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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
This was a really interesting take on the slasher sub genre of horror.
Let me start with what I enjoyed about this book.
Let me start with what I enjoyed about this book.
This book was ok. I’ve really enjoyed the author’s other books (Bird Box, Mallory) that I’ve read and was looking forward to the spooky factor of another book, but was a little disappointed. It read more like an 80’s teenage slasher horror film (which I enjoy occasionally), than a spooky thriller. was intrigued enough to finish the book, it just didn’t grab me the way this author’s other books have.
More of a 3.5. As far as concept goes, this one hooked me in immediately. A 7-foot tall metalhead chick wearing some fucked up version of Kiss makeup that died, because she was misunderstood, and now she kills off people who conjure up her memory a la Freddy Krueger? Sign me up. The deaths also sounded horrifying, and for how short this book was, there were quite a few. I also, surprisingly, really liked the cop, Carla McGowan, and her chase to discover the truth. However, the rest of the execution wasn’t there for me. While I did play basketball for many years growing up, I quit my high school team after my sophomore year, so I no longer really care about basketball. This book had too much focus on the sport for me personally. I also felt that the characterizations of the girls on the team weren’t great, not even Kit. I didn’t really care about any of them, and none of them stood out in any capacity; I honestly cared about McGowan more, so I’m glad her POV was there to keep it interesting. The journal entries from Kit didn’t do much for me. I get this was a book primarily about anxiety, and using Daphne as a metaphor of a physical manifestation of that is cool in theory. However, it didn’t fully work. The ending was also a little off; it’s scarier if this is only a supernatural thing imo, it didn’t need the human element. This is my first read by the author, and it won’t be my last, but I’m a little sad I didn’t like this one more, because this sounded right up my alley.
You can’t think about Daphne because if you do she’ll come for you. And kill you with her bare hands.
I really enjoyed this book, probably because I related to it. Daphne embodies anxiety. Tell someone not to think about what makes them anxious and they’ll only think of it more. Anxiety and panic are a spiral. The more you try to avoid it, the more it sneaks up on you! This book is full of quotes I identified with. However, I did knock off a star because it’s very heavy handed and therefore took me out of the story a bit. But overall I had a great time reading it! You feel the panic of the girls basketball team as they get picked off one by one. You also feel the desperation of the detective who will do anything to make the deaths stop! There’s some gore to this story, but it never felt gratuitous.
I really enjoyed this book, probably because I related to it. Daphne embodies anxiety. Tell someone not to think about what makes them anxious and they’ll only think of it more. Anxiety and panic are a spiral. The more you try to avoid it, the more it sneaks up on you! This book is full of quotes I identified with. However, I did knock off a star because it’s very heavy handed and therefore took me out of the story a bit. But overall I had a great time reading it! You feel the panic of the girls basketball team as they get picked off one by one. You also feel the desperation of the detective who will do anything to make the deaths stop! There’s some gore to this story, but it never felt gratuitous.
Jason, Michael, Freddy, Chuckie,...and DAPHNE!
A new super killer is on the charts and I hope we see more of her!
This novel reads like an 80's slasher-thriller. There's even a bit of soundtrack mixed through out.
Daphne is the unspoken sensation in Samhattan, Michigan. If you're not familiar with Samhattan, it's close to Goblin. You can't miss it.
Anyway, someone (thing?) is after the girls basketball team. They all know the source, but they just can't think about it.
Reminiscent of Nightmare on Elm Street, with hints of many other great franchises, this book is scary good.
A new super killer is on the charts and I hope we see more of her!
This novel reads like an 80's slasher-thriller. There's even a bit of soundtrack mixed through out.
Daphne is the unspoken sensation in Samhattan, Michigan. If you're not familiar with Samhattan, it's close to Goblin. You can't miss it.
Anyway, someone (thing?) is after the girls basketball team. They all know the source, but they just can't think about it.
Reminiscent of Nightmare on Elm Street, with hints of many other great franchises, this book is scary good.
3.5 stars
It was good once you reach 50 pages in but the ending was meh.
It was good once you reach 50 pages in but the ending was meh.
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!
Malerman has become something of an insta-buy for me, his work just gets better and better with each book!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Really liked this one!! I also have anxiety and was spooked by the same type of urban legends as a teenager so I found it realatable even despite all the basketball talk lol
Woof. Read like a poor man’s confused take on “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
Also, you do not need to state the name of the town every third sentence. That god old real fast.
Finally, shooting free throws to kill an entity? Hard pass. Meh all around.
Also, you do not need to state the name of the town every third sentence. That god old real fast.
Finally, shooting free throws to kill an entity? Hard pass. Meh all around.