This was such a fun read by Malerman. Fast paced, couldn’t put it down, exhilarating story, such readable, fun, scary horror with a voice I recognize right away.

This was a fun, "urban legend" type of coming-of-age story that hit a lot of marks for me. The pacing, setting and vibe was on point. Malerman is no stranger to story-telling and this is another great example of his versatility.
I got more of a YA feel from this one compared to some of his other work, but a "Fear Street" sort of YA so that was fun.
3.5

DAPHNE took me a while to get in to, but once I finally got sucked in I couldn’t put it down. The beginning drags a bit as there’s a lot of discussions of basketball and anxiety, with the figurative ghost of Daphne eventually permeating…everything. Remember — if you think about Daphne, she’ll kill again! Don’t think about Daphne!

Killing does eventually happen again, though no one really knows who it is. The basketball girlies, specifically Kit, have some idea of who it is (Daphne! Don’t think it! Don’t say it!). Eventually things reach a breaking point and Kit is sent into a spiral of anxiety, believing that it’s her own mind conjuring She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and killing her teammates one by one.

Despite this taking a bit for me to become fully invested, I loved it in the end. It’s been quite a while since I’ve felt such an overwhelming, suffocating feeling of anxiety when reading something, and my feelings perfectly mirrored those of Kit. Malerman is a master at making the reader feel what the characters are feeling and this book is a perfect example of that. All told, DAPHNE is a book I’d recommend, but be warned that the initial pace drags quite a bit. 4 stars.


*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital arc!

My man, Malerman. This one deserves all the praise! If you follow him on Facebook or Instagram you’d see all the other advertising he and his girlfriend, Allison, did for this. Amazing stuff!

Sadly will be DNFing this one. I'm so sick of hearing about basketball and none of the story is remotely interesting to me. I was expecting something a lot spookier, not this.

This book reminds me when I was in high school playing basketball. 🏀 Then throw in the slasher element into the plot and you have a classic Josh Malerman thrill ride! Thank goodness no one carried weapons on my team!

This story was something I was not able to get into. The setting and the age group was young, and normally that does not affect my ability to get into the story but I just found myself unable to fully immerse myself in this one and ended up putting it down after the halfway mark.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Let me just say that typically I love Josh Malerman's books. I even own The Ghoul 'N the Cape, which has become one of my favorite books ever. Bird Box was a classic of course, and Goblin had some great stories in it as well. Even Inspection had lower ratings and I loved that title as well. That being said, Daphne just didn't live up to my expectations. It felt like there were just too many characters being introduced and killed in the same chapter to care about any of them. I can see he was trying to do something different but I thought it was a misfire.

Josh Malerman has a distinct writing style and has quickly become a must-read author. I'm not a huge fan of slashers but as I'm a fan of Josh Malerman, I picked Daphne up. Daphne has this larger-than-life persona, an urban legend. There's no denying that Daphne is scary and absolutely demolishes those in her path. Unfortunately, Daphne took a backseat to all the basketball. Like it was a character of its own and I hate basketball! This might work as a YA horror but it just didn't work for me.

Daphne by Josh Malerman was a DNF for me. I liked Malerman's other titles and I was very excited for this one, but it just didn't thrill me like his others. That's not to say it was poorly written, I just didn't enjoy it.

Kit Lamb is on the cusp of her final summer—the last one before college, the farewell to her high school basketball team, and the end of her time with Dana, her closest friend. It's the bridge to a new chapter in her life. However, on the eve of a crucial game, a teammate spins a chilling ghost story about Daphne, a girl from their school who met a mysterious demise years ago. The narratives surrounding Daphne range from murder to suicide, with whispers of her lingering as a vengeful spirit, ready to strike anyone who thinks of her.

As the night unfolds, Kit's teammates mysteriously vanish, prompting her to question the authenticity of the tales about Daphne. A growing sense of dread takes hold, and Kit begins to wonder if her mind is conjuring the malevolent force. Racing against time, Kit embarks on a quest for the truth behind the legend, simultaneously confronting her fears. The narrative expertly weaves a coming-of-age story with elements of horror, crafting an atmosphere of underlying tension as Kit grapples with both her mental health and the looming threat.

The strength of the book lies in its exploration of Kit's psychological struggles and the mounting dread that permeates the narrative. "Daphne" emerges as a compelling blend of bloody horror and psychological thriller, capable of sending shivers down readers' spines. The characters, with their diverse perspectives and actions in relation to Daphne, contribute to the book's appeal. For enthusiasts of horror, darkness, and psychological thrillers, this gripping tale comes highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The love I have for Josh and his stories is infinite. This is easily one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. This one kept me riveted from the beginning. What an insane thrill ride. Can’t say enough good things.

This book was really difficult to get into. A girls basketball team haunted by a Bloody Mary esque type situation. Don’t say daphnes name. Don’t think of Daphne. Or bad things will happen. But when bad things start to happen how can you not think of her? Or say her name out loud? Honestly predictable and hard to get through. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Malerman delivers again with another book that is undeniably Malerman, but is, at the same time, entirely different from his other titles. He's the chameleon of horror, able to shift tones and voice so that each story feels unique. This book starts with a slow creeping anxiety and explodes into a classic slasher sure to delight fans of Friday the 13th. Throughout the classic tropes, Josh weaves a thread of compassion and an examination of how anxiety impacts a teen's life--and how it's a monster that can be beaten. This is the most "Stephen King-like" of Josh's titles to date, and might serve as a good bridge for readers who are looking for something similar to King's style, and eager to discover a new favorite author.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Josh Malerman is a must-read for me. I love his books and have yet to be disappointed. Daphne is another great one and seriously spooky. Set around a high school girls’ basketball team, during a sleepover, Natasha tells the team about Daphne. She lived in the town but was murdered. Now she haunts people and will kill you if you think about her too much.

Kit has anxiety and, of course, can’t stop thinking about Daphne. When other team members are killed, one at a time, Kit is sure Daphne is coming for her next. What I loved about this book is how real the anxiety descriptions were. Intrusive thoughts suck, and Malerman captured this perfectly but in a more terrifying way. Because Daphne will literally kill you if you can’t stop thinking about her…. or so the legend says….

I think that at this point, I just need to accept that Malerman might not be for me. While I enjoyed Bird Box and House at the Bottom of the Lake, everything else I've read of his has largely been a miss for me.

I had a difficult time with this one due to the heavy focus on basketball. It's just... not something that interests me. Combine that with the fact that I have a difficult time connecting to teenage characters, and this just did not work for me. I ended up not finishing it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Seriously, Josh Malerman is such a great storyteller!!! Daphne is a freaky, scary book that will totally make you paranoid. I found myself looking over my shoulder while reading and trying not to think of Daphne myself.

Basic premise, Daphne will attack and kill you if you think about her too much. Like your thoughts manifest her spirit. The book was written in such a way that you have to know what’s going to happen. I couldn’t wait to find out who would make it to the end and if Daphne would ever be defeated. Creepy stuff.

I highly recommend this to Josh Malerman fans and those who enjoy a good horror book with a healthy dose of paranoia.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I love a good slasher, and Malerman has constructed an amazing slasher novel with Daphne! With a unique killer, interesting structure, and some knockout and delicious kill sequences, Daphne is a love letter to slashers, and a map for how this genre can continue to evolve. I loved it!

I had a really hard time getting into this one. I just didn't really care about the characters or the plot. And that's fine, some books just don't work for some audience members.