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The Finalist
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Expected 6 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
23 days and 04:55:55
10 copies available
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Seven ballerinas. One fallen primadonna. The audition of a lifetime. And a mysterious house that swallows the weakest one by one . . .
There is no performance art as punishing as ballet—and no top-tier ballerina is as punished as Eden. While others practice their steps over and over, Eden waits, knowing her body can perform only so many times before it breaks.
But Eden will need to be perfect—or even better—at Deveraux Manor, secluded amid snowy mountains, where she and six other hopefuls are sequestered in a month-long audition for the mysterious, alluring, tragic former ballerina Leanora Karagianni. Only one finalist will join Leanora's company and dance the lead.
Eden wants it more than anything, but not more than anyone. Her competitors will take every advantage they can. And the cursed house twisting around them will push each ballerina to the bloody edge—and over it. As Eden fights her attraction to the seductive Leonora and the stakes turn lethal, she'll discover that only the dancer who pays the house’s terrible price can become the finalist.
There is no performance art as punishing as ballet—and no top-tier ballerina is as punished as Eden. While others practice their steps over and over, Eden waits, knowing her body can perform only so many times before it breaks.
But Eden will need to be perfect—or even better—at Deveraux Manor, secluded amid snowy mountains, where she and six other hopefuls are sequestered in a month-long audition for the mysterious, alluring, tragic former ballerina Leanora Karagianni. Only one finalist will join Leanora's company and dance the lead.
Eden wants it more than anything, but not more than anyone. Her competitors will take every advantage they can. And the cursed house twisting around them will push each ballerina to the bloody edge—and over it. As Eden fights her attraction to the seductive Leonora and the stakes turn lethal, she'll discover that only the dancer who pays the house’s terrible price can become the finalist.
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Expected publication October 6, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“The Finalist” by Faith Gladwin is basically what would happen if you took the brutal competitiveness of the ballet world, locked it inside a creepy cursed manor, added queer tension, body horror, and psychological manipulation, and then turned the intensity all the way up. This book is haunting, dramatic, and completely addictive.
The story follows Eden, a ballerina with chronic arthritis that is slowly destroying her joints. She’s arrived at the isolated Deveraux Manor alongside six other dancers to compete for a coveted spot in the prestigious Deveraux dance company and the lead role in a new production by legendary ballerina Leanora Karagianni. For most of the girls, this competition could launch their careers. For Eden, it feels like her last real chance before her body gives out on her completely.
And wow does this book nail the pressure and obsession of ballet culture. These dancers are pushing themselves beyond human limits, destroying their bodies for perfection, and treating each other less like teammates and more like obstacles to eliminate. The atmosphere gets increasingly suffocating as the competition intensifies, especially once the girls start suffering mysterious accidents and the manor itself begins feeling wrong.
Because this manor is absolutely alive in the creepiest way possible.
The girls are forbidden from exploring certain parts of the house, especially the attic, which obviously means horrifying things are happening there. The manor slowly starts messing with their minds, feeding off ambition, pain, and obsession until some of the dancers basically lose themselves completely. There’s this terrifying image throughout the book of girls dancing like puppets, consumed entirely by the house and by ballet itself. The horror builds slowly at first, but once it hits, it hits hard.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is how Eden’s illness actually changes her relationship with the horror. Since she already lives in constant pain, the manor can’t manipulate her the same way it does the others. Her chronic illness, which she sees as her weakness, weirdly becomes the thing that gives her strength and clarity. I loved that aspect of the story so much because it added a really emotional layer underneath all the supernatural chaos.
The writing is also gorgeous. The dance scenes feel mesmerizing and elegant while the horror scenes are sharp, claustrophobic, and genuinely disturbing. The prose somehow captures both the beauty of ballet and the ugliness of what it demands from people. There’s this constant feeling of tension simmering underneath everything.
I also really liked Eden as a main character. She’s desperate, ambitious, exhausted, and painfully aware that her own body is betraying her. Watching her slowly realize what the manor is doing while also wrestling with her need to succeed made her incredibly compelling.
The relationship between Eden and Leanora is definitely messy and complicated. There’s attraction there, but also a huge imbalance because Leanora is both the judge of the competition and someone who clearly knows way more about the manor than she’s admitting. Their dynamic adds a lot to the emotional tension, though I did find the romance takes focus away from the horror at times, making the book more of a horror romance than a traditional horror story.
That said, when the horror fully takes center stage near the end? Absolutely devastating in the best way. The final act is intense, emotional, bloody, and filled with passion, obsession, and some genuinely horrifying reveals about the manor and its history. The ending especially hit hard because it ties Eden’s journey back to self-worth and survival rather than just ambition.
Overall, “The Finalist” is an atmospheric blend of gothic horror, ballet obsession, queer romance, and psychological terror. If you love stories about haunted houses, toxic ambition, beautiful writing, and characters literally sacrificing themselves for art, this book is absolutely worth picking up.
“The Finalist” by Faith Gladwin is basically what would happen if you took the brutal competitiveness of the ballet world, locked it inside a creepy cursed manor, added queer tension, body horror, and psychological manipulation, and then turned the intensity all the way up. This book is haunting, dramatic, and completely addictive.
The story follows Eden, a ballerina with chronic arthritis that is slowly destroying her joints. She’s arrived at the isolated Deveraux Manor alongside six other dancers to compete for a coveted spot in the prestigious Deveraux dance company and the lead role in a new production by legendary ballerina Leanora Karagianni. For most of the girls, this competition could launch their careers. For Eden, it feels like her last real chance before her body gives out on her completely.
And wow does this book nail the pressure and obsession of ballet culture. These dancers are pushing themselves beyond human limits, destroying their bodies for perfection, and treating each other less like teammates and more like obstacles to eliminate. The atmosphere gets increasingly suffocating as the competition intensifies, especially once the girls start suffering mysterious accidents and the manor itself begins feeling wrong.
Because this manor is absolutely alive in the creepiest way possible.
The girls are forbidden from exploring certain parts of the house, especially the attic, which obviously means horrifying things are happening there. The manor slowly starts messing with their minds, feeding off ambition, pain, and obsession until some of the dancers basically lose themselves completely. There’s this terrifying image throughout the book of girls dancing like puppets, consumed entirely by the house and by ballet itself. The horror builds slowly at first, but once it hits, it hits hard.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is how Eden’s illness actually changes her relationship with the horror. Since she already lives in constant pain, the manor can’t manipulate her the same way it does the others. Her chronic illness, which she sees as her weakness, weirdly becomes the thing that gives her strength and clarity. I loved that aspect of the story so much because it added a really emotional layer underneath all the supernatural chaos.
The writing is also gorgeous. The dance scenes feel mesmerizing and elegant while the horror scenes are sharp, claustrophobic, and genuinely disturbing. The prose somehow captures both the beauty of ballet and the ugliness of what it demands from people. There’s this constant feeling of tension simmering underneath everything.
I also really liked Eden as a main character. She’s desperate, ambitious, exhausted, and painfully aware that her own body is betraying her. Watching her slowly realize what the manor is doing while also wrestling with her need to succeed made her incredibly compelling.
The relationship between Eden and Leanora is definitely messy and complicated. There’s attraction there, but also a huge imbalance because Leanora is both the judge of the competition and someone who clearly knows way more about the manor than she’s admitting. Their dynamic adds a lot to the emotional tension, though I did find the romance takes focus away from the horror at times, making the book more of a horror romance than a traditional horror story.
That said, when the horror fully takes center stage near the end? Absolutely devastating in the best way. The final act is intense, emotional, bloody, and filled with passion, obsession, and some genuinely horrifying reveals about the manor and its history. The ending especially hit hard because it ties Eden’s journey back to self-worth and survival rather than just ambition.
Overall, “The Finalist” is an atmospheric blend of gothic horror, ballet obsession, queer romance, and psychological terror. If you love stories about haunted houses, toxic ambition, beautiful writing, and characters literally sacrificing themselves for art, this book is absolutely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An incredible, jaw-dropping horror novel that continued to keep me on my toes through the entire book, I was awed beyond belief by The Finalist by Faith Gladwin.
Before reading about what this book was about, I had been instantly pulled in by its cover. After reading the book, I realized just how amazing the cover does at giving you a glimpse of what is to come. Now, the story starts out with our protagonist, Eden, who has just arrived with six other young women to the Deveraux Manor, a secluded mansion in the mountains. Eden and the rest of these young women (Robin, Mei, Marlowe, Isla, and Hazel) are there to compete for a spot not only in the Deveraux dance company, but the leading role in a new production choreographed by the ballet legend Leanora Karagianni.
From the beginning of this month-long, intensive workshop competition, tension is extremely high. These girls who are in their early twenties are just now getting into their career and with an opportunity to be a principal dancer in an acclaimed dance company while being the lead in a new production, the girls are very hungry to win to jumpstart their own legendary career. Eden is especially ravenous for this opportunity because we learn that Eden suffers through a disability that prevents her from possibly being able to have the same longevity of a career as the other girls. As the month starts to go by, however, things become awry very quickly for Eden and the rest as the girls with each one fall victim to mysterious accidents.
Gladwin did a fantastic job putting us in the head of Eden as we went through this ride with her. We were able to understand who Eden was and the reason behind a lot of her actions very early on in the book and it continued to get better as we went along with her, and I was never bored with what was happening. The story was always moving, which I appreciated, and there were never any moments that left me wondering why something was happening. Everything had its place.
The writing was phenomenal. It had a creepy air around it, but at the same time, the descriptions of when they were dancing was absolutely beautiful. I would describe Gladwin’s prose as very mesmerizing. It truly depicted what ballet feels like visually. Speaking of visuals, I was able to see what was going on at all times. There weren’t any confusing parts about this book in terms of what was happening. Gladwin, I believe, did an amazing job with placing you at the scene. Especially with the gore. This was not the goriest book I’ve read, but it was very tasteful with it. The amount was perfect.
What I would have loved to see was an epilogue. Usually I don’t care for epilogues, but I truly wanted to see where Eden ends up and what the outside world now thinks about the manor. This is a spoiler free review so I will not say anything more, but Gladwin…let me know.
Overall, it was a 5 star read over here. I love ballet. I love horror. I love queerness. Put those three together and I’M SAT. I highly recommend.
Before reading about what this book was about, I had been instantly pulled in by its cover. After reading the book, I realized just how amazing the cover does at giving you a glimpse of what is to come. Now, the story starts out with our protagonist, Eden, who has just arrived with six other young women to the Deveraux Manor, a secluded mansion in the mountains. Eden and the rest of these young women (Robin, Mei, Marlowe, Isla, and Hazel) are there to compete for a spot not only in the Deveraux dance company, but the leading role in a new production choreographed by the ballet legend Leanora Karagianni.
From the beginning of this month-long, intensive workshop competition, tension is extremely high. These girls who are in their early twenties are just now getting into their career and with an opportunity to be a principal dancer in an acclaimed dance company while being the lead in a new production, the girls are very hungry to win to jumpstart their own legendary career. Eden is especially ravenous for this opportunity because we learn that Eden suffers through a disability that prevents her from possibly being able to have the same longevity of a career as the other girls. As the month starts to go by, however, things become awry very quickly for Eden and the rest as the girls with each one fall victim to mysterious accidents.
Gladwin did a fantastic job putting us in the head of Eden as we went through this ride with her. We were able to understand who Eden was and the reason behind a lot of her actions very early on in the book and it continued to get better as we went along with her, and I was never bored with what was happening. The story was always moving, which I appreciated, and there were never any moments that left me wondering why something was happening. Everything had its place.
The writing was phenomenal. It had a creepy air around it, but at the same time, the descriptions of when they were dancing was absolutely beautiful. I would describe Gladwin’s prose as very mesmerizing. It truly depicted what ballet feels like visually. Speaking of visuals, I was able to see what was going on at all times. There weren’t any confusing parts about this book in terms of what was happening. Gladwin, I believe, did an amazing job with placing you at the scene. Especially with the gore. This was not the goriest book I’ve read, but it was very tasteful with it. The amount was perfect.
What I would have loved to see was an epilogue. Usually I don’t care for epilogues, but I truly wanted to see where Eden ends up and what the outside world now thinks about the manor. This is a spoiler free review so I will not say anything more, but Gladwin…let me know.
Overall, it was a 5 star read over here. I love ballet. I love horror. I love queerness. Put those three together and I’M SAT. I highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
READ. THIS. BOOK.
I'm serious. From the first page, I was drawn in and I could not stop reading this ballet horror. My wife and cats were begging for attention but I just had to read one more chapter (and then one more, and then one more, and then one more).
The descriptions of the isolated Deveraux Manor, owned by the Deveraux dance company, were so evocative. I had a great mental image of the space the entire time, especially the aspects that slowly began...shifting. Changing, as the girls were drawn deeper into the competition, and therefore deeper into the space. The horror begins with mounting suspense, creepiness, a few odd bits of foreshadowing that I couldn't wait to see pan out.
Every single step along the way raised the stakes in a way that felt believable but also unreal, keeping you guessing. I loved the early hints of Eden's gay panic when it comes to Leanora, the intimation of a shared history, and then Eden's dawning realization that everything she thought she knew is false.
I loved the sense of how the manor is changing the girls but the girls are also changing the manor in some sort of messed up parasitic relationship. I had SO MUCH FUN continually trying to solve the mystery that is Leanora Karagianni and her relationship with the Manor. I could not put this book DOWN, especially when I got to the third act.
The finale was, as horror finales should be, thrilling beyond belief. I loved seeing how Eden's chronic illness impacted the way she interacted with the manor and the other characters, and how that becomes her particular strength. The ending scenes were devastating and beautiful.
If you want absolutely beautiful writing, interesting characters, a perfectly suspense-building horror, and toxic sapphics, read this book!
READ. THIS. BOOK.
I'm serious. From the first page, I was drawn in and I could not stop reading this ballet horror. My wife and cats were begging for attention but I just had to read one more chapter (and then one more, and then one more, and then one more).
The descriptions of the isolated Deveraux Manor, owned by the Deveraux dance company, were so evocative. I had a great mental image of the space the entire time, especially the aspects that slowly began...shifting. Changing, as the girls were drawn deeper into the competition, and therefore deeper into the space. The horror begins with mounting suspense, creepiness, a few odd bits of foreshadowing that I couldn't wait to see pan out.
Every single step along the way raised the stakes in a way that felt believable but also unreal, keeping you guessing. I loved the early hints of Eden's gay panic when it comes to Leanora, the intimation of a shared history, and then Eden's dawning realization that everything she thought she knew is false.
I loved the sense of how the manor is changing the girls but the girls are also changing the manor in some sort of messed up parasitic relationship. I had SO MUCH FUN continually trying to solve the mystery that is Leanora Karagianni and her relationship with the Manor. I could not put this book DOWN, especially when I got to the third act.
The finale was, as horror finales should be, thrilling beyond belief. I loved seeing how Eden's chronic illness impacted the way she interacted with the manor and the other characters, and how that becomes her particular strength. The ending scenes were devastating and beautiful.
If you want absolutely beautiful writing, interesting characters, a perfectly suspense-building horror, and toxic sapphics, read this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Never would I have guessed that I would not only read a horror novel about ballet, but absolutely love it. Eerie, claustrophobic, and clever, this gothic horror exceeded my expectations.
Eden is a professional dancer who earns the opportunity to audition for an elite dance company. Held at a secluded manor deep in the mountains, the audition represents the opportunity of a lifetime for the dancers who made the cut. What they don’t realize is just how much this opportunity will demand from them.
This is a true slow burn that never loses momentum. Instead, the sense of dread steadily builds with each chapter, tightening like a vice until the final act. I was especially impressed by how effortlessly the author balanced an unforgettable gothic atmosphere with a genuinely compelling mystery. Neither ever overshadows the other.
I also appreciated how the dance terminology remained in the background, adding authenticity without making me feel like I needed any knowledge of ballet to follow the story. The novel explores themes of obsession, isolation, and the sacrifices demanded in pursuit of perfection, weaving them naturally into both the mystery and the horror.
