"When the monster lives where the mind's walls meet, where can she possibly go?"

Daphne. The urban legend. You want her to stay away? Don't talk about her. Don't even think about her. Otherwise, she comes with a terror. When the girls on Samhattan's high school basketball team are killed one by one, team member Kit Lamb is faced with absolute fear. She asks the rim a question. "Will Daphne kill me?" But is she prepared to know the answer?

I love the idea of urban legends but I wouldn't say this was one of my favorite spins on these myths. I did enjoy reading about the girls and their friendships. Each had her own issues but they bonded together well as a team. The author's love of basketball clearly shines through but it did get a little much at times, perhaps making the story slow somewhat in pace. Other than the pacing, I was invested in the characters and felt deeply immersed in the story. Atmospheric in its description, the town of Samhattan also added an eerie quality of its own to the troubles happening within it. And the ending was fantastic and completely unexpected.

This book was definitely quite different than anything I've read. Primarily psychological horror, the story provided thoughtful insight into the power of the mind. Light was shed upon the very real struggles of those with anxiety, highlighting the panic, free floating fears and horror that often accompanies it. But, more importantly, it gave hope for finding the strength to face those fears and have control over one's thoughts and life. This look at anxiety was what made this story truly fascinating to me.

** Special thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available September 20, 2022. **

Really wasn’t sure how this book would go but it was decent surprisingly. Really quite the twist in the end.

I just didn't feel like the structure of this worked for me. This might have worked better for me as a short story. Coming of age is my favorite genre so it pains me to say I wasn't a fan of this book.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to read this so many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Josh Malerman for the advanced copy of Daphne in exchange for my honest review.

I so, so badly wanted to love this one, but the laser focus on basketball was so strange and off-putting for me. Also, the book is literally just one giant chapter.

I really enjoyed the scenes that Daphne reared her ugly head in, and I wish they would've been drawn out longer because they were well and truly creepy.

As far as the actual plot goes, I got a mashup of Nightmare on Elm Street, IT, and It Follows vibes. Again, I REALLY enjoyed the scarier scenes, but could not handle how much basketball factored into the plot. Regardless I will not hesitate to read whatever Malerman writes next.

Daphne will be on US bookshelves September 20.

Yet another Malerman book that has left him quickly climbing to the top of my favorite authors list. Whether we want to admit it or not, I think the majority of us can relate to Daphne / there's a piece of Daphne in each of us. I loved Daphne just as much as Bird Box and Malorie and Inspection, and I am anxiously awaiting the next great work of Josh Malerman. When asked for what to read next recommendations, whether it be in person or online, I will definitely be throwing out this title and author.

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!

I've always been a lover of ghost stories. As a kid, I would go to the library and read any ghost story compilations I could find, watched 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?' and other spooky shows. Ghost stories will forever be a part of our culture, but what happens when the ghost story comes to life?

In Josh Malerman's newest release, the town of Samhattan is haunted by the vengeful ghost of Daphne, a seven foot tall social outcast who was murdered. The legend of her murder has become folklore to the town and while many don't talk about it, there is good reason not to. After hearing the story of Daphne, Kit's basketball teammates begin to be mysteriously murdered one by one. Is Daphne back for revenge? Or is something more sinister afoot?

'Daphne' is out August 23rd. Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Publications for the opportunity to review and read this book.

Hell yes! I loved this book. There has been a handful of powerhouse horror authors writing throwback, classic horror and homages to 80's slashers, and this was my favorite. Such creative kills, such wonderful myth-building, but what sets it apart: A fascinating study of anxiety, deep into character, and taught me more than expected about the nature of anxiety and coping skills. (even as someone who works in the field of behavioral health).

Five stars to Daphne, and I want a movie

This was an extremely, well done horror story. An homage to Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday the 13th, Josh Malerman’s Daphne is truly frightening and engaging. The narrative is not straightforward—it’s unexpected and leaves the reader surprised at every turn. This creates a great amount of unease and uncertainty, which kept me reading on! I also was shocked by the violence and gore in this book, which was alarming and had me reading over it again just to make sure. Like, did that really just happen? Very good, would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

So I’ve never had the chance to read any of Josh Malerman’s stories. I was super interested in this seeing that a new one of his was coming out so I was excited.

I just don’t think this book was for me. It was a very simple “don’t say it don’t think it” ghost story about a team of girls basketball players who accidentally summon the spirit of a ghost out to kill anyone who thinks about her.

I had a few questions throughout because some of it didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I appreciated the talk about anxiety and how you can identify with it while not making your mental illness all of who you are. Also, I liked the part about how talking about things you shouldn’t can make you brave and you should stand up for yourself. Those were all great points. The twists and turns throughout the book kept it interesting enough. It just dragged on a little for me at some points.

I have a confession to make…this is the first novel I’ve read by Josh Malerman. I blame all the wonderful writers out there writing all the wonderful books. After reading Daphne, Malerman’s brutal, terrifying new novel, I’ll be happily dipping into his back catalog, because this book rocks. It’s part serial killer novel, part slasher, part urban mythology, and part coming-of-age. Oh, and it’s scary as hell.

Daphne revolves around a high school girls basketball team who unwittingly awakens an evil—a hulking, unstoppable murderer named Daphne—that has stalked other basketball teams in the small town for decades. The story of Daphne is part urban myth, part scary story whispered at sleepovers, but that’s not quite right either, because the town seems to be suffering from a collective amnesia. Over the years, Daphne, who according to the stories was murdered by a group of townsfolk for various transgressions, has come back to slaughter young ballers; and then the locals, for the most part, forget it happened. Until it happens again.

Daphne works perfectly as straight-ahead horror—honestly, it might be a new classic—but it’s much more than that. Kit, the main protagonist, suffers from severe anxiety, and Malerman handles that with clear-headed sensitivity. Kit is a complex, winning character who I was rooting for from the beginning. In some ways, this is her coming-of-age story, and watching her dig deep, battle her anxiety, and find hidden reserves she didn’t know she had, is awe-inspiring. Malerman also excels at showing the easy interplay, the comaraderie, between the girls on the team.

Malerman talks about his love of basketball in the afterword (Yes, I read afterwords. In fact, I love them.), but I would have known that just from reading Daphne. His affection for the game is clear in the exciting game descriptions. The final, nerve-shredding showdown put me in mind of another one-on-one basketball game with similar high stakes—the one that caps Stephen Graham Jones’ The Only Good Indians.

Put this one on your radar, and give it a pre-order. Daphne delivers.

I am a Josh Malerman fan so I was excited to get an ARC of Daphne. It ended up being a book I enjoyed, but not my favorite from this author (that is reserved for Pearl, hands down). Daphne is a sort of urban (or rural) legend. Is she real? Was she real? What actually happened to her? And why does no one talk about her? Daphne is also a not-at-all subtle metaphor for...well, it becomes clear very quickly.

The story opens with immediate action - I like this about this author. Kit Lamb is a HS student and basketball star. She is busy winning a summer league game for her teammates and thinking about Daphne...the story she heard from a teammate the night before. In a vein similar to Candyman, just thinking about Daphne has the power to summon her. The town begins to experience true horror. At times, there were genuinely scary moments in the book.. The atmosphere and tension are well done, as always.

The book is an homage to basketball as well. Anyone who loves this sport will probably enjoy all the talk about games, strategies, players, etc. I enjoy March Madness but I am not that interested in sports in general so I got bored at times with all the talk about basketball.

The ending, for me, was a little disappointing. A crucial plot point was revealed in a hurry and then the story just moved away from it without really explaining it. That said, the ultimate end worked and I liked, again, the metaphor that is Daphne. 3.5 stars.

This summer has satisfied my horror sweet tooth. We got an epic season of Stranger Things and a wickedly good new novel from Josh Malerman. Both tell a tale of teenagers fighting evil against all odds. Although they have different kinds of horror, they both have classic 80's horror vibes. Daphne was the perfect book for me to read after I finished the first half of the Netflix hit and waited for the epic conclusion. I think Daphne channels early Stephen King horror and I loved every bit of it!

The concept of asking a question right before you shoot a basket and having the fate of that question be revealed based on if you made or missed the shot may seem kind of silly but there is some form of relatability to it. I remember being a kid and doing the same kind of thing. Maybe not shooting a basketball but something just as trivial and really feeling like it made a difference. Every kid does this in some form but Daphne takes it to another level. Daphne is the best horror book of the year.

I want to thank Josh Malerman, Del Rey, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a first for me… I DNF’d a book I was actually enjoying.

Stay with me and you’ll understand why. Content warning: This review contains no spoilers, but there are triggers for OCD, intrusive thoughts, and magical thinking.

I think it's important that readers know the plot of this book with the correct emphasis that I didn't takeaway from reading the summary.

Every town has its myths and legends. Kit's town is no different. In a transitionary period between high school and college, Kit's basketball team is enjoying their last summer together. The night before a big game, one of Kit's teammates tells them the legend of "Daphne" during a sleepover.

Daphne is rumored to be a girl who went to their high school years ago. She was a seven foot tall outcast who never really fit in. The myth diverges here, but either way, it results in Daphne's death. She was either killed by some of the other students or she took her own life due to bullying.

What does Daphne want? REVENGE.

When does she want it? ANY TIME YOU THINK OF HER.

That's right. Daphne has a bloodlust and wants murderous revenge against literally anyone... who thinks of her. If you don't think about Daphne, she can't kill you. But if you think about Daphne? She can and will kill you. In fact, Kit's teammates are starting to disappear one by one.


I made it about 35-40% of the way through this book. Honestly, the beginning didn't really catch my attention and I was finding it difficult to be motivated to read more. Then at around 15% of the way through, the book really picked up and I found myself much more involved.

