Basilisk

by A.J. Finch

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 24, 2026

Reviews

[Crystal]

This was a fun read! Bishop is such a complicated character, and I really enjoyed getting inside her head as the story moves between her past and present. The fragmented structure worked so well with the psychological horror, especially as pieces of her history slowly come into focus.

The mood is palpable. The writing has a dark, moody quality, and the settings added to the feeling of unease. The way perception plays into the story was interesting to me, and the cyber-horror elements were such a fun addition.

I enjoyed this debut, and I’m curious to see what A.J. Finch writes next! It was strange, atmospheric, psychologically messy, and the twists really took me by surprise!


Thank you so much @ajfinchwrites for the #gifted copy! All opinions are my own.

[Kristen]

ARC REVIEW

One hell of a debut!
This story gripped me from the beginning as it revealed themes of obsession, vengeance, and trauma. Bishop was relatably unstable from the get-go, and the plot was really thought-provoking in our modern tech-dependent world. I did not see the ending coming. I finished this last night and I am still processing!

This is definitely a “weird girl” thriller and I loved it!

[Jazmyn Hartman]

A sapphic cyberpunk thriller with horror elements? Sign me up.
I loved the prose. Bishop. The lovable cat Gulliver. There's this really cool imagery of an old "Snake" game ouroborosing itself. There's a painting that I swear I can see in my head when I close my eyes, eerie, spooky. I've never read anything quite like this. There was an almost sarcastic wit at times. The atmosphere was to die for. There were moments of confusion, but I'm almost positive it was purposeful. It felt like Bishop was truly telling you the story, only revealing parts SHE wants you to see. I hope A.J. Finch is insanely proud of this debut. I can't stop thinking about it.
This was everything I was looking for and so much more. It delivered on the aforementioned themes, but what stayed with me was our main character, Bishop's, trauma (relatable); the chapters about when she was a young girl really struck me. But when there's that much pain, that much anguish, is she remembering her past correctly? Regardless of if she is or not, she's determined to seek out revenge. Revenge for the death of her sister... but someone has started contacting her. Someone that sounds vaguely familiar. Is someone from her past watching her now?
And Carina, who seemingly comes out of nowhere. Beautiful, sensational, Carina. Bishop is getting swept up in Carina's world, her plans to the wayside when she's around. But Bishop is determined to carry out her plans, she won't let anyone get in her way.
There's so much to this book, you will be endlessly entertained. This book delivers so much, but I'll let you find it for yourself. It's a wonderful, horrifically good time.

Many, many thanks to A.J. Finch for sending me an eARC of this, in exchange for an honest review!

[coven]

i received this arc for free through the author and am writing this review voluntarily

i was so happy to have received this arc!! the premise seemed so interesting and the cover is gorgeous. it was super fun to switch up from the horror i usually read… this is a psychological thrill ride!! finch’s writing is super smooth and easy to latch onto, making for such a pleasant read. it’s moody, dark and mysterious. and i COULD NOT put it down. as the story unfurls, you just find yourself needing to know more!!

this is an amazingly mind-trippy book. i felt like i was going crazy along with bishop (our protagonist) as all the weird things happening in her life spiraled out of control. i was scratching my brain with so many questions. trying to connect dots and make puzzle pieces fit so i could figure out what was going on! i loved being inside of bishop’s brain. she’s an incredibly complex character with some trauma. who we find more and more about with small flashbacks of her past and where she comes from. discovering the motive for what’s brought her to where she’s at in the present. such a fantastic read, i can’t believe it’s a.j.’s debut novel!! it’s a winner!

and i’m so happy to say this book has some great sapphic yearning as well. just another reason you should be on the lookout for this one!! hitting shelves in october!!

[Jason Lavoie]

In 2024, I told myself to read more books written by women. AJ Finch's Basilisk is a perfect example as to why you should.

Support independent. Support women. Support Canadian.

Bishop is looking to avenge the death of her sister. At her disposal, is an online vigilante group of women of which she is a part. But someone may be on to her. She has to take her revenge before her plans get foiled.

Bishop is a polarizing character. At a party, she'd be a fun person to enjoy the night with especially if you like chaos, anxiety, drugs and alcohol. In the moment, you know where you stand. But you have to keep in mind, it's her terms. Not yours.

Basilisk was a superbly written debut novel. The dialogue flowed equally naturally. The story proceeds at a rapid pace and you're never quite sure what's going to happen. Nor can you be sure what's going to come out of Bishop's mouth. As moody and dark of a story it was, I found there were many laugh out loud moments. Bishop saying out loud what you wish you could.

Granted, it does get weird but the loose ends do get tied up in the end.

Favourite line:

“Kayla,” I interrupted, “your opinion means about as much to me as your pictures of your grandchildren.”

[literaturecryptid]

I received this as an arc from the author. All opinions are my own, and I am reviewing it voluntarily.

This book is really something, especially as a debut! The main character, Bishop, searches for vengeance after her sister’s death. The story follows her spiral downwards through present and past, in the most fragmented psychological horror way. I absolutely loved the writing style, it was ambient and moody. The locations were delightful, and I felt such a connection to Bishop through her relationships with others. Perception has always been one of my favorite concepts, and I absolutely loved how the author used that to shape the narrative. The cyber-horror aspects were also absolutely delicious.

This one kept me guessing, and I’ll definitely be thinking about it for a while!

[Dan]

Basilisk is going to be the first of many in my endeavor to branch out even further by starting to read the occasional griplit story. As the first thriller that I've read for as long as I can remember, I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout the nail biting suspense that drips off these pages. I'm not the most tech-savvy person but I'm willing to wager that anyone who has a passion for technology will find their interest piqued with this story. Finch has created a very realistic and flawed unreliable narrator in Carver and her pursuit for vengeance kept me turning the pages faster than I had initially expected I would want to.

[Riley Grix]

Received as an ARC from the author

I really really loved this book. Bishop felt relatable in a way I haven’t experienced before as a reader. She was messy, unfiltered, and stubborn after what she wants. There were so many unexpected moments and parts of the story that I did not expect and that is such a treat for someone who I consumes so much horror/thriller/weird girl lit.

Highly recommend and will be on the lookout for more by A.J Finch.

[Tina Ramen]

A thriller set in and around Calgary where you don't know who to truly trust as we follow Bishop who is seeking to avenge her sister but days leading up to her plan coming into action....well....things come up. A page turner and I really enjoyed recognizing a lot of local spots!

[demjin]

if mr. robot and sweetpea had a baby

[Wren]

Looking forward to a midnight sun esque version of this where we get the book from Gullivers POV