Review of The Finalist by Faith Gladwin

An easy-read horror for fans of Black Swan.

Eden is one of seven elite ballerinas invited to compete for a solo at a remote old manor house that was formerly used as a retreat space for dancers. Enthralled with the legendary prima ballerina turned choreographer, Leonora Karagianni, Eden must battle with against her chronically ill body to impress her and win the lead role. With haunted house elements and a little bit of sapphic yearning, this is a debut like no other!

The cut-throat world of ballet is the perfect setting for a horror and I really liked the exploration of chronic illness and body horror with Eden’s arthritis. Gladwin’s style made for easy, fast-paced reading and it felt refreshing to read something that felt fresh to the genre of both horror and sports/competition focused fiction.

Published on 06.10.2026 by John Murrays

Reviewed by Vic