Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

232 reviews

mchill's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, and Abandonment

Minor: Eating disorder and Fatphobia

This is a wonderful book, yet as the author states at the beginning there is no need to stay if it’s going to cause you pain. This story took my heart and crushed it to dust. Exploring misogyny through the eyes of a trans man. His fragility and trauma is beautifully crafted by the author to show a softer side of masculinity and portray the fight that is being who you are. Set in the 1800s, this story explores how those who presented female were diagnosed with weak constitution, tortured, forced into marriages far too young and left to carry children they may not even want. As such, it is not a story for the weak of heart. However, if it is for you, then it is worth every page and I highly recommend giving it a go.

elliizzzabeth's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

If I was going to use a word to describe this book it would be violent. Everything from the world to the characters to Silas's own inner monologue is unflinchingly violent and raw. Silas is an autistic trans man forced into a correctional school for girls with a view to be made into a perfect wife. The world is constantly, violently unafirming of his gender, his neurodivengency and his ambitions to be a surgeon.
There is a trigger warning given at the start by the author and my God does it need it. If you are turned off by graphic descriptions of medical procedures and gore then this is not the book for you. Honestly I'm surprised I survived it! Silas cannot go a couple pages without being beaten or attacked or having to hastily stitch up life threatening injuries with a sewing kit. The book was so graphic in these areas and also contained so much swearing and references to sexual assault I was astounded it was rated as "teen". Definitely one for older teens (with strong stomachs!) 
But despite that the story was strong, if a little predictable at times, and it had me hooked all the way through. It was very fast paced so it always kept you on your toes. Daphne and Silas's romance was sweet and I enjoyed the dynamics between all the girls. But most of all it was a visceral, gory, un-censored view of what it is like to claw your way to survival in a world that is forcing you into boxes you desperately don't want to be in. Incredibly glad I wasn't a woman in the victorian era, fucking hell!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Deadnaming, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

-Many graphic scenes of surgery -Repeated graphic descriptions of a person removing their own eyes and a self-inflicted hysterectomy

krheaume9's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Please read TWs before reading! That being said, what a grotesquely beautiful story. It explores what it means to be disabled, a cis woman, a trans man, a trans woman, and so much more. An exploration into what we owe each other and systems of oppression, with a fantasy twist.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria

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. 

---

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

livyadri's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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? No

4.75

“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.” 
Heart wrenching & raw. Incredibly vivid imagery and effectively reflective writing. 

Toward the end, Silas and Daphne helping each other get dressed and Daphne cutting Silas’ hair for him tugged at my heart so hard 💜

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Pregnancy

flohbeutel's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abortion

noura's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Miscarriage

a_dara_ble's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is one of the first books I've gotten all the way through in a while. I really enjoyed the world it was set in and the main characters. I personally didn't find it really Scary most of the time, but the author definitely doesn't shy away from descriptions, so I'd really recommend checking the trigger warnings if you have any issues with medical/body horror in the most literal sense. I have a pretty strong stomach for written horror, but this would not be a story I could probably stomach if it was in a visual media.
I'd love to read a second book with these characters, or at least in this world, maybe diving into more of the supernatural elements. But as it is, it's a really good stand alone.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

emscolqu's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

Such an intense read but highly recommend the ENDING i sat there in shock when

Lord Luckenbill brought out the ring

tbf i didnt trust him but still and some of the surgical scenes in this were so detailed it made it such an uneasy read but so compelling i was so happy that

Silas and Dauphine and Mary escaped at the end

also

kinda got this odd gut feeling with the mask men that one of them was george and i KNEW IT . so mad that he turned out to be so awful and no reprochassions for him in the end

this book destroyed me but in a good way just wanted to give Silas a hug also the dynamic between Silas and the groundskeeper i died that was the only thing keeping me sane through that crazy scene with headmaster

literally about to fucking cut open mary and drill into her skull

jeez was just a lot to take it but really really good read - definitely look at the warnings and take them seriously before reading 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

overbooked207's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism