Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

82 reviews

tgaddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Gore, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Abortion, Body horror, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Dysphoria, Sexism, Suicide, Transphobia, Bullying, Child death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

fangirljeanne's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism, Confinement, Ableism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Child death, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Transphobia

cactuspunk's review against another edition

challenging 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

5.0

AJ White has my entire being trapped within his work. I adored this book just as much as White's previous novel Hell Followed With Us. Every moment had me captivated with its vivid details and horrifying imagery that hooked my heart and stole my breath. Every character felt multi-faceted with deep-seeded emotions and motivations leading to constant adoration or utter hatred depending on the character. Overall, I love this book and could easily rant for hours about how much I adore it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Blood, and Sexual content

jasper_is_atypical's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Confinement, Bullying, Sexism, Ableism, Abandonment, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Cursing, Chronic illness, Animal death, Violence, Self harm, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Torture, Child death, Body horror, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, Vomit, Mental illness, Dysphoria, and Sexual assault

Minor: Classism, Colonisation, and Miscarriage

mir_frog73's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

This was incredible. I have no words other then everyone needs to read this because I’ll never be able to shut up about it. I need to eat this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Deadnaming, Confinement, Child death, Child abuse, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Misogyny, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Violence, Transphobia, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Rape, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Ableism, Murder, Homophobia, Grief, and Classism

starrysteph's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Andrew Joseph White has this brilliant skill of creating these nasty, fanged works that somehow, through all that blood, make you feel seen and empowered. 

This one is for the kids who can’t decipher the hidden rules of the world that everyone else seems to tackle with confidence.

“Because they gave birth to something they do not understand, because they tried so many times to fix me and they failed.”

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth follows Silas Bell, a curious anatomically-minded teenager whose family has attempted to force him into box after box to become an obedient (and more importantly, accepted) member of society. In 1883 London, men with violet eyes are considered mediums & alter The Veil between the living and dead as followers of the Royal Speaker Society. On the other hand, women with violet eyes are considered diseased; dangerous; mad.

Silas is trans and autistic (though he does not have the language for either), and after he attempts to flee his arranged marriage and live as a free medium, he’s sent to Braxton’s Sanitorium and Finishing School for Veil-sick women. It’s a dangerous place, with heartless leadership and girls who mysteriously disappear (unless they convince all that they can be obedient wives). When Silas hears pleas from the ghosts of former students, he knows he must risk his own life to unveil the true violence of Braxton.

“I read everything as it is given to me, exactly how it is said, only to discover that the world always operates just below the surface.”

Silas does not have our modern words to describe his experiences, but through his narration he shares truths and tics and fears so authentically and earnestly. He discovers how these parts of his identity are entwined - but also how they are distinct - through others. Without spoilers, Silas is not the only trans character in the book AND there’s a supporting character who is autistic & nonverbal whose scenes with Silas were some of my favorites.

Silas sees the world anatomically, through flesh and bone, through medicine and surgery. He also struggles with the “rabbit” inside his chest. It’s the voice of all his doubts and fears - the voice that he believes he needs to survