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Daphne
It’s the last summer for Kit Lamb: The last summer before college. The last summer with her high school basketball team, and with Dana, her best friend. The last summer before her life begins.
But the night before the big game, one of the players tells a ghost story about Daphne, a girl who went to their school many years ago and died under mysterious circumstances. Some say she was murdered, others that she died by her own hand. And some say that Daphne is a murderer herself. They also say that Daphne is still out there, obsessed with revenge, and will appear to kill again anytime someone thinks about her.
After Kit hears the story, her teammates vanish, one by one, and Kit begins to suspect that the stories about Daphne are real . . . and to fear that her own mind is conjuring the killer. Now it’s a race against time as Kit searches for the truth behind the legend and learns to face her own fears—before the summer of her life becomes the last summer of her life.
Mixing a nostalgic coming-of-age story and an instantly iconic female villain with an innovative new vision of classic horror, Daphne is an unforgettable thriller as only Josh Malerman could imagine it.
But the night before the big game, one of the players tells a ghost story about Daphne, a girl who went to their school many years ago and died under mysterious circumstances. Some say she was murdered, others that she died by her own hand. And some say that Daphne is a murderer herself. They also say that Daphne is still out there, obsessed with revenge, and will appear to kill again anytime someone thinks about her.
After Kit hears the story, her teammates vanish, one by one, and Kit begins to suspect that the stories about Daphne are real . . . and to fear that her own mind is conjuring the killer. Now it’s a race against time as Kit searches for the truth behind the legend and learns to face her own fears—before the summer of her life becomes the last summer of her life.
Mixing a nostalgic coming-of-age story and an instantly iconic female villain with an innovative new vision of classic horror, Daphne is an unforgettable thriller as only Josh Malerman could imagine it.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
About the author
Josh Malerman
83 books7,483 followersJosh Malerman is the New York Times best selling author of BIRD BOX, MALORIE, GOBLIN, PEARL, GHOUL n THE CAPE, and more.
He's also one of two singer/songwriter for the rock band The High Strung.
He's also one of two singer/songwriter for the rock band The High Strung.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,233 reviews
November 4, 2023
Daphne is a ghost…
Daphne was a woman who lived in Samhattan in the '80s and '90s. She was a seven-foot social freak who had no friends and no family that anybody knew of.
She gave creepy looks, staring at kids at food courts of the town mall, alerting parents because those kids reminded her of her stolen childhood.
She wore kiss makeup but not like a star man or a cat or anything… it’s all eyes and long tongues. Her whole face.
She loved wearing denim head to toe, patches of her favorite bands all over, all metal stuff, hair rock, scaring the sh*t out of people.
The basketball team cracked her on the inside of her head/ or some bullies from school pulled a prank by locking her into the garage. She’s left to die alone!
When you think about her, you instantly summon her! She comes for the athletes, avenging her own death, wearing Kiss makeup to hide her blue face, killing each of them with her BARE HANDS!
Just like the way Freddy Krueger feeds himself by nightmares of people, she’s feeding herself with your fears and she’s coming for you! Don’t dare to run! There’s nowhere to gun, nowhere to hide! If the fear of life takes control of your body, your fate is sealed! You’re gonna be another victim of her vicious massacre play!
No more words! This book scares the living daylights out of you! But it also teaches you how to take control of your life, fighting against your PANIC ATTACKULA ( this could be a great rock band name) confronting with your own fears!
Kit who is fighting so hard with her anxiety issues, Dana; tough, supportive best friend, Natasha; creepy storyteller, dealing with depression , Tammy : young and rising star of the team, enjoying graveyard parties were great characters to resonate with.
This is not a slasher horror story, this is riveting, unputdownable, captivating psychological thriller novel that keeps you in your toes! In my opinion it’s one of the best works of the author deserves more than my five stars that I extremely recommend you to read!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine / Del Rey for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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Daphne was a woman who lived in Samhattan in the '80s and '90s. She was a seven-foot social freak who had no friends and no family that anybody knew of.
She gave creepy looks, staring at kids at food courts of the town mall, alerting parents because those kids reminded her of her stolen childhood.
She wore kiss makeup but not like a star man or a cat or anything… it’s all eyes and long tongues. Her whole face.
She loved wearing denim head to toe, patches of her favorite bands all over, all metal stuff, hair rock, scaring the sh*t out of people.
The basketball team cracked her on the inside of her head/ or some bullies from school pulled a prank by locking her into the garage. She’s left to die alone!
When you think about her, you instantly summon her! She comes for the athletes, avenging her own death, wearing Kiss makeup to hide her blue face, killing each of them with her BARE HANDS!
Just like the way Freddy Krueger feeds himself by nightmares of people, she’s feeding herself with your fears and she’s coming for you! Don’t dare to run! There’s nowhere to gun, nowhere to hide! If the fear of life takes control of your body, your fate is sealed! You’re gonna be another victim of her vicious massacre play!
No more words! This book scares the living daylights out of you! But it also teaches you how to take control of your life, fighting against your PANIC ATTACKULA ( this could be a great rock band name) confronting with your own fears!
Kit who is fighting so hard with her anxiety issues, Dana; tough, supportive best friend, Natasha; creepy storyteller, dealing with depression , Tammy : young and rising star of the team, enjoying graveyard parties were great characters to resonate with.
This is not a slasher horror story, this is riveting, unputdownable, captivating psychological thriller novel that keeps you in your toes! In my opinion it’s one of the best works of the author deserves more than my five stars that I extremely recommend you to read!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine / Del Rey for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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May 8, 2024
One of the best parts of any sleepover is scaring yourself silly. Whether it's with scary movies, games or just eerie stories told amongst friends, there's no denying it's a fun way to pass the time.
In the small town of Samhattan, when the girls basketball team gets together for a sleepover, one of the girls decides to tell the story of a local legend, Daphne.
Daphne attended their high school a few decades ago, around the same time as many of their parents actually. She was a 7-foot tall, social outcast, who wore Kiss makeup for no apparent reason and made a lot of people, children and adults alike, very uncomfortable.
Legend has it that she died tragically, at the hands of classmates and ever since that time will haunt anyone who dares to think about her. Daphne allegedly appears and kills with her bare hands.
The concept is along the lines of Bloody Mary. We all know her, many of us fear her, but this is worse. With Bloody Mary, you have to be consciously summoning her, saying her name, doing certain things that are said to bring her forth.
With Daphne, all you have to do is think about her though. Everyone knows that the more you try not to think about something, the more impossible it becomes. Thus, Daphne is now pretty much an inevitability for these teen girls.
Kit Lamb, one of the star players, has a really hard time not thinking about Daphne. As a matter of fact, she even asks the rim about her; a tradition the girls have.
She asks the rim if Daphne will kill her. The ball goes in. I think you can all deduce what that means. Then it is a non-stop terror train of thoughts about Daphne for poor Kit. How can she possibly shut these thoughts off?
Will any of the girls basketball team survive knowing Daphne's story? Honestly, it's so awful. How could they not think about her after being told?
Daphne was a weirdly-fun and captivating story. Even though I wasn't crazy about some of the structural choices, it felt quite disjointed to me due to odd perspective shifts, overall, I really enjoyed it!
Truthfully, Malerman's work has been hit or miss for me; we have a 50/50 relationship. I was actually thinking this would be the last shot I was going to take. Regardless, I'm glad I took the chance as this story paid off.
I really appreciated the exploration of anxiety through Kit's perspective and also enjoyed the whole idea behind this town and Daphne's legacy. The idea that it could collectively be blocked from the town memory, without anyone pushing for that to be so, was a really interesting concept.
That something so heinous and traumatic, a piece of history, could be swept under the rug, with everyone just pretending it didn't exist. That sounds pretty true to life, doesn't it?
The horror was fun. The concept of Daphne was very creative and well-imagined. There were scenes that definitely got my pulse going.
Additionally, this had some twists towards the end that I didn't see coming. That absolutely contributed to my enjoyment. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I'm looking forward to more Malerman now!
Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I definitely recommend this one to Slasher fans, or anyone looking for a thoughtful, spooky, fun read!
In the small town of Samhattan, when the girls basketball team gets together for a sleepover, one of the girls decides to tell the story of a local legend, Daphne.
Daphne attended their high school a few decades ago, around the same time as many of their parents actually. She was a 7-foot tall, social outcast, who wore Kiss makeup for no apparent reason and made a lot of people, children and adults alike, very uncomfortable.
Legend has it that she died tragically, at the hands of classmates and ever since that time will haunt anyone who dares to think about her. Daphne allegedly appears and kills with her bare hands.
The concept is along the lines of Bloody Mary. We all know her, many of us fear her, but this is worse. With Bloody Mary, you have to be consciously summoning her, saying her name, doing certain things that are said to bring her forth.
With Daphne, all you have to do is think about her though. Everyone knows that the more you try not to think about something, the more impossible it becomes. Thus, Daphne is now pretty much an inevitability for these teen girls.
Kit Lamb, one of the star players, has a really hard time not thinking about Daphne. As a matter of fact, she even asks the rim about her; a tradition the girls have.
She asks the rim if Daphne will kill her. The ball goes in. I think you can all deduce what that means. Then it is a non-stop terror train of thoughts about Daphne for poor Kit. How can she possibly shut these thoughts off?
Will any of the girls basketball team survive knowing Daphne's story? Honestly, it's so awful. How could they not think about her after being told?
Daphne was a weirdly-fun and captivating story. Even though I wasn't crazy about some of the structural choices, it felt quite disjointed to me due to odd perspective shifts, overall, I really enjoyed it!
Truthfully, Malerman's work has been hit or miss for me; we have a 50/50 relationship. I was actually thinking this would be the last shot I was going to take. Regardless, I'm glad I took the chance as this story paid off.
I really appreciated the exploration of anxiety through Kit's perspective and also enjoyed the whole idea behind this town and Daphne's legacy. The idea that it could collectively be blocked from the town memory, without anyone pushing for that to be so, was a really interesting concept.
That something so heinous and traumatic, a piece of history, could be swept under the rug, with everyone just pretending it didn't exist. That sounds pretty true to life, doesn't it?
The horror was fun. The concept of Daphne was very creative and well-imagined. There were scenes that definitely got my pulse going.
Additionally, this had some twists towards the end that I didn't see coming. That absolutely contributed to my enjoyment. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I'm looking forward to more Malerman now!
Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I definitely recommend this one to Slasher fans, or anyone looking for a thoughtful, spooky, fun read!
October 20, 2022
Ahhh I'm so happy I finally loved another Josh Malerman. This one might be one of my top favorites from him too. Which is so wild because I almost DNF'ed this book at the beginning, the first 50 pages were so hard to get into and it felt like nothing was happening. Luckily, the audiobook helped me push through and by page 100 I was OBSESSED. I think the idea of this book is fascinating, and I can tell it seemed a bit more personal to the author. The idea of this Daphne woman haunting the girls basketball team was truly terrifying, the idea of a 7-foot-tall woman with hair covering her face and grease on her fingers, gives me the chills just thinking about it. And it's creepier because you're not supposed to think about it, and the more you think about her, the more likely she'll appear. Our main character suffers from some pretty severe anxiety, which I found to be super relatable. And there are so many thoughtful quotes about what it means to grow up, and how anxious it can make young people trying to figure out their lives at such a young age, and I love how Daphne represents this anxiety to an extreme. This was just so brilliantly done, the ending gave me chills. It's not going to be for everyone, but I freaking loved it.
Here's the reading vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/ZewT0NdeIUM
Here's the reading vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/ZewT0NdeIUM
February 2, 2023
Well that was….CREEPY! 😱
My husband is currently out on a work trip and my parents offered to watch my kids a couple nights so I could have rest and ‘me time’ before the baby arrives and what did I decide to do? Read this on my light-adjusting kindle in my pitch black bedroom alone at midnight. I had to keep shining the light from my kindle around the room because I kept getting scared. And I NEVER get scared! I must have a death wish. 🤣
This was very Nightmare on Elm Street meets Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones. Very graphic. Very gory. I love horror so of course I enjoyed it and even found myself enjoying being a bit scared.
I don’t read horror too much (although I LOVE watching horror) because the stories are usually ridiculous and eye-rolling. I didn’t get that vibe at all with this book. It was very original and could easily be adapted into a motion picture.
I’m a fan of Josh Malerman’s work (and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a Michigander like me!) and will read anything he writes. If you’re looking for a story similar to Bird Box and Malorie, you won’t find it here. Still very great writing and story-telling, yet very different from those two books.
The only drawbacks in my opinion were Kit’s journal entries which seemed a tad redundant and some basketball lingo and players went a bit over my head.
Be sure to read his acknowledgments as he talks about his struggles with anxiety (which was a large theme in the book) and his passion for basketball. Malerman proves that great stories come from passion and life experiences.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book!
My husband is currently out on a work trip and my parents offered to watch my kids a couple nights so I could have rest and ‘me time’ before the baby arrives and what did I decide to do? Read this on my light-adjusting kindle in my pitch black bedroom alone at midnight. I had to keep shining the light from my kindle around the room because I kept getting scared. And I NEVER get scared! I must have a death wish. 🤣
This was very Nightmare on Elm Street meets Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones. Very graphic. Very gory. I love horror so of course I enjoyed it and even found myself enjoying being a bit scared.
I don’t read horror too much (although I LOVE watching horror) because the stories are usually ridiculous and eye-rolling. I didn’t get that vibe at all with this book. It was very original and could easily be adapted into a motion picture.
I’m a fan of Josh Malerman’s work (and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a Michigander like me!) and will read anything he writes. If you’re looking for a story similar to Bird Box and Malorie, you won’t find it here. Still very great writing and story-telling, yet very different from those two books.
The only drawbacks in my opinion were Kit’s journal entries which seemed a tad redundant and some basketball lingo and players went a bit over my head.
Be sure to read his acknowledgments as he talks about his struggles with anxiety (which was a large theme in the book) and his passion for basketball. Malerman proves that great stories come from passion and life experiences.
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book!
August 7, 2022
It's the last summer before college. It should be a happy, carefree time. Time to spend with friends and family before venturing off into one's future. But it's not so happy nor it is carefree.
Kit Lamb heard about Daphne before her last high school basketball game. One of her teammates tells the story of Daphne. Daphne is a ghost story/urban legend. Daphne is a super tall, KISS make up wearing creepy teen/woman who died under mysterious circumstances. They say she was evil; they say she may be a killer; they say not to say her name, they say she is looking for revenge...
Malerman dazzled me with Bird Box and he has been hit or miss with me ever since. With Daphne, Malerman has his mojo back. He has written a book that is part coming of age and part horror. This is a "the-hair-is-standing-up-on-the-back-of-my-neck" book. There is underlying tension and as Kit struggles with her mental health and mounting dread. This is where the book shines.
This is a different read folks, but I found it to be very satisfying.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Kit Lamb heard about Daphne before her last high school basketball game. One of her teammates tells the story of Daphne. Daphne is a ghost story/urban legend. Daphne is a super tall, KISS make up wearing creepy teen/woman who died under mysterious circumstances. They say she was evil; they say she may be a killer; they say not to say her name, they say she is looking for revenge...
Malerman dazzled me with Bird Box and he has been hit or miss with me ever since. With Daphne, Malerman has his mojo back. He has written a book that is part coming of age and part horror. This is a "the-hair-is-standing-up-on-the-back-of-my-neck" book. There is underlying tension and as Kit struggles with her mental health and mounting dread. This is where the book shines.
This is a different read folks, but I found it to be very satisfying.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 30, 2022
My thanks to Random House/Ballantine, Josh Malerman and Netgalley.
Well, heck!
The fact is that I've been trying to read this book for awhile now, and I keep getting hung up on basketball.
I hate basketball! Love playing it, but anything else? Forget about it! Damned squeaky shoes!
I never even made it to the point of Daphne killing anyone!
Every time I tried to read this, I found myself bored.
Sadly, Malerman screwed the pooch in this one!
Just my opinion!
Well, heck!
The fact is that I've been trying to read this book for awhile now, and I keep getting hung up on basketball.
I hate basketball! Love playing it, but anything else? Forget about it! Damned squeaky shoes!
I never even made it to the point of Daphne killing anyone!
Every time I tried to read this, I found myself bored.
Sadly, Malerman screwed the pooch in this one!
Just my opinion!
October 1, 2022
Kit Lamb is a seventeen-year old high school student enjoying her life with her friends and looking forward to going to college in another year. What Kit loves the most in her life though is basketball. She has been on the school team for years along with her closest and dearest friends who all just Get each other which is so important in a teenager's life especially when all the girls have their own individual issues that they are trying to conquer as they grow into young adults. These kids just live and breathe basketball and they're really good players as well but Kit's major drawback is anxiety with a capital A. Kit tries to hide from it since she doesn't understand what it really is and thinks her feelings and actions make her less than and different from other people she is so fearful of the feelings and thoughts that truly overwhelm her at times that she doesn't talk to her parents about it and they more or less tippy-toe around her problems not wanting to upset her. What are they afraid of? Why are so many parents uncomfortable and nervous to really talk and listen to their kids?
Other than anxiety, life is pretty great until the night before a big game when the girl's basketball team are having a sleepover and one girl tells the spooky (supposedly true) story of an ostracized girl in town who was quite frightening in appearance and attitude, drove and more or less lived in her muscle car while always having the windows down playing the loudest, heavy metal music everywhere she went even parked in her garage til all hours of the night not caring what others thought about her. The story ends that she died in her car. Some say murdered some say natural causes but no-one knows the real story surrounding this strange, fearsome creature named "Daphne". The key to this horror story is you must not think or say her name because she will know and then..... Well, just make sure noone thinks her name. Now all the girl's can't stop thinking about " DAPHNE" Was this girl a victim or a monster in the making?
The problem with this so-called true story is that none of the girls had heard of "Daphne" before so they know it's a tall tale. After the storytelling night, one by one the girls on the basketball team are being brutally murdered and no-one knows why or how to put an end to these senseless killings and Kit's anxiety is through the roof by now and she might die by her own attacks (so she thinks) before the killer finally comes for her.
This was an engaging story about horror and coming of age in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. Anxiety and Panic attacks were the soul of the story. Kit was a wonderful character and had a tortured young life with her crippling anxiety which she just couldn't understand or get a grip on and her parents were lovely people but they weren't any help to her at all. Now, "Daphne" was a great spooky story or legend and was pretty darn creepy with a lot of potential for true horror but I felt it missed the mark for me. Maybe I wanted to make too much sense about something that was senseless or I just got lost with too much information that didn't fit the facts. The story overall was good but I wanted more scare and not a mismash of gory muders. Now, the book was a terrific learning lesson about the cycle of anxiety attacks leading to panic attacks that was well done and realistic. If anyone has ever suffered actual panic attacks (completely different from regular anxiety) I think they will appreciate this book and understand what poor Kit was suffering through. I did enjoy the book although it just wasn't how I hoped it it would all play out. Josh Malerman is a fantastic writer who has a way of creating vivid descriptions of characters and places that the reader can easily visualize and imagine into a reading reality.
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing - Ballantine" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book by Josh Malerman and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating if 3 1/2 ANXIETY RIDDEN 🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS
May 5, 2022
What the heck did I just read?! I was bored about 30% of the book until it got pretty good. Unsure of what I was reading I had to reread certain parts. It built up so much and then it just ended. I wish the author would have added a little more to it. It was pretty good over all.
Daphne Vann is a legend in the town of Samhattan; a legend that has somehow come to life. You’ll smell her before you hear her; the odor of cigarettes and alcohol. You’ll hear her before you see her; the “stomp”, “stomp” of her boots to the beat of her metal music. Once you see her, a seven foot tall woman with huge hands, dressed in a jean jacket with oily hair covering her face, you have breathed your last breath. Don’t think about her. Don’t even say her name. She will come for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Daphne Vann is a legend in the town of Samhattan; a legend that has somehow come to life. You’ll smell her before you hear her; the odor of cigarettes and alcohol. You’ll hear her before you see her; the “stomp”, “stomp” of her boots to the beat of her metal music. Once you see her, a seven foot tall woman with huge hands, dressed in a jean jacket with oily hair covering her face, you have breathed your last breath. Don’t think about her. Don’t even say her name. She will come for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 24, 2022
Too much basketball—the sport was basically a character of its own. It was really hard to focus on the story and there were no chapters. I will still read books by the author, but I wasn’t a fan of this one.
May 15, 2022
Daphne, a horror/dark read, was a solid 4.5 star book. This is the 5th book that I’ve read by Josh Malerman and I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them.
Daphne is somewhat of a local legend in the small town of Samhattan. She was a seven-foot woman who was considered a “freak” by most people, especially her peers. She had no friends, dressed hideously and was an overall awkward human being. I say “was” because Daphne is dead; tormented by her peers and left for dead, she is now a ghost and out for revenge. To think about her-gives her power over you! Daphne’s next target-the girls basketball team.
Daphne was an enjoyable read-a bloody, psychological horror book that will truly creep people out. I enjoyed the cast of characters and their “very different” views and actions in relation to Daphne. Highly recommend to fans of horror/dark and psychological thriller books. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Daphne is somewhat of a local legend in the small town of Samhattan. She was a seven-foot woman who was considered a “freak” by most people, especially her peers. She had no friends, dressed hideously and was an overall awkward human being. I say “was” because Daphne is dead; tormented by her peers and left for dead, she is now a ghost and out for revenge. To think about her-gives her power over you! Daphne’s next target-the girls basketball team.
