. There’s also a spirit in a white suit who stalks people into haunting them or doing terrible deeds that suddenly disappear near the end of the book; which lessens his impact.
Black River Orchard’s most disturbing moments involve transforming Prentiss and Marco into willing servants, with their teeth turning into apple seeds and their bodies mangled like roots. This is especially with how Marco was gaslighted and started into becoming of these grotesque creatures for Dan’s ego; to where is he calling him the title of “father”.
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism, Police brutality, Cannibalism, and War
kylieqrada's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Grief
atamano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, and Classism
abbyweber's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder
kevorkian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Gore and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content
voilajean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Transphobia
uncreativeoops's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Ironically, I now want to go to a farmer's market and try new heirloom apples.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
cavernism's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Okay, nitpicking aside, this was an epic horror novel. The terrifying devolution of the apple-eaters into inconsiderate assholes and then further into actual monsters kept ratcheting up to a truly horrific, body-horror-cult-weirdness-extravaganza.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
imstephtacular's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol