The Finalist
Gripping and atmospheric haunted house ballet horror
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The Finalist
Narrated by:
Christine Lakin
Pre-order for $29.74
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Narrated by:
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Christine Lakin
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By:
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Faith Gladwin
There is no art as punishing as ballet - and no ballerina as punished as Eden. She is one of seven elite ballerinas invited to the remote, crumbling Deveraux Manor to compete for a solo of a lifetime.
The manor, a former retreat for dancers, has been shuttered for a decade. Now, its doors have been reopened by the legendary prima ballerina Leanora Karagianni. She is choreographing a new show, which will revitalise her career - and bring stardom to whoever survives her auditions.
Only one finalist will join Leanora's prestigious new ballet and dance the lead. Eden wants it more than anything but not more than anyone. As Eden pushes her chronically ill body to its limits and fights a dangerous attraction to Leanora - who has her own history with Deveraux Manor, the other ballerinas take every advantage they can.
But the competition soon turns lethal and it becomes clear that the dancers are battling more than each other. For the manor has an agenda of its own . . .
Black Swan meets The Haunting of Hill House in this twisty and obsessive haunted house ballet horror debut. ©2026 Faith Gladwin (P)2026 Hachette Book Group USA
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Critic Reviews
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'
Rich in atmosphere, dripping with menace, and offering an insider's view of ruthless competition between would-be ballerina stars, The Finalist is a haunting story about how far some will go to win and what it costs them - whether they win fairly or not. It got under my skin and had it crawling
The Finalist explores the psychological and body horrors that hide behind ballet's graceful facade, in a sinister setting that looms as large and threateningly as a prima donna's ego. This unique take on the gothic had me hooked to the blistering end
A terrifying and claustrophobic debut, Faith Gladwin's The Finalist combines atmospheric queer horror with the brutal world of ballet, in an unputdownable novel that will keep you up at night
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!
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