allison_bee's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
what_jo_read's review against another edition
4.0
I was excited to read another Catriona Ward novel, as I really enjoyed [b:Sundial|57693183|Sundial|Catriona Ward|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1643666795l/57693183._SY75_.jpg|90371443] and [b:The Last House on Needless Street|54621094|The Last House on Needless Street|Catriona Ward|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603323638l/54621094._SY75_.jpg|85222103]. And in true Ward style, this was dark, gothic, disturbing and bleak.
I didn't think Little Eve was as shocking and disturbing as Sundial was, but Ward does a great job at writing an atmospheric novel. The book starts off with the brutalized bodies of a family that appears to be ritualistic, then the rest of the story works its way back to fill in the gaps. This was a cult novel that was interesting with a twist that was done very well.
There were some times when the plot was a little hard for me to follow, and the book seemed to feel much longer than it was, but I don't think it detracted from the story. I don't think this is my favorite book of hers, but I still enjoyed it overall.
Special Thanks to MacMillan Tor/Forge and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't think Little Eve was as shocking and disturbing as Sundial was, but Ward does a great job at writing an atmospheric novel. The book starts off with the brutalized bodies of a family that appears to be ritualistic, then the rest of the story works its way back to fill in the gaps. This was a cult novel that was interesting with a twist that was done very well.
There were some times when the plot was a little hard for me to follow, and the book seemed to feel much longer than it was, but I don't think it detracted from the story. I don't think this is my favorite book of hers, but I still enjoyed it overall.
Special Thanks to MacMillan Tor/Forge and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
mhuntone's review against another edition
4.0
Ward again tells a mind bending story about the human experience in its worst horrors finding ways to cope and survive in impossible ways. What a story!
lomas's review against another edition
4.0
A secluded castle,a group of orphans and a cult.
Always going to make a good story.
This one was very good.
As each new chapter continued ,more abuse was revealed... the snakes,the starvation,the shunning and the drugging...
It never ended.
The book begins with several deaths and there were twists and turns a plenty to reveal who actually killed who.
Kept me turning pages right up to the end.
Dark,and creepy and very very good.
Always going to make a good story.
This one was very good.
As each new chapter continued ,more abuse was revealed... the snakes,the starvation,the shunning and the drugging...
It never ended.
The book begins with several deaths and there were twists and turns a plenty to reveal who actually killed who.
Kept me turning pages right up to the end.
Dark,and creepy and very very good.
wordsareweapons's review against another edition
4.0
I am quickly becoming obsessed with Catriona Ward's books! She writes such great, seriously twisted characters. So many unreliable narrators in this one, I honestly am not sure I fully believe the ending. I loved the gothic setting off the coast of Scotland. The castle that Eve, Uncle and her family live in is really isolated and perfect. Uncle and the family believe that one day soon the Adder will come and reset the world basically, and only one will inherit the powers. Naturally, nothing goes right and the secrets spiral out. There is murder and madness, and so many secrets. I loved every minute of it!
effinalice's review against another edition
2.0
Little Eve was originally published in the UK back in 2018. It is being re-printed and will be available in the US for the first time.
In Little Eve we follow a family that’s isolated itself off of the coast of Scotland. They worship what they call “the Adder “ and they believe the world will soon come to an end.
The atmosphere is dark and gothic. The story opens up with a pretty gruesome scene. A butcher discovers the family murdered with the exception of Dinah and Eve. Dinah is missing an eye and Eve is suspected of killing everyone.
We follow the family back in time to explore their family dynamics, and their manipulation at the hands of their uncle.
The book ultimately didn’t work for me. I can’t precisely pinpoint what was missing. It might be that Catriona Ward’s writing style doesn’t quite work for me. The writing felt very repetitive and dense at some points.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for a review.
In Little Eve we follow a family that’s isolated itself off of the coast of Scotland. They worship what they call “the Adder “ and they believe the world will soon come to an end.
