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

This story got under my skin, an intense mystery that I found difficult to put down. Ward has a way of captivating, taking me into the psyche of the characters, their torture and how it defines them. There is a cult and child abuse but necessary for this story. It’s a story I know I shouldn’t like but is memorable and sticks with me long after I finish. Highly recommend to fans of horror and gothic atmosphere.

ARC was provided by Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Pub Date: 11 Oct 2022

A solid whodunit mystery that kept me guessing (incorrectly!), featuring atmospheric writing and plenty of surprises. I'm a fan of Ward's work and was eager to get my eyeballs on Little Eve, now available for the first time to US audiences, and this one didn't disappoint. It has multiple unreliable narrators and it catapults you back and forth through time while unraveling the real story behind a multiple homicide that took place on the outskirts of a Scottish isle on the fringes of society.

Inside a run-down castle lives a cult-like family led by a charismatic but malicious Uncle who uses starvation, snakebites, drugs, neglect, lies, and other forms of physical and mental torture to keep his found family in line. He imparts his wild religious beliefs to his familial companions, until one day--when we join this family at the beginning of the book--the family is found murdered in some strange ritualistic killing, with some family members missing and various clues that don't quite add up. The rest of the story is told in flashback and flashforward format, told mostly from the point of view of two 'sisters' in the cult, as well as a policeman who is obsessed with the case.

The story is a tricky one, and pulls the rug out from under you several times. There are plenty of red herrings but none of them felt trite or overused. While the central mystery is a good one, the book explores themes of found family, loyalty, motherhood, and obsession in interesting ways. And each chapter is tinged with enough horrifying elements to give the story an unending sense of malaise and tension that lasts from cover to cover. It made the story compelling and compulsively readable. Another winner from Ward, one of my "insta-read" authors of the moment.

4.5/5

This was so beautiful and haunting. I highlighted the opening passage while I was reading, but I want to give it some more attention here, as I found it stunning:

<i>My heart is a dark passage, lined with ranks of gleaming jars. In each one something floats. The past, preserved as if in spirit. Here is the scent of grass and the sea, here the creak of wheels on a rough path, here a bright yellow gull's beak. The sensation of blood drying on my cheek in the wind. Abel crying for his mother. Uncle's hand on me. Silver on a white collarbone. The knowledge of loss, which comes like a blow to the heart or the stomach. It does not reach your mind until later.</i>

In several ways, that passage set the tone of the whole story for me. This is an atmospheric book, with vivid, immersive imagery, and if you want atmospheric family gothic with a remote and unfriendly setting, then honestly, you probably can't do much better than this. I had such a growing sense of dread throughout, and was just captivated by the beautiful writing.

Obviously, this is Catriona Ward, so there are some degrees of fucked up, but what a beautiful way to go.

4.5

Epitome of an atmospheric novel; I mean, Catriona Ward nailed it. Through the narrative of Eve, we become gradually more aware of the situation occurring around Altnaharra with this "clan"of sorts-- we become more and more horrified by the realities taking place. Although Eve is the main narrative throughout the novel, we are given several accounts from different characters; resulting in an ending that pulls all those narratives together for the complete twisted truth of it all. There are some parts of the novel that I found to be particularly weak and rather took away from the story as a whole. I won't go into particular events or conversations too much for spoiler reasons but... Rose, what was her purpose? What was the "draw" between Rose and Eve? Idk, maybe I just missed something?
BUT, Catriona Ward naiiiiled the mindset of the victims towards their abuser (IN MY OPINION). The false sense of power and expected servitude and obedience. Subtle, yet powerful hints of further various abuses. However, there are also not so subtle hints towards certain abuses as well; extreme forms of punishments unfitting of any "crime" members of the clan committed. I really hesitate going on in regards to this point because I don't want to give any kind of spoilers. It's just really disturbing that one horrible character can infect the minds of innocents.
ALSO ALSO, my jaw just about dropped open after I finished reading this and realized the parallel of Elizabeth and her bird towards the end of the novel. Like what. That was strong.
Just read this. It was really good okay?

Reading Catriona Ward is always a richly Gothic, intimate experience. You can't quite trust the walls around you, but neither can you resist the pull. Little Eve, her latest to hit the US, is no exception. Within its pages is the kind of depth and draw that only comes from living with and knowing the world created inside out and upside down. Ward is the kind of writer who constantly surprises with her adept turns of the knife - just when you think you know where the characters are leading you, they pull the wool over your eyes and rip the carpet from beneath your feet - but with Little Eve it is strikingly obvious that she is able to do so because she knows her worlds and people so intimately.

A family cobbled together on the outskirts of a town hold themselves together with the strength of traditions. The town around them keep their distance with the wariness of rumor-filled fear. Uncle has a plan and a system not to be disrespected. Eve and her siblings are often too caught up in vying for his affections to notice the truth. When secrets come to light and the town around them begins to crumble under the weight of them, it will take everything they have to survive the wrath of the Adder.

