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brookebatesratesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, and Police brutality
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
louisegraveyard's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Car accident, and Death of parent
connorjdaley's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This author has been an auto buy for me since reading Bird Box (although I don’t always read them immediately). I didn’t get it on release day, but I’m into the timely release.
I strangely read this before/at the same time as/during/ two other reads (Wild Things by Ian Thomas/ Goosebumps: Hall of Horrors: Claws by R. L. Stine) that also starred young kids/teenage girls. It’s interesting to see how all of the author’s portrayed them and the differences. Malerman’s features high school characters from the girl’s basketball team, and it was nice to see him have them act/speak age appropriate. One thing that surprised me though was that it’s meant to be current, but there wasn’t anything indicting the generation in any way in terms of slang.
This book very heavily leans into basketball. It bleeds into the plot, the settings, the characters, everything. As someone that doesn’t really care for it, it made it kind of hard to get into the story for me. While I understand that reading is a way to learn and experience perspectives we do not live ourselves, it just doesn’t work for me in that way. IE. I’ve never been a teenage girl living through the trauma of a horror novel, therefore that’s a perspective I can get behind. However, entire pages about free throws is not the same in my opinion, although I’ve never been a basketball player either.
After reading the afterward where the author speaks to his love of basketball I can accept it though. He also speaks of his experience with anxiety, as this novel goes pretty heavily into bad anxiety, anxiety attacks, and panic attacks. I myself suffer from some pretty bad anxiety, and although what the author is describing does not match my personal experience, knowing it entails a bit of his personal experience makes it more enjoyable.
One writing technique that the author uses that I thoroughly enjoyed was doing away with normal chapters. The novel does feature typical breaking points, but there is not a single conventional chapter in its entirety. At first I think it took me a while to get into in terms to pacing, as well as making a few points confusing, but it lead to one hell of an explosive ending.
Another good entry from the author.
I strangely read this before/at the same time as/during/ two other reads (Wild Things by Ian Thomas/ Goosebumps: Hall of Horrors: Claws by R. L. Stine) that also starred young kids/teenage girls. It’s interesting to see how all of the author’s portrayed them and the differences. Malerman’s features high school characters from the girl’s basketball team, and it was nice to see him have them act/speak age appropriate. One thing that surprised me though was that it’s meant to be current, but there wasn’t anything indicting the generation in any way in terms of slang.
This book very heavily leans into basketball. It bleeds into the plot, the settings, the characters, everything. As someone that doesn’t really care for it, it made it kind of hard to get into the story for me. While I understand that reading is a way to learn and experience perspectives we do not live ourselves, it just doesn’t work for me in that way. IE. I’ve never been a teenage girl living through the trauma of a horror novel, therefore that’s a perspective I can get behind. However, entire pages about free throws is not the same in my opinion, although I’ve never been a basketball player either.
After reading the afterward where the author speaks to his love of basketball I can accept it though. He also speaks of his experience with anxiety, as this novel goes pretty heavily into bad anxiety, anxiety attacks, and panic attacks. I myself suffer from some pretty bad anxiety, and although what the author is describing does not match my personal experience, knowing it entails a bit of his personal experience makes it more enjoyable.
One writing technique that the author uses that I thoroughly enjoyed was doing away with normal chapters. The novel does feature typical breaking points, but there is not a single conventional chapter in its entirety. At first I think it took me a while to get into in terms to pacing, as well as making a few points confusing, but it lead to one hell of an explosive ending.
Another good entry from the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
rachelunabridged's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!
~ ~ ~
Don't talk about her. Don't think about her. Or she'll come for you.
During a pre-game sleepover, Kit hears the story of local urban legend, Daphne, from her friend and teammate Natasha. When Kit makes the basket that wins the final game, what should be a time of celebration is soured as thoughts of Daphne invade her consciousness. Then the first body is found, and crazy as it sounds, Kit is sure that Daphne is involved.
~ ~ ~
I could not put this read down! The first page was super compelling and just yanked me right into the story. I really liked Kit as a character. As someone who also deals with anxiety issues, I thought she was super relatable, and I enjoyed following her journey throughout the book. (Love a book with a strong mental health theme.) I also got a really strong nostalgia vibe with this read. I think most of us can relate to having a sleepover and doing all of the spooky things like Bloody Mary, the closet game, and telling scary stories. This read will definitely bring those memories back, ha ha.
Another thing that impressed me about this read was the sense of dread. Right from the beginning, you can feel it, and Malerman did a fantastic job building it up as the story progressed. There were a lot of really brutal scenes that had me actually breathless from the tension. I seriously had to put the book down a few times to recover. But I immediately picked it back up because I wanted to know what would happen next!
The only thing negative that I have to say is that the end was a little disappointing. Thematically, it made sense, but I wanted more answers. Some things felt very swept under the rug to me.
All said and done, I would really recommend this read. It was pretty fast paced, super tense, with some gnarly scenes that really made me squirm. Definitely a great read for spooky season!
~ ~ ~
Don't talk about her. Don't think about her. Or she'll come for you.
During a pre-game sleepover, Kit hears the story of local urban legend, Daphne, from her friend and teammate Natasha. When Kit makes the basket that wins the final game, what should be a time of celebration is soured as thoughts of Daphne invade her consciousness. Then the first body is found, and crazy as it sounds, Kit is sure that Daphne is involved.
~ ~ ~
I could not put this read down! The first page was super compelling and just yanked me right into the story. I really liked Kit as a character. As someone who also deals with anxiety issues, I thought she was super relatable, and I enjoyed following her journey throughout the book. (Love a book with a strong mental health theme.) I also got a really strong nostalgia vibe with this read. I think most of us can relate to having a sleepover and doing all of the spooky things like Bloody Mary, the closet game, and telling scary stories. This read will definitely bring those memories back, ha ha.
Another thing that impressed me about this read was the sense of dread. Right from the beginning, you can feel it, and Malerman did a fantastic job building it up as the story progressed. There were a lot of really brutal scenes that had me actually breathless from the tension. I seriously had to put the book down a few times to recover. But I immediately picked it back up because I wanted to know what would happen next!
The only thing negative that I have to say is that the end was a little disappointing. Thematically, it made sense, but I wanted more answers. Some things felt very swept under the rug to me.
All said and done, I would really recommend this read. It was pretty fast paced, super tense, with some gnarly scenes that really made me squirm. Definitely a great read for spooky season!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Kidnapping
Minor: Cannibalism