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lisacanteven'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
5.0
I will put money on it if anyone doesn't believe me.
From the first page, I was hooked. The writing is so good and the pacing is perfect. I couldn't stop reading, but I also didn't want it to end. Every time I picked up this book, I was immediately pulled back into the story. Sometimes it takes me a bit to get back into a story when I pick up a book, but this was not the case here. I loved every single minute of this book. The characters were so dimensional, even the villains. Sometimes it is difficult in a story when there are just as many villains as there are good characters, but here it made sense. The twists kept coming until the very end.
Another review written a few weeks after reading:
Have you ever just been so moved and touched by a book but at the same time it was so difficult to keep reading because it was just breaking your heart apart? That was The Spirit Bares Its Teeth.
Silas Bell is a young trans man during the the Victorian era in London, 1883 to be exact. People with violet eyes are highly treasured as mediums. There is a secret society of men who control the family lines of all the people with violet eyes. Silas is born with violet eyes, which means he will married off to an important family to keep the violet eyes lineage going.
Well Silas gets in some trouble at the beginning of the story that results as him being sent off to a girls' school that specializes in "veil sickness" which is what they said any violet eyed girl who did not confirm was inflicted by. This was basically a conversion school for girls, and Silas' betrothed was paying for it.
Throughout the rest of the book we meet the girls at the boarding school, but terrible things keep happening, and loyalties are questioned. Ghosts of residents from the past start reaching through the veil to communicate, mainly with Silas.
So yes, this is more of a ghost story, but the real monsters are all of the cishet men. And doesn't that mirror real life?
This book is very dark and emotional. Please check the trigger warnings because there are a lot, and most of them are very graphic. For example, there is a graphic abortion scene that was very hard to read. Take care of yourself.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
theo_moony'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
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Deadnaming, Gore, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
blairgilmore'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This quote from The Spirit Bares Its Teeth resonates deeply, setting the tone for the dark and unsettling journey Andrew Joseph White crafts in this novel. It reminds me why I love the genre of horror so much, whether in books or movies, because it tackles difficult topics such as oppression and the injustices that women and the trans community face in such an artistic and creative way.
The journey we face as women, or as members of the LGBTQ+ community, is often best told through horror because our history is exactly that—horrific. Reading this book gave me a sense of dread, as it explores graphic and violent themes that feel necessary. The treatment and experimentation that individuals can face for being different, for their identity not fitting within society’s standards, were truly as violent as portrayed. While some scenes may be triggering, I appreciate the brutal honesty White brings to the narrative.
I appreciate White's acknowledgment towards the end of the book, on the history of medical experimentation on marginalized communities during the Victorian Era, as well as providing different resources to read more on this topic.
5 star read!
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, and Abortion
lil_fangirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Dysphoria
sharanya's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Oh. My. God???????? Everything about this book was utterly STUNNING. From the unforgettable protagonist, Silas Bell, to the dark, lyrical writing, to the intricate discussion of the intersections of gender, history, queerness & neurodiversity — every piece of this story had me spellbound from the very first sentence. A dark, compelling story that rearranged my insides & taught me something new about the trans & autistic experience. Whew.
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, and Dysphoria
kryzysowa_narzeczona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
aidareads'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: Ableism, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
purplepickle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage and Death of parent
aspyd05's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Body horror
handove's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, and Pregnancy