Daphne

Boast's (Power Ballads) latest is inspired by the myth of Daphne and Apollo. Daphne has a rare condition, cataplexy, which causes her to suffer paralysis when she experiences emotions. She lives in San Francisco, keeping her activities strictly regimented to protect herself from injury. Her struggle becomes more difficult when she is pursued by the persistent and lovable Ollie, who is full of life and political opinions. As Daphne abandons the well-structured and tightly controlled life she built to insulate herself, she must choose between Ollie and safety. Daphne is a story of contradictions. Daphne can't feel anything, Ollie feels everything; Daphne is very unlikable, Ollie is almost too likable. Boast writes with a beautiful, lyrical, and poetic style but fills important space with lists and dull facts. Daphne and Ollie are wonderful characters with a passionate love story, but the secondary characters fall flat. Tavia Gilbert's narration adds some flair, but a solid performance can't overcome the lack of action and secondary characterization.