The atmosphere is dark and gothic. The story opens up with a pretty gruesome scene. A butcher discovers the family murdered with the exception of Dinah and Eve. Dinah is missing an eye and Eve is suspected of killing everyone.
We follow the family back in time to explore their family dynamics, and their manipulation at the hands of their uncle.
The book ultimately didn’t work for me. I can’t precisely pinpoint what was missing. It might be that Catriona Ward’s writing style doesn’t quite work for me. The writing felt very repetitive and dense at some points.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for a review.
paula_s's review against another edition
5.0
Me ha sucedido una cosa muy curiosa con “La pequeña Eve” y es que no me creo nada de lo que sus narradoras me cuentan y, aun así, he vivido la historia y la he disfrutado muchísimo, a pesar de lo turbia que es.
Una isla que sólo es accesible durante unas horas al día, un pueblo pequeño con leyendas, supersticiones, pecados que marcan y desesperanza en tiempos de guerras.
“La pequeña Eve” esta, en su mayor parte, narrada por dos personajes, ambas de unos dieciséis años, en primera persona. Por una parte Dinah y por otra parte Eve (Evelyn). La Eve a la que se refiere el título y la que, en realidad, es casi el centro absoluto de la trama. Dinah resulta ser la única superviviente de la misteriosa “matanza” de los miembros de una secta que vivía en un castillo oscuro en la isla escocesa de Altnaharra y cuyas vidas estaban totalmente manipuladas y controladas por “el tío”, líder de la secta, y la Víbora, el “dios” que vendrá a purificar el mundo. La víspera de Hogmanay (Año Nuevo), el carnicero del pueblo acude a entregar un pedido y se encontró allí a todas aquellas personas, tan jóvenes, muertas y a Dinah moribunda quien, después, declaró en el juicio que la autora de la matanza había sido Eve, quien había muerto poco después. Ese es el inicio del libro, pero no el principio de la historia.
A través de saltos en el tiempo con Eve dando testimonio del pasado y del momento de la matanza y Dinah hablando de las consecuencias y de todo lo que sucedió después, se abre ante nosotros el terrorífico relato sobre unos niños escapados o abandonados que fueron recogidos por este hombre siniestro que les lava el cerebro, les controla, les condiciona y les anula a base de malos tratos, castigos, torturas, aislamiento y sometimiento sexual al llegar a la pubertad. Es un relato muy intenso, en el que ambas voces están muy implicadas, marcadas y que cargan con un trauma que no se borrará nunca del todo. Son tan parciales que sólo puede tomarse como real aquello en lo que no se contradicen. En resumen, Catriona Ward, pretende que sea el lector quien decida a quién creer o qué partes creer… y aun así las conclusiones serán inesperadas.
Catriona Ward es una de mis autoras preferidas porque no pone fácil el desentrañar la verdad que ocultan sus tramas. Engañan, sus narradores no son fiables y aun así están diciendo la verdad, su verdad. Catriona Ward es un fenómeno a la hora de ambientar sus historias, te envuelven y atrapan, convirtiendo a la autora en una más que digna heredera de maestras como Daphne du Maurier, Sarah Waters, Shirley Jackson o Angela Carter.
Una isla que sólo es accesible durante unas horas al día, un pueblo pequeño con leyendas, supersticiones, pecados que marcan y desesperanza en tiempos de guerras.
“La pequeña Eve” esta, en su mayor parte, narrada por dos personajes, ambas de unos dieciséis años, en primera persona. Por una parte Dinah y por otra parte Eve (Evelyn). La Eve a la que se refiere el título y la que, en realidad, es casi el centro absoluto de la trama. Dinah resulta ser la única superviviente de la misteriosa “matanza” de los miembros de una secta que vivía en un castillo oscuro en la isla escocesa de Altnaharra y cuyas vidas estaban totalmente manipuladas y controladas por “el tío”, líder de la secta, y la Víbora, el “dios” que vendrá a purificar el mundo. La víspera de Hogmanay (Año Nuevo), el carnicero del pueblo acude a entregar un pedido y se encontró allí a todas aquellas personas, tan jóvenes, muertas y a Dinah moribunda quien, después, declaró en el juicio que la autora de la matanza había sido Eve, quien había muerto poco después. Ese es el inicio del libro, pero no el principio de la historia.
A través de saltos en el tiempo con Eve dando testimonio del pasado y del momento de la matanza y Dinah hablando de las consecuencias y de todo lo que sucedió después, se abre ante nosotros el terrorífico relato sobre unos niños escapados o abandonados que fueron recogidos por este hombre siniestro que les lava el cerebro, les controla, les condiciona y les anula a base de malos tratos, castigos, torturas, aislamiento y sometimiento sexual al llegar a la pubertad. Es un relato muy intenso, en el que ambas voces están muy implicadas, marcadas y que cargan con un trauma que no se borrará nunca del todo. Son tan parciales que sólo puede tomarse como real aquello en lo que no se contradicen. En resumen, Catriona Ward, pretende que sea el lector quien decida a quién creer o qué partes creer… y aun así las conclusiones serán inesperadas.
Catriona Ward es una de mis autoras preferidas porque no pone fácil el desentrañar la verdad que ocultan sus tramas. Engañan, sus narradores no son fiables y aun así están diciendo la verdad, su verdad. Catriona Ward es un fenómeno a la hora de ambientar sus historias, te envuelven y atrapan, convirtiendo a la autora en una más que digna heredera de maestras como Daphne du Maurier, Sarah Waters, Shirley Jackson o Angela Carter.
lynn_webb's review against another edition
4.0
Little Eve is yet another mind-boggling story from Catriona Ward. I thought that I had it all figured out, but I was wrong as, like always, there was an unexpected twist. I had to reread several sections to confirm what I thought I had read.
Based on previous books, I went in with great expectations and was not disappointed. I don’t think I will ever tire of reading Ward’s beautifully haunting tales and will be patiently waiting for what’s next.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Catriona Ward.
Based on previous books, I went in with great expectations and was not disappointed. I don’t think I will ever tire of reading Ward’s beautifully haunting tales and will be patiently waiting for what’s next.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Catriona Ward.
booksandchicks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5⭐️
The ambiance! We follow the storyline between Eve and Dinah, both girls that live on the isle of Altnaharra, off the coast of Scotland.
We listen to their lives as they live a life controlled by a man who they love. They will do anything to be seen as more special.
This book is dripping in a convoluted storyline where as the reader you know that what you’re reading may not actually be so…but you can’t quite figure out what’s going on until Ward slowly peels back the curtains. The only way to get there is to keep reading. I love how Ward is able to manipulate the story and slowly reveal what’s really going on. As the reader, by the end it all makes sense and the clues fall right into place.
A bit of horror with a few graphic scenes but it wasn’t too bad. I liked this one more than Sundial. I’m still amazed at her ability to build the world she creates so well in each of her books. I’m ready for the next one!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the advance ebook.
The ambiance! We follow the storyline between Eve and Dinah, both girls that live on the isle of Altnaharra, off the coast of Scotland.
We listen to their lives as they live a life controlled by a man who they love. They will do anything to be seen as more special.
This book is dripping in a convoluted storyline where as the reader you know that what you’re reading may not actually be so…but you can’t quite figure out what’s going on until Ward slowly peels back the curtains. The only way to get there is to keep reading. I love how Ward is able to manipulate the story and slowly reveal what’s really going on. As the reader, by the end it all makes sense and the clues fall right into place.
A bit of horror with a few graphic scenes but it wasn’t too bad. I liked this one more than Sundial. I’m still amazed at her ability to build the world she creates so well in each of her books. I’m ready for the next one!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the advance ebook.