Catriona Ward is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to gothic horror. Before her breakout hits “The Last House on Needless Street” and “Sundial” came “Little Eve.” Originally published in the UK in 2018, now readers on this side of the pond are being treated to this masterful winner of the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel.

This dark, atmospheric novel grabs you by the throat from the very beginning, when a local tradesperson makes a gruesome discovery on the isolated, windswept island of Altnaharra. Who are these people, who’s still alive, and who’s missing? Ward takes us back in time to introduce us to this far-flung place and its ragtag group of inhabitants, separated from the mainland by a gate with no fence, to say nothing of the control and manipulation of the cultish leader they call Uncle.

This book is just… wow. Gripping, intense, scary, emotional. The plot is intricate but not confusing, with a little something for everyone. Horror, mystery, cults, family bonds, coming of age – it’s all here. Ward’s lush prose is gorgeous, with a sense of place that makes Altnaharra a character itself. The characters and their relationships will are so compelling that you’ll still be thinking about them long after you turn the last page.

If you’re a fan of Cat Ward’s other works, you will no doubt love “Little Eve”. If you are new to her unparalleled style – what are you waiting for? Grab yourself a copy of this novel, coming out just in time for spooky season.

Many thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Little Eve is a remarkably complex novel where truth blends to fantasy and back to darker truth continuously. One moment you are caught up in a great power and the next you are brought back to earth in a more mundane reality that still hints it might be false.

Children have been taken to a castle on an island, separated from the main land by a gate with no fence that is constantly locked. One man suspects the truth, but is unable to prove it. Eve is the key, and also the lock. Unwilling to be completely drawn into her Uncle's dark world and simultaneoulsly drawn and driven there regardless of her efforts to be free.

The rituals and darkness are deep and binding. The torn lives and hearts of those drawn and trapped there are intriguing and tantalizing. The setting is bleak, and the entire story takes place against a backdrop of the prejudices of the village beyond the gate, and the few who live there and interact with the island.

This is not a happily ever after story, it is a disturbing on many levels. It feels fantastic and all too real and is one of those books I am always searching for. One that leaves me staring at the wall after reading it, lost in thought and sort of sad as the last words slip away.

Highly Recommended.

Catriona Ward continues to be one of my favorite thriller authors. I was so excited to get my hands on this ARC and it didnt disappoint! I have been gushing about this book to all my readers friends even the ones that are not into thrillers! Once this book is out I will buy a copy so I can keep my Ward collection growing.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC.

Unfortunately I found this book slow, boring, unfulfilling, and silly. This is the 3rd book I've read by the author (although it's actually the first book she published) and this will probably be my last. As a whole, I do not enjoy her writing style, her themes, or her stories. I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

I think this is my favorite book of Catriona Ward's. I am not at all surprised by this book winning the Shirley Jackson award for Best Novel. Ward reminds me a lotttt of Shirley Jackson. There is always a lot of creepiness, and bizarre things happening in her books. She has a way of writing things that are really haunting and beautiful, but also bizarre and just plain weird. This story has so many levels to it, and I really loved every minute of it. Dark, gothic, murdery-cult book, what's not to love?

honestly nobody can turn a story of abuse into a dark, twisted book of horror quite like Catriona Ward.

little eve lives on the wind battered island of Altnaharra off the coast of Scotland with uncle and his clan as they prepare to bring about the end of the world and its imminent rebirth.

the writing in this book is poetic. set in the 1920’s, Ward gives us the perfect dark, atmospheric setting that will creep you out from start to finish. told from the point of view of two of the children of the island, it’s difficult to distinguish what is real or just a figment of their wicked imagination. many times I found myself wondering what the f was going on. but when you really dig in you find you don’t want to know, because the reality is too grim.

little eve starts at the end, giving us flashbacks between past and present to fill in the gaps. neither narrator more reliable than the other. and when the harsh reality comes crashing down the twist will have you spiraling. did I see it coming? yes. but it was so clever and well done that predicting it beforehand didn’t ruin the experience.

a big thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire, Netgalley and Catriona Ward for an advanced copy of this book! little eve will be released on Oct. 11th.

TW: SA

This was a super dark piece of fiction. Horror can often be put into one of two categories: supernatural horror and realistic horror. This was the latter. We follow two timelines if you will, The first is an accounting of the past through two main POVs: Dinah and Eve. The second timeline is closer to the present and is told through a series of letters signed by Dinah. The book begins with a gruesome ritualistic murder scene, and we spend the length of the book trying to figure out what really happened over the course of a few tragic years.

Catriona Ward's horror books are all the more sinister and compelling because of her beautiful prose and lyrical writing. It is never over-the-top but rather lends that perfect atmospheric creepiness to the tale. I won't spoil the book by saying much more about the plot, but cultish certainly comes to mind as a keyword. It was very well executed and if you enjoyed any of her other books, you will be captivated by this one too.

Little Eve is the story of the Isle of Altnaharra, off the wildest coast of Scotland, where a clan prepares to bring about the end of the world and it’s rebirth. Young Eve, will do anything in her to be able to inherit the powers of the Adder.

I’m starting this review by saying that I don’t think I was in the right headspace to read this book. I loved The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona Ward is an amazing author. But I didn’t understand/know what was happening the entirety of this novel. I understand what this was about, and some random plot points throughout, but I was just kind of lost while reading.

I think other people who really enjoy gothic horror would LOVE this one. But I just don’t think it was for me.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire, Catriona Ward and NetGalley for the ARC of Little Eve! This specific publication of Little Eve will be released October 11th of this year!

The writing in Little Eve, by Catriona Ward, is so lush a reader will want to roll around in it. Just beautiful writing. Not very nice things happen so a reader might want to do some lush rolling then hide under a blanket and shiver with fear. Gruesome torture and murder and the author keeps us guessing about "who done it." More twists than there are in a Twizzler. More twists than in a slinky snake. Aha! A snake plays a huge role in Little Eve. Nobody is what they seem, and everybody is a suspect. A horror murder mystery.

Be forewarned, there is child abuse, sexual, emotional, and physical. There is some animal abuse. Much of it is difficult to read. But, with the otherwise lovely writing, and the amazing twists and turns, a horror writer could learn a lot from reading Little Eve.

Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Little Eve.

This book did not let me down. I loved every moment of this book and when I was done I felt lost for a while. Looking forward to buying this book once it comes out.

I thought perhaps it would get easier. Little Eve is my third Catriona Ward book and I know from the first two that she writes amazingly detailed stories that make you feel like you are right there in the midst of whatever scene she has dreamed up. But come on, you would think by now I could write a decent review knowing that I somehow have to avoid all the spoilers that are scattered within the pages. I won't fall into that trap but whether or not I adequately convey how the story made me feel, well that is questionable at best.

Eve and Dinah live on the Isle of Altnaharra with two women, two other children, and their 'Uncle''. They are routinely starved and endure many tests deemed by 'Uncle' to assess their worthiness. Worthy for what you ask? Why to be ready for the end of the world when all of the impure people will perish and Uncle and those under his care will be the only survivors. Makes total sense right? Well, it does to these six brainwashed people, and the punishments for doubting are swift and severe.

But the book doesn't open here. It begins when a local merchant makes a delivery, yet discovers something shocking instead. Everyone is dead except for Dinah, who is barely alive, and a missing Eve. Dinah states that Eve is responsible, but we will need to journey to the past to discover why.

Dark, disturbing, eerie, and a tale that I dare you to be able to put down.A story where the layers are peeled away bit by bit, and a twist that I didn't see coming.

◇You might enjoy this if you like
-Cults
-Gothic settings
-Dual timeline and POV
-Snakes

Once again, Catriona Ward delivers. We witness Eve growing up on the coast of Scotland in the early 1900s under the watchful eye of Uncle. Uncle is preparing their found family for when ‘He’ is coming. He will deliver them of all their sins.

The setting was dark and mesmerizing, a perfect undertone for the story Ward gave us. Full of her usual twisty plot turns, the reader is constantly wondering which character they can really trust. Atmospheric, emotional, culty. Need I say more?

This book’s publish date is October 11th, and it will be the perfect spooky season read for all my fellow horror fans!

Thank you Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Little Eve was first released in the UK in 2018. The book was a hit overseas and even won the Shirley Jackson award for best novel in 2018. After learning this, my interest was immediately piqued. I read and enjoyed both of award’s prior works, The Last House on Needless Streer and Sundial so I was very excited to read Little Eve.

Little Eve is set on a small island called Altnaharra that’s off the coast of Scotland. A small group consisting of 8 people live in a castle on Altnaharra and they are preparing for what they believe is the end of the world. The group is led by ‘Uncle’ who speaks through and sees visions from the great ‘addler’ who will save this clan from the demise of the world. Among the clan is little Eve who will do anything to stand out to the addler. But after a sacred ceremony goes terribly wrong little Eve and all of the secrets hidden on Altnaharra will be brought to light.

The book is told from Evelyn and Dinah’s point of view with alternating timelines.

Since Little Eve was written several years before The Last House on Needless Street so it was interesting to see how Catriona award’s writing has evolved. There are a few darker parts but I wouldn’t classify this one as horror. Instead, Little Eve is more of a gothic thriller.

This one wasn’t a hit for me but it wasn’t entirely a miss either. I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and the twist was well written. I also was very satisfied with the ending. But there are a lot of very slow parts that were a bit redundant, I even contemplated not finishing it a few times. However, I do think readers who enjoy thrillers about cults or any of Ward’s prior works will love Little Eve.

Little Eve by Catriona award will be available in the United States on October 11, 2022. Many thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Part gothic, part cult thriller, this story had a little bit of everything. I did struggle in parts to keep timelines/perspectives straight, but otherwise it was a solidly pleasant read.

