Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Little Eve by Catriona Ward

35 reviews

m_ichellep's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Self harm, Confinement, Death, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child death, War, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Death of parent, War, and Suicide

reburkah's review

2.25

I guessed the major twist of this book at around page 122 of this book which really ruined my enjoyment of it, especially since the first 100 pages are so tedious. Chapters are 50 pages plus at some points and I didn't feel invested in any of the characters; if they had all died I would've cared the same amount about this book. Some things seem to be for shock factor only (self-harm, rape). The later Dinah chapters were so boring I almost gave up a few times! I really liked Sundial but this is obviously an early book of hers. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, and Suicide

Minor: Rape

herasrevenge88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Torture, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Miscarriage, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Drug abuse, Death, Body horror, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Pedophilia, Drug use, Confinement, Child abuse, and Blood

emmoeller's review against another edition

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

mangofandango's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

 I was eager to read this after reading the author's "The Last House on Needless Street" and really loving it. This one didn't blow my socks off in quite the same way, but it was still very very good, and had similar qualities and a similar twisty ending (or really, final third probably) that reframes the whole story. It's a Gothic story for sure, with all the elements thereof that you might expect, including broody atmosphere for miles. It's worth a content warning - the child abuse in this book is intense (but very matter-of-factly explained by the characters, for whom it is normal and a part of their "religion", which is all they know) and CSA is alluded to but never described. 

---

Content Warnings

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

paronomaniac's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Animal death, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Murder

keenanmaree's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Drug use, and Murder

sorry_imbooked's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Torture, Blood, Child death, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child death

Minor: Rape

savvyrosereads's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

4.5

Out October 11, 2022 [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

On the island of Altnaharra lives a clan preparing for the end of the world and the rise of The Adder. But things aren’t exactly what they seem and terrible tragedies will have deadly consequences.

I love Gothic horror, so I when I saw glowing reviews from two of my most trusted book recommenders, I immediately suspected this one would be right up my alley…and I was definitely right. Little Eve has everything you could want out of a horror novel setting—it’s grim, dreary, tense, and haunting while still feeling just mystical enough for me to understand the lure. It’s also historical fiction that manages to feel both of its time and outside of time, borderline surreal while still entirely grounded. Setting can really make or break this kind of novel for me, and Catriona Ward absolutely nailed it here.

If the setting isn’t enough, the plot here is just as rich, smart, and nuanced. It’s culty without being campy, gory without being gratuitous, and surprising without being over the top. I felt like I was peeling back layers of an onion as I read, and even though I saw the end reveal coming, I was still on the edge of my seat in the final pages.

In short, the takeaway: this was my first Catriona Ward read, but it absolutely will not be my last.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Gothic horror; cult-based suspense; intricate settings

CW: Death/murder/blood; suicidal thoughts/suicide; sexual assault/child molestation; confinement; physical and emotional abuse including child abuse; animal cruelty/death; pregnancy/miscarriage.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Child abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Child death, and Pregnancy

savvylit's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Little Eve is a chilling tale that slowly unveils layer after layer of intrigue. This novel focuses primarily on two things: a distinctly unique cult and the power of sisterhood. Dinah and Eve's relationship is nuanced, believable, and heartbreaking. Their family's religious beliefs are deeply unsettling and unforgettable. The remote island of Altnaharra and its rugged surrounds resonate so strongly throughout Little Eve that the island eventually proves to be its own terrifying character. Overall, this novel is a truly original and fascinating look at a very one-of-a-kind family.

Catriona Ward has proved herself to be a master of the literary thriller. Little Eve is a must read for fans of dark fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and Catriona Ward for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Self harm, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence