Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

29 reviews

shysheepys's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

I've never cried so hard reading a book. Just because Silas is so... relatable? In his thoughts and feelings? There are some things he thinks about that I've never been able to put into words for myself. 

This book was so intriguing that I sat and read it over a 5 hour span and did not want to move. Though I did break it up, I stayed up late two days in a row to finish it. I absolutely did not want to put it down. It is, however, not for the faint of heart. 

Honestly, I don't know how this is considered a YA novel other than the characters being in their teens. I'm an avid horror reader, and this book made me cringe so hard every other scene. In a good way? Its beautifully written and the story and plot are top tier, too. Even some twists I didn't see coming.

The ending reminds me of this tweet thats been stuck in my head, something along the lines of "If you're trans, you have to keep on living. If you accomplish anything, good. But you have to keep on living." And really, yeah, sometimes thats all you can do.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Abortion, Dysphoria, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Pregnancy

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.25

This book took a lot out of me. It is heavy and gruesome and beautiful. I will admit the surgical body horror made me a little squeamish, but as a trans autistic person, I loved the way the main characters were written. I don't usually like historical fiction, but I really loved this fantasy take. Highly recommend to anyone who is invested in dark fantasy, the trans experience, the autistic experience, and Victorian times (especially from a gendered/medical view) Just make sure you check trigger warnings for this one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Ableism, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Transphobia, Child abuse, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Torture, Abandonment, Child death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Grief, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Abortion, Cursing, Animal death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia

anarmandameg's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad medium-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: Self harm, Chronic illness, Confinement, Dysphoria, Torture, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Death, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Gore, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

mrscreativity_1982's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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: Misogyny, Bullying, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Violence, Death, Self harm, Torture, Transphobia, Cursing, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Suicide

queenkath32's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence

a_crow_in_the_sky's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Death, Domestic abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical content, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Deadnaming, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Cursing, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Bullying, and Miscarriage

weirdassfanta's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I’m obsessed. This book shows the struggle of being trans and dealing with autism in a world that wasn’t built for us in a way nothing else ever could. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy

tgaddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Gore, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Abortion, Body horror, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Dysphoria, Sexism, Suicide, Transphobia, Bullying, Child death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

fangirljeanne's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism, Confinement, Ableism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Child death, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Transphobia

cactuspunk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

AJ White has my entire being trapped within his work. I adored this book just as much as White's previous novel Hell Followed With Us. Every moment had me captivated with its vivid details and horrifying imagery that hooked my heart and stole my breath. Every character felt multi-faceted with deep-seeded emotions and motivations leading to constant adoration or utter hatred depending on the character. Overall, I love this book and could easily rant for hours about how much I adore it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Blood, and Sexual content