Little Eve took me a minute to get into due to the writing style, but once I got used to it I was hooked. This is a gothic tale revolving around a cult, and is told from the perspective of Eve in 1917 and Dinah in 1921 after a major event in the cult. This story was twisty, dark, and left me guessing what would happen until the very end. The end has me shook, and I totally didn’t see it coming. Rating 4/5 due to the writing style, not totally my cup of tea but the story was 👌🏻👌🏻

Little Eve is the story of Eve, an orphan living with a cult on a remote Scottish isle in the early 1900s.
I really enjoyed this book. The beginning seemed to drag a little, but I was soon pulled in. The story moved along nicely, with enough detail to paint a desolate picture of the lives the kids in the cult lived, but no so much as to drag the story down. The fate of the cult members is revealed early on, and the events leading up to that are slowly uncovered with the perfect amount of suspense. The characters are well developed and I genuinely liked (or hated) them. There are many layers to the story and I'm not quite sure what category to put it in-part horror, historical fiction, part thriller-but it is just a good Gothic tale that is well told.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book

Add this one to your 2022 Spooky Season TBR immediately!

'Little Eve' is a masterfully crafted literary gothic infused to the brim with Catriona Ward's trademark stomach-dropping twists and reveals. Anyone who talks to me about books or reads reviews knows that I've been a ringer for calling twist endings for years, but Ward has such an uncanny talent for laying incredibly believable misdirection and using all her literary skills with plotting and narrative styles to keep readers guessing without leaving them hopeless confused. Each hard turn in the story feels so well earned. The blend of multiple unreliable narrators, multiple timelines, and the clasic choice of opening with the discovery of a murder is so well executed that I was barely able to put this book down for important things like work and sleep. I was so invested in every aspect of the story and characters that taking breaks from reading it left me restless.

Outside of techinal mastery, 'Little Eve' is so full of heart and perfectly eerie vibes that it is the perfect read for autumn, winter, or any old stormy night. Ward's reverence for her homeland is obvious in every harsh but poignant description of the island of Altnaharra. That, added to the stark violence and the attention to detail she pays to the time period— from clothes all the way to forensic science of the time— creates such an atmospheric and immersive reading experience that is transportive and at times viscerally jarring. There were times when 'Little Eve' felt like the kind of tragedy you hate to witness but cannot bring yourself to look away from. The constant reminders of the power of a familial bond, the way each character is deeply sympathetic, and the very fleeting softer moments serve as a fantastic emotional and thematic foil to the more disturbing aspects of this book.

It's a genuine shock to me that Catriona Ward's sophomore novel wasn't overly well recieved when it was first published in the UK. Maybe sometimes great things need to sit with us a while before we can really appreciate them. Ward more than deserves the Shirley Jackson Award and British Fantasy Award for Best Horror that 'Little Eve' won. The vibes are exactly the right balance of suspenseful, heart-rending, and decidedly creey. I absolutely recommend this one for IndieNext and LibraryReads nominations, it's practically a perfect twisty literary gothic and I think I won't be able to stop thinking about for a long time.

Between 'Little Eve' and 'Sundial,' it's safe to say that Catriona Ward is an autoread author for me now! I'll immediately be picking up 'The House on Needless Street' to catch up.

Representatives of Tor Publishing reached out to me with an offer of a complimentary e-arc of 'Little Eve' in exchange for an honest review and I am so thrilled that I accepted. 'Little Eve' has easily been one of my favourite reads of 2022 so far and I cannot wait until it releases in North America in October so that I can bully all my friends into reading it too.

Horror novels for me, I find, are more spectacle than story, but Little Eve surprised me. Not only by providing an excellent writing style that sets a chilling atmosphere, but the story is so well plotted that it genuinely took me off guard. I’m rarely caught unawares by twists or misdirections, but this one had so many seamlessly woven through you never truly feel as if you’re standing on solid ground. Much like the main perspectives you read from, you can never trust what you think you know. I loved the setting, and how thematically well done it was, I’d give this an award for best horror novel too.

I started Little Eve on a windy night at a vacation rental overlooking a lake and that was either a terrible idea or an amazing one. Terrible because I was immediately creeped out by the dark gothic tone and amazing because I was easily immersed in the dark gothic setting in a story that begins with the discovery of murder.

Little Eve is a true historical gothic story very similar to Rebecca. The closest read-alike I can come up with is The Thirteenth Tale although I think this one needs a lot more trigger warnings. I couldn’t quite figure out what was happening at the beginning but that confusion drew me in and kept me compelled to keep turning the pages. I actually don’t want to say anything about the plot because this is a book to experience. So many twists and turns and unexpected reveals that made this completely engrossing.

Thank you to Netgalley,and the publisher for a chance to review this.

This is my second book from Catriona Ward. I'm shocked I was so let down,and disappointed with this one. Her first book I read ' The Last House on Needless Street' was really gripping,and kept me going.
This one, I was let down. I didn't connect with the story at all. I got lost, and kept wanting to put the book down. For me, it might of been the time period that might of been an issue for me.
I know a lot of other people liked it, and I really wanted to like it too, but I just struggled through it. I guess not all can be winners right?

I do hope 'Sundial' reads more like "Needless Street" I will be giving that one a chance.