The beginning starts out a little slow, but once it gets rolling it’s an exhilarating horror story that keeps you turning the page to find out what happens next.

Ssshhhhh…..Don’t do it.

Don’t think about her…(Daphne)

Don’t say her name…(Daphne)

Don’t talk about what happened…(Daphne)

You’ll conjure her…(Daphne)…and the killing spree will begin again.

︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀︿﹀

If you read one book in celebration of spooky season, this is the one. A teen slasher story that seems so personal it could be the ghost legend of your own town, 𝘋𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘯𝘦 grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t (ever) let go.

You’ve heard of her, right? Maybe you haven’t thought of her in a while but you’re sure the memory is there, behind the black veil hiding your darkest secrets. She’s there for a reason. Once the veil is lifted…all hell breaks loose.

Not just a hair-raising horror, 𝘋𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘯𝘦 gives readers a deep look into the crippling effects of anxiety, panic attacks, and how difficult it is to regain control of your true self. Giving an inside look into the main characters thoughts, the story is partly told through Kit’s journal entries. Josh is able to give life to her true experiences with anxiety and not just an assumption from a different point of view.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a scary ghost story, the serial killer trope, and being too spooked to sleep.

An Urban Legend comes to life. Like all Urban Legends, and small-town gossip circuits, the facts are never quite known, which leaves abundant room for fantasy and useless speculation.
Take Daphne, the "lumbering creature" [outsized young woman] whose recounting scares the members of a high school girls' basketball team. And when one or more of those girls are anxiety-ridden [Read Generalized Anxiety Disorder aka Free-floating Anxiety] Urban Legend finds fertile soil for its seeds. But then, the deaths...the disappearances. .Is this a concomitant of Anxiety riding the range...or is there some fact to this Legend indeed?

Book Review yall!

I was gifted a free copy of #daphne by #joshmalerman in exchange for an honest review. Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for this review copy.

What happens when you're told not to think about the thing you are most scared of?

This was my first Josh Malerman, and I was not disappointed. We follow a girl's basketball team from Samhattan, that tell the story of Daphne. The thing about Daphne? You can't think about her, or this 7 foot ghost will crush them. Literally. With her bare hands. Told from multiple POV's, we most often are following Kit, a girl with anxiety. Through this book, we are shown the insidious nature of anxiety, that the more you try to not think about your anxiety, the worse that it gets. As basketball players are getting picked off, we are seeing the ramifications of mental health, and the dangers of suppressing it, and choosing not to deal with it. While the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning (I felt like it was constantly reiterated how Kit dealt with anxiety), the second half of the book I could not put down. This was a solid #horror, with gruesome scenes and I recommend if you are looking for a solid #ghoststory

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

Pub: 09/20/2022

QOTD: What is your favorite genre of horror?

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Daphne is a tense and fraught tale of terror, delivered with mastery by Malerman. I really enjoyed the urban legend aspect, and the nearly all-female cast. I'm not big on basketball, but you could feel the camaraderie and closeness that this team would have. Anxiety is the other beast in this book, and that battle is fought beautifully, with aplomb. Malerman expands more on that in the Acknowledgements, which are definitely worth reading. I do think it could have benefited from remaining the novella it was originally intended to be, as some parts seemed to drag and others repeat. Just trust me when I say, you'll never think of bunnies in the same light again after reading this. Pick up Daphne for some coming of age, old fashioned creepiness, and enjoy! Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine, Del Ray Books for the chance to review this advance copy. Daphne is available for purchase everywhere you buy books now!

Loved this book, made me remember the shenanigans that my friends and I got to late at night in college when we tried to scare each other silly.

Malerman has become something of an insta-buy for me, his work just gets better and better with each book!

Josh Malerman likes to write anxiety inducing, and he does it so well! While this one felt a little campy at times, it had all the eerie and creepy I was looking forward to in a Malerman novel. This one was a fun time going into Fall!

Daphne by Josh Malerman is available today, 9/20! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early review of the book!

Daphne follows a girl's basketball team shortly before they're heading off to college. The night before a big game, one of the players tells a ghost story of a seven-foot tall girl named Daphne, who has haunted the town, though no one seems to talk about her, since her death. The story has it that all it takes is thinking about Daphne to call her back from the grave, eager to enact her revenge.

