Chuck Wendig

A story of secret societies and foul families. Of belonging and exile. Of corruption, corrosion, temptation and seduction. With wealth, prestige, and influence at their fingertips, five families have embedded themselves into society, but when something threatens to undermine everything they've established, they must find a way to protect the world they've always known.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents. "Chuck Wendig weaves his magic once more, turning a lonely staircase in the woods into a searing, propulsive, dread-filled exploration of the horrors of knowing and being known."--Kiersten White, author of Hide and Lucy Undying ONE OF VULTURE'S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR (SO FAR) Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what. Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One friend walks up--and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears. Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy--and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'A DELICIOUSLY SCARY TALE OF FRIENDSHIP AND COURAGE...' THE GUARDIAN'Unputdownable, with imagery that cuts like a knife - this is Chuck Wendig at the top of his game.' THOMAS OLDE HEUVELT, AUTHOR OF HEX AND DARKER DAYS'A searing, propulsive, dread-filled exploration of the horrors of knowing and being known.' KIERSTEN WHITE, NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HIDE__________THIS PLACE HATES YOU...Five high school friends, bonded by an oath to protect each other no matter what.On a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhereOne friend walks up – but never comes back down.Now twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared, and the friends return to find the lost boy – and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods…FROM THE MODERN HORROR SENSATION COMES A NEW BONE-CHILLING MASTERPIECE.__________ACSEND THE STAIRS AND FALL INTO A WORLD OF TERROR:'Chuck Wendig is one of my very favorite storytellers.' ERIN MORGENSTERN'Wendig's wheelhouse is knowing exactly how to pluck heartstrings and prey on fears at the same time' SADIE HARTMAN'Move over King, Chuck Wendig is the new voice of modern American horror' ADAM CHRISTOPHER

In this hair-raising and hilarious novel by New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig, a boy must face his fears to save his town from a cursed videotape-before "The Scariest Movie Ever Made" devours his friends and family.Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don't mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school's house, Ethan's friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the "scariest movie ever made" reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.

A group of friends investigate the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of AccidentsFive high school friends, bonded by an oath to protect each other no matter what.On a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhereOne friend walks up – but never comes back down.Now twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared, and the friends return to find the lost boy – and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods…

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents. "Chuck Wendig weaves his magic once more, turning a lonely staircase in the woods into a searing, propulsive, dread-filled exploration of the horrors of knowing and being known."--Kiersten White, author of Hide and Lucy Undying ONE OF VULTURE'S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR (SO FAR) Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what. Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One friend walks up--and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears. Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy--and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .

In this hair-raising and hilarious novel by New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig, a boy must face his many fears to save his town from a cursed videotape-before "The Scariest Movie Ever Made" devours his friends and family.Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don't mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school's house, Ethan's friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the "scariest movie ever made" reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humour, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Set between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, the never-before-told story that began with Star Wars: Aftermath continues in this thrilling novel, the second book of Chuck Wendig's bestselling trilogy. It is a dark time for the Empire. . . . The Emperor is dead, and the remnants of his former Empire are in retreat. As the New Republic fights to restore a lasting peace to the galaxy, some dare to imagine new beginnings and new destinies. For Han Solo, that means settling his last outstanding debt, by helping Chewbacca liberate the Wookiee's homeworld of Kashyyyk. Meanwhile, Norra Wexley and her band of Imperial hunters pursue Grand Admiral Rae Sloane and the Empire's remaining leadership across the galaxy. Even as more and more officers are brought to justice, Sloane continues to elude the New Republic, and Norra fears Sloane may be searching for a means to save the crumbling Empire from oblivion. But the hunt for Sloane is cut short when Norra receives an urgent request from Princess Leia Organa. The attempt to liberate Kashyyyk has carried Han Solo, Chewbacca, and a band of smugglers into an ambush--resulting in Chewie's capture and Han's disappearance. Breaking away from their official mission and racing toward the Millennium Falcon's last known location, Norra and her crew prepare for any challenge that stands between them and their missing comrades. But they can't anticipate the true depth of the danger that awaits them--or the ruthlessness of the enemy drawing them into his crosshairs. Praise for Aftermath: Life Debt"Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt has found its place at the top of all the new canon works. Simply, outstandingly great Star Wars."--Star Wars Post " Chuck] Wendig once again strikes gold, offering a sweeping narrative with plenty of insight into both the state of the galaxy at large and beloved characters both new and old."--Alternative Nation "With an intense plot, political intrigue and great characterization, Wendig's Aftermath: Life Debt is an excellent read."--Flickering Myth Praise for Chuck Wendig's Aftermath "Star Wars: Aftermath reveals] what happened after the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi. It turns out, there's more than just the Empire for the good guys to worry about."--The Hollywood Reporter "The Force is strong with Star Wars: Aftermath."--Alternative Nation "The Star Wars universe is fresh and new again, and just as rich and mysterious as it always was."--Den of Geek