As usual with Catriona Ward, to step too close to plot is to risk diving off the cliff and into spoilers, but it is no risk to say entering the world of Little Eve immediately has the feel and pull of a cult narrative long before the family themselves realize their reality. The impressive feat is that despite our knowing it ahead of time, the reveal for Eve is no less terrifying. Therein lies Ward's greatest skill: to give you all the pieces right before your eyes and still shock with the ultimate picture.

Little Eve is both a devastating examination of family dependence and cult dynamics and a fascinating look into what and how mythologies of the mysterious are made. Just as Lizzie Borden received a children's rhyme about her crimes, so too does Altnaharra have the air and town story of ghosts and death and daring risk. Somewhere between Bloody Mary and We Have Always Lived in the Castle lies the tale of Eve and the Adder, and what it takes to carve life and a future from a past riddled with shadows and threat of death.

All of Catriona Ward's work has a bit of the Gothic at its heart, but perhaps none moreso than Little Eve, whose crumbling castle and haunted characters hearken to the soul of what makes a Gothic tale work best. That this is the novel credited with lauching Ward's career is no surprise, given its intricacies and twisted depths. That it is her second written is a marvel; that it is finally arriving in the US in the coldly atmospheric autumn months is a gift none should pass up.

I would like to thank Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Little Eve comes to American shelves October 11, 2022.

Ward has done it again!!!!! I loved darn near everything about this book- the characters, the twists, the clever little details Ward hid throughout the book. Aaaaa!!!! I loved it so much that I just could not put it down until I found out what happened. Another one I will definitely be adding to my shelf and one that further cements Ward as my favorite author.

This was a very well done and well rounded novel. I really enjoyed the characters and the development of the plot throughout.

After reading and loving Ward’s two newer novels, Needless Street and Sundial, I was excited to receive an ARC of this one. Unfortunately overall, this book wasn’t for me. I did enjoy the initial creepiness and setup of the novel, but over time I found the story less interesting. I did find the writing style to match the setting and time period perfectly, but also that it didn’t propel the story forward and hold my attention the way I was hoping. This ultimately felt more like a true gothic story than the horror novel I was expecting. Probably a case of me entering this novel with the wrong expectations. I’d love to revisit this one, maybe on audio or true physical form one day, to see if I can connect more deeply with the story and the characters. I will continue to read Ward’s work, as I really like her newer publications!

Oh, Catriona Ward.....you have brought me such joy in the form of Little Eve.

How can one person leave a review for your tales? How does one describe your writing?

This is the third book I have read of yours and I am just as floored and speechless as the first.

My review will never give this book justice so I will leave it as this....

Little Eve is one of a kind and as absolutely mind boggling as your other titles. 5 stars for an outstanding book.

Another winner from the genius Catriona Ward!

I loved this more than Sundial and as much as The Last House on Needless Street, but in a different way. In true Cat Ward fashion, I had no idea what was going on half the time but couldn't stop reading anyway because you know the pay-off is going to great. And it was!

I couldn't tear myself away from the book even though it was disturbing and so messed up. It's heavy on abuse and cruelty — things I don't like to read for entertainment. So why do I love Little Eve so much?!

The writing is beautiful and paints a vivid portrait of the setting, which made for such a sinister and atmospheric story. Sure, some parts were frustrating to read but that's just proof of what a fantastic job the author did in showing how deeply entrenched the characters are in the cult and the tight reins that the Adder has on them.

There were plenty of twists and revelations that I never could have guessed. After finishing the novel, I went to re-read certain parts and had my mind blown all over again.

Dark, haunting and seriously brilliant. Cat Ward continues to impress yet again!

fi really enjoy Catriona Ward’s writing style. I enjoyed The Last House on Needless Street. Thai book has a good suspense and twist going for it. I did like it and it kept me guessing.

Ooh, this is a tricky one!!

I read Last House on Needless Street earlier this year and I instantly became a big fan of Catriona Ward. It is a book that you could immediately reread to see things from a new perspective after coming across the twists.

Little Eve is full of twists as well. The story unfolds in a way that requires you to pay close attention to every detail. At times I found myself confused as to what exactly was going on. I find this story to be similar to Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle. A lot of the information is hidden in plain sight but you may miss it.

I would recommend this book if you enjoy books about cults. It always reminds me of a vintage mystery movie. Twists and turns at every corner and no one is who you think they are.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this. I have written this review voluntarily.

Catriona Ward never ceases to blow my mind. I spend like 75% of her books wondering what the hell is going on but she sure knows how to bring it home! To enjoy this one you need to like multiple POV, a jumbled up timeline, and very dark reads. But trust me when I say all the confusion is well worth it. Just an incredible, well-written piece of literature. Ward does gothic horror very well and setting this story in between the two World Wars was the perfect choice. I really loved the first chapter, the rest was a bit of a slow build, and I absolutely LOVED the last 3 chapters. The characters had great arcs, there was an answer to every mystery in the book, and the conversation at the end between two of the main characters was the perfect way to close the book. I’m actually really looking forward to rereading this and picking up on the little clues I missed my first read through. The Last House on Needless Street is still my favorite of hers but this is a very close second, much better than Sundial. Highly recommend, horror fans!

4.5 ⭐️