Perhaps what impressed me most was how carefully constructed the story was. This is a novel that rewards readers who pay attention. Looking back after finishing, I appreciated just how many seemingly small details and recurring motifs came together in satisfying ways. The ending feels earned because the clues were there all along rather than relying on a last-minute twist.
If you enjoy gothic horror, creeping dread, and mysteries that trust their readers, I highly recommend this one. It strikes a wonderful balance between atmosphere, character, and plot, and absolutely sticks the landing.
Eden is a professional dancer who earns the opportunity to audition for an elite dance company. Held at a secluded manor deep in the mountains, the audition represents the opportunity of a lifetime for the dancers who made the cut. What they don’t realize is just how much this opportunity will demand from them.
This is a true slow burn that never loses momentum. Instead, the sense of dread steadily builds with each chapter, tightening like a vice until the final act. I was especially impressed by how effortlessly the author balanced an unforgettable gothic atmosphere with a genuinely compelling mystery. Neither ever overshadows the other.
I also appreciated how the dance terminology remained in the background, adding authenticity without making me feel like I needed any knowledge of ballet to follow the story. The novel explores themes of obsession, isolation, and the sacrifices demanded in pursuit of perfection, weaving them naturally into both the mystery and the horror.
Perhaps what impressed me most was how carefully constructed the story was. This is a novel that rewards readers who pay attention. Looking back after finishing, I appreciated just how many seemingly small details and recurring motifs came together in satisfying ways. The ending feels earned because the clues were there all along rather than relying on a last-minute twist.
If you enjoy gothic horror, creeping dread, and mysteries that trust their readers, I highly recommend this one. It strikes a wonderful balance between atmosphere, character, and plot, and absolutely sticks the landing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a very atmospheric slow-burn tale that aligns with dark academia, but for ballet. What happens when you gather together the best ballerinas and make them compete in a secluded manor in the mountains for a once-in-a-lifetime spot in a world-renowned company? I must say, I love a good spooky, secluded place in the mountains.
The synopsis promises echoes of The Yellow Wallpaper, Black Swan, and Jane Eyre, with a kiss of sapphic romance, but it gave more dark academia vibes packaged in a young adult mystery/thriller. Gothic, this tale is not. Romance, this tale is definitely not. It is however, atmospheric, and I could "see" the manor as the author intended.
The horror builds off obsession with dancing, but it was missing the mystery and terror that make obsession horrific. None of the characters had any good qualities, aside from it being redundantly apparent that their personality is ballet, and they are their illnesses.
While I tend to gravitate toward slow-burn novels, the lack of momentum here stems from the prose rather than the narrative. I found the writing style to lack a strong, consistent, organic voice, as I found myself both immersed in the story and then catapulted out of it, like I was on a roller coaster, due to both formulaic writing and random purple prose.
This novel wasn't for me personally, but I would still recommend it to YA fans of ballet, slow-burn mysteries, dark academia, and haunted houses. The premise is compelling, and despite my criticisms, I'd love to see what this author writes next.
This novel is a very atmospheric slow-burn tale that aligns with dark academia, but for ballet. What happens when you gather together the best ballerinas and make them compete in a secluded manor in the mountains for a once-in-a-lifetime spot in a world-renowned company? I must say, I love a good spooky, secluded place in the mountains.
The synopsis promises echoes of The Yellow Wallpaper, Black Swan, and Jane Eyre, with a kiss of sapphic romance, but it gave more dark academia vibes packaged in a young adult mystery/thriller. Gothic, this tale is not. Romance, this tale is definitely not. It is however, atmospheric, and I could "see" the manor as the author intended.
The horror builds off obsession with dancing, but it was missing the mystery and terror that make obsession horrific. None of the characters had any good qualities, aside from it being redundantly apparent that their personality is ballet, and they are their illnesses.
While I tend to gravitate toward slow-burn novels, the lack of momentum here stems from the prose rather than the narrative. I found the writing style to lack a strong, consistent, organic voice, as I found myself both immersed in the story and then catapulted out of it, like I was on a roller coaster, due to both formulaic writing and random purple prose.
This novel wasn't for me personally, but I would still recommend it to YA fans of ballet, slow-burn mysteries, dark academia, and haunted houses. The premise is compelling, and despite my criticisms, I'd love to see what this author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Finalist is a horror novel about a group of ballerinas who go to an abandoned old house to try and win a solo. Eden is a ballerina who pushes herself to the edge, needing to think so much more than everyone else to be able to dance due to her arthritis. But she's also now one of only seven chosen to compete for the chance to lead a new ballet choreographed by famed dancer Leanora Karagianni. They must live and rehearse at Deveraux Manor under Leanora's watchful eye, but Eden finds herself drawn to Leanora and concerned about the others' behaviour. And then things start to get deadly…
This book is exactly what you'd expect from it: Black Swan meets a haunted house story, with lots of dancer body horror and a deeply unhealthy relationship. Despite being written in the third person, you get a very visceral sense of Eden's perspective. This works particularly well for the character relationships: both Eden's attraction to Leanora and her feelings of separation from the other ballerinas. The pace of the book is fairly slow, particularly as it weaves together the more horror side of things and also the relationship between Eden and Leanora.
If you're looking for body horror that actually considers disability whilst also exploring the dark side of ambition in ballet, The Finalist is a good option with a dash of queer obsession thrown in. It felt like something that could've been the plot of a trashier horror novel (at the start I was reminded of Point Horror), but the book actually takes the concept a bit deeper.
This book is exactly what you'd expect from it: Black Swan meets a haunted house story, with lots of dancer body horror and a deeply unhealthy relationship. Despite being written in the third person, you get a very visceral sense of Eden's perspective. This works particularly well for the character relationships: both Eden's attraction to Leanora and her feelings of separation from the other ballerinas. The pace of the book is fairly slow, particularly as it weaves together the more horror side of things and also the relationship between Eden and Leanora.
If you're looking for body horror that actually considers disability whilst also exploring the dark side of ambition in ballet, The Finalist is a good option with a dash of queer obsession thrown in. It felt like something that could've been the plot of a trashier horror novel (at the start I was reminded of Point Horror), but the book actually takes the concept a bit deeper.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Faith Gladwin and Grand Central Publishing for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Eerie, creepy, and completely captivating! I’ve never read a horror novel centered around ballet, and The Finalist absolutely delivered.
Eden, a talented ballerina living with arthritis, earns one of seven coveted finalist spots to compete for the chance to dance for the legendary Leanora Karagianni’s company in a prestigious solo performance. From the moment the finalists arrive at the isolated manor, something feels deeply wrong. Strange occurrences escalate into terrifying injuries, and as the competition becomes increasingly dangerous, the dancers seem unable to pull themselves away from their obsession with earning the role. I especially loved how much authentic ballet terminology and training were woven into the story, it made the atmosphere feel even more immersive.
What starts as an elite ballet competition quickly transforms into a chilling fight for survival. The psychological horror was incredibly well done, and I loved watching Eden piece together the manor’s sinister secrets while refusing to give up despite the odds stacked against her. The blend of body horror, supernatural suspense, and the relentless pressure of perfection created such a unique reading experience.
If you enjoy haunted houses, psychological horror, deadly competitions, and stories that explore the cost of ambition, The Finalist is one I highly recommend!
Eerie, creepy, and completely captivating! I’ve never read a horror novel centered around ballet, and The Finalist absolutely delivered.
Eden, a talented ballerina living with arthritis, earns one of seven coveted finalist spots to compete for the chance to dance for the legendary Leanora Karagianni’s company in a prestigious solo performance. From the moment the finalists arrive at the isolated manor, something feels deeply wrong. Strange occurrences escalate into terrifying injuries, and as the competition becomes increasingly dangerous, the dancers seem unable to pull themselves away from their obsession with earning the role. I especially loved how much authentic ballet terminology and training were woven into the story, it made the atmosphere feel even more immersive.
What starts as an elite ballet competition quickly transforms into a chilling fight for survival. The psychological horror was incredibly well done, and I loved watching Eden piece together the manor’s sinister secrets while refusing to give up despite the odds stacked against her. The blend of body horror, supernatural suspense, and the relentless pressure of perfection created such a unique reading experience.
If you enjoy haunted houses, psychological horror, deadly competitions, and stories that explore the cost of ambition, The Finalist is one I highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
The Finalist follows Eden who arrives at the manor already an underdog in the others girls' eyes due to her chronic arthritis. Pushing themselves to the absolute max is what wakes the Manor to feed off of their blood, sweat, and tears seeping into their psyche and taking each one out of the competition one freak “accident” at a time. With Edens chronic illness the house is resistant to her, and she bears witness to the slow deterioration of her competition while simultaneously noting the regained strength of Lenora.
funnyy business
Lenora who has previous knowledge of the horrors the manor can elicit is back under the guise of new choreographer but really is using the manors thirst to quench her need for redemption after a tragic on-stage accident that momentarily ended her career.
I definitely wanted to like this more than I did. While the premise of the story, writing style, and characters were enjoyable. for me it lacked depth and moved quite slow to say all the events took place in one months' Time. The thriller/ horror tone also fell short compared to the tragic deaths and injuries they sustained
This did capture the level of grueling work and dedication it takes to be a prima ballerina which I appreciated, and I enjoyed the characters competitiveness and seeing how far each would go to make it to the top.
Fans of Black Swan this is for you!!
The Finalist follows Eden who arrives at the manor already an underdog in the others girls' eyes due to her chronic arthritis. Pushing themselves to the absolute max is what wakes the Manor to feed off of their blood, sweat, and tears seeping into their psyche and taking each one out of the competition one freak “accident” at a time. With Edens chronic illness the house is resistant to her, and she bears witness to the slow deterioration of her competition while simultaneously noting the regained strength of Lenora.
funnyy business
Lenora who has previous knowledge of the horrors the manor can elicit is back under the guise of new choreographer but really is using the manors thirst to quench her need for redemption after a tragic on-stage accident that momentarily ended her career.
I definitely wanted to like this more than I did. While the premise of the story, writing style, and characters were enjoyable. for me it lacked depth and moved quite slow to say all the events took place in one months' Time. The thriller/ horror tone also fell short compared to the tragic deaths and injuries they sustained
This did capture the level of grueling work and dedication it takes to be a prima ballerina which I appreciated, and I enjoyed the characters competitiveness and seeing how far each would go to make it to the top.
Fans of Black Swan this is for you!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Finalist is a horror novel taking place at a ballet competition held at the Deveraux Manor, an isolated mountain property deep in the woods. Seven ballerinas have been called to audition for Leanora Karagianni, a famous ballerina, now injured. The winner is all but assured of a massive career.
The competition is the first in many years at the manor and rumors of tragic events taking place at the last competition spread widely. Despite tragic events which begin to befall the participants, the competition continues.
I was curious as to whether I would like this book or not. On one had I’m not well-versed in ballet and my awareness of a romance subplot did not get me excited. However, as it was a horror novel and set in an isolated creepy location, I decided to give it a try. Going in, I assumed it would be more likely be a haunted house book than a slasher novel. That was the case.
Although the book moved at a slower pace than I would have liked, I did find it enjoyable, though not a book I loved. I understand that the main character’s resilience might lead her to be a bit standoffish. At times, I did wish that she was more appreciative of the kindness offered by others.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read The Finalist. The above opinions are my own.
The competition is the first in many years at the manor and rumors of tragic events taking place at the last competition spread widely. Despite tragic events which begin to befall the participants, the competition continues.
I was curious as to whether I would like this book or not. On one had I’m not well-versed in ballet and my awareness of a romance subplot did not get me excited. However, as it was a horror novel and set in an isolated creepy location, I decided to give it a try. Going in, I assumed it would be more likely be a haunted house book than a slasher novel. That was the case.
Although the book moved at a slower pace than I would have liked, I did find it enjoyable, though not a book I loved. I understand that the main character’s resilience might lead her to be a bit standoffish. At times, I did wish that she was more appreciative of the kindness offered by others.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read The Finalist. The above opinions are my own.
July 11, 2026
I don’t even know where to start with what I loved about this book! I was definitely drawn in by the description of the book being sapphic gothic ballerina horror! We follow the main character Eden through the story and I absolutely fell in love with her! Her resilience, bravery, strength, and “surprising bloodthirst” made you cheer her on and want her to succeed! She never let people being discriminating/underestimating her for her chronic illness slow her down! The rivalry and competition that was sure to come with 7 contestants hungry to win the solo was so good! Also seeing the mystery of the Manor and everything befalling the ballerinas present and future, slowly unravel was so worth the pay off! I am a sucker for toxic sapphic relationships and I have to say I was really rooting for Eden and Leanora! Leanora is such a beautiful force and I can’t even fault Eden for going for it even with all the warnings from the other girls!
Incredible debut and I will definitely read anything else Faith Gladwin writes! Very grateful to have gotten to read this early
I received an eARC from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Incredible debut and I will definitely read anything else Faith Gladwin writes! Very grateful to have gotten to read this early
I received an eARC from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately, The Finalist wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be. It is very, very slow and frequently repetitive. The first 30% was a slog to get through. It did pick up at that point and the rest of it was better, although it was still slow at times. I found myself thinking that if a good 50 pages or more were cut that the whole thing would have been more enjoyable. Also, Eden was so unlikable at first. Her attitude was off-putting, especially when the others were trying to be kind to her. Luckily, she started to improve around that same 30% mark. There are things I did like, however. The concept was great and the prose was good. I actually think this book could be fantastic as a movie. Some of the imagery would work very well on screen. I also liked that the sexual tension between Eden and Leanora was palpable and that the dedication and ambition of the ballerinas really came through. Overall, this didn't quite hit the mark for me, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys slow burn horror or is interested in ballet.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's Squid Games, but the players are ballerinas and the venue is a haunted house. If this doesn't convince you to read The Finalist by @byfaithgladwin , I don't know what you want in life lol
Eden has a chronic illness which limits her physically, but she has grit, will power and discipline, the qualities to be a top ballerina. She arrives at Devreux Manor along with six other contestants to compete for the coveted solo spot.
As if the gruelling rehearsals and cut throat competition wasn't enough, soon, terrible things start happening to the ballerinas. And if that wasn't enough, one of their two instructors takes off with the only car, leaving them all stranded in the creepy mountain manor.
It's freezing outside, with no wifi and non existent phone signals. Will any of them survive?
The chefs kiss is the eerily beautiful language and slow burn pacing, if you love an immersive horror then please read this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧑🩰#arcreview #horrorbook #sapphichorror #bookreview #bookstagram 🧑🩰
Eden has a chronic illness which limits her physically, but she has grit, will power and discipline, the qualities to be a top ballerina. She arrives at Devreux Manor along with six other contestants to compete for the coveted solo spot.
As if the gruelling rehearsals and cut throat competition wasn't enough, soon, terrible things start happening to the ballerinas. And if that wasn't enough, one of their two instructors takes off with the only car, leaving them all stranded in the creepy mountain manor.
It's freezing outside, with no wifi and non existent phone signals. Will any of them survive?
The chefs kiss is the eerily beautiful language and slow burn pacing, if you love an immersive horror then please read this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧑🩰#arcreview #horrorbook #sapphichorror #bookreview #bookstagram 🧑🩰
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review:
I give this book a 4.5, but rounding down to a 4. The life of a ballerina is brutal as depicted in this mystery about a group of girls competing for a soloist role. This book discusses themes around resilience, dedication, loneliness, and living with a disability; there is an underlying LGBTQ+ tone and a mild amount of spice. The language at times was repetitive and I wish the book was more descriptive on the location of the manor and the physical appearances of the characters. The repetitiveness of the novel, the longing for more description, and the setting taking place in a single location made it feel one-dimensional at times. However, I thought the story and concept was unique. I felt like I was reading a modern day Agatha Christi novel! I was hooked from the beginning, constantly asking myself “what’s going to happen next?!”. I think this is geared more towards young women, but I also believe anybody who loves competition and mysteries would enjoy this book!
I give this book a 4.5, but rounding down to a 4. The life of a ballerina is brutal as depicted in this mystery about a group of girls competing for a soloist role. This book discusses themes around resilience, dedication, loneliness, and living with a disability; there is an underlying LGBTQ+ tone and a mild amount of spice. The language at times was repetitive and I wish the book was more descriptive on the location of the manor and the physical appearances of the characters. The repetitiveness of the novel, the longing for more description, and the setting taking place in a single location made it feel one-dimensional at times. However, I thought the story and concept was unique. I felt like I was reading a modern day Agatha Christi novel! I was hooked from the beginning, constantly asking myself “what’s going to happen next?!”. I think this is geared more towards young women, but I also believe anybody who loves competition and mysteries would enjoy this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for generously providing me an ARC of The Finalist. All thoughts are my own.
I flew through this book. There are themes of disability, friendship, rivalry, resilience, and discovery. At it's heart, the book is about Eden finding herself and gaining confidence despite discrimination and adversity. The horror elements are quite chilling and I wasn't exactly. expecting the path it took. Honestly, I will be recommending this book to my friends who enjoy twisty horror stories.
The writing could have been a little less repetitive, but was accessible and easy to read. I saw another reviewer say they wished there were more character descriptions and setting descriptions, but I found everything very vivid. There are some LGBTQ+ elements in this and some romance as part of Eden's overall character arc, but it added to the overall atmosphere.
I flew through this book. There are themes of disability, friendship, rivalry, resilience, and discovery. At it's heart, the book is about Eden finding herself and gaining confidence despite discrimination and adversity. The horror elements are quite chilling and I wasn't exactly. expecting the path it took. Honestly, I will be recommending this book to my friends who enjoy twisty horror stories.
The writing could have been a little less repetitive, but was accessible and easy to read. I saw another reviewer say they wished there were more character descriptions and setting descriptions, but I found everything very vivid. There are some LGBTQ+ elements in this and some romance as part of Eden's overall character arc, but it added to the overall atmosphere.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Finalist is a fantastic example of creeping horror. From the beginning there a little moments that start off showcasing that there's something not quite right. Eden and five other ballerinas travel to a secluded manor to compete the final of a prestigious audition. Everyone is deeply competitive and disciplined with an obsessive need to be perfect.
Lenora is a ballerina who became too injured to dance and is in charge of the audition and picking her replacement. Eden is chronically ill with a joint disease and is determined to push through to win the audition of a life time. Not only is she seeking to win, she is pushed forward by her admiration for Lenora - an admiration that toes the line of obsession.
The prose was atmospheric and haunting - a fantastic horror book with beautiful commentary on the obsession with perfection.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this Arc! All opinions are my own.
Lenora is a ballerina who became too injured to dance and is in charge of the audition and picking her replacement. Eden is chronically ill with a joint disease and is determined to push through to win the audition of a life time. Not only is she seeking to win, she is pushed forward by her admiration for Lenora - an admiration that toes the line of obsession.
The prose was atmospheric and haunting - a fantastic horror book with beautiful commentary on the obsession with perfection.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this Arc! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I was completely enthralled from the very beginning. The tension between the girls is immediate, and the hunger to win is palpable from the first chapter. It creates this undercurrent that pulls you forward and refuses to let go. The story feels like a perfect blend of Monster House and Black Swan, which hit a really nostalgic and psychological spot for me.
This was such a super fun yet super dark read, and I was hooked the entire time. I lost sleep because I needed answers and could not put it down!
While I found myself wishing for a bit more sapphic romance, the way everything unfolds makes perfect sense and feels incredibly satisfying.
For a debut novel, this is absolutely amazing!! The descriptions were so vivid that they made me physically recoil at times. I will absolutely be following this author from here on out. I need whatever she writes as soon as possible!
This was such a super fun yet super dark read, and I was hooked the entire time. I lost sleep because I needed answers and could not put it down!
While I found myself wishing for a bit more sapphic romance, the way everything unfolds makes perfect sense and feels incredibly satisfying.
For a debut novel, this is absolutely amazing!! The descriptions were so vivid that they made me physically recoil at times. I will absolutely be following this author from here on out. I need whatever she writes as soon as possible!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Finalist illustrates just how cutthroat professional dancing is, that black swan darkness and inspiration of how far they're willing to go to end up on top, no matter how many casualties it takes. There are many different horrors at play here; competition, power and control, but also the evil that seeps out of the manor.
That being said, this is definitely more of a slow burn read. The build up takes time and the first 50% felt like it was still setting the stage. It did lose me at first and I feel like it could've moved quicker around 25% to change focus on the manor and the evil surrounding the dancers vs how much was spent on our FMC and her personal challenges, it became a bit repetitive.
3.5 rounded up.
That being said, this is definitely more of a slow burn read. The build up takes time and the first 50% felt like it was still setting the stage. It did lose me at first and I feel like it could've moved quicker around 25% to change focus on the manor and the evil surrounding the dancers vs how much was spent on our FMC and her personal challenges, it became a bit repetitive.
3.5 rounded up.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Finalist is terrifying in the best way!
I felt like I was in a horror movie reading this and oh my goodness does it get gory!!
Here's the low down, Eden is the main protagonist and unfortunately she's had some medical issues which has made dancing difficult, until a Miss Leanora invites her to this spooky manor to participate in a competition with six other dancers. Things get weird and there is no turning back.
From professionalism to straight cut throat, these ballerinas are deadly.
Felt like a spiders web, as you progress in the story. I am very excited to read more books from Faith Gladwin
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review!
I felt like I was in a horror movie reading this and oh my goodness does it get gory!!
Here's the low down, Eden is the main protagonist and unfortunately she's had some medical issues which has made dancing difficult, until a Miss Leanora invites her to this spooky manor to participate in a competition with six other dancers. Things get weird and there is no turning back.
From professionalism to straight cut throat, these ballerinas are deadly.
Felt like a spiders web, as you progress in the story. I am very excited to read more books from Faith Gladwin
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*ARC from Netgalley *
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The writing is solid, and the character development is easily the strongest part of the book. I never had an issue with the prose—it was the story itself that just never grabbed me.
This is an incredibly slow burn, but unfortunately there isn't much payoff for the patience it demands. Very little actually happens until the last 10% of the book, and by then it was too late to make up for the lack of momentum.
I also think this book is marketed a bit oddly. It felt much more like a YA mystery than a horror novel, and readers going in expecting horror may come away disappointed.
In the end, I appreciated the writing, but the story wasn't engaging enough to keep me invested.
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The writing is solid, and the character development is easily the strongest part of the book. I never had an issue with the prose—it was the story itself that just never grabbed me.
This is an incredibly slow burn, but unfortunately there isn't much payoff for the patience it demands. Very little actually happens until the last 10% of the book, and by then it was too late to make up for the lack of momentum.
I also think this book is marketed a bit oddly. It felt much more like a YA mystery than a horror novel, and readers going in expecting horror may come away disappointed.
In the end, I appreciated the writing, but the story wasn't engaging enough to keep me invested.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First off, many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this novel as an ARC!I greatly appreciate it!
To preface: I'm a slut for anything involving ballet. I danced for sixteen years, it's close to my heart, I love it. So when I saw this on NetGalley, I had to grab it! And I'm so glad I did, because wow! Move over, I Am The Best, this is the best ballet horror book I've ever read! The atmosphere is eerie, the characters are interesting and more or less likeable, the creep factor is strong, and the writing itself is lovely! What else could you ask for?
Five stars out of five to The Finalist!
To preface: I'm a slut for anything involving ballet. I danced for sixteen years, it's close to my heart, I love it. So when I saw this on NetGalley, I had to grab it! And I'm so glad I did, because wow! Move over, I Am The Best, this is the best ballet horror book I've ever read! The atmosphere is eerie, the characters are interesting and more or less likeable, the creep factor is strong, and the writing itself is lovely! What else could you ask for?
Five stars out of five to The Finalist!
June 11, 2026
**ARC copy received from Goodreads giveaway**
An incredibly horrifying story.
The slow build of fear that continued to pull me deeper and deeper into the book was incredible. I devoured this book in mere days (which as a very busy working mom with a four year old and a 4 month old is fast). I could not put this book down. Every night “just one more chapter” became five more as the creepiness of the manor continued to grow.
I loved watching Eden go through the stages of the competition while realizing just what was happening around her.
Fantastic book!
An incredibly horrifying story.
The slow build of fear that continued to pull me deeper and deeper into the book was incredible. I devoured this book in mere days (which as a very busy working mom with a four year old and a 4 month old is fast). I could not put this book down. Every night “just one more chapter” became five more as the creepiness of the manor continued to grow.
I loved watching Eden go through the stages of the competition while realizing just what was happening around her.
Fantastic book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was really, really good. Haunted manors, twisted retellings, and a supernatural black swan retelling, almost. Sign me up.
I like horror-based competition, and this was no different. It was setting to see if someone was doing everything or something. The characters were excellent, the prose was good, and everything smoothly went together.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this arc.
I like horror-based competition, and this was no different. It was setting to see if someone was doing everything or something. The characters were excellent, the prose was good, and everything smoothly went together.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Cold hands trace the veins of her arms, up the corded muscles of her thighs. Fingertips map the dip of her waist, the line of her rib cage, and every knob of her spine, over and over each other."
This book was special, sexy, creepy, and haunting. The way Gladwin's prose dances between sexy and terrifying grips you until the end. Every description is full of life and sensory hell. Centering chronic illness and disability in this story was a beautiful and horrifying choice.
This book was special, sexy, creepy, and haunting. The way Gladwin's prose dances between sexy and terrifying grips you until the end. Every description is full of life and sensory hell. Centering chronic illness and disability in this story was a beautiful and horrifying choice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so immensely honored to have been one of the first readers of this tremendous book. Lush, haunting, brutal, with knife-sharp prose as precise as it is evocative; Gladwin pulls off the claustrophobia of the haunted house genre with elegance and nuance. A devastating read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My blurb of The Finalist:
“Sharp-edged, bloodthirsty, and beautifully written, The Finalist is as brutal as it is brilliant. A dark and vicious tale that reckons with the cost of ambition and the intersection of pain and desire. This book will absolutely ruin you!”
“Sharp-edged, bloodthirsty, and beautifully written, The Finalist is as brutal as it is brilliant. A dark and vicious tale that reckons with the cost of ambition and the intersection of pain and desire. This book will absolutely ruin you!”
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Finalist is a showstopping debut, dripping with dread and dressed in blood-spattered tulle. The horror is delicious and the atmosphere is en pointe. This book gives new meaning to the phrase "dance until you die."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Probably one of the best books I have ever read. Faith is an incredible writer!
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