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens "Star Wars: Aftermath reveals] what happened after the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi. It turns out, there's more than just the Empire for the good guys to worry about."--The Hollywood Reporter As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance--now a fledgling New Republic--presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy's scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy's strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but he's taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders. Meanwhile, on the planet's surface, former rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world--war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles's urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn't know is just how close the enemy is--or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be. Determined to preserve the Empire's power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit--to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven't reckoned on Norra and her newfound allies--her technical-genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector--who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire's oppressive reign once and for all. Praise for Aftermath "The Force is strong with Star Wars: Aftermath."--Alternative Nation "The Star Wars universe is fresh and new again, and just as rich and mysterious as it always was."--Den of Geek " Chuck] Wendig neatly captures the current states of the Empire and Rebel Alliance and does so through flawed, real, and nuanced characters. His writing gets you up close and personal. . . . Wendig does wonders with dialogue and voice and carving out space for everyone to breathe. Aftermath is a strong foot forward into unexplored territory and puts down just enough foundation that you can start picturing the Resistance and First Order of The Force Awakens taking shape."--Nerdist "If the opening chapter of the Wendig's Aftermath trilogy is any indication, the 'Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens' will be every bit as exciting as the movie."--New York Daily News "A wonderful Star Wars adventure by a gifted author."--SF Book Reviews

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Following Star Wars: Aftermath and Star Wars: Life Debt, Chuck Wendig delivers the exhilarating conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy set in the years between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. EVERY END IS A NEW BEGINNING. As the final showdown between the New Republic and the Empire draws near, all eyes turn to a once-isolated planet: Jakku. The Battle of Endor shattered the Empire, scattering its remaining forces across the galaxy. But the months following the Rebellion's victory have not been easy. The fledgling New Republic has suffered a devastating attack from the Imperial remnant, forcing the new democracy to escalate its hunt for the hidden enemy. For her role in the deadly ambush, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane is the most wanted Imperial war criminal--and one-time rebel pilot Norra Wexley, back in service at Leia's urgent request, is leading the hunt. But more than just loyalty to the New Republic drives Norra forward: Her husband was turned into a murderous pawn in Sloane's assassination plot, and now she wants vengeance as much as justice. Sloane, too, is on a furious quest: pursuing the treacherous Gallius Rax to the barren planet Jakku. As the true mastermind behind the Empire's devastating attack, Rax has led the Empire to its defining moment. The cunning strategist has gathered the powerful remnants of the Empire's war machine, preparing to execute the late Emperor Palpatine's final plan. As the Imperial fleet orbits Jakku, an armada of Republic fighters closes in to finish what began at Endor. Norra and her crew soar into the heart of an apocalyptic clash that will leave land and sky alike scorched. And the future of the galaxy will finally be decided. Praise for Chuck Wendig's Aftermath "Star Wars: Aftermath reveals] what happened after the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi. It turns out, there's more than just the Empire for the good guys to worry about."--The Hollywood Reporter "The Force is strong with Star Wars: Aftermath."--Alternative Nation "The Star Wars universe is fresh and new again, and just as rich and mysterious as it always was."--Den of Geek Aftermath: Life Debt "Compulsively readable, the kind of caramel-corn book you just keep stuffing in your face until it's gone."--Tordotcom "Man oh man, this is good stuff. Life Debt] reveals what Han and Chewie were up to after Return of the Jedi."--io9 "Gripping reading . . . This novel] hits the ground running."--New York Daily News

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A small town is transformed when seven strange trees begin bearing magical apples in this masterpiece of horror from the author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents. "This masterful outing should continue to earn Wendig comparisons to Stephen King."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)LOCUS AWARD FINALIST - BRAM STOKER AWARD FINALIST - AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 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.

