Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

191 reviews

mfallon3491's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Medical trauma

lucianagrimm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

Spirits and violet eyes were the two things that dragged this book into my hands. Immediately I was drawn to Silas, a fellow queer autistic person, and the not too unfamiliar world of ignorance and conformance. I love the way each element and complexity of Silas’ personality was explored because it is something so often missed when queer stories are told. There are so many facets that cross and change and even evolve as our experiences shape us and to see Silas explore that in both light and dark ways was really exciting. 

Daphne was a gift in this story and I truly wanted to weep at the joy, wisdom, and love that her character brought into the story. The representation in this book was truly outstanding. 

Along with the loveable characters, the villains were also incredible. So perfect to hate. So relatable to want to see them punished. But there was also the establishment of characters who fell in between and they added a really great dynamic to the flow of the novel.

The landscape and set had a mixed approach as the supernatural mixed with the late 1800s London but the outfits and cult like gatherings kept the scenes intriguing.

I really enjoyed reading The Spirit Bares its Teeth and found that it came to a really satisfying and heart-warming end. A traumatic and winding road to a somewhat pretty happily ever after.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy

raine_forest_cafe's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

lorie266's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

sirashyashington's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of my favorite books of all time. The representation of a queer autistic trans man in this time frame in history, plus the fantasy and horror elements... It reflected my fears and wishes back to me like a mirror. Very well written, and very scary, but so, so good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Murder

lizzie_yc's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

quitethespectacle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

An incredible book. Visceral and cutting - it pierced me to the core. I read the whole thing over less than 48 hours and am sorely tempted to immediately begin it again.

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Content Warnings

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

Eye gore

Vivisection

Wrist injury

Self surgery

alexandramtrawick's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, and Abortion

yellowjelly's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

Probably one of the best written books I’ve read in my life. The constant motif of the rabbit Silas has to ignore honestly just brung the book together so nicely. The autistic representation in the book is so well written i am lost for words. Ive never felt so seen and so heard. The long discussions of Silas internal struggle of identity and what he wants in life made me love him so dearly and he and Daphne is the only couple I’ve ever truly loved.  Their love and devotion to each other and the deep understanding of what the other needs Is something I’ve never seen before and craved so deeply. One thing I found hard to read is the constant misogyny, I had a hard time reading how the women were being treated and constantly had to stop reading because of it. the pacing of the book is quite uneven like Andrew whites other book hell followed with us but i think it works much better in this book. The middle is slow but it fleshes out every character well enough that the ending is smooth, we know what each character wants and the twists pull at heart strings so much more. Now my only true sadness is how andrew white always writes such amazing worlds, characters and stories and then leave us with only one book in the world. I wish to see more of this universe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture and Violence

Minor: Rape

if you feel uncomfortable about misogyny, pregnancy and sexual assault I don’t recommend you read this book, its amazing discussion for womens rights but it might be a lot to handle especially if your dealing with something. The victim blaming and names they call women of assault was a lot to handle

whatamidoing_rn's review against another edition

5.0

This book was so good. Also for the content warning I couldn’t be bothered to put them in the accurate boxes so some of the stuff isn’t extremely detailed, I was just lazy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism