Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

57 reviews

theyarelex's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault and Transphobia

kermittuesday's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

It was a little tedious at the beginning but then it picked up so I’m glad I stuck with it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

livelaughlovejackie's review against another edition

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

5.0

this book had me on an absolute chokehold while reading which is v rare for me <3333

The actual rating is probably something like 4.5 but the experience is just so fun i need it higher 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent

flapjack_octopus's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

I found this to be beautifully dark. Honestly a gut wrenching book, broke my heart but the ending somewhat stitched me back together.
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.

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Content Warnings

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

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

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

adancewithbooks's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

  Thank you to Netgalley and Daphne Press for the review copy in exhange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a gothic horror young adult novel that is much needed to be read in this day and age. Not just for the trans mc, the female vs male standpoint but also because our mc is also autistic. Beware however and take into account the trigger warnings before you set foot into this book. It is not an easy read. 

We meet Silas as he tries to talk to his brother at his marriage. Knowing that an arranged marriage is just around the corner for him and being a trans male in hiding, he wants to start planning. His brother however becomes distant and Silas is left to fend for himself. Something that does not quite go the way it should have. Instead of getting away, he gets locked up in Braxton's Santorium and Finishing School with an arranged fiancee right along with it. 

Like I said, this is not an easy read. The world where females are seen as weak and inferior alone is hard to read. Let alone that Silas has to hide on multiple fronts who he is. The way these various bits are weaved together was done so very well. 

Having said that, it did take a little while to get in the book. Silas as a character was quite jarring at first. But once I got a good feeling for his character and situation I found it a lot easier to follow him and became quite fond of him as a character. I also feel the world building around the speakers could have used a little more building. 

There was also the matter of the insta love with his fiancee. Initially not all pulled towards this fiancee, once he discovers that his fiancee is actually a trans female, the draw is instantaneous. While I don't care much for insta love I understand completely why it happened. This is the first time that Silas has found someone who completely understood that part of him. Who als accepted his autism without asking him to hide it. He acknowledges this in text and doesn't care about it. Knowing that your dreaded fiancee actually understands you, it gave hope in a hopelessness situation 

All in all The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a powerful book. If you can get past the somewhat rough start and the body horror, it is a great and hard hitting book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, and Abortion

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage

Misgendering | Conversion Therapy | Anxiety | | Self Abbortion | Physical Assault | Death | Ableism

lunaticloverpoet's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.5

I don’t think a book has ever made me physically nauseous before. Andrew Joseph White, you've done it again, my good sir. I think this is the most grotesque, visceral book I have ever read an,  I loved it. I had to put it down multiple times to scream. I was truly emotionally deeply scarred by blank space on a book. There is so much rage in this story, and I was living so vicariously in it. (Also, in my opinion, body horror is the best kind of horror. If it doesn’t make me want to vomit, I don’t want it.) So excited for Compound Fracture.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

river_jean_sterling's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria

hannahrogers's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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