Reviews - The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

5.32k reviews for:

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

Andrew Joseph White

4.51 AVERAGE

carnree's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Make sure you're mentally prepared to read this book as it is very dark. It's worth it though!

Content Warnings

evvd118's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-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: Yes

myhomextheroad's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious 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: Complicated

This was so so so so so good AUUUGGHHHH. I will need to speak about it coherently one day but today is not that day. The beginning was a little slow for me but once we met Daphne I was LOCKED IN for the rest of the book. (Would recommend noting the content warnings at the start of the book, though, if they are helpful to you.)

Content Warnings

caseyhaunter's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is very dark and very gruesome but a truly incredible story. I wanted so badly for the characters to be okay. I felt that this book was paced well and the ending was quite satisfying. A STRONG warning to anyone who might read it to check trigger warnings and to go in knowing it is a heavy read. I have never read a book like this before and I’d be interested in reading other books by Andrew Joseph White in the future.

Content Warnings

hippievamp's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark 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

kissedbyjupiter_'s review against another edition

5.0

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: Yes

Truthfully this might be my most anticipated read of 2025 because after reading 'Compound Fracture' by this author, I knew I'd fall in love. The way he was so able to write a book like this and be able to convey the message he did about society and how transphobia and sexism are still very much on the rise, it really brings awareness.

I instantly fell in love with Silas' character and instantly saw myself in him with his struggles with autism. I very much identified with how they were trying to erode his identity, which made this book incredibly heartbreaking to read. Daphne is also so much fun to read, and I love how we were able to even get representation for trans women in Victorian England!

The writing also varied from character to character (my edition has an extra Daphne chapter). White's brain is incredible with the novels he is putting out. They each tell their own story, and for that I am grateful!

Content Warnings