Death & Honey contains three new novellas by New York Times bestsellers Delilah S. Dawson, Kevin Hearne, and Chuck Wendig. In The Buzz Kill by Kevin Hearne, Oberon the Irish wolfhound and Starbuck the Boston terrier sink their teeth into a new Meaty Mystery (#3) when they discover a body underneath a beehive in Tasmania. It's been badly stung, but the bees aren't at fault: This is homicide. The hounds recruit the help of their Druid, Atticus O'Sullivan, and the Tasmanian police to track down the killer in the interest of a reward-a nice juicy steak, perhaps, with a side of justice. Grist of Bees, by Delilah S. Dawson writing as Lila Bowen, follows Rhett Walker, who has given up his destiny as the monster-hunting Shadow to settle down with his beloved Sam. But when the call to action grows too strong, Rhett saddles up to follow a peculiar bee into the unforgiving desert. The bee leads him to a weeping mother in a strangely prosperous valley, and Rhett has no choice but to hunt the creature that's stolen her child-even if it destroys a land of milk and honey. Interlude: Tanager by Chuck Wendig returns us to the world of Miriam Black. Lauren "Wren" Martin is a young psychic woman who can see the stained souls of killers; it is her gift, or as she sees it, her curse. And up until now, it has been her mission to kill those killers, to remove them from the pattern so that they may not murder again. But now, after a death that may not have been deserved, she's left rudderless, without plan or purpose, until a woman with a strange power of her own takes her in and gives her a new mission-and a new target.

Three Slices is the only collection of novellas about cheese wizards in the world-and it's written by New York Times bestselling authors You therefore need it as a matter of principle. A Prelude to War by Kevin Hearne After an old friend is murdered in retaliation for his mercenary strikes against the oldest vampires in the world, ancient Druid Atticus O'Sullivan must solicit the aid of another old friend in Ethiopia if he's going to have a chance of finishing a war he never wanted. Meanwhile, Granuaile MacTiernan starts a private war of her own against Loki, the lord of lies, and if it brings Ragnarok early-so be it. Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys by Delilah S. DawsonThe number one rule of the circus? Don't kill your volunteers, even accidentally. That's how young magician Criminy Stain ends up on the run in a forest, where he meets a beautiful woman holding a bucket of blood. But is Merissa the answer to his prayers-- or the orchestrator of his ruin? Interlude: Swallow by Chuck Wendig Miriam Black is back. Miriam is tired of her curse and finally believes she knows how to be rid of her ability to see when and how other people die. She follows a lead to the mountains of Colorado, where she believes she sees signs of a serial killer she thought she already killed. (Set between The Cormorant and Thunderbird.)

Snuggle up with three delightful tales of dogs and drinks from the minds of New York Times bestselling authors Delilah S. Dawson, Kevin Hearne, and Chuck Wendig.Oberon the Irish wolfhound and his Boston terrier buddy, Starbuck, not only witness humans waste perfectly good sausage, but also a sneaky murder committed right before their eyes in THE CHARTREUSE CHANTEUSE by Kevin Hearne. Justice demands that someone pay for both crimes, and together with their Druid, Atticus O'Sullivan, and D.I. Rose Badgely of the Launceston police, they'll show the dastardly villain they messed with the wrong good dogs.THE BARTENDER AND THE BEAST introduces the enchanting world of Arcadia Falls, the setting for Delilah S. Dawson's return to Paranormal Romance. When no-nonsense bartender Cassia King returns to her sleepy hometown in the Georgia mountains to help her sister, she can't help falling for well-dressed wildlife rehabilitator Riley. But as Cash learns, Arcadia Falls has a secret, and so does the bar's rescue pit bull, Peach Pit...In WHISKEY SOUR by Chuck Wendig, It was the end of the world and Harry Campbell wanted a drink. He's one of the few who remained in Ouray, Colorado, after everything went to hell -- and has decided to willfully fall off the wagon and find a way to make a cocktail he once loved, the whiskey sour. His quest to make a drink will take him beyond the borders of Ouray and into the world fallen under the shadow of the now-gone White Mask disease. But, he won't do it alone -- Shepherd Marcy Reyes lends him the courage and pluck of the golden retriever known as Gumball to help him stay alive and stay sane in the process. But Harry's journey holds a greater, more secret purpose -- he has questions that remain unanswered about what the rogue AI called Black Swan did to them all, and he intends to have those answers, even if they change him, and perhaps the world, forever.

A small town is transformed by dark magic when strange apple trees begin bearing fruit in this new masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents.It's autumn in Harrow, but something is changing in the town besides the season.Because in that town there is an orchard, and in that orchard grows a new sort of apple: strange and beautiful, with skin so red it's nearly black.Take a bite of one of these apples and you will you will become stronger. More vital. More yourself, you will believe. But soon 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?But now the leaves are falling. The days grow darker. And a stranger has come to town, a stranger who knows Harrow's secrets. Because it's harvest time, and the town will soon reap what it has sown.