mangofandango's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Child death, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
sorry_imbooked's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Confinement, Self harm, Torture, Miscarriage, Injury/injury detail, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Child death, and Animal death
Moderate: Child death and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Rape
pages_and_cacti's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Incest
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
the_rainydayreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Rape and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal death
soobooksalot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Tor Nightfire for my gifted copy for review!
Author Catriona Ward may be best known to us for her books Sundial and The Last House On Needless Street.
Little Eve was actually her second novel, released in 2018 only in the UK. It is now for North American release on Oct. 11.
This beautifully atmospheric novel is not a straightforward tale, instead full of the eerie narratives we have come to know from Ward.
The book opens with the discovery of several dead bodies, apparently murdered.
Chapters alternate between Dinah and Evelyn (Eve), from the late 1910s to the early 1930s, providing backstory prior to the murders, and after. A strange grouping of people ruled by Uncle live in a grand yet austere Scottish mansion known as Altnaharra.
There is tension throughout, and some disconcerting imagery.
Little Eve is perfect for spooky season, as are all of Ward's books. Recommended!
Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Injury/injury detail, Blood, Death, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death
bookishbrenbren's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was an awesome ride. I have never read anything by this author before but I have heard good things and wanted to try this one even though horror/thriller is not my typical genre. And I am so glad I did! This is a strong book, well-written, with excellent scenery, leaning a little gothic although I thought she could've committed more to the house-as-a-character vibe, but what really stands out is how engrossing the story-telling is. I well and truly felt like I was being read a ghost story or watching a spooky movie, I could feel the rain falling and the stonework crumbling around me. Even though you know (from chapter 1) more or less how the characters' stories will end up, there is still a great sense of mystery, foreboding, and feels like a big 'reveal' is coming. Perfect for spooky season!
On the down side, I felt the story dragged a bit after the 50% mark. It definitely slowed down in pace and I was more likely to put the book down and pick up my phone. I also wish there had been a bit of the actual "big reveal" feeling written into the characters' narration (does that make sense?). A lot of really shocking things happen we, along with Eve, find out that the truth about
Spoiler
Him and the benison, and the honey, the truth about Uncle's past, the ceremonies, Dinah's betrayal, about her mother! twice!,Spoiler
Abel has killed himselfAlso, this is just a personal preference, but I kind of wish we had been left with one or two questions about Eve's character/motivations at the very end. I would like a hint that perhaps things did not go exactly as she has said they went... perhaps she is hiding something, in the end? But anyway the ending was nice and neat and can't complain about that. A good book and a great story!
Graphic: Confinement, Body horror, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Grief, Pedophilia, Self harm, Gore, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Classism, Car accident, Body shaming, and Addiction
Minor: War, Vomit, Colonisation, Drug use, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
amy_lynnn's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Rape, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Infertility, and Self harm
sorcha_rosa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Incest, Infertility, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, and Death of parent