A review by k80mae
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
5.0
"The worst part about a spirit to me - what makes my heart hurt the most - is that their body takes the form of the worst thing ever done to them. Or the worst thing they ever did. Either one, whatever left the biggest scar on their soul."
Andrew Joseph White is quickly proving himself to have one of the most unique voices in literature. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book through NetGalley and while it did take me a minute to make my way through it, I read the last half of the book with a ferocity that could not be contained even by my work schedule.
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is an absolute masterful blending of genres. It is simultaneously a nuanced queer narrative, a historical fantasy, and a horror novel. Each character in this novel is nuanced and has a rich and complex backstory, even if Silas (and therefore the reader) never gets to know the true depth of it. White does such a good job of making the reader genuinely want good things for Silas and the girls of Braxton's that any tragedy that befalls them hits hard even when you know it is coming.
The body horror here is not nearly as intense as in Hell Followed With Us, but it feels more rooted in Silas' characterization. Even when I wanted to look away because it was gross and made me want to squirm, it felt disingenuous to do so because it was how Silas communicated his emotions and the world around him. And even though it may not be as intense or gory as what I found in Hell Followed With Us, it is overall far more visceral. There is one scene in particular that that is a completely necessary moment for his character arc and self-image, but was truly horrific to read and imagine. It is a scene that is definitely going to stick with me because I have never seen someone write something so horrific while still feeling gentle. I do not know how White managed it.
I cannot wait to purchase the physical copy of this book and be able to see how the formatting works in print, especially during the climax. I can't wait to see what White does next because this was an absolutely stellar read for me!
Andrew Joseph White is quickly proving himself to have one of the most unique voices in literature. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book through NetGalley and while it did take me a minute to make my way through it, I read the last half of the book with a ferocity that could not be contained even by my work schedule.
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is an absolute masterful blending of genres. It is simultaneously a nuanced queer narrative, a historical fantasy, and a horror novel. Each character in this novel is nuanced and has a rich and complex backstory, even if Silas (and therefore the reader) never gets to know the true depth of it. White does such a good job of making the reader genuinely want good things for Silas and the girls of Braxton's that any tragedy that befalls them hits hard even when you know it is coming.
The body horror here is not nearly as intense as in Hell Followed With Us, but it feels more rooted in Silas' characterization. Even when I wanted to look away because it was gross and made me want to squirm, it felt disingenuous to do so because it was how Silas communicated his emotions and the world around him. And even though it may not be as intense or gory as what I found in Hell Followed With Us, it is overall far more visceral. There is one scene in particular that
Spoiler
involves Silas helping another girl perform an abortion via C-sectionI cannot wait to purchase the physical copy of this book and be able to see how the formatting works in print, especially during the climax. I can't wait to see what White does next because this was an absolutely stellar read for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Transphobia, Child abuse, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Sexism, and Dysphoria