Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading The Last House on Needless a Street and Sundial, I was keen to get my hands on Little Eve. Catriona Ward has not let me down yet and only continues to impress me.

Little Eve opens with the discovery of a horrible tragedy, and right away the reader is thrust into the bleak, unusual circumstances on the Scottish isle of Altnaharra. Eve lives in the dilapidated castle on Altnaharra with her family. The family consists of 3 siblings, 2 women who are not her mother, and her Uncle, who calls himself the Adder. Secluded from the rest of the world, they practice a cult-like religion and are waiting for the world to end and be reborn. The story follows Eve as she tries to come into her own and impress her god, but she'll discover that not everything is as she wishes it would be.

Little Even is a head-first dive into gothic immersion, and the tone is completely different from Ward's first two novels. The prose is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allen Poe, and I am impressed with Ward's ability to shift her writing style to suit the specific type of story. Throughout the whole story the reader will question what is real and what is not real right along with Eve; and perhaps be torn between whether to root for her or vilify her. While a little slow in the beginning, Little Eve becomes more engrossing as the story unfolds and eventually evolves into a page turner you won't want to put down.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59808007-little-eve?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=RMX257sp2F&rank=1

This is an absolutely ghastly book - in the very best way. It’s dark, creepy, and sometimes tender. And as with the other book I’ve read by Ward, it handles a horrible subject with unexpected care. The horror does not come from the sensationalizing of a terrible act, but from how that act is allowed to happen and the repercussions.
So many mysteries and thrillers are built around a big twist, and you can see it from a mile away. Because that’s all that there is to the story - the one idea, the big reveal. But no so in this book. The characters are deeply strange but deeply realized. The story unfolds with perfect timing, with plenty of plot developments to make this a true page turner.
Ward is a masterful writer, and I hope to read more!
Review of ARC provided by Netgalley

This being the fourth of Ms Ward’s novels that I’ve read (Rawblood, Needless Street and Sundial being the previous), I kind of knew what to expect going in… beautiful, lyrical prose. Writing that absorbed me so fully that I actually thought I was in these places at times. And to be able to guess at least one twist, but never see the rest coming.

Little Eve did NOT disappoint. I had a bit of trouble with the language at first (I am a “dumb American”, after all), but it’s not something that I couldn’t get past. By the time I was about 20% in, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one sitting, only because I didn’t move.

I need Catriona Ward to write more books, because after reading this novel (and really before, if I’m being honest), she has become an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire and Catriona Ward for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Little Eve will be available in the US on October 11th, 2022.

Though wildly different in place and setting from the previous books I had read by Catriona Ward, (The Last House on Needless Street and Sundial) the hallucinatory gothic mysteries playing out in the pages of Little Eve were equally, if not twice as compelling. I didn't quite know what sort of story this was, or where it was going, when I began reading of this enigmatic, isolated family living in a strange, crumbling castle at the watery edge of a small village. As the tale unfolded and I began to settle in, a slew of things happened, murderous things, secret and sacred and brutal things, melancholic and tender things. As the past and present converged, these things twisted in and upon one another, and my "settling in" became increasingly UNsettled...but of course in the very best, Catriona Wardiest-sort-of-way.

I devoured this gothic, dark novel by Catriona Ward. The prose was perfectly written, the plot masterfully plotted. The reader doesn't know whom to trust and is kept guessing the whole time.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but whatever it was, it wasn't this. This book had me wrapped in it's clutches from page one and oh my gosh did this book deliver. It was a gothic, culty book that had me mesmerized by its descriptions and plot. Highly recommend it.

Catriona Ward has knocked my socks off again!!!!

Gothic, dark and mesmerizing. I did not want to put this book down!

The book opens with a horrible, horrible discovery....

Little Eve lives with Uncle and her 'family' on the grey Isle of Altnaharra, off the Coast of Scotland. Eve loves it there. It is all she knows save for the memories of a woman singing. She and her 'sister' Dinah are close, and Eve hopes one day to inherit Uncle's power. Dinah hopes for something else.

As war breaks out, things change drastically. Eve begins to question the things and people in her life. Then one night there is a terrible, terrible storm....

Who is telling the truth? What can be trusted?

Woohoo! Ward is on her game in this book. It is equally disturbing and gripping! It is always brilliant!

This was such a clever and perfectly plotted book. It is atmospheric, gothic and oozing with tension. The characters were interesting and while you might root for some; others are quite nasty, and you will want to boo and hiss at them. There are quite a few twists and turns throughout this book and as the layers are pulled away, the book becomes more and more gruesome. Don't let that hold you back, as this book is riveting and so well done.

If you have read Ward before you know she is creative and adept at writing vivid and brilliant scenes. I felt as if I was a fly (or shall I say bee) on the wall, watching as the events unfold at Altnaharra.

Ward fans will be delighted.

Gothic, well written and atmospheric!

Highly recommend!

Not going to lie, sometimes I feel like I'm chasing the high of #lasthouseonneedlessstreet

I am happy to report that LITTLE EVE gave me the fix I was looking for from Catriona Ward! I actually took this with me to read while camping over the long weekend and I went to bed "early" both nights just so I could binge this one. Full of unspeakable horror, LITTLE EVE speaks to family ties and the lengths we will go to protect our darkest secrets.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my #gifted copy for #review

Little Eve by Catriona Ward
Ever read a book that was so enthralling it was difficult to start another because nothing reads as good? This is the problem I'm having after reading Catriona Ward’s “Little Eve”. Dark, atmospheric and filled with the most fascinating of characters, ward weaves together a plot about psychological manipulation and survival. Evelyn or “little Eve”, is an adolescent girl who lives at Altnahara, a castle on an island a small distance from the coast of Scotland. Evelyn's family is an unusual one. Two women and three other children. The head of the family is a man referred to as “uncle”, or at times, he is terrifyingly referred to as The Adder. When a man from the mainland arrives to deliver meat, he discovers the dead bodies of several inhabitants, each wrapped in white shrouds and missing an eye. All are dead except for 16-year-old Dinah, who accuses the missing Eve of the murders. The author writes alternating chapters in the voices of both Dinah and Eve. Hence, we, the readers, get a telling of events and consequences that is satisfying at the end. This is my first encounter with Catriona Ward’s writing, and I am so excited to have found a new favourite author. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the free copy.

“Little Eve” by Catriona Ward is a dark, gothic, horror novel, that primarily follows two young girls living in a cult. They, along with two other children, and two women, follow the teachings that “Uncle” has set before them. The book describes their daily life, and how their minds react to their traumas and abuse. The writing is very well thought out, descriptive and very poetic! The book did have some confusing moments, but overall was a very pleasant read. This was the first book I’ve read of Ward’s but it will not be my last! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

Unfortunately, this was a did-not-finish book for me. The writing is solid, the story sounded so promising but I couldn't connect with the characters. Perhaps it was that the story was set in 1919 or mysticism and witchcraft beliefs. For people who enjoy this kind of book (I definitely recommend reading the other reviews), I'm 100% confident they will enjoy it.

I've rated it 4/5 because it's well-written and solid story, just not for me.

This book was a very certain vibe. Cult/witch/ritualistic/gory and dark taking place in Scotland in the early 1900s.

What made it hard for me to get into?

This book took me a while to get into because of the writing, not that it was bad, it was just the style it was written in. It felt authentic but it was just personally hard for me to follow and feel immersed and I. think having audio would have helped moved the story along and help me get into it more.

Some parts were also very graphic and gory and while this usually doesn’t bug me, it was a lot this time.

I didn’t feel fully invested as I do with others.

What was cool?
This book was dark with a capital D and I think it would make an excellent horror film or show.

There were expected and unexpected villains.

A scary and horror premise.

There was a gruesome element that I wanted to look away from but couldn’t look away from.

If you want something different, horror, gruesome, and a bit cult and ritualistic? I would check this out!

I am going to be honest. This book sounded really good but was just not for me. It was a little hard for me to understand what was going on. I do not think I would suggest this one.

Wow, I did not see that coming.

"'It is a lonely thing to be a monster," I say. "And an unwilling one. I cannot burden those I love with it." I feel my old face surface for a moment. Eve, full of need."

This is my first Catriona Ward novel. I'm sure it won't be my last. The novel opens with Jamie MacRaith discovering a murder at Altnaharra Castle in Scotland in the early 1920s. From there, we discover that the lives of Evelyn Bearings and her siblings seem to be a little off. That's where the story kicks off.

Ward does a great job with the supernatural mystery aspect of this novel. Comparisons that come to mind are, the Sherlock Holmes novels (based on a certain Inspector Black), Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (based on the atmosphere and location, along with the magical aspects of the story). I'm sure that there are other's that I'm missing. I normally don't like cult thrillers. They're too convoluted or way too creepy for me to stomach. Little Eve is not for the faint of heart. But the way that Ward spills this story makes you feel like you are there. I'm very excited that this is the first book of hers that I've read, I will 100% be picking up her backlist titles.

If you want a gritty, supernatural murder mystery novel with some magical realism elements in there to make you question what is real and what is not, definitely give this a try. I didn't see half the twists coming and I don't give out five star ratings for books very often because I find them lacking in plot or descriptions or just in general being able to hold my attention. This one had everything. I am so excited for people to read this book when it comes out this fall. It's going to be a hit.

“The world changes at night. Bad things from the beginning of the earth roam in the dark. We must always be safe on the isle by the time the sun falls into the sea.”

Thank you @NetGalley for this eARC of #LittleEve

I had such high hopes for this book, I enjoyed the previous book I read by the author well enough but this was just not it.

I’ve been racking my brain trying to give a little run down of the book and it’s not coming to me. Although the story came together in the end, getting there was painful. I didn’t care for the writing and chapters that are over an hour each stopped me from drawing my attention in.

My favourite part was probably the last two chapters. 😬

Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this new Catriona Ward novel.

I'd read 'The Last House on Needless Street,' loved the deeply unsettling nature of it and was intrigued to see how this earlier novel - getting its first US release - lined up alongside it.

I wasn't disappointed. It shared the unsettling and shifting mood of 'Needless' and for most of the book you're wondering whether this is a supernatural story or a story of the power of a man to manipulate women and of women to manipulate men in a cult-like and post-cult scenario.

The setting is pure British Gothic folk horror being located in a crumbling castle in the wilds of Scotland in the early 20th century, post WWI and right on the cusp of modern times which, for me, really lends to the is-it-isn't-it a supernatural affair. It's also a time when women were beginning to step out from under the control of men and that's very much reflected here as the tale unfolds.

All that said, it's also a first-rate, keep-'em-guessing whodunnit (as, I suppose, was Needless Street to an extent) and it does keep us guessing right to the end as to who committed the heinous crimes that are introduced right at the beginning.

It's not a simple read, the twists and switchbacks can get quite complex so you do need to be paying attention but you are rewarded throughout with fine writing and a great conclusion.

This one's a winner for me.

I think you need to have a lot of patience when reading this, coz its SO confusing. Like I finished reading the book and I'm still so confused lol.

The twist was surprising yes, but like I said I am still very confused.

Loved the gothic and spooky vibes. But I wish we had gotten to know more about the 'him' mentioned.

Would def recommend this for spooky season coz it gives all those creepy gothic mansion vibes.

Giving this a 3 star rating because I still don't know if I like this book or not.

Another winner from Ward. I've mentioned before that I'm apparently a stan, and it continues to be true. Ward does an excellent job of setting incredible tension through the relationships between characters, and Little Eve really keeps you wondering where the story is going and how we end up in the present presented to us. The characters are real but somehow also larger than life, and I loved seeing her take on historial fiction/horror.

Thanks to Tor for sending me this Arc!

I've become a huge fan of Catriona Ward after reading her previous novels, "The House on Needless Street" and "Sundial", and couldn't wait to read this gothic thriller. Each of her books are original, terrifying and filled with exquisite writing and detail. I could almost feel the cold tiles oft he castle under my feet, hear the roaring ocean and taste the sweet honey the characters were always eating. Set in the fictional island of Altnaharra in Scotland, this gothic thriller had the perfect atmosphere for the original storyline. Set mostly in the time period of 1917-1921, Little Eve is about a cult family which is led by a man called "Uncle". We never find out much about this man except his devotion to snakes and end of the world ideology. The story is told between the viewpoints of Dinah and Little Eve, two teenagers who had been with Uncle since they were infants. The women and children of Uncle's cult have a hard life which consists of starvation, snake bites, brutal punishments and isolation. The book begins with a young butcher from the village delivering a side of beef to the castle and coming upon murdered bodies which appear to have been killed in a ritual.

The background of World War I and the men going off to war adds the perfect backdrop to this story where the women and children of the castle begin to have misgivings about the lives they are forced to lead and wonder if there is more in the world. than the bleak existence in the castle. I don't want to say too much about the plot but I found myself caring deeply about many of the characters including Eve and Dinah, Baby Elizabeth, an 11 year old who acts like a toddler, Abel and Alice a young woman facing numerous pregnancies while under the cult rules. There is also a delightful police inspector named Black who becomes suspicious of the cult and develops a friendship with one of the characters. Highly recommend to horror and gothic fans. Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC of the book in exchange for a review.

She’s back! The author who held us all in suspense with The Last House on Needless Street! With another wickedly delightful tale of horror, we could never imagine. I admire that in an author!

And she does not disappoint either!


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

Off the wild coast of Scotland, a group is preparing for the end of the world and the rebirth as well.

Of course, he is a crazy cult leader. He calls himself the keeper of the Adder, who will rise from the sea and will bestow his powers on one of the followers.

Altnaharra is off the coast and entry and exits depend on the tides. They are cut off from the world and believe everything they are told. And they are told some seriously insane stuff!

All of them, all women and young girls, except for Abel, who the Father never wanted anyway, want the honor. Most of all Eve. And then she meets CI Black. He comes to investigate a murder and is taken with Eve. He tries to warn her, to take her away, but she is brainwashed and drugged as well. They do what they are told and it is seriously messed up.

Soon Eve is questioning things. Why is she here? Where is her mother? Are they all going to die? But Eve is a clever girl and has a plan. Brutal, but it’s a plan to get out of here alive. Maimed, but alive.

The ending I did not see coming and that makes this a winner for me!

NetGalley/October 11th, 2022 by Tor Nightfire