*received for free from netgalley for honest review* took me awhile to get into this one, i would honestly like to reread it because i think i woulld like it more the second time around lol

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire for accepting my request to read and review Little Eve.

Author: Catriona Ward
Published: 10/11/22
Genre: Historical Fiction -- Horror -- Mystery & Thrillers

A rollercoaster ride that I wanted off more than I wanted to stay on sums up my thoughts on Little Eve.

My feelings, several days later, are still numb. Midway through, I stopped and wondered what possessed a person to write this type of book. Where does the influence come from?

The dark, gritty, sickening abuse was second to every page I turned wondering how much worse was it going to get. The story itself is moot as far as I'm concerned.

This was my second and last Catriona Ward book; my concern is how far will she go.

This was a NetGalley, otherwise I would have DNFd.

A story for gothic novel fans.

Took me way too long to get into, but some parts jumped off the pages for me and I was absorbed. However, majority of the time I couldn’t help but skim pages.

Received an ARC from NetGalley.

Little Eve hooked me in and still hasn't let go, hours after finishing this book. It was so atmospheric and mysterious, I couldn't stop guessing what was really happening, and admiring the beautiful setting. Catriona Ward has a beautiful way of writing that makes you want to fall into the story and never leave, even with all the heartbreak. I think this is a book I will be thinking about for a while

Before picking up Little Eve, I didn't realize it was so snake-heavy. I almost put it down at several points but I'm glad I stuck with it. An atmospheric, gothic, horrifying little cult story that was the perfect read over a cold and gloomy weekend.

Evelyn lives in Scotland with Uncle and his cobbled family on remote Altnaharra, worshiping the Adder while secluded from the intrusion of the Impure. Eve is set on being the chosen one when the Adder comes and will do anything to ensure she wields the power it bestows. When a police inspector is pulled into the web of Eve's clan in light of violence in the village, the outsider shocks her with accusations of Uncle's manipulation. What will Eve do with the revelations Inspector Black brings to light?

This is my third horror read from Catriona Ward and it didn't disappoint. Eve is a tortured soul looking to find meaning in the bleak life Uncle orchestrates for his clan. She is desperate to earn his attention to ensure she is chosen by the powerful Adder so that she is the next to dominate Altnaharra's inhabitants. And while Eve is a terrifying character in many ways, I love that despite her environment she still has some humanity left to give depth to her character.

This one has all the goods. The suspense is palpable, the horror is disturbing, and the story is a labyrinth of deception. The mythically inspired plot sets the tone for a gothic read filled with twisted manipulation for a dark and intensely affecting story. You'll be glued to the pages until the very last word of this Shirley Jackson Award-winning novel.

I really liked The Last House on Needless Street and love a good gothic horror novel, so I was very much looking forward to this one. Alas, it doesn’t really satisfy either comparison.

This is more gory than scary, and the twists feel more forced than natural, a bummer after this very thing was so perfectly executed in Ward’s previous novels. It’s not a true gothic, though some elements of it do meet the subgenre’s tropes. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment atmospherically, which I consider to be the main attraction when it comes to gothic horror.

For me there was just too much icky stuff and not enough plot of solid writing and atmosphere, and it lacks the character-driven feel of Ward’s other work. A lot of others whose taste i frequently agree with liked this one, so perhaps this is all just a preference issue. Still, I had high expectations for this one and felt let down by the product.

Catriona Ward is slowly becoming one of my auto-read authors. The family living on the coast in Scotland is not your typical family. In fact, you could say they are very cultish and have deep, dark secrets.

Ward weaves a masterful tale that keeps you guessing what the next twist is going to be. I do feel like the end got a bit bogged down by the explanation, but I still loved Little Eve.

Little Eve is a creepy, absorbing horror novel, masquerading as historical fiction, that will stay with you long after you finish it. It does a great job of illuminating how growing up in a cult affects children and their worldviews. This book got under my skin in ways I didn’t expect. Highly recommended. I will look for other books by this author.

I absolutely love Catriona Ward and her books never disappoint me! Little Eve was no exception! This was the perfect mix of suspense and spooky.

This creepy and creeping gothic story will surely chill you to the bone as if you were standing at the edge of a Scottish cliff staring out to the sea on a winter’s day debating if jumping to your death is a better choice than anything your life had to offer. While slow almost to a fault and at times difficult to follow since the narrator is plagued with hunger, trauma, and hallucinations, this is a great intro to Ward’s writing and her ability to create some extremely messed-up situations you just can’t look away from.

Thank you to NetGalley, Catriona Ward, and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved the creepy and mysterious atmosphere! This book kept me turning the pages, I had to know how it ended.

There's one thing to be said about this author's writing, it is very gothic, atmospheric, and mysterious. It definitely gives you those creepy feels. This is my third book by this author and I have enjoyed all on different levels.

Little Eve would be a perfect book for the Spooktober season, as it's very dark and tense in some spots. Despite figuring out early on what was happening, I really love the way the author unravels the mystery surrounding this "family", where they live, and tragedy that befalls them.

Although, a slow read, it's an immersive one and overall enjoyable. Definitely add this one to your TBR. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

I was really looking forward to read this book as it will be my first book by this author. I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and how creepy/haunting it was. Unfortunately, this book is not for me since I wasn't able to finish it. I was confused and just couldn't get into the book.



Pub, Date: Out now

***Thank you Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this gifted reading copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***

Altnaharra is an isle off the village of Loyal. A piece of land that boasts little beyond isolation and a crumbling castle. The castle’s one entrance is a gated path that becomes inaccessible when the tide rolls in. This is home to a tribe of castaways. They are a small collection of children and caretakers who reside beneath the shadow of a man who they all refer to as Uncle. Uncle has convinced them all that said village is a breeding ground for war, murder, rape and a trove of undesirables. They consider it a miracle any time they return home from Loyal, where the children go to school. Uncle uses this faith-based allegation to pit the children against the community of Loyal at large, and ultimately each other. Because, only one of them will be chosen to don the meteoric powers issued by The Adder when he sees how true they’ve been to his inspired doctrine. It is within this contained society that Evelyn nicknames Eve, Dinah and Elizabeth have been reared by Nora and Alice, all beneath the glaring eyes of Uncle. Raised from babyhood due to alleged circumstances dictated by their elders, each has theirmind and body occupied with fulfilling Uncle’s wishes and therein “The Adder’s,” wishes. In 1921, Little Eve commits a mass murder so awful that 25 years later the residents of Loyal still talk about it. The only person who has any interest in freeing these children from their onslaught of existence is Lieutenant Christopher Black, a Loyal detective who has his own theories of this cult, and shoulders abuse from everyone on board in his efforts to decipher and expose the mysteries surrounding the castle of Altnaharra. Will he be able to?

Ward has written characters who are gripped by needs and misery. The characters have dimension and depth. It actually made me see them in my mind’s eye. The novel moves back and forth in time between two characters. It’s a mystery with trauma and loss. This Gothic novel has satisfying revaluations . It is a rewarding book to read. Horror fans won’t want to miss this!

I want to begin by saying that Ward's style of writing is beautiful. It digs into the art of words and holds your mind in the pages. I found the concept of this book very intriguing. I liked how eerie it was and the mystery of it. As I delved deeper into it, I began to feel the length of the story, and therefore my attention wasn't held as much as I'd hoped it would be going into it. I don't think this is a reflection of the book, but merely my preference. I liked that it was different, very poetic. I think my mind just needed it to be a bit more solid. I was unable to finish this book due to the earlier mentioned things, but a rating is required on here. I don't think a book that was unfinished warrants a bad review as books are like clothes and some fit better than others. I encourage everyone to give this book a chance. It definitely will not be the last Catriona Ward book I read, as her writing captured me greatly.

I really enjoyed this book about a "family" that lives in isolation from the rest of the town. Their leader is almost cultish and I kept wishing that the family members would just leave. However they were too invested in this life. I enjoyed the Gothic eeriness and the characters. The plot kept me guessing until the end.

LITTLE EVE by Catriona Ward
Published: 10/11/2022 by Tor Nighfire ( Macmillan-Tor / Forge)
271 pages


This literary horror masterpiece is actually Ward’s third and breakout novel … originally published in UK in 1918 to high acclaim and subsequently the Winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, as well as the August Derleth Prize given by the British Fantasy Association. This publication finally arrives at the shores of North American in 2022. This atmospheric gothic thriller centers itself in a crumbling castle located on an isolated isle off the coast of Scotland, called Altnaharra, cut off from the local village of Loyal by a ponderous iron gate .. located on a causeway, only accessible at low tide. Inside the isolated isle lives a family … rather a clan … actually more like a “cult.” The patriarch is known by the residents as Uncle John… who rules with an abusive and overbearing hand…. frequently meting out both physical and mental punishments. He is accompanied by two other female adults … Alice Seddington and Nora Marr. Together they have raised four orphaned and unwanted children …. Dinah, Evelyn ( also referred to as “Little Eve” ), Abel and Elizabeth, Lately the “family” has little to do with the outside world. They communicate by leaving messages on the gate.
The tale opens in 1921 with the butcher, Jamie MacRaith, responding to a message left on the gate requesting a side of beef. As he approaches the gate he notes the gate is slightly askew and not padlocked closed. He takes this as a request to personally deliver the heavy slab of meat to the kitchen. Unfortunately he’s met with a gruesome scene of carnage. He discovers five bodies laid out on a stone altar .. all with their right eye gouged out. All are still and most likely dead. He notes the presence of Nora, Elizabeth, John , Sarah and when he turns his attention to the last body …. Dinah …. she starts to move with obvious pain. She tells Jamie that her “sister” Eve is responsible for the massacre.
The story alternates between the past and present …. extending between 1917 to 1945. We are exposed to the backstory through the eyes of Eve as we jump back to 1917 and learn of the brainwashing and everyday life, torture and indoctrination at Altnaharra. “Uncle” has everyone preparing for the coming of the Adder and end of the world. His teachings and methods are supposedly to train and prepare all for the inevitable rebirth of the world with the strongest ascending to the position of power. The rituals, ceremonies are bizarre and caustic.
As Dinah slowly recovers she provides an alternative version of events leading up to the massacre at odds with those of Eve. Who is the reliable narrator remains in question … as things do not add up. Chief Inspector Christopher Black is sent to the scene to sieve through the events …. all of which adds further mystery and tension to the narrative.
Catriona Ward proves to be a masterful storyteller as she peels the layers off the multi-prong mystery as tension, dread , and horror escalate to a twisty tale with a shocking denouement. Themes of family, love, abuse, violence, loss, and even healing are all touched upon while unravelling the events at Altnaharra. Finally North American readers will enjoy and devour this amazing gruesome gothic mystery thriller. The reader should be prepared to have extreme emotional changes … vacillating between heartbreak, sadness, disgust, and occasional bouts of happiness. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warning: forced starvation, forced drug use, murder, miscarriage, insinuated rape of minors, body mutilation.

Told in dual perspectives, this novel follows the Children of Altnaharra and their Uncle. Readers are pulled into this cult as we learn how it ended. At the center is Eve, a girl who believes she has The Eye and will take over from her Uncle.

This is a disturbing novel. And at the heart of it is how the entire cult of Altnaharra died. With every new piece of information, I was horrified by the tragedies inflicted upon Eve and the other children. Adding to that is the way Eve thought. She believe herself to be able to see into people's minds with the help of the benison- a mysterious side effect of the honey they eat.

Once I got used to the way Eve spoke, this story was much easier to read. It is filled with euphemisms that show readers how naive she really is. What caused this to be so horrifying was how realistic the cult was. This novel feels as though it is a story heard in hushed tones, that it is told to children as a warning.

The ending was not what I expected, but made perfect sense. It's very bittersweet.

THE QUEEN OF HORROR. I hadn't realized this was already published before, but oh boy am I glad I got the chance to read it now. Ward has a talent for the spooky and gothic and this shows that off PERFECTLY. Add in some cultish behavior and I am even more convinced it's the book for me.

And it was! Woohoo!