"From Catriona Ward, the international bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street comes Little Eve, a heart-pounding tale of faith and family, with a devastating twist.

Winner of the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel.

"A great day is upon us. He is coming. The world will be washed away."

On the wind-battered isle of Altnaharra, off the wildest coast of Scotland, a clan prepares to bring about the end of the world and its imminent rebirth.

The Adder is coming and one of their number will inherit its powers. They all want the honor, but young Eve is willing to do anything for the distinction.

A reckoning beyond Eve's imagination begins when Chief Inspector Black arrives to investigate a brutal murder and their sacred ceremony goes terribly wrong.

And soon all the secrets of Altnaharra will be uncovered."

Shades of The Wicker Man anyone?

Super creepy - cult, murder, drug-induced visions - what's not to love? This is the second book I've read by Catriona Ward and I've enjoyed them both. Seriously disturbing subject matter, but the kind that keeps you turning the pages for sure. Will definitely look for more by her.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC!

Haunting and thrilling, this one will live rent free in my head for a while. From its utterly terrifying opening scene to the shocking twist (what???), this kept me on the edge of my seat. I do wish the ending had wrapped up a little more concisely, and I found myself sometimes needing a break to contemplate what was happening or just scratching my head. Overall, it was an okay experience I will not soon forget!

I liked this. It wasn't what I expected, and I found it a bit slow and oftentimes confusing (which I think was part of the point). But it was interesting. (That sounds like faint praise, but I don't mean it patronizingly.) I was expecting a twist and I guess there was one, but I predicted it from the very beginning.

Little Eve is actually the second novel written by Catriona Ward (of Last House on Needless Street and Sundial fame). Little won the Shirley Jackson award for best novel as well as the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel. Now it's coming to the US on October 11 and it’s a perfect gothic fall read.

Ward delivers a very bleak gothic novel centered on two orphan girls living in a cult, led by “Uncle” aka The Adder (yes, there are snakes). The cultists are living in poor conditions, ostracized by the public, in a dilapidated mansion located on the remote coast of Scotland. I didn't know much beyond that - and I'd recommend going in as blind as that as well - because this one is a really fascinating read and has several mysteries to unfold. You’ll be guessing and second guessing everything as you go. If you've read Ward before you know that unusual voices and narrators are her jam and she's fantastic at it, but this book is very different from Needless Street which felt quirky despite the grimness. There is no cat narrator here - this book goes full dark. The narration bounces between Dinah and Eve's perspectives - keeping it propulsive as you learn more. Ward is masterful at giving enough information for you to make assumptions only to change your perspective with a change in narrator and perception of the same events. Her prose flows and the descriptions will make you feel like you are on the rainy Scottish coast. It is a horror book - and this book contains a lot of triggering content both physical and psychological, as well as a lot of food related issues – starvation and food control. I had expected the previous (because it's a horror book about a cult) but was surprised by the latter. If you've had issues with ED, I'd steer clear of this one for sure. Most of the worst things actually happen off-stage, so to speak, so the brunt of the triggering stuff comes indirectly but there are some gory passages If you enjoy horror - this is a great gothic cult tale and I'd highly recommend it in your creepy fall reads. Just know thyself gentle reader. #LittleEve #NetGalley #tornightfire #catrionaward

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

I typically like creepy novels, even more so if the setting is Scotland, but I could not get into this book at all. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the cult beliefs/behaviors were just too far out there for me. There was not nearly enough description of the landscape to keep me interested and the pace was painfully slow.

I can understand why this book was awarded the Shirley Jackson award for best novel in 2018. This story was beautifully written and both mesmerizing and disturbing. The characters were complex and emotionally challenged.

An outstanding gothic horror novel that will finally be available for U.S. readers to enjoy and be terrified by. LITTLE EVE tells the story of an ostensible family isolated on an island off the Scottish coast, practicing strange rituals and often speaking in sentences (to outsiders and one another) that seem initially like even stranger riddles. They are all clues, of course, and will reveal themselves in time. When they do, some readers will wish they never knew the truth because of its sheer horror, while others may be slightly disappointed if they expected a more overtly supernatural work.

Catriona Ward is an outstanding storyteller, one who knows the right pace at which to reveal her tricks. It's the right fusion of page-turn and creeping dread, though it may not move fast enough for some. Also, some people will find Ward's choice to adopt an archaic prose and dialogue voice taxing (I occasionally did myself, despite knowing it was most likely period-accurate and, more importantly, steeped in the melodramatic tradition of most gothic horror).

Ward walks a fine line between homage and pastiche at times, but ultimately tells the exact story she wants to tell and honors the tradition of Shelley, Jackson, Lovecraft and Radcliffe. The creeping dread of Altnaharra will not soon be forgotten by those who tread its soil.

Little Eve by Catriona Ward
Publishing Date - 10/11/22
Rating (4/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Special thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge publishing for this electronic arc.

Little Eve was my first read by Catriona Ward. A creepy, gothic, supernatural read! I couldn’t put this one down! Finished it in less than 24 hours! It’s a perfect haunting read for Fall 🍁🎃! I will definitely be checking out more of her books.

At first, I DNF'ed this book, but I finally read through this, albeit extremely slowly. It's a hard one to get into because of the writing, but the twists are fantastic. It's definetely a gothic mystery, not so much horror. The idea of the clan was creepy enough to keep me up at night.

I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the publisher for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. This book is set in Scotland. It definitely gives you the creepy vibes of fall. It makes you wonder why she did what she did for the power. This book will give you creepy vibes for the fall season. This book will be in stores October 11, for $27.99 (USD). This book was pretty good. I would recommend reading this book to anyone and everyone.

I loved this author’s debut book The Last House on Needless Street so I was thrilled to hear about her new book Little Eve. This book started a little slow but it was worth the wait. Follow the characters in their cult-like environment and perfect setting and let the twists and turns keep you on your toes. This was a fantastically creepy novel! Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Man. This was not what I was expecting. I was super excited to start Little Eve after reading Ward's other horror, The Last House on Needless street - which was my favorite horror of 2021! But unfortunately Little Eve, in my opinion, fits better into the category of psychological thriller or maybe even a gothic mystery rather than a horror. This simply wasn't scary.

I love, love, love reading about cults in both fiction and nonfiction. I struggled very much to vibe with the cult elements in this book and honestly I think it's because of the lack of explanation during the first half of the story. We are thrown into life with Eve and the Uncle she lives with, but very little explicit information is given. I spent much of the first have of the book incredibly confused. I also struggled with the pace, as it seemed there was a lot of filler - this book could have been a novella.

The gothic atmosphere is pulled off nicely and the second half of this book picks up significantly. I enjoyed Eve's relationship with her sister and the Scottish vibes were perfection. I think if this was marketed as a slow-burn thriller and I had adjusted expectations, I may have enjoyed this more.

Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my gifted copy

I really wanted to like this book. Catriona Ward has such great covers and story ideas but I think her writing style is not for me. It’s very elaborative with a lot of description and filler details/drawn out scenes and scenarios. Just like The Last House on Needless Street, I found myself trying to quickly read or skim through about 50-60% of the book.
With that being said, I did enjoy the overall ending once I got there.
Would recommend giving this author a shot if you’ve never read something by her.

Thank you SO much to Tor Nightfire (Macmillan Tor/Forge) and Netgalley for the opportunity to ready this ARC in time for Halloween in exchange for an honest review.

Every book that I have ever read by Catriona Ward has been wonderfully dark and twisty with an ending I find totally unexpected but satisfying. This is another winner! It is not for the faint of heart, just like her other books. This one delves into the creepy crazy world of cults how they twist the minds of those who are a part of them.

In this one, the cult is ruled by Uncle "the Adder" and they are waiting for the great serpent that will wrap its coils around the world to bring about a new one. Though that does not seems to happen as the opening scene begins with murder most foul. Then it gets really interesting as you follow the twists back and forth though the past and into the future. It is a great journey and I loved all the descriptions that made the world feel so real (though I definitely would not want to have lived through that myself) and it is heartbreaking sometimes what Eve and the others go through.

I highly recommend this book, if you are looking for some great psychological horror to twist your mind. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book.

A creepy, horror novel that involves some strange beliefs. This "clan" lives in a castle on the island of Altnaharra, off the coast of Scotland, with a causeway connecting it to the mainland. The clan is preparing for the end of the world and then its rebirth. The premise is this Adder is coming and one of them will inherit its powers. Little Eve will do anything to be the one to inherit.

Things start to go wrong when there is a murder and a detective Black gets involved. This clan has lots of rituals with snakes and something goes wrong at a ceremony. What is really happening on this island?

Well, I didn't like the snake aspect, but the weirdness of this clan was intriguing. The book was well written and it kept my attention. It has some surprising twists in the investigation and discovery that I enjoyed.

Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on October 11, 2022.

Little Eve is Catriona Ward's second novel which is re-released and published more widely. Set on a secluded Scottish island the story follows Evelyn who is one of many girls living under the care of "uncle" isolated from the world and living according to strange rituals and beliefs. This hauntingly tragic and sad tale will leave you feeling unsettled and wanting more. Written in Catriona's strong and literary style, this book will leave you thinking about it longer after turning the final page. The ending is something not to be missed, but I can't say more without spoilers. If you are looking for a gothic and deep tale, then look no further. I'd highly recommend this.

Little Eve is for anyone who likes their horror dark, atmospheric, and character-focused. It’s extremely unsettling, and disconcerting, and it definitely sent chills up my spine multiple times.

This story follows a family on an island who is preparing for the apocalypse. They wait for the Adder to come and give them his powers, as they separate from the rest of the world. Most of the book is focused on Eve, as we read about what led to one terrible night when things all went so horribly wrong.

The beginning is incredibly weird. In fact, I almost DNF’d it because I had no idea what was going on and I didn’t care. However, as the intricate truths behind this family and their relationships unveil themselves, I found myself getting dragged into the depths. This is also translated, so it’s possible that might have played a small role in my initial discomfort as well.

What a segway! Little Eve is very much an uncomfortable book, partially because it takes place in Scotland during World War I, and partially because it very much has cult energy. I’m not saying anything else (spoilers smh) but as you sink deeper into the trenches of this novel, you’ll understand that this is more of a character-focused horror story than anything else.

Honestly, my advice to you is that if you’re thinking about picking this up, give it a chance. It ends up being a twisty, dark story that I really only began to appreciate halfway through. There’s a reason it’s written in such a vague, disconnected way, and Eve’s journey is one that is incredibly well-written.

Little Eve is a gothic tour-de-force of atmospheric horror. I truly cannot wait to read another Catriona Ward book!

Cults? Ritualistic murders? Gothic vibes? Heck yes! Little Eve is a mysterious gothic tale with great horror elements. Ward does an excellent job making the entire plot believable because of the emotions she makes you feel through her characters. Do I know what it's like to be in a cult? No, but I do know what a toxic relationship feels like as I do the yearning to be good enough, to be worthy. Ward creates characters that sell every single bit of what she's putting out there. It's not that they are really all that likable, but they are relatable and believable which matters so much more.

The plot is solid from beginning to end. It starts with an intense scene with some gruesome depictions that introduces the mystery and sets the tone for the rest of the novel. Too often books start off great and fall apart at the end. That is not the case with Little Eve. The twists are surprising and come with enough time left in the novel to not feel rushed. Basically, Ward stuck the landing and then some.

Highly recommend to fans of thrillers, speculative fiction, gothic tales, and horror.

“There were eyes and hands everywhere.”

😱

I loved this book so much. Read it on a flight in a single sitting. The writing was more blunt and choppy at times but the way it enhanced the story was brilliant. I thought I had some of the twists figured out…I did not!