Daphne was an enjoyable read-a bloody, psychological horror book that will truly creep people out. I enjoyed the cast of characters and their “very different” views and actions in relation to Daphne. Highly recommend to fans of horror/dark and psychological thriller books. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2022
4.5 stars
A metaphorical horror about anxiety, this follows after A House at the Bottom of a Lake as my favorite Josh Malerman I've read to date. From certain aspect, Daphne can even be interpreted as 'A House at the Bottom of a Lake 2.0', as both novels depict an abstract human condition as an enigmatic, yet physicaly present threat (a sunken house and a murderous entity respectively).
The writing is vivid and intense, as expected from Malerman, particularly in the appearance of Daphne (and how she shows up), as well as the brutal violence akin to special effects from 80s horror flicks — slightly comedic in its over-the-topness, but still packs a punch in its aggression. Told through a rotating roster of internal monologues (no formal chapter stop in this one), Daphne is a downer; characters' erratic rambling and spiraling thoughts can make for a VERY anxiety-inducing reading experience (I can only stomach it in short sittings). Even though this presentation is effective and thematically on-point, I would caution picking this up when you're in a slump.
Daphne is not perfect, there are a few side plots that feel inconsequential, and it stumbles when it tries to 'explain' the event in a rational manner; but as an expressionistic exercise in articulating anxiety and effect of trauma at varying scales, this is extremely accomplished. Not a material for a 'fun' time (the only fun aspect is its connection to Josh Malerman's other fictional work), but for sure worth checking out when you're in the right mindset— it also reminds me a bit of My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A metaphorical horror about anxiety, this follows after A House at the Bottom of a Lake as my favorite Josh Malerman I've read to date. From certain aspect, Daphne can even be interpreted as 'A House at the Bottom of a Lake 2.0', as both novels depict an abstract human condition as an enigmatic, yet physicaly present threat (a sunken house and a murderous entity respectively).
The writing is vivid and intense, as expected from Malerman, particularly in the appearance of Daphne (and how she shows up), as well as the brutal violence akin to special effects from 80s horror flicks — slightly comedic in its over-the-topness, but still packs a punch in its aggression. Told through a rotating roster of internal monologues (no formal chapter stop in this one), Daphne is a downer; characters' erratic rambling and spiraling thoughts can make for a VERY anxiety-inducing reading experience (I can only stomach it in short sittings). Even though this presentation is effective and thematically on-point, I would caution picking this up when you're in a slump.
Daphne is not perfect, there are a few side plots that feel inconsequential, and it stumbles when it tries to 'explain' the event in a rational manner; but as an expressionistic exercise in articulating anxiety and effect of trauma at varying scales, this is extremely accomplished. Not a material for a 'fun' time (the only fun aspect is its connection to Josh Malerman's other fictional work), but for sure worth checking out when you're in the right mindset— it also reminds me a bit of My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
July 25, 2022
If you are looking for a spooky book, Josh Malerman's Daphne has Nightmare on Elm Street vibes. Malerman is best known for writing Birdbox, the Netflix mega-hit. In his books, he creates atmospheric scenes that will have you checking the doors to make sure they are locked.
Synopsis:
Daphne Vann is a subject the locals of Samhattan do not like to discuss. It is said that if you think of Daphne, she will come to life. Legend has it she is a ghost murdered thirty years ago who still wants revenge. Remember not to mention her name. Daphne is waiting to kill you.
Generally, I don't find horror books frightening, but Daphne is an exception. The story has some extremely scary aspects that made me pull the covers up higher as I read it. It is not for the faint of heart. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.
Daphne by Josh Malerman is available on September 20th.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for allowing me to review this thrilling novel. Your kindness is appreciated!
Synopsis:
Daphne Vann is a subject the locals of Samhattan do not like to discuss. It is said that if you think of Daphne, she will come to life. Legend has it she is a ghost murdered thirty years ago who still wants revenge. Remember not to mention her name. Daphne is waiting to kill you.
Generally, I don't find horror books frightening, but Daphne is an exception. The story has some extremely scary aspects that made me pull the covers up higher as I read it. It is not for the faint of heart. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.
Daphne by Josh Malerman is available on September 20th.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for allowing me to review this thrilling novel. Your kindness is appreciated!
May 29, 2022
Malerman has got to be one of the most uneven authors working in genre right now. At least, that’s’ been my experience with reading him and I’ve read just about all he’s ever written.
The man peaked with Inspection and Mad Black Wheel and steadily though variedly disappointed with most of the rest.
Thing is, I like his writing enough to just download his books off of Netgalley on name recognition alone, but now it’ll have to change. I’m gonna have to actually read the plot summaries. Because had I read the plot summary for this one, I wouldn’t have been so put off by being stuck with a YA book about basketball playing teens with anxiety.
And so, Daphne might be the Malerman’s most disappointing one yet.
Sure, it’s great that he gets to write about things he loves (basketball) and things he lives with (anxiety), but that just isn’t enough for a good book. And also, WHY THE F isn’t there a YA label on it? Because one can make more money by peddling it as a coming-of-age story, that’s why.
That’s also cheating. For this book, anyway. I’ve read plenty of coming-of-age stories perfectly geared for adult audiences. This one is geared for kids. Kids like the kids in the book, a bunch of fourteen-year-olds.
The structure of the book the writing, the short sentences and simple logistics, the angst and overall tone – it’s all YA. As in strategically dumbed down for undercooked minds.
Oh yeah, here’s the plot…a bunch of basketball loving kids or ballers in a small town are dealing with the possibility of an urban legend of Daphne (a seven-foot-tall denim clad local weirdo) coming to life to take her revenge. Is it something spooky and supernatural or a serial killer sort of thing? Well, read and find out. The book is, at least, short and because it’s YA, it’s easy and quick to read. Should you read it though? That’s another question altogether.
This one appears to have gathered quite a lot of good reviews on GR so far, so mine is a minority opinion, but there it is. You’ve been warned, readers. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
The man peaked with Inspection and Mad Black Wheel and steadily though variedly disappointed with most of the rest.
Thing is, I like his writing enough to just download his books off of Netgalley on name recognition alone, but now it’ll have to change. I’m gonna have to actually read the plot summaries. Because had I read the plot summary for this one, I wouldn’t have been so put off by being stuck with a YA book about basketball playing teens with anxiety.
And so, Daphne might be the Malerman’s most disappointing one yet.
Sure, it’s great that he gets to write about things he loves (basketball) and things he lives with (anxiety), but that just isn’t enough for a good book. And also, WHY THE F isn’t there a YA label on it? Because one can make more money by peddling it as a coming-of-age story, that’s why.
That’s also cheating. For this book, anyway. I’ve read plenty of coming-of-age stories perfectly geared for adult audiences. This one is geared for kids. Kids like the kids in the book, a bunch of fourteen-year-olds.
The structure of the book the writing, the short sentences and simple logistics, the angst and overall tone – it’s all YA. As in strategically dumbed down for undercooked minds.
Oh yeah, here’s the plot…a bunch of basketball loving kids or ballers in a small town are dealing with the possibility of an urban legend of Daphne (a seven-foot-tall denim clad local weirdo) coming to life to take her revenge. Is it something spooky and supernatural or a serial killer sort of thing? Well, read and find out. The book is, at least, short and because it’s YA, it’s easy and quick to read. Should you read it though? That’s another question altogether.
This one appears to have gathered quite a lot of good reviews on GR so far, so mine is a minority opinion, but there it is. You’ve been warned, readers. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
April 10, 2023
I had to DNF this book, this was horrible. It reads like the movies BABADOOK and BYEBYE MAN -____- it was so slow, boring and read like a YA, not adult.
There wasn’t an ounce of horror in here (in my opinion). I DNFed it around 70% in. The characters were all annoying little teenagers and focused on anxiety more than “the monster”. i dont know I couldn’t get into it.
There wasn’t an ounce of horror in here (in my opinion). I DNFed it around 70% in. The characters were all annoying little teenagers and focused on anxiety more than “the monster”. i dont know I couldn’t get into it.
February 16, 2023
It’s got a slow start and is a bit long, but I had fun with it!! Very much has a YA feel to it, but still has some pretty graphic gore. I’ve heard people say to go into it expecting like a Fear Street-esq story and to not take it too seriously, and I agree!!
May 28, 2022
“Will Daphne kill me?”. The urban legend of Daphne starts by mentioning her then thinking of her summons her. As Kits basketball team begins being murdered is it the ghost or something much more sinister. This has to be my favorite since birdbox of his and was a thrilling ride that keeps you guessing till the end. Big thanks to Goodreads and Random House/DelRay for the ARC
4.5/5⭐️
4.5/5⭐️
July 17, 2022
2.5 stars. In the acknowledgments Malerman notes that this was originally a novel that he was encouraged to expand into a novel. Unfortunately that was the wrong decision. This is much too long, far more pages than the idea merits, and it's often repetitive, going back over the same ground beyond a typical reader's patience. It's kind of a bummer because the beginning is great, very creepy, and I love the concept of a monster that can be summoned just by your thoughts.
There is some more interesting stuff, the many versions of the urban legends, but it's more the idea than the execution that works. The first version is the best, the later versions are less and less interesting even as they get more gruesome. Evil can be deeply uninteresting, and the more the book moves in that direction the less interesting it gets.
I also just could not get past the description of the titular monster. That is not scary, it's just really weird in a way that I kind of wanted to chuckle and that I just could not picture.
Malerman really wants this to be a novel about anxiety and intrusive thoughts, it's clearly a topic of personal importance, but this all plays out in protagonist Kit's diary, and these diary entries are, well, boring. They are far too on the nose, with Kit explaining anxiety to us and connecting all the dots. Generally this kind of metaphor works much better when you make it an actual metaphor rather than a simile where you say just what the thing is like.
I keep hoping Malerman will write another thing I enjoy as much as Bird Box but I keep not getting it, sadly.
There is some more interesting stuff, the many versions of the urban legends, but it's more the idea than the execution that works. The first version is the best, the later versions are less and less interesting even as they get more gruesome. Evil can be deeply uninteresting, and the more the book moves in that direction the less interesting it gets.
I also just could not get past the description of the titular monster. That is not scary, it's just really weird in a way that I kind of wanted to chuckle and that I just could not picture.
Malerman really wants this to be a novel about anxiety and intrusive thoughts, it's clearly a topic of personal importance, but this all plays out in protagonist Kit's diary, and these diary entries are, well, boring. They are far too on the nose, with Kit explaining anxiety to us and connecting all the dots. Generally this kind of metaphor works much better when you make it an actual metaphor rather than a simile where you say just what the thing is like.
I keep hoping Malerman will write another thing I enjoy as much as Bird Box but I keep not getting it, sadly.
October 8, 2022
2 stars rounded up from one because it breaks my heart to give *Josh Malerman* 1 star. I never thought I’d give this author a one star review, but here we are.
I put Daphne down a couple times for lack of interest, buy-in and sheer annoyance a few times. Because of author loyalty I finished the story, in the hopes the end would turn it around (rare, but it happens). For me, Daphne will be that “one book” of a favorite author I just didn’t like. Bummer when that happens.
I’m going to bullet point why I didn’t love the book since I don’t want to just sit and bitch.
- Enough with the basketball. So. Much. Basketball. The reader gets it, they’re “ballers.” And the use of the word “ballers” could be a drinking game, only, don’t play because you’ll drink so much you die.
- The teen protagonists were written as middle aged adults. Some of the things they said, their insight, didn’t match the age group of the characters. Are these teens being chased by an evil ghost or therapists?
- There were so many repeating ideas. Protagonist talking about anxiety, and “that time she called 911 on herself” are my two primary examples and it got to the point that it felt like filler. I sped-read over a bunch because I was over it.
- The adults. The POV was mostly the teens, but even still, no adults would act this way. Especially parents and cops. I can’t really dive in to this without blaring spoilers but the level of unbelievability *hurt* my brain.
- This book had the vibe of a YA, yet it’s not.
- The characters were flat, unrelatable. Zero fleshing out of the people we’re supposed to care about as readers. The book was entirely plot driven which leads me to…
- The plot holes. The unanswered questions. The general just “pulling ideas out of the air”. ☠️
I’m stopping now. I could go on. But it just hurts. I clearly wouldn’t recommend.
I put Daphne down a couple times for lack of interest, buy-in and sheer annoyance a few times. Because of author loyalty I finished the story, in the hopes the end would turn it around (rare, but it happens). For me, Daphne will be that “one book” of a favorite author I just didn’t like. Bummer when that happens.
I’m going to bullet point why I didn’t love the book since I don’t want to just sit and bitch.
- Enough with the basketball. So. Much. Basketball. The reader gets it, they’re “ballers.” And the use of the word “ballers” could be a drinking game, only, don’t play because you’ll drink so much you die.
- The teen protagonists were written as middle aged adults. Some of the things they said, their insight, didn’t match the age group of the characters. Are these teens being chased by an evil ghost or therapists?
- There were so many repeating ideas. Protagonist talking about anxiety, and “that time she called 911 on herself” are my two primary examples and it got to the point that it felt like filler. I sped-read over a bunch because I was over it.
- The adults. The POV was mostly the teens, but even still, no adults would act this way. Especially parents and cops. I can’t really dive in to this without blaring spoilers but the level of unbelievability *hurt* my brain.
- This book had the vibe of a YA, yet it’s not.
- The characters were flat, unrelatable. Zero fleshing out of the people we’re supposed to care about as readers. The book was entirely plot driven which leads me to…
- The plot holes. The unanswered questions. The general just “pulling ideas out of the air”. ☠️
I’m stopping now. I could go on. But it just hurts. I clearly wouldn’t recommend.
September 25, 2022
I loved this sooooo much.
Daphne actually scared me for real. Finally a spooky book that delivered. Also a surprisingly beautiful story about acknowledging anxiety and facing fears. Yes this book also talks about basketball but this book is not about basketball. There is so much more going on. Will be a reread.