I liked this story. It very much gave nostalgic <i>Fear Street</i> vibes, down to cheesy writing. I kept forgetting that technically the story takes place closer to present day than the 90s, because everything felt so very 90s. Because of the tone and the overall vibe the story gave, this story worked much more for a younger version of me than the adult version of me. There's quite a lot of repetition and, like I said, the writing is pretty cheesy (and sometimes confusing. There are so many fragments used in this story that didn't need to be there).

That said, I liked that this was a fun slasher type story, and because Freddy K is my fave, I enjoyed the overall premise that you can't really run away from Daphne once she's on your mind. Just like you can't not sleep, you probably can't not think about the seven-foot tall girl, looming in the darkness.

The characters are also pretty surface level. You don't learn much about them save that they like basketball and the MC (who did not give main character vibes at all) has anxiety. Because she talks about it all the time. I kind of wanted her to have more personality, because she got simplified down so much to her anxiety disorder. (I have anxiety, but my anxiety is not my sole personality trait, so this bothered me on a personal level.) Again, this all gave me <i>Fear Street</i> echoes, so I went along with it, but these aren't memorable characters.

Overall, this was a solid read that filled the part of me looking for nostalgic horror tales of yore. I would probably only recommend this to folks looking for that nostalgic read or younger horror readers.

This book really snuck up on me! I wasn't necessarily scared while reading it, but after I would sit it down and go to bed, I was definitely nervous in the dark thinking I was seeing shadows on my wall.

This is quite the slow burn book but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I loved the way the monster in this book was built to stand as a metaphor for anxiety, and as a human was anxiety, this resonated quite a bit. I thought anxiety was well depicted in this one, and I love when a horror book can successfully weave in commentary about real-life horrors.

Overall, I enjoyed the first half more than the second half, but I'd still recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to a ARC via NetGalley.

Seven-foot woman, tormented by her peers and was left for dead, Daphne was a well-known figure in the small town of Samhattan. Now a ghost and out for vengeance. Don’t even think about mentioning her name or she’ll come for you 👻

This psychological thriller/horror is not to be read in the dark. You can if you dare. I couldn’t. The descriptions creeped me out. I truly enjoyed the characters, their perspective, and different personalities.

I've had Malerman on my TBR for a long time, but I was a little disappointed with this book. I liked his writing, but the book itself just didn't wow me. That being said, I did like his writing, and I feel like this would be a great movie, but I just felt bored reading the book, especially the diary entries. I feel like the plot needs the visuals and soundtrack to prop it up a bit. I didn't find Daphne scary or feel much tension until toward the end of the book. Despite my feelings about this specific book, I would read more by this author

I honestly don’t know what this book was trying to be, but to me it came across as a thriller/horror grab bag, complete with metaphors, tropes, easter eggs, and some stuff that was probably meant to come across as wink wink nudge nudge to lifelong horror fans such as myself but that ended up just kind of falling just sort of flat.

The whole book, frankly, was a clumsy endeavor.

We’ve got a sprinkling of Stephen King and the town of Derry in Malerman’s fictional town of Samhattan, where there’s a mystical sort of mass hypnosis where no one remembers certain events or a certain name until it’s mysteriously brought to the town consciousness once again; and even then, only the adolescents are the ones who can hold onto the name of the evil entity at all times.

We’ve got sports superstitions mixed in with urban legend superstitions. The basketball rim stands in for a magic 8 ball and if you think about HER she will come get you.

But if someone tells you not to think of pink elephants, what do you think of?

We’ve got a FMC named Kitty “Kit” Lamb, which is the very first thing that I noticed about this book that was downright metaphorical when it comes to horror novels and final girls and cliches. Kitty, being a little cat. Kit, being a baby fox. Lamb, not only being a baby sheep but also known in everything from religion to film as being an object of sacrifice. I knew before two pages into the book had been read she would be the final girl, because with that name how could she not be?

Still, this book couldn’t decide whether it was a thriller, a slasher horror, a supernatural horror, a treatise on metaphysical fear becoming manifest, or simply a tale of hysterical teens and a whole town in the midst of mass hysteria.

I just really wish it could’ve been more structured and the plot had been framed better. I wish there hadn’t been so many characters and so much racing around trying the most ineffective things possible. There were numerous errors made regarding medical examination of dead bodies that made me roll my eyes, and I would think a horror writer would think to smooth such bits out early on in the writing process, considering how well-versed even teenagers are in forensics these days.

So while the book is not unenjoyable, per se, it isn’t remarkable at all.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and Del Rey for granting me early access to this book. Due to personal policy this review will not appear on social media or bookseller websites owing to the 3 stars or lower rating.

This was such a fun and creepy book to read! I loved sharing scary stories and urban legends with my friends when I was younger and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who did the same.

Daphne is a name I’m sure you’ve heard before. She haunts the smallish city of Samhatten and when a slumber party full of teenage basketball players invokes her name it’s hard to not think of her. And the more you do - the more Daphne’s coming for you.

The story takes awhile to get going, but Malerman does such a great job of creating an unsettling atmosphere. Even when not much is happening I still felt such a sense of unease. Like I was there with the characters, and since this was a slasher it’s worth noting those kills will stay with you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy. Make sure to check out Daphne this spooky season!

If you enjoy slow burns, police procedurals, or can push through the setup in the first 15% of the book or so, you’ll be in for a treat! DAPHNE is a solid YA horror that pushes the boundaries of the genre by exploring deeper themes than what’s evident on the surface. It’s a bit heady (in a good way!). The symbolism is strong but so are the creepy vibes — we’re talking about a supersized, vengeful ghost who makes anyone who thinks about her her prey — so there’s something here for everyone. If you’re looking for something fresh to read this spooky season, consider adding DAPHNE to your tbr.

DAPHNE DAPHNE DAPHNE ! oh wait, I probably shouldn't even be typing out her name...

This book was so campy and - dare I say - fun to read, but it also had depth to it. I fully appreciate Josh Malerman for giving as a slasher that has a strong cast of (almost entirely) female characters. Not only that, but for also giving each and every one of these girls an actual personality and making you want to root for them. Specifically, in the case of Kit, it was really great to see some very palpable anxiety rep in a horror novel. Which, as someone who lives with anxiety and has for most of my life, was a joy to see.

This book was the PERECT blend of Yellowjackets and Stranger Things (specifically season 4). I honestly could not stop picturing Daphne as Eddie Munson. The similarities between ONLY their appearance is scarily similar to say the least.

This is MOST DEFINITELY my favorite Malerman book thus far! 10/10 would recommend!

4.5/5

I'd first like to thank Del Rey Publications for sending me an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Daphne will be published on September 20th, 2022.

Daphne is the first book that I've read by Josh Malerman, and I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed it! I knew, after reading the synopsis, that I wanted to read this book; it promised an iconic, female, horror villain, and it delivered on that front. Daphne was INCREDIBLY creepy to read about! I don't want to get into her description too much in this review because I think it's better to encounter her, for the first time, as our characters do.

The concept of this novel is: "what if Halloween's Michael Meyers merged with the creature from It Follows"? In fact, the overall vibe of the book was incredibly reminiscent of It Follows; this novel's reality feels nostalgic while also feeling slightly askew. This is intentionally done with our characters' memory of Daphne, as well... her name is nostalgic, but they don't know where they've heard it before. However, as soon as they hear it, they feel that something is off. The fact that not everyone can see Daphne and the grotesque mutilation that Daphne inflicts also add to the similarity of this book to It Follows. As someone whose favorite film is It Follows, I really appreciated the similarity, and it added to my love for this novel.

This is the first, TRUE, slasher novel that I've read, and it was incredibly cinematic; I could vividly picture a film adaptation of this story in my head. The set up of the multiple perspectives really added to this book's success as a slasher; we got to see all of the characters' interactions with Daphne, and it ensured that the reader never felt confident that a character wouldn't fall prey to Daphne. Speaking of those incredibly gruesome encounters with Daphne, this novel did such an incredible job at building the tension in those scenes and delivering an even more powerful punch with each death. Malerman's descriptions of these grotesque scenes are also incredibly done; he uses vivid imagery to portray the horrors to his reader.

I also enjoyed the inclusion of Kit's journal entries in this book, and that is rare for me; journal entries are usually something I dislike about a book, but Kit's voice is so well-defined that I, almost, longed for MORE from her journal excerpts.

