Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing to read Little Eve by Catriona Ward in exchange for an honest review!

This is an amazing book! I love books with an unreliable narrator. The twist at the end blew my mind, I honestly did not see it coming. I think this book did a great job of showing what a cult lived in was like and how it effects the people who live within them and beyond. The book has a great (gory) opening scene and sucks the reader right in. There is alternating points of view in this story. This is a great atmospheric read.

LITTLE EVE is dark, engaging, and haunting as it delves into the types of monsters people can become and create. It weaves through themes of friendship, love, motherhood, betrayal, manipulation, and abuse as Little Eve grapples with faith, family, and the end of the world.

The first few chapters were a little slow. The short, choppy sentences took some getting used to. They made the story feel blunt and emotionless, but faded after the initial chapters. The style fit the tone very well. It created this cold and sinister atmosphere that just worked. Plus, the foreshadowing from the second timeline heightened the intrigue and anticipation.

I couldn’t put it down, learning more and more about this family’s secrets through Eve as she unraveled the truth of her existence. What I liked most about her was how flawed she was. She wasn’t perfect or particularly nice, but she’s loyal and her belief strong…almost to a fault.

I do think the twist was a little predictable and the ending could've been a little tighter, but definitely worth the read.

Little Eve by Catriona Ward is an account set in 1920’s Scotland. The area is steeped in folklore and Ward weaves a story that chills the bone. Not for sensitive readers, this story touches on several difficult topics. The plot is quick, but I didn’t really find myself rooting for any of the characters.

This was my first time reading a book by this author, but it will not be my last. Reminiscent of the harrowing Gothic novel, "Fall on Your Knees" by Ann-Marie MacDonald, I was immediately hooked by "Little Eve", and for good reason. Ward created a most unsettling storyline about a young girl being raised in such disturbing conditions, but with a narrative that was undeniably compelling. I was left questioning the direction the story would go until the final pages. This book reflected the better aspects of classic Gothic horror.

It is officially that I will read anything Ward writes. Her writing is masterful. And her storytelling is unmatched.

There was an eeriness to this that kept me turning the pages. Perfectly done!

Catriona Ward has DONE. IT. AGAIN. I loved this book so much. It was so twisted and screwed up (in the best way). I couldn't put this down. Ward has become an auto buy author for me. I will read anything this woman writes.

Intense and evocative, Ward does an impeccable job of creating a haunting atmosphere and the realities of life inside a cult. Eve lives with her Uncle and others at Altnaharrah, a desolate, windswept castle off the coast of Scotland. And they are anxiously awaiting the rise of the Adder and with it, his powers. But things are not what they seem on the isle and a murderous act uproots the entire family.

Written with beautiful prose, the descriptions of the family and the ‘cult’ are eerie. It is definitely a slow burn, twisting and turning in time with multiple viewpoints. I highly recommend and am very glad this was finally published in the US.

I loved the Last House on Needless Street so I was very excited for this one. I couldn't get into it though. The writing style was a little cumbersome and I was having trouble connecting to the characters. I didn't finish it, but glad to see it was getting good reviews.

Catriona Ward is a master at weaving unforgettable stories that are so twisty and dark. Everything in her books you have to question because there are so many small twists sprinkled throughout that you often don’t realize until the end.

LITTLE EVE was no exception and was quite different from her previous works that I had read. More historical fiction, the story takes place starting around the 1920’s and gives off creepy, cult vibes. I liked the way that Ward positions the story, starting with a shocking revelation and working back to the beginning, making the reader question how the events could have unfolded.

While this may not be my favorite of Ward’s novels, I still enjoyed this twisty tale and the way she created these complicated, extremely flawed characters. Ward will always be an auto-buy author for me and I can’t wait to see what she publishes next!

DNF. I didn't realize this was historical. I just couldn't get into the story, I'm sorry. Ward's books seem to have been hit or miss for me. This one was a miss.

This was my first book by this author. After hearing so many good things about The Last House on Needless Street, I was excited to read Little Eve.

Little Eve is dark with a gothic feel. Eve and siblings are basically trapped in a cult on the isle of Altnaharra only leaving for school and being punished for any outside world evils that they let in. They believe the Adder is coming and one of them will inherit the powers to rule and have the eye to see all. This is a strange book. I slogged through the first half but glad I kept reading. The last half was definitely more interesting with a bit more suspense too. The characters were well developed and interesting and a little creepy, and the book had a few good twists the last half. If you’re looking for a cultish, dark and twisted read, then look no further.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for a eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

While I was so excited to be approved for an ARC of this one, it just did not work. I tried a couple times to pick it up and read it. But I could not get into it at all. I kept going back and trying to reread, but it was so boring to me and not keeping my attention at all. I loved the last house on needless street, so really wanted this to work! I will definitely look for what this author comes out with next!

I'm thoroughly enjoying how Ward is taking us to places that are not often seen in Fiction. I get so tired of the same old hum-drum stories. I can definitely count on this author coloring way outside the lines of normal. So great!

Little Eve is a dark story. I mean dark. It focuses on a cult in a time far in the past. There is mystery, interesting characters, a few really creepy, scary moments and a bad guy that you will love to hate!

It was a hard read for me as I struggle with having children manipulated, especially for the pleasure of a man. It really makes me want to scream. But that was the point of this book, to make this dark telling an uncomfortable story.

I definitely think there is a certain audience that will enjoy this tale but if you haven't read Ward yet, it's a good one to jump in and give it a try.

Ahhh, this was a fantastic book and my only regret is I didn't read it in the spooky month of October. LITTLE EVE, by Catriona Ward, has a sort of historical Nordic Noir feel to it which is perfect reading for fall.

Eve and Dinah are trapped in a small cult. A lot of their actions, meanings, daily life and punishments do not make sense. Lead by "Uncle" the girls and others are stuck in a remote house. Malnourished, by choice (NOT), the family coexists in this bizarre world.

The story starts with the murder of most of the family with Eve being the assumed killer. LITTLE EVE takes us through Eve and Dinah's viewpoints showing how Uncle has control over them. When the veil of loyalty comes off, then the girls begin to fight back.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than Catriona's LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET. Both books leave you with an unsettled feeling. I was concerned about what was going to happen next. You know something is just OFF in these stories.

I think the story dragged out a bit longer than necessary, but nonetheless, it was a good one.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Tor/Forge for providing me an e-copy of LITTLE EVE to review.

I rate LITTLE EVE four out of five stars.

I truly adored The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward. Catriona is a master at writing horror fiction. But Little Eve was a miss for me. Little Eve falls under the gothic thriller genre.
Ward does an amazing job with the creepy atmosphere, but the story was just not there for me. Maybe this will be a good book for other horror readers or lovers of Ward, but I'm sorry to say I had to DNF this title.

I am looking forward to Ward's next book.

Wow. Catriona Ward delivers yet again. This is out of my normal genre but always such a creative pleasure It doesn’t take long to sink into this dark spiritual story. Crazy great characters.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-book of Little Eve*

Privilege, alienation, familial ties, and motherhood were some of the topics that I truly connected with in this quick read. The boundaries between truth and terror were muddled by a gripping story that combined all of these elements. Eve struck me as being a highly intriguing and well realized character. I enjoyed how she and the other characters evolved throughout the course of the book.
That conclusion was an absolute stunner. The reality hit me square in the face just when I thought I had certain things worked out, but as I continued to reflect on the events, I came to see that the truth had been staring me in the face all along! This insight only increased my appreciation for all the better.

One day, Jamie MacRaith stumbles into a massacre: five people lying in a star pattern out by the ocean are all dead. They are four of the five inhabitants of the Altnaharra, a tiny, out of the way place with strange people and an even stranger way of life. Included in the circle is Sarah Buchanan, a village girl. Missing is Evelyn, or little Eve, the trouble-maker of the group. But then Dinah tries to move and we learn she is not quite dead yet...

The story flips back and forth between past and present (anyone else getting a little tired of this trope? Just me? Oh, okay...), sharing Eve's views of the past and Dinah's views of the present. Eve paints a picture of life on the isle in their cult - eating little while Uncle feasts; incredibly harsh punishments including being locked in a room in the cellar for days and forbidden to sleep while there; blood sacrifices; and playing with a snake who often unleashed his fangs and bit his captors All these were in preparation for the end of days - the coming of the Adder from the sea to take the group home. But as Uncle is dead and not Eve, things have definitely not gone to plan.

It took me 8 days to read this, but it feels like weeks. I don't know for sure, but that doesn't seem good. I thoroughly enjoyed Last House on Needless Street, but this one did not do it for me. Still enjoyable, just not as good.

I think this book would be perfect for someone who doesn’t mind a bit of gore with their gothic-style ambiance. For me, it was too gory, so it took me a long time to finish it.

I did very much like the creepy atmosphere and the mysterious, cult-like situation of the island. I also liked the way there were twists and turns and surprises throughout—that was fun.

I also like the way this author writes, in general; the characters are fairly well developed and interesting, the settings well fleshed out, the atmosphere deliciously creepy.

This book was mostly very good, but a bit too gory for my personal preference. A good story, though, and a great author.

Gripping. Biting. Intense, spooky gothic. This story pulled me in immediately and never let go. If you enjoy gothic fiction at all, this is for you.
From the opening scenes it kept me guessing, and the end was turn after turn like following the coils of the giant snake at the heart of the story.
I enjoyed this much more than Ward’s Last House on Needless Street - it was extremely well-plotted and well written, but disturbing enough that I almost put it down. This book deals with child abuse and neglect, some pretty grisly killings, and some deep emotional trauma, but it never got graphic, I couldn’t put it down.