Little Eve

Off the coast of Scotland, lies the Isle of Altnaharra. There live Uncle, Nora, Alice, Dinah, Abel, Elizabeth, and Eve. They worship the Adder and await his coming. One will receive His power, and no one wants it more than Little Eve. They avoid the Impure in town, hardly ever leaving the island. The butcher comes to deliver their meat, finding the gate open. He ventures inside only to be met with a horrible sight. Everyone but one murdered, and the killer gone. As time passes, the secrets of Altnaharra will finally come to light.

I found this book to be incredibly interesting. I enjoyed it much more than Ward’s other novels. You watch in horror at the things this make-shift family has to endure under the power of Uncle. It is a testament to the things we are willing to endure or do to others in order to keep our delusions. There aren’t any happy endings here, amongst a cult and two wars. Even those who survive do not come out whole. Fair warning, there is self-harm and abuse throughout this book, but never promoted and always written well. I recommend this to fans of Gothic horror.