This book isn't SUPER twisty, but there are a few twists that were interesting; not necessarily original, but entertaining, nonetheless.

I've also read a few reviews where people say that there was too much mention of basketball throughout this book; however, I couldn't disagree more. Trust me, I am someone who doesn't enjoy sports, so I would be the first to say if something sports-related was too much in a book. Though basketball was mentioned a fair amount, I don't believe that it was out of the blue for our characters to mention, and it felt genuine and authentic to the story. I never felt like Malerman was just inserting bits of basketball just for the sake of it. As a former, high school, English teacher, I know how frequently students that were interested in sports bring up that sport; they, at times, see the world through the lens of that sport, and I believe that Malerman captured that beautifully and honestly in Daphne.

My only complaint was that the first 25% of the novel was a little too slow, and I think that it could, potentially, prompt some readers to DNF. However, if you can push past that first 25%, I'm sure that you will enjoy the story.

If you're into somewhat slow-burn slashers with paranormal elements and an open-ending, then this book is for you; you should read it as soon as you get the opportunity.

Daphne gave me my first ever from the page jump scare. I loved this book so much. It was a quick read, as in I could not put it down because I wanted to know what would happen next. One of my favorite things about this, about the best horror out there is the story is really about anxiety and facing your fears, control, and the overwhelming dread of possibility. I loved this from start to finish, one of my favorites of the year. This handled anxiety and panic attacks in a way that was wholly relatable as someone who suffers from them. It wasn't lost on me or underappreciated how all of the characters the novel focused on were women. The cop, the principal, the basketball team, the killer, all women. Something you don't see enough of in horror. Thank you!

I was really excited to read this book. Bird Box is one of my favorite books ever, and I was hoping this one would contain the same type of suspense/horror as that one. The idea of the book is so good--if you even think about Daphne she will come for you, but once you know that, how can you NOT think of her?

That said, this just didn't hit the mark for me. There was some suspense, but it wasn't really enough. I felt like each chapter that had an event was almost like its own short story. I would have liked to see the suspense building more over time. I also couldn't really get behind the writing style. The thought process of the characters seemed to be all over the place. I'm sure this was a choice made by the author, but it didn't really work for me.

I found myself bored through most of the book, hoping it would grip me eventually. And the ending was very confusing, with very little resolution or explanation for what happened.

I hate giving negative reviews, because I know author's put so much work into these books. It didn't work for me, but I hope it works for other readers.

Josh Malerman’s (@joshmalerman) DAPHNE comes out tomorrow, 9/20! Another creepy and dark read from Malerman and I loved it!

The night before their big basket game, teen Kit Lamb and her fellow teammates have a sleepover at another teammate’s house where they share scary stories. One player shares the story of Daphne, a tall teen who was murdered years ago. Her ghost is summoned if you think/talk about her and she continues her act of revenge by killing more teens. The story is dismissed as just an urban legend until Kit’s fellow teammates start dying mysteriously.

Perfect read for the fall! The characters were great, the scary scenes were great, and I loved that it was like a teen slasher but without the slashing. The way Daphne kills is horrendous and really plays with your mind. You can’t help but imagine how her victims look like afterward.

The fact that only the victims could see Daphne and how they get “infected” reminded me a bit like the movie IT FOLLOWS (which I loved) so def read this if you liked that movie also. I also found it interesting that it was almost an all female-centered book. Every main character was a girl/woman: the victims, the killer, the detective in charge and her boss, the coach, the helpers, etc. Of course there were a few mail characters as well but I couldn’t help but wonder if Malerman was trying to make a point by emphasizing more of the women.

Some passages did feel too long and drawn out but overall it was a fast read. Malerman continues to write great characters and attention-grabbing stories. Definitely one of my favorite authors that I’d read during spooky season and all year round!

Thank you @netgalley and @delreybooks for the e-arc!

Don't think of Daphne...or you'll be sorry!
When the Samhatten girls high school basketball accidentally summons an urban legend that's out for their blood terror ensues!

I had a tough time getting into this one. The girls felt like a lot and I didn't really care if Daphne got them. I found myself drawn to the new detective in town who's in charge of the case. I enjoyed the mystery and unraveling the town's dark history. If you're a basketball-head you may get more out this one than I did! Or even a Kiss fan 🤣

Thanks netgalley!