5.27k reviews for:

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

Andrew Joseph White

4.51 AVERAGE

lizzie_b99's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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: No

remiiirose's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

claire_not_rebecca's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Yes

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This was everything I wanted it to be. It was creepy and intelligent and deeply personal, I absolutely adore it. Cyrus is so cute and also so relatable, the writing of autism is really interesting to me in this book, and the story is just so so so addictive. It’s deeply creepy, so please check your TWs! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

madamvonsassypants's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This book did not feel like it was YA to me. The writing was really well done, sophisticated, and dealt with a LOT of heavy things. I found the tale gripping, the intimate inner monologue of a trans person so well done and fraught with emotion, and the world in which the story exists to be fascinating and frustrating. Truly so well done. I tore through this in just a few days, and recommend it highly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

ghostmotifs's review against another edition

2.75

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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i have a lot of issues with this book- mainly, the historical setting seems like an afterthought and british colonialism seems to be an important aspect of this society to expand upon. however, putting myself in the position of a teen reading this book, i think it would have resonated with me so deeply. so, at the end of the day, it accomplished what it needed to. i loved the t4t romance <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Dysphoria

goldshard13's review against another edition

4.25

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

kallisto's review against another edition

5.0

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There are some book out there that make you want to unravel your very existence and sew it back together with the threads made from the book. So you never forget the emotions you felt, I know it's a horror and I cried and I just felt so much during this whilst also feeling like someone was scrapping me out till I was hollow. And I also felt hope, I'm so glad for the existence of queer people and women

___person___'s review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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One of my favorite books! Wonderful trans and autistic representation, I love being able to delve into these topics in a historical fantasy context! The horror really shines with how White writes and describes what’s going on, holding the reader in building suspense and dawning horror as more discoveries are made.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria

samdubb's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

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I do think some of the tropes in this book are important to read, however it’s delivered in a gory and graphic nature that I don’t think suit everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Transphobia

estreetcar's review against another edition

4.5

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“How cruel is it, that I only get to be myself as a costume?“