I get a kick out of Catriona Ward.

She draws you in with such a filmy, poetic atmosphere – and then stabs you in the guts while still using pretty words.

I won’t let you in on any of the secrets here – I’ll just tell you that Ward surprised me more than once when the storytelling took unexpected turns.

Admittedly, I did feel for much of the book that some of the characters felt too…wispy (?)…to really get a hold of. I’ll just tell you that in the end, everything was clear.

Overall, a satisfying and very atmospheric read!

• ARC provided via Publisher

Gorgeous cover, beautifully poetic writing given the dark subject matter, and an intriguing premise: an end of the world cult in early 20th century Scotland gets a reckoning when a ritual goes murderously wrong.

I've been trying to get into this author since The House on Needless Street had such great reviews. Unfortunately, that book was a DNF--something just didn't sit well with me that I can't even explain, but I didn't want to read on. But Little Eve sounded so different, and I loved the Scottish setting.

And while Eve does have much of that disturbing element that put me off of Needless Street, I really liked the lovely prose in it.

And yet, that was also what fell a little flat for me. It's a fairly quick read, but the writing seems to be trying so hard that I was often left so confused. It's one of those books that makes you feel stupid, no matter how long you went to school or how many books you read in a year. I still can't wrap my head around it all to make a sensical review.

Maybe this author just isn't for me.

Special thanks to Tor/Forge for making a copy of this book available to read in exchange for a review on NetGalley.

This was such a WILD RIDE. Honestly I did not know what was happening until the final few chapters. And even then, this book and these characters will live in my head for the foreseeable future.

The positive: the novel set the gothic tone well and this did thread through the whole novel. There was definitely a sense of unease, a confusion, a rawness of feeling that was authentic.

The less positive: The description was compelling, but the novel did not deliver for me. While the prose had depth of feeling and did convey a gothic eeriness, there was not enough texture to the story to connect me to the characters. There was not enough context to show me the larger picture, the depth of the insanity that was unfolding. What was the relationship of the Uncle to the children or the children to each other? Why had they been picked for this? What was the history of this location? What was the origin or the context of this magic they believed in? I needed that up front to establish a desire to read on. There was a hint that there was an Indian origin to this madness, but then that thread evaporated. I needed to know the purpose behind the ritual, the snake, etc. If there were symbolic signifiers that I missed, then I missed them.

Dinah and Evelyn were strong characters, but I needed to know more of them and their history to understand their role in this. I couldn't muster enough feeling for them to relate to their suffering.

As a result of this absence of connection and context, the novel dragged for me. It became a repetitious description of suffering and loss, but without reason.

The perfect release in time for spooky season. I was hooked after the first chapter – so many questions I wanted answered! This was extremely well-plotted. The events of the book start with what seems like like magic, but the magic is gradually stripped away to reveal the psychological horror lurking beneath. Chapters alternate between the past and present, and while this strategy can fell clunky in the hands of less adept writers, Ward’s movement between past and present only adds to the tension and suspense. To round out the experience, Ward’s writing evoked such vivid scenes in my mind as I read. I could smell the sea air, see the standing stones, feel the causeway water around my ankles as I read the descriptions of Altnaharra. This is the first book from Catriona Ward that I’ve read, but I’ve already downloaded The Last House on Needless Street to my Kindle and will be looking forward to further releases from this author.

This ARC was provided to me digitally from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review.

Little Eve takes place on the Isle of Altnaharra on the coast of Scotland, and follows a small group of 7 people who live together in a large castle. The story is written during the early 1900s and is a spectacularly-developed gothic horror with cult themes. I am very interested in Scottish history, and this story certainly gave an intriguing glimpse at the country.

The book starts by showing the readers a scene that leads us to believe that Eve killed her entire “family” in some form of extreme religion-driven sacrifice. The rest of the story unravels to show us exactly what led to this outcome. We learn all about Eve, her siblings, and her odd guardian who is referred to as “Uncle.”

This story was very atmospheric from beginning to end and I never had trouble imagining the setting. It was a bit creepy and gory at times, but I couldn’t put the book down! At the end, there are many twists that surprise us and show readers who the characters truly are.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more stories by Ward in the future. I’d recommend this book to anybody interested in cult horror, gothic horror, and historical fiction.

UMMMMM?!? I have to admit that when I started this book, it was different enough (the time period kinda turned me off initially) that I thought I wouldn't like it even though I've loved Ward's Sundial and TLHONS. The doubt was misplaced as I loved this one as well.

A slow burn about four children and three adults living in a commune, headed by a man they call "Uncle". The children are allowed to go to school initially but you can see that the outside world is hardly real for them, as they think everyone outside of their community is grossly misguided. The book jumps around in characters (a large cast!) and time but I eventually got into the groove of it. Our story centers around Eve, who should be Uncle's favorite, as she shows great promise in following in his footsteps and is so, so dedicated to preserving their family. However, Eve also sees things the others don't and eventually starts questioning Uncle's view of the outside world.

Have you ever read a novel and wondered about the mental health of the writer who could come up with something like this? This book is all kinds of creepy, but major points for originality.

Set on an isolated island off Scotland starting in 1917 (but it bounces between a few characters points of view in different years), the man Dinah, Eve, and their other siblings and the man they call “Uncle,” the Adder is coming to bring a chosen one powers, and they will do anything to earn the distinction. The book calls this a clan, but it read like reading about a cult from the point of view of cult members who are absolute believers. I’ve read books on cults before, but that’s always from the point of view of a member who escaped a cult. This setting is important in this book, and it unfolds in a way that is fascinating.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES OCTOBER 11, 2022.

Little Eve is only the third book I’ve read by Catriona Ward, but she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She just doesn’t disappoint. Her books are simply incredible. They have everything I want from a horror novel: incredibly unique storylines, creepy, and absolutely dripping with atmosphere. Her newest release isn’t technically her newest book, it’s actually her second novel, only it’s now getting a release here in the states. I hesitate to even try to tell you what it’s about for fear of giving anything away, and maybe it’s just me but I’ll say there were times when this creepy tale of a family/cult living off the coast of Scotland gave me an almost Lovecraftian vibe, and it kept me enthralled from start to finish. I can’t wait to see where she takes us next. I’d like to thank Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for allowing me a chance to read and review an eARC of Little Eve.

Little Eve is an unputdownable gothic thriller. It's no wonder the author won awards because she continues to write unique and mesmerizing reads like this one!

Since Catriona Ward blew me away with THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET, and then she doubled down with SUNDIAL, I knew I had to read LITTLE EVE as soon as humanly possible. Now that I've read it, I feel comfortable in saying that soon, if not already, Catriona Ward will be a household name.

Off the coast of Scotland there is an isle inhabited by a clannish family. There, where the island is only accessible at the whim of the sea, they worship the Adder. The family isolated there believes all of the outside world will soon be gone, and only those familiar with the Adder shall survive and therefore rule. A small contact with the outside world leads to an investigation, which brings inspector Black to come calling. Nothing is ever the same on their isle again. Will the family survive? You'll have to read this to find out!

I'm being deliberately vague here because I don't want to spoil anything. However, I do love me a good cult story and this one is a doozy. I'm fascinated with cult psychology-specifically those led by one man, (because it's always a man, isn't it? Why is that?) In this book it's easy to see how the isolation of the family makes it easier for the leader to make his followers believe...well, whatever he wants.

Another part of cult psychology that interests me is the vying among the followers to be the most favored. Even though this group is a real "family," that doesn't stop the children from competing among themselves for attention and that hard-won favor.

Ms. Ward covered these subjects thoroughly; she sewed them all up in feelings and characters, framed it all in beautiful writing and use of language, and then presented them in a tidily wrapped package that holds its secrets until nearly the final page.

Once again, Catriona Ward shows herself as a force to be reckoned with, and I am here for whatever she decides to write next.

Highly recommended!

*Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

Little Eve is a gripping Gothic tale of a cult living on an island off the coast of Scotland. Everyone on the island is under the control of Uncle. The children only know what they have been taught to believe about the end of the world. This is a story of mind control and belief in one person. Is Eve the perpetrator of the evil that inhabits the island or is she a victim. You will decide!
I do not read much gothic horror but I really was drawn into this book. It is eerie and creepy and a good story all in one. I would definitely recommend giving this book a try.

Thank you to #netgalley, #CatrionaWard, and #Nightfire for an advanced copy of this book.
#LittleEve

This is the second book I've read by Catriona Ward, and I can now say she's one of my new favorite authors! The way she writes is completely captivating, utterly creepy, and always keeps me guessing until the very end.

Little Eve starts off with what appears to be a spooky, cultish mass murder event on a secluded isle. The book then jumps between the past (before the event) and the future (after the event), and the story slowly starts to unfold. However, the accounts of the two main narrators, Evelyn (who was blamed for the deaths) and Dinah (her "sister"), seem to be conflicting.

This is an absolute must read for anyone who enjoys gothic, paranormal horror stories. It definitely gave me "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson vibes. Can't wait to read more from this author!!

I really enjoyed Ward's novel The Last House on Needless Street, so I was excited to try another of her stories. This one was very different, but was just as dark and chilling. I loved the setting, the characters and the story in general. So different from any other cult story I've read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC of Little Eve! This book was not published in the US when it first released in 2018, it is now being released in October of 2022.

This book didn’t completely win me over. It wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t bad either. I think it felt too repetitive and long - there were definitely moments that could be cut from the story to enhance the pacing. I think the atmosphere was good primarily at the isle. The twist was interesting and not something I had initially pegged from the beginning so I will definitely give praise where it is due.

I think the time period was an odd choice, the story itself (being a gothic horror) felt like it was in a much older time aside from a few mentions of cars and the world wars.

If you enjoy reading about cults, this book is a good look into the abusive cycle that can happen in a cult.

I'm not a Gothic reader, but I've enjoyed Catriona's books before so figured I would give this a chance. I'm so glad I did. It was a little slow in the beginning but I've found you can't always judge a book always for the first 25%.

The characters are great and I loved the time period. Great mystery/thriller. Highly recommend.

Ward creates a fabulously dark, gothic setting for this thriller. The twists in this novel make it more of a thriller/mystery than horror; but the reader doesn't know who to trust or who is the evil doer in this story. Well written - I couldn't put it down!

This had everything I love in a book. It is well-written, it kept me intrigued the whole time, the setting was amazing, the characters were complex, the story was twisted… The only negatives of this book for me is that at first the structure seems a little confusing but it eventually all comes together in the end, and also that I finished this with one unanswered question. Usually that would make me take a star off but all the positives of this book keep it at 5 stars for me. This was quite different from her last novel The Last House On Needless Street and I liked this one a lot more. You should read this if you enjoy reading gothic fiction and especially if you like cult stories!

A special thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire and Catirona Ward for this ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. Little Eve will be published October 11, 2022.

This is a lovely bit of reading, but not so much for me. It began mysteriously and I was having trouble following the plot but I hung in there cause Ms Ward is a favorite author. The book went on and on with rather pleasing narrative and subtle glimpses into what appeared to be an alternate society (lots of clues to bring me to that conclusion). I finished the book in an attempt to discover what reality it is based on. Did not translate all of the clues but enough that I was somewhat surprised.

Little Eve had such a familiar vibe to Haunting of Hill House that I see why it won the Shirley Jackson award. There was an unreliable plot, a gothic & atmospheric setting, and an interesting and curious group of characters.

I found it a little slow to get into but then I had a feeling that something wasn’t adding up which then pulled me into the story. There were many moments that left me questioning what I read in previous chapters and I think the author did a great job with setting up those moments of shock and reveals.

There are some sensitive moments in this book so just be aware of that before jumping in (sexual assault) and those moments are heartbreaking as the characters become more aware of those situations.

Highly recommend this for the above reason. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

(I will be posting on my Instagram closer to publication date/in September