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flapjack_octopus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book handles some very dark themes and if you especially do not like gore or blood, do not read. Please take in any warnings/description. Despite the heavy themes I still found this book to be very good, well written and the plot was intriguing, dark yet brilliant. The characters really made me feel too, my emotions where running high.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Dysphoria
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
quitethespectacle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Colonisation, War, and Classism
zealousjade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abortion
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Vomit and War
hannahrogers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and War
jei_reads_sometimes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Please check and take the CWs seriously. I felt myself have visceral reactions at times and yet... I couldn't put it down. The way the story held up a mirror to how it feels to be different in so many ways in a world that just wants you to conform hit hard. I'll be looking into more works from this author.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Torture and War
welgan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I enjoyed all the imagery and metaphors about surgery and body gore because I could really feel the special interest of the main character, and also it fit very well in the narrative, I could feel the despair and rage to control one's own body, and the adequacy of the imagery with the horrors happening.
I also appreciated that there was hope and comfort to be found in kinship - this person is like me, I can be myself and true and safe with them. It helped going through a story with such hard events.
Be warned if you're a sensitive person though : beyond the horrors that would happen to a person perceived as a girl who is not complying to society's standards, and to a trans person, in a Victorian era, the writing also invite quite a gore imagery. It fits very well, but if you're bothered by body and wounds imagery, it will probably be hard to read for you. There are also a lot of sensitive topics touched, so please look at the warnings if you're unsure. I felt the book did a great job exploring the topics without too much voyeurism, but the subjects are here nonetheless.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Medical trauma
Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and War
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Sexual abuse of minors is a theme throughout this book. All the topics are very heavy but sexual abuse and gore are very prominent.roseleebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I knew going into this that the book was going to be intense and emotional. It was very well written and the mystery and horror were impossible to stop thinking about. The reflection of what we are seeing in our own world today was chilling.
I was not bothered by the body horror elements but recommend going into the book prepared for it. It is central to understanding the world Silas is in.
I really loved the quieter moments of this book, the friendship and love that several of the characters show toward each other. It provides hope when everything seems hopeless otherwise.
I can't stop thinking about this book. The tension, mystery, and horror were all so well written, and Silas' POV pulls you into his world. I also really appreciated the audiobook narration which pulled me into the story.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Torture, and Suicide attempt
Minor: War
vixenreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Outing, War, and Classism
Minor: Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
A majority of graphic content in this novel addresses transphobia, abhorrent ableism against autistic folks, misogyny/sexism (the “biology” argument), nasty surgeries, medical content and trauma, physical abuse and violence, and sexual abuse. Any minor in the novel is aged 14-16. It also features familial rejection, pus, stitching up wounds, a graphic abortion, self-mutilation, execution, and a ton of injuries and gore involving glass. It can be a hard read at times.ciborium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth (TSBIT) is now undoubtedly one of my favourite books. If you liked Hell Followed With Us, this is going on your TBR.
The autistic, trans, and queer representation in this book is phenomenal. It is beautiful and appreciative, as much as it is cruel, brutal, and truly honest. TSBIT is raw with the experiences of Silas and the other characters' identities and how they experience the world. I felt the most seen I ever have while reading. The story is not gentle with its depictions of misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and all around bigotry — and it is perfect like that. TSBIT hits hard and deep, with the precise aim of a scalpel. It isn't messy, but it is bloody, and gross, and full of wonderful trans rage. Bringing it all together for me was the painfully sweet experience of young queers falling (plummeting) headfirst into each other's arms and being angry at the world together.
This book is NOT for everyone and the content warnings should be taken very seriously. It is not a gentle read. It is messed up.
I only ran into a couple small issues during my read as I blasted through the whole thing in one sitting. For the most part, I think it was an issue with the formatting of the EPUB. I can tell that a lot of the intentional formatting got absolutely lost and trashed in the digital copy, and left me majorly confused until I could properly figure out what I was supposed to be actually seeing. I will be getting my grubby trans hands on a printed copy at any cost. I can only recall maybe three random grammatical / writing errors in the story, which is certainly not a damper on how much I love this book.
TLDR: Read it read it read it, but only if you can manage what you are going to see in there. Keep in mind that a digital copy may have the formatting screwed up, and march onward.
I look forward to literally anything else that Andrew Joseph White will be writing. Very well done.
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Vomit and War