Daphne actually scared me for real. Finally a spooky book that delivered. Also a surprisingly beautiful story about acknowledging anxiety and facing fears. Yes this book also talks about basketball but this book is not about basketball. There is so much more going on. Will be a reread.
December 6, 2022
3.5 stars!
October 13, 2022
I actually enjoyed this...
There's a killer story in here somewhere, It's just overshadowed by the amount of basketball commentary. I'm a gym rat, basketball was never a passion of mine - I sucked at it to be honest. That's not the only problem with the story though...
The lack of character development is the real killer of the story. I couldn't tell any of the girls apart! They were all just carbon copies of each other - girl one dies, girl two dies, and so on. If there was more C-Dev and less B-Ball I would have given this 4 stars. All that being said, I'm a sucker for high school slashers, so... I still enjoyed It.
There's a killer story in here somewhere, It's just overshadowed by the amount of basketball commentary. I'm a gym rat, basketball was never a passion of mine - I sucked at it to be honest. That's not the only problem with the story though...
The lack of character development is the real killer of the story. I couldn't tell any of the girls apart! They were all just carbon copies of each other - girl one dies, girl two dies, and so on. If there was more C-Dev and less B-Ball I would have given this 4 stars. All that being said, I'm a sucker for high school slashers, so... I still enjoyed It.
May 4, 2022
There are fictional towns and fictional monsters, but there are times when those fictional monsters escape their towns, flee the edges of the page or film cells they’re trapped within; unshackled, they stalk freely into your subconscious, become fully fleshed monstrosities that there is no hiding from.
You can cower.
You can hide.
You can scream.
But one thing you can’t do is escape them when they come for you.
Haddonfield, Springwood, Camp Crystal Lake, Woodsboro, Fuller – these places are synonymous with horror, with killers, with boogeymen and monsters (of the mind, as well as the flesh), and now we can add a new town to that list.
Samhattan, Michigan; and the legend of ‘Daphne’.
Josh Malerman delivers a heart-pounding, pulse-shredding, nerve-wracking beast of a book. A slasher story, which in my humble opinion blows all the competition out of the water. I’ve read a few slasher books in my time (most recently My Heart Is A Chainsaw and The Boatmore Butcher series – both fabulous in their own rights) but none hold a candle to this sublime iteration and much-needed addition to the slasher genre.
But to call it a slasher novel, might cheapen it slightly (don’t get me wrong, I love slashers – watching them, getting scared by them, reading them – it’s a guilty pleasure, one that I know what I’m getting and accept it gladly). What I mean is that this book is more than its parts, more than the conventions that typically make up a slasher book/movie - it almost transcends the genre whilst keeping its feet firmly planted in that blood-soaked soil we know so well.
There are big themes tackled within ‘Daphne’, themes of mental health, anxiety, belonging, acceptance, friendship, adoration, friendship (so much of it I mentioned it twice), doubt and regrets – and our protagonist, Kit Lamb, is the lens that we see the world through. She’s the person we see tackling these big topics, these gigantic obstacles in her life, but one of the obstacles that won’t be moved, that can’t be moved, that is obdurate is Daphne – and she’s coming for Kit.
We get given all the cards upfront from Malerman – there is nothing hidden in this story. From the opening pages we know instantly where we’re heading, and what course our fearless but also anxious Kit Lamb is on (and the members of the girls' basketball team). Knowing all this upfront frees us in surrendering our lives, and Kit’s life, her friend’s lives into Malerman’s hands.
I’ve come to trust Malerman like I trust King. I’ll go wherever both are willing to take me, surrendering any preconceptions at the door of the story, and that trust has never been abused or misplaced and ‘Daphne’ is another rip-roaring ride that never lets up from page one. I devoured the book in two days, and that my friend is the highest compliment I can offer Malerman and his work. I wanted to pace myself, enjoy every word, linger on the sentences and story; you see, I’ve waited months for this book to arrive, knowing it’ll be a while until the next book, but I ended up killing it in less than two days, such is the brilliance on the page and I loved murdering ‘Daphne’.
The reason for finishing it so quickly is in part to Malerman’s fabulous and unique story, quite unlike any slasher you’ve ever seen or read. But Malerman was able to conjure something special here, he’s been able to deftly craft the thrills and spills, the pacing, the beats, the feel of a slasher film and commit all of this to the page; the energy of the book is something to admire, it’s incredible. There were jump scares (that actually made me jump), there were moments of fear, dread, tension, and anxiety that made my breathing quicken. But there is a thread, a note of unease which is woven right the way through the whole story, and behind it all, pulling the strings is Malerman - he’s standing there in the shadows orchestrating the most wonderful of symphonies.
There are pit stops along the way, moments to pause and savour the book, delivered to us in Kit’s diary entries – where we see clearly the pain, the suffering, the python-like anxiety that plagues her and crushes her. Over time and seeing the inner workings of Kit’s mind, we see how heavy is the head that wears the crown and how obdurate the voice of the rim is, how doggedly it pursues her after it answered her question when she sank the shot of her life. During these diary entries, we also get treated to an incredible piece of writing, where Kit calls 911 on herself; it’s exceptional and mentioned further in the afterword. This happened to Malerman, and knowing that makes this scene, the words on the page all the more hard-hitting, the way in which he paints this traumatic and life-changing experience, the gravity it holds – is truly transformative for the reader.
I’d also like to note here how well Malerman was able to write about anxiety. I live in a house with a wife who is plagued by anxiety, a daughter who too shares that crushing weight with her mother, and at times it is hard for me to understand much of their pain and suffering. How the fingers of this beast bedaub everything with anxious, greasy smears. How it uproots new shoots of hope and applies pressure to a person’s very being, crushing mind, body and soul. But Malerman through this remarkable book – ‘Daphne’ – has been able to shed some much-needed light on a subject many still feel awkward talking about, he’s been able to get me to see anxiety as it is for those that suffer it, and that is the sign of a masterful storyteller.
Daphne – our antagonist, is a monster like no other; she’s the whisper in the wind, the hushed voices in the playground, the graffiti on the wall, the shadow at your side – and she’s getting stronger. Malerman has successfully crafted a monster that is truly something to fear.
I’ve said too much, and so I must sign off. I’ll leave you here before I give any more credence to her for I fear she will be near, as she always is, the name on the tip of my tongue that I dread to speak… I can smell the whiskey and cigarettes as I type this.
Be safe.
Be well.
But whatever you do, don’t talk about Daphne.
You can cower.
You can hide.
You can scream.
But one thing you can’t do is escape them when they come for you.
Haddonfield, Springwood, Camp Crystal Lake, Woodsboro, Fuller – these places are synonymous with horror, with killers, with boogeymen and monsters (of the mind, as well as the flesh), and now we can add a new town to that list.
Samhattan, Michigan; and the legend of ‘Daphne’.
Josh Malerman delivers a heart-pounding, pulse-shredding, nerve-wracking beast of a book. A slasher story, which in my humble opinion blows all the competition out of the water. I’ve read a few slasher books in my time (most recently My Heart Is A Chainsaw and The Boatmore Butcher series – both fabulous in their own rights) but none hold a candle to this sublime iteration and much-needed addition to the slasher genre.
But to call it a slasher novel, might cheapen it slightly (don’t get me wrong, I love slashers – watching them, getting scared by them, reading them – it’s a guilty pleasure, one that I know what I’m getting and accept it gladly). What I mean is that this book is more than its parts, more than the conventions that typically make up a slasher book/movie - it almost transcends the genre whilst keeping its feet firmly planted in that blood-soaked soil we know so well.
There are big themes tackled within ‘Daphne’, themes of mental health, anxiety, belonging, acceptance, friendship, adoration, friendship (so much of it I mentioned it twice), doubt and regrets – and our protagonist, Kit Lamb, is the lens that we see the world through. She’s the person we see tackling these big topics, these gigantic obstacles in her life, but one of the obstacles that won’t be moved, that can’t be moved, that is obdurate is Daphne – and she’s coming for Kit.
We get given all the cards upfront from Malerman – there is nothing hidden in this story. From the opening pages we know instantly where we’re heading, and what course our fearless but also anxious Kit Lamb is on (and the members of the girls' basketball team). Knowing all this upfront frees us in surrendering our lives, and Kit’s life, her friend’s lives into Malerman’s hands.
I’ve come to trust Malerman like I trust King. I’ll go wherever both are willing to take me, surrendering any preconceptions at the door of the story, and that trust has never been abused or misplaced and ‘Daphne’ is another rip-roaring ride that never lets up from page one. I devoured the book in two days, and that my friend is the highest compliment I can offer Malerman and his work. I wanted to pace myself, enjoy every word, linger on the sentences and story; you see, I’ve waited months for this book to arrive, knowing it’ll be a while until the next book, but I ended up killing it in less than two days, such is the brilliance on the page and I loved murdering ‘Daphne’.
The reason for finishing it so quickly is in part to Malerman’s fabulous and unique story, quite unlike any slasher you’ve ever seen or read. But Malerman was able to conjure something special here, he’s been able to deftly craft the thrills and spills, the pacing, the beats, the feel of a slasher film and commit all of this to the page; the energy of the book is something to admire, it’s incredible. There were jump scares (that actually made me jump), there were moments of fear, dread, tension, and anxiety that made my breathing quicken. But there is a thread, a note of unease which is woven right the way through the whole story, and behind it all, pulling the strings is Malerman - he’s standing there in the shadows orchestrating the most wonderful of symphonies.
There are pit stops along the way, moments to pause and savour the book, delivered to us in Kit’s diary entries – where we see clearly the pain, the suffering, the python-like anxiety that plagues her and crushes her. Over time and seeing the inner workings of Kit’s mind, we see how heavy is the head that wears the crown and how obdurate the voice of the rim is, how doggedly it pursues her after it answered her question when she sank the shot of her life. During these diary entries, we also get treated to an incredible piece of writing, where Kit calls 911 on herself; it’s exceptional and mentioned further in the afterword. This happened to Malerman, and knowing that makes this scene, the words on the page all the more hard-hitting, the way in which he paints this traumatic and life-changing experience, the gravity it holds – is truly transformative for the reader.
I’d also like to note here how well Malerman was able to write about anxiety. I live in a house with a wife who is plagued by anxiety, a daughter who too shares that crushing weight with her mother, and at times it is hard for me to understand much of their pain and suffering. How the fingers of this beast bedaub everything with anxious, greasy smears. How it uproots new shoots of hope and applies pressure to a person’s very being, crushing mind, body and soul. But Malerman through this remarkable book – ‘Daphne’ – has been able to shed some much-needed light on a subject many still feel awkward talking about, he’s been able to get me to see anxiety as it is for those that suffer it, and that is the sign of a masterful storyteller.
Daphne – our antagonist, is a monster like no other; she’s the whisper in the wind, the hushed voices in the playground, the graffiti on the wall, the shadow at your side – and she’s getting stronger. Malerman has successfully crafted a monster that is truly something to fear.
I’ve said too much, and so I must sign off. I’ll leave you here before I give any more credence to her for I fear she will be near, as she always is, the name on the tip of my tongue that I dread to speak… I can smell the whiskey and cigarettes as I type this.
Be safe.
Be well.
But whatever you do, don’t talk about Daphne.
November 23, 2022
Sometimes corny things are fun!
April 7, 2024
Todo pueblo tiene su particular historia de terror. La de Sanhattan es Daphne, un fantasma qué aparece y te mata con sus propias manos, y que tiene predilección por matar a jugadoras de baloncesto.
La única manera de sobrevivir es no pensar en ella, pero como consigues no pensar en ella?
+ otra lectura con leyenda urbana Murder Road de Simone ST James.
La única manera de sobrevivir es no pensar en ella, pero como consigues no pensar en ella?
+ otra lectura con leyenda urbana Murder Road de Simone ST James.
May 22, 2023
Kit can't stop thinking about Daphne, the high school outcast who died suspiciously, and is now said to be out to get her revenge. If you think about her too much, you'll conjure her into existence. When teammates start dying, Kit tries to get to the source of the legend and save what remains of her team.
This book, as Malerman says in the author's notes, is "a love letter" to basketball, horror, and a "correspondence" to anxiety. The anxiety representation is done really well, and I think people who battle anxiety will identify with and appreciate it. Also, there is a lot of basketball, this is about a basketball team. If that's not your jam, you might wanna skip this one.
Personally, I'm a fan of basketball and also deal with anxiety, so I really identified with this one. The plot is great. The pacing, while slow at first, really picks up and will leave you hooked. The main character is well done. We don't really get much of the teammates, though, so they're quite one dimensional. My only real complaint, as small as it is, is the repeated use of the term "ballers." Maybe I'm just getting to be an old man, but I've never heard anyone use the term as much as Malerman does to describe basketball players.
Thank you to Penguin Random House-Ballantine, Del Rey, author Josh Malerman, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
This book, as Malerman says in the author's notes, is "a love letter" to basketball, horror, and a "correspondence" to anxiety. The anxiety representation is done really well, and I think people who battle anxiety will identify with and appreciate it. Also, there is a lot of basketball, this is about a basketball team. If that's not your jam, you might wanna skip this one.
Personally, I'm a fan of basketball and also deal with anxiety, so I really identified with this one. The plot is great. The pacing, while slow at first, really picks up and will leave you hooked. The main character is well done. We don't really get much of the teammates, though, so they're quite one dimensional. My only real complaint, as small as it is, is the repeated use of the term "ballers." Maybe I'm just getting to be an old man, but I've never heard anyone use the term as much as Malerman does to describe basketball players.
Thank you to Penguin Random House-Ballantine, Del Rey, author Josh Malerman, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
September 25, 2022
This book started slow, and I had a hard time immediately getting into it. It soon began to grow on me though; this was a decent horror story!
Daphne is a teenage girl who died while listening to music in her running car. She’d returned home, fell asleep, and then the garage door shut, killing her with carbon monoxide poisoning. Was it a suicide, or was it murder? The rumors abound: she was a basketball player, seven feet tall, who could crush a ball in one hand. The story is that she kills with her bare hands, and the only way to not get killed is to not think of her or talk about her.
Kit is a high school basketball player, and as all of her “baller” friends are, obsessed with Daphne’s legend. The rumor that Daphne haunts their town of Samhattan is something that haunts Kit. She knows Daphne goes after other players, and can’t escape the feeling that she’s in danger after winning a critical game and getting a premonition from the basketball rim.
What exacerbates the problem is that Kit suffers from panic attacks/panic disorder. She writes extensively about her fears in her journal, named Jolly. I saw one review say that Daphne was a metaphor for anxiety, and in the epilogue, the author seems to hint at that, too. Anxiety or not, Daphne is on the prowl, and the bodies keep piling up…
I don’t normally like haunted/ghost stories, but this one was better than most. The writing was excellent; my only complaint was that it was quite long and had a slight YA feel. You can write a book about teenagers without it feeling like a book for teenagers, but it wasn’t perfectly executed here. Still, quite a good book and a fair four stars.
(Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Josh Malerman, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Daphne is a teenage girl who died while listening to music in her running car. She’d returned home, fell asleep, and then the garage door shut, killing her with carbon monoxide poisoning. Was it a suicide, or was it murder? The rumors abound: she was a basketball player, seven feet tall, who could crush a ball in one hand. The story is that she kills with her bare hands, and the only way to not get killed is to not think of her or talk about her.
Kit is a high school basketball player, and as all of her “baller” friends are, obsessed with Daphne’s legend. The rumor that Daphne haunts their town of Samhattan is something that haunts Kit. She knows Daphne goes after other players, and can’t escape the feeling that she’s in danger after winning a critical game and getting a premonition from the basketball rim.
What exacerbates the problem is that Kit suffers from panic attacks/panic disorder. She writes extensively about her fears in her journal, named Jolly. I saw one review say that Daphne was a metaphor for anxiety, and in the epilogue, the author seems to hint at that, too. Anxiety or not, Daphne is on the prowl, and the bodies keep piling up…
I don’t normally like haunted/ghost stories, but this one was better than most. The writing was excellent; my only complaint was that it was quite long and had a slight YA feel. You can write a book about teenagers without it feeling like a book for teenagers, but it wasn’t perfectly executed here. Still, quite a good book and a fair four stars.
(Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Josh Malerman, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
October 27, 2022
oh dear.
i didn't like this. didn't click with the plot, disliked the characters, cringed at so many scenes. i'm a fan of horror and i love slashers, even paranormal ones like this right here, but there are some stories that just never settle in me and this is one of them.
not a single character was worth rooting for. at the very beginning, some of them were introduced only to die in that same chapter where we'd just gotten to know them. i didn't care for the very in-your-face metaphor about anxiety either. and the ending... just not good. and so corny. in general, the whole book was a miss (basketball pun?) for me
i didn't like this. didn't click with the plot, disliked the characters, cringed at so many scenes. i'm a fan of horror and i love slashers, even paranormal ones like this right here, but there are some stories that just never settle in me and this is one of them.
not a single character was worth rooting for. at the very beginning, some of them were introduced only to die in that same chapter where we'd just gotten to know them. i didn't care for the very in-your-face metaphor about anxiety either. and the ending... just not good. and so corny. in general, the whole book was a miss (basketball pun?) for me
Want to read
April 19, 2022will be issued on my birthday...uhh, not cool
June 8, 2022
I'm trying to come up with words right now. I really am. But my brain after finishing this book is just consumed with all the emotions and feels. DAPHNE is part coming-of-age, part slasher horror, and part psychological thriller. Daphne, herself, well... is she a ghost? An urban legend? A real, live monster? One thing is for certain: the more you think about her or talk about her, the closer you are to climbing into your own coffin and sealing it forever.
Our main character, Kit, is a star. She's a great friend, excellent basketball player and teammate, and she suffers from anxiety in a major way. How Josh Malerman is able to navigate the mental health landscape almost in tandem with Daphne (the character) is remarkable. I FELT all the stress and pressure and fears as the book progressed. I held my breath. I relied on Kit to calm MY nerves as she battled her own fears and anxieties by writing in her journal for us, talking with her friends, or getting lost in the love of the game of basketball.
I grew up loving the game. I was a better baseball player, but I liked backyard/neighborhood basketball a ton. From pickup games with the neighbors to more fun things like 21, Horse, Around the World, etc, basketball gave me an outlet as a kid and a way to connect with my own brother and his world. But he actually was on the school basketball teams. He had a lot of those pressures that Kit had. So that made reading about this all the more relatable to me as I have seen it with my own eyes.
I loved all the WNBA player's names dropped throughout. I grew up a huge Lady Vols fan so it pained me slightly to keep reading the names of all these phenomenal players from UConn (seeing as Lobo, Taurasi, and Bird were extremely responsible in crushing us all the time lol). And what does this matter? Well this was just one more way that Malerman pulled *ME* into this story. I was into every facet of this story.
There are some scary parts that I read during a thunderstorm where the power went out (NOT COOL!!). There's just this looming, suffocating feeling throughout a lot of it --- Daphne is always coming. The anxiety is always building. The pressure is always building. The stress is unforgiving. The absolutely crippling and paralyzing fear grows. It just WORKED for me in this book.
I loved it.
I hope you love it.
And I hope you can find reasons to connect with it on multiple levels like I did.
Our main character, Kit, is a star. She's a great friend, excellent basketball player and teammate, and she suffers from anxiety in a major way. How Josh Malerman is able to navigate the mental health landscape almost in tandem with Daphne (the character) is remarkable. I FELT all the stress and pressure and fears as the book progressed. I held my breath. I relied on Kit to calm MY nerves as she battled her own fears and anxieties by writing in her journal for us, talking with her friends, or getting lost in the love of the game of basketball.
I grew up loving the game. I was a better baseball player, but I liked backyard/neighborhood basketball a ton. From pickup games with the neighbors to more fun things like 21, Horse, Around the World, etc, basketball gave me an outlet as a kid and a way to connect with my own brother and his world. But he actually was on the school basketball teams. He had a lot of those pressures that Kit had. So that made reading about this all the more relatable to me as I have seen it with my own eyes.
I loved all the WNBA player's names dropped throughout. I grew up a huge Lady Vols fan so it pained me slightly to keep reading the names of all these phenomenal players from UConn (seeing as Lobo, Taurasi, and Bird were extremely responsible in crushing us all the time lol). And what does this matter? Well this was just one more way that Malerman pulled *ME* into this story. I was into every facet of this story.
There are some scary parts that I read during a thunderstorm where the power went out (NOT COOL!!). There's just this looming, suffocating feeling throughout a lot of it --- Daphne is always coming. The anxiety is always building. The pressure is always building. The stress is unforgiving. The absolutely crippling and paralyzing fear grows. It just WORKED for me in this book.
I loved it.
I hope you love it.
And I hope you can find reasons to connect with it on multiple levels like I did.
February 7, 2024
This would make a good movie if someone wrote an ending for it. Daphne is legitimately one of the more interesting slasher villains I’ve seen in a long time, an invisible, seven foot tall female metal head stalking and killing a high school girls basketball team while everyone *tries* not to think of her. Doesn’t explain shit and occasional mention of nearby town Goblin references the author’s other book (of which this feels like an expanded story from). Like a tv movie for teens except it actually kind of scary in parts. Ends with a shrug and pretty much says, “Ok, so that’s all I got.” Good concept but undercooked.
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