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lokes'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
They must have convinced themselves that they would never rot in the same dirt we do.
This book has left me carved out and cut open, lovingly handing me the needle to stitch myself together - and I devoured it.
I already loved Hell Followed With Us, but this book just had it all. The queer characters, the very gory descriptions, the fury and rebellious spirits and the love each of the characters held for each other. There were a few plot lines I would have liked to read more about, like the sanatorium, the relics, the way historic colonialism by the UK was adapted into the fantasy/horror context, more in-depth exploration of the anti-autistic ableism and general sexism of the time, & etc. But I guess that’s to blame on the „YA“ part of the book 😅)
Even though the story meant to rip you apart, ask you to just let go and give into the graphic descriptions of medical horror, of a society not so much different from our own, the book was weirdly comforting. At times, I definitely felt a bit squeamish (never thought I’d read a really graphic, long description of an at-home Caesarian abortion, but here we are), but it was definitely one of the most beautiful things I’ve read lately. Because it is truly okay to hurt sometimes. And it is okay to slash back when the rabbit-hearted heart screams to just amputate the parts society doesn’t like to see on (young) people.
And oh, how they fought back.
(Also loved the very trans* main characters and their love story. Same with the (female) rage and the portrayal of a small rebellion, starting in the very walls meant to keep them silent.)
Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, Gore, Abortion, Blood, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Ableism, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Death, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Child abuse, Body horror, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Miscarriage, Sexism, Torture, Classism, Eating disorder, Outing, Blood, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
erinkellyreads'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
Non-Spoiler Review Section:
White's "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" takes on the style of a Victorian Gothic novel from page one, and the elements of horror and fantasy mixed in with medicine (both scientific and "of the time") made this so nuanced and unfolded like a beautiful, dying flower. Our main character, Silas, is both transmasc and autistic, trapped in the expectations and abuse of what he is "supposed to be" and "supposed" to act like. Add in that his violet eyes allow him to open the Veil and speak to the spirits of the dead (even though "women aren't allowed to use their powers"), and the audience truly feels everything, from sensitivity to loneliness to confusion to camaraderie, with him. The horrible men of the Speakers, full of evil and betrayal, and the women of the "reform school" simultaneously fighting to be alive and to be alive in their own way create a world and tension that you can't get enough of. I'm obsessed!
Spoiler Review Section:
Graphic: Murder, Colonisation, Rape, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Bullying, Slavery, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Confinement, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Child death, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Infertility, Suicide attempt, and Violence
frankiereadstoomuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Medical trauma, Transphobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Body horror, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Pedophilia
racheloddment's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Self harm, Deadnaming, Medical content, Transphobia, Death, Ableism, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Pedophilia and Adult/minor relationship
samgray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Ableism, Slavery, Child death, Death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Sexism, Sexual assault, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, and Torture
marrz'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
Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Murder, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Ableism, Abortion, Dysphoria, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia
Minor: Cursing, Vomit, and Adult/minor relationship
rogue_onion17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Deadnaming, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Transphobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Rape, Animal death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
httpsserenity'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Torture, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Grief, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexism, Abortion, Blood, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, and Panic attacks/disorders
teyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Body horror, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Abortion, Homophobia, Deadnaming, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Transphobia, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Torture, Trafficking, Murder, Rape, and Medical content
Minor: Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Animal death, and Violence
pandorajoan'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Gore, Medical trauma, Self harm, and Death