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kharlan3's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
The Spirit Bares its Teeth is a YA historical horror book about trans and autistic Silas who wants to be a doctor, despite his family's expectation that he be a proper, marriageable lady (and good magical breeding stock). He's sent to a creepy finishing school for, basically, unruly girls. This was, hands down, the scariest book I read in 2023, but also one of my favorites. The imagery is so vivid, and the ending is satisfying. Can't wait to read the next thing Andrew Joseph White writes!
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Torture
Includes graphickingsteph'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
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Transphobia, Cursing, Vomit, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Hate crime, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Medical content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, and Mental illness
shysheepys'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? Yes
5.0
This book was so intriguing that I sat and read it over a 5 hour span and did not want to move. Though I did break it up, I stayed up late two days in a row to finish it. I absolutely did not want to put it down. It is, however, not for the faint of heart.
Honestly, I don't know how this is considered a YA novel other than the characters being in their teens. I'm an avid horror reader, and this book made me cringe so hard every other scene. In a good way? Its beautifully written and the story and plot are top tier, too. Even some twists I didn't see coming.
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Abortion, Dysphoria, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
meriguild'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
Graphic: Medical trauma, Abandonment, Transphobia, Medical content, Misogyny, and Ableism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia
sunflower7skull's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Ableism, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Transphobia, Child abuse, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Torture, Abandonment, Child death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Grief, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Abortion, Cursing, Animal death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia
naomidanae'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Abortion, Body horror, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Blood, Child death, Deadnaming, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Classism, and Abandonment
dalek_caan'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: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Kidnapping, Medical content, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Abortion, Blood, Bullying, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Violence
danaslitlist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Do you know how angry the dead can be?
They must have convinced themselves they would never rot in the same dirt as we do.
In my review of Hell Followed with Us, I said the words "bold and furious" to describe the book. I said the book is a story of rage consuming, of revolution and uprising, of setting ablaze the world and those who wished to use you for their gain.
While reading The Spirit Bares Its Teeth I was struck by how much of it is a mirror to White's debut. It's not a simple reflection of his previous work nor is it just a rehashing of the same themes. Instead it's a rendition, a shadow, a closer look at the source, at the core of, where so much rage begins.
Hell Followed with Us is about the beauty of decay and rot and the rebirth of one's self into their true monstrous form, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is about the power of breaking the cage within yourself to free your righteous fury and ripping the Veil all together.
It is a story that picks at the scabs of old wounds that many of us have endured at hands of a world that wishes to "fix us" through any means as long as we assimilated. This is an acknowledgement of the horrors of those who came before us (of women, of people of color, of queer and trans people, of disabled and mentally ill individuals) suffered. It is an acknowledgment of the battles many marginalized people still endure for simply not fitting into the narrow minded boxes (Christian) society demands. And it does shy away from the dark and truly disgusting horrors of humanity's greed and man's desire for power over all.
While The Spirit Bares Its Teeth does indeed touch upon rage, upon anger and frustration; it is a story of pain inflicted by those in positions of power, of the suppression of self for survival, and overcoming of fear in order to not just live but to thrive.
And it does this wonderfully. This is a true gothic horror in every sense; from the setting and themes it utilizes, from the classic use of gaslighting and mystery against the characters to a pure feeling of isolation and desperation.
For fans of Crimson Peak and Devil's Backbone this is for you.
Graphic: Abortion, Sexual harassment, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Gore, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Misogyny, Ableism, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Vomit
aetherthedino's review against another edition
- 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? No
Graphic: Medical content, Death, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Murder, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Ableism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Blood, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Confinement, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Rape, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Violence, Abandonment, Child death, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Vomit, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Bullying, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
micaelacccc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Blood, Gaslighting, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Medical content, Sexism, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, Gore, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Death, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Murder, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Rape and Miscarriage