The problem that I had here is that I happen to have OCD. Kit's endless breakdown seemed very similar to OCD spirals I've had myself. She's getting intrusive thoughts about Daphne. She's ruminating. She's seeking reassurances from outside parties. She's having panic attacks. She's having magical thinking about things she has no control over.

For me, this is all an unfortunate no thank you. I get way too anxious thinking about episodes like this and it's not worth triggering my OCD over. If it had been made more clear in the summary that the MC would be having one long breakdown over intrusive thoughts, I would have skipped over this one.

That being said, I was really enjoying this book until I couldn't take it anymore. In fact, I still thought about finishing it despite the content. I think for people who don't suffer with these issues and who love horror books, I would recommend this one based on what I was able to read of it.

I actually love the concept of a killer who can only kill you if you think about them. It reminds me a little bit of Freddy Kreuger only killing you while you're sleeping. Except, theoretically, you could survive forever by never thinking of Daphne. You can't exactly survive with no sleep.

So best of luck to Kit and company. For me? I'll have to check out spoiler reviews to see how this one ends. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Daphne.

I didn't have high hopes for Daphne; the author has been mostly miss with me lately but I was willing to give this a try. I always have hope for books.

First, Daphne is an obvious Nightmare on Elm Street/Freddy Krueger rip-off and second, the author looovveesss basketball.

I'm not a fan of sports, so the basketball jargon went over my head. I was also annoyed by the constant references about the questions asked of the rim.

Kit was a decent character, but I didn't like her.

I didn't need to read 10 pages about how anxious she was, that gets panic attacks, not that I'm not sympathetic to her issues. I am, but I don't want to read about it constantly, including he boring journal entries.

The segues to her entries pulled you away from the narrative, away from Daphne and the legend surrounding her.

The numerous POVs; Kit's friends, the soon-to-be-victims, and the detective were distracting, since nearly everyone's thoughts were the same; don't think about Daphne, worrying about each other, how did Daphne get back into their heads, this became repetitive very, very fast.

I understand the author might be paying homage to Freddy Krueger, but there's no comparison.

I'm still scared of Freddy Krueger, decades after I watched Nightmare on Elm Street for the first time at an age I shouldn't have. But Daphne isn't scary.

I don't care how tall she is or how big her hands are (every time her obscenely large hands were mentioned, which was ALL THE TIME, I just thought of the 'man hands' Seinfeld episode, which made me laugh out loud).

I wasn't scared, I wasn't nervous, I was bored. Bored bored bored right out of my gourd and back in the gourd to be bored right back out of it.

Loyal fans of the author might enjoy this, but I didn't.

I'm not the right audience for this; I'm not a sports fan and it takes A LOT to scare me.

I have yet read a book by Josh Malerman I did not enjoy. Daphne was another such book. This book, told by several points of view, is that kind of book to draw you in and spit you out, a changed reader. Each person in this novel was someone readers could relate to. As more tragedies occur, the reader begins to believe like the characters in the book, there is something supernatural going on. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yet the reader gets sucked in to the group mentality and when the end of the book draws to a close; the reader is left with many thoughts.

this was a fun and pretty campy light horror (more of a thriller) featuring a classic trope. something different than Malerman’s other stuff i’ve read but this one was a really fun time

There were so many different directions to take this story in, however I just did not find this to be effective. The tie in with basketball was just blase and they could have really been doing anything in a team setting. There needed to be suspense, or something ominous that really drew the story in. I did not really develop any instinct about what the characters were like and why I should care that they are being knocked off. After reading Pearl and loving it, this was a disappointment. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

*3.5*

I have been waiting patiently for this book since I read that synopsis and THE COVER! I was so excited to get an ARC but it just didn't deliver. I thought the premise was interesting but it didn't have any of the tension I was expecting to feel. Kit's journal entries were a complete mess and I get what Josh Malerman was going for but I didn't find that they added much to the overall story. Now with that said, Daphne was scary as hell. A 7 foot killer walking towards you that only you can see, yeah that's frightening. Was she banished, I think you know but don't get your hopes up for an all out awesome battle.

Not the best Josh Malerman read for me. Will I continue to read his books, yes. Will I continue to buy them so I have them all on my shelves, probably. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine, Del Rey for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love the author and how atmospheric and creepy his novels are. This one, however, had two things that I’m not even remotely interested in: basketball and teenage angst. The spooky story of Daphne, a ghostly legend reminiscent of Freddy Krueger, who comes back from the dead to murder the children of the town that murdered her, is really scary. As a fan of horror, the violent and graphic killing scenes kept me reading and cringing. The way the city of Samhattan is portrayed is as detailed as the author’s previous Goblin. I liked the main character, Kit, a basketball prodigy with anxiety issues. I didn’t want her to get murdered but I also didn’t want to read her journal or hear her constant internal monologue. This is why, even if I was interested in the story itself and wanted to know what was going to happen, I can’t say that I enjoyed this read. It’s very well written, I’m just not the target audience.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey!