The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
that_bitch_logan's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you so much for writing this Andrew, truly.Â
I adored this and I am so so grateful I was able to read it
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Ableism, Abortion, Classism, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Torture, Transphobia, Animal death, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Mental illness, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Gore, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
jasper_is_atypical's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Confinement, Bullying, Sexism, Ableism, Abandonment, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Cursing, Chronic illness, Animal death, Violence, Self harm, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Torture, Child death, Body horror, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, Vomit, Mental illness, Dysphoria, and Sexual assault
Minor: Classism, Colonisation, and Miscarriage
atlastheninth'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? Yes
5.0
"We are the same species. We're all human. It's not that people cannot understand me; it's simply that most of them don't want to."Â
Graphic: Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Blood, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Rape, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Classism, Slavery, Colonisation, and Genocide
booksthatburn'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? It's complicated
5.0
THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH is about a trans boy who is institutionalized for "Veil sickness", a condition which is basically a supernatural version of hysteria, itself a historical catch-all term for "that person we think is a woman isn't doing what we think she ought to do and we want it to stop". What's unique about Veil sickness as opposed to hysteria is that it specifically applies to people with violet eyes, a mark of those who can contact departed spirits. Violet-eyed British men are channeled and constrained by a strict social hierarchy and a physical mark that they are following the socially approved path of a Speaker. Silas is not a girl, he's an autistic trans boy whose interest in anything unfeminine is a threat to the Speakers' power. THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH focuses on Silas as both trans and autistic, as well as times when he meets people who are one or the other but not both. These experiences help him parse the ways that these two facets of himself are so intertwined for him but are not necessarily linked for other people. He deals with an intersection of transphobia, misogyny, and ableism, as the times when he is dismissed for not following the social path of a woman can be inseparable from dismissal of him as an autistic person or not understanding the overwhelmingly allistic social hierarchy and assumptions. Trapped at the institution with few connections to the outside, Silas must try to figure out what's happening to the girls who disappear, and who he can trust to get answers.
As a nonbinary trans person, this was a hard book to read due to some overlaps with my personal experiences (thankfully not at the level of an actual horror novel such as this). I read it in large sections, taking a few days in between each to process and prepare myself for the next part. I'm very glad I read it and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys horror, especially medical horror (which features heavily). If you would prefer something more apocalyptic and less medical but are otherwise interested in themes of body horror and transphobia, I suggest reading Andrew's debut novel, HELL FOLLOWED WITH US.
Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Torture, Gore, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Murder, Abortion, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Sexual assault, Vomit, Ableism, Animal death, Death of parent, Outing, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Bullying
Minor: Slavery, Alcohol, Colonisation, Miscarriage, and Cannibalism
betweentheshelves'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
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Medical content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Colonisation, Rape, and Vomit
meshell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Â
It is incredibly crafted, the words are so intentional, and the authour creates such a visceral ambiance of horror and discomfort. But in a way that for me was tolerable, didn't feel gratuitous, and at times, was even oddly uplifting. The characters are lovable or strongly dislikable. where appropriate, but they all feel very alive, flawed, wonderful, and/or terrible, and they could step out of the page at any moment.. The descriptions of the settings transported me to a dark creepy house/finishing school/institution while I was curled up with my e-reader, I simply couldn't put this book down and the pacing was great.Â
I'll admit, horror isn't generally my genre and I probably would have missed out on reading his first book without a direct recommendation from a trusted friend, but I really like what he's doing with his writing - this book held my hand a little, made me feel some feelings, and told an absolutely compelling story, that's brutal, but also loving and empathetic.
Does this book require content warnings? Yes. Does the authour provide many of them himself in his kind Letter from the Authour at the very beginning? Also yes.. I appreciated the encouragement to not endure the book if it wasn't what you were able to read at the moment. I also appreciated the authour note at the end - reenforcing that while this book is a work of fiction, real horrifying things have been done in the name of science and medicine, especially in history, and suggests two very good books to learn more.Â
thankful to the publisher for access to this one via NetGalley.Â
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Confinement, Deadnaming, Torture, Body horror, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual assault and Colonisation
mo345's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Torture, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Confinement, Abortion, Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Minor: Cannibalism, Colonisation, Infertility, Sexism, Dysphoria, Classism, Slavery, and Vomit