acmaltby's review against another edition
5.0
Little Eve by Catriona Ward is a Must Read… soooo good! A Brilliantly written Gothic Mystery Horror with twists and wtf moments.
The story Starts with a gruesome scene that takes place on New Years in 1921. The story is told back and forth from the past to the future, mostly told from two ‘sisters’ Dinah and Eve. It is set in Scotland on the isle of Altnaharra with a small cult-like ‘family’ ran by a man they call ‘Uncle’.
There are many secrets, ceremonies, betrayals, murders and much much more.
I highly recommend. Little Eve is released in the U.S. on October 11, 2022.
Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan- Tor/Forge for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story Starts with a gruesome scene that takes place on New Years in 1921. The story is told back and forth from the past to the future, mostly told from two ‘sisters’ Dinah and Eve. It is set in Scotland on the isle of Altnaharra with a small cult-like ‘family’ ran by a man they call ‘Uncle’.
There are many secrets, ceremonies, betrayals, murders and much much more.
I highly recommend. Little Eve is released in the U.S. on October 11, 2022.
Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan- Tor/Forge for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
shesanopenbook's review against another edition
5.0
I read The Last House on Needless Street earlier this year and decided I needed to read everything Catriona Ward writes. The policy hasn't failed me yet. I scored an ARC of the US release of Ward's second novel, Little Eve and was once again blown away by Ward's brilliance.
It's 1921 and something terrible has happened on the secluded Isle of Altnaharra. Four people have been brutally murdered, Dinah is mutilated but alive, and the island's only other resident- the perpetrator Eve- seems to have vanished. Having firmly established a creepy, horrific setting, the book's subsequent chapters alternate between the years after the massacre as experienced by Dinah, and the years preceding it, as experienced by Eve. What unfolds is a tale of cult brainwashing, the quest for power, and an emotional roller coaster as we learn what was really happening on Altnaharra.
There's a reason this book won the Shirley Jackson Award when it was released. Little Eve is a unique, heartbreaking story that's equal parts disturbing and compelling. Highly recommended for fans of Gothic horror or stellar writing in general.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Nightfire for the advanced copy!
It's 1921 and something terrible has happened on the secluded Isle of Altnaharra. Four people have been brutally murdered, Dinah is mutilated but alive, and the island's only other resident- the perpetrator Eve- seems to have vanished. Having firmly established a creepy, horrific setting, the book's subsequent chapters alternate between the years after the massacre as experienced by Dinah, and the years preceding it, as experienced by Eve. What unfolds is a tale of cult brainwashing, the quest for power, and an emotional roller coaster as we learn what was really happening on Altnaharra.
There's a reason this book won the Shirley Jackson Award when it was released. Little Eve is a unique, heartbreaking story that's equal parts disturbing and compelling. Highly recommended for fans of Gothic horror or stellar writing in general.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Nightfire for the advanced copy!
amandacruikshank's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jaibee's review
3.0
I think I would’ve enjoyed this more had I not accidentally taken a 2 month break from reading right in the middle of it, thereby forgetting half of the set up plot points from the first 1/3 - the story itself was fairly engaging, but took a while to really get going, and the writing style wasn’t for me really…
emmoeller's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Murder, and Self harm
Minor: War, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
energyrae's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, okay. Okay! I'm writing a review... I'm doing it...
Seriously though? I don't know how to review this because this is such a convoluted book. It's got a small family cult, a snake, and a location that is perfectly isolated and eerie. Little Eve is an atmospheric novel where each step that Uncle makes is more twisted and harmful than the last.
I loved Eve and was constantly on the fence with Dinah. Poor Abel, my heart broke for his awful treatment. And even though they were all in a terrible situation, I enjoyed watching Eve bloom.
I think that's about all I can say because otherwise, I would spoil the book. The slow unfolding, the meandering storytelling, and how your senses come to realize what is really happening is what I enjoyed the most. I figured out a few things ahead of time but kept on reading because Ward can tell a story, and this is a book you don't want to put down. Thank you, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, for sending this along!
Seriously though? I don't know how to review this because this is such a convoluted book. It's got a small family cult, a snake, and a location that is perfectly isolated and eerie. Little Eve is an atmospheric novel where each step that Uncle makes is more twisted and harmful than the last.
I loved Eve and was constantly on the fence with Dinah. Poor Abel, my heart broke for his awful treatment. And even though they were all in a terrible situation, I enjoyed watching Eve bloom.
I think that's about all I can say because otherwise, I would spoil the book. The slow unfolding, the meandering storytelling, and how your senses come to realize what is really happening is what I enjoyed the most. I figured out a few things ahead of time but kept on reading because Ward can tell a story, and this is a book you don't want to put down. Thank you, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, for sending this along!
rspiro92's review against another edition
5.0
Catriona Ward does it again. I truly loved The Last House on Needless Street and Sundial, so I had high hopes for Little Eve…and boy did she deliver.
I’ve probably mentioned it before, but her books are not for everyone. They’re weird, gothic, atmospheric, eerie, dark, and did I mention weird? Reader be warned!
But if this *is* the right book for you, I hope you get as swept up in the world, secrets, and rituals of Altnaharra as I did.
There were some truly excellent twists that had me excitedly flipping back to hints I didn’t initially pick up on, jaw on the floor. Some very vivid, horrifying imagery. And cult vibes if you’re looking for that this October.
Little Eve comes out in the US today, 10/11. Big thanks to @macmillanusa @tornightfire and @netgalley for the chance to read and review the ARC!
I’ve probably mentioned it before, but her books are not for everyone. They’re weird, gothic, atmospheric, eerie, dark, and did I mention weird? Reader be warned!
But if this *is* the right book for you, I hope you get as swept up in the world, secrets, and rituals of Altnaharra as I did.
There were some truly excellent twists that had me excitedly flipping back to hints I didn’t initially pick up on, jaw on the floor. Some very vivid, horrifying imagery. And cult vibes if you’re looking for that this October.
Little Eve comes out in the US today, 10/11. Big thanks to @macmillanusa @tornightfire and @netgalley for the chance to read and review the ARC!
bosermoki's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Dark, mysterious, intense and filled with child abuse.
Well written and deeply engaging. Another hit from Ward
Well written and deeply engaging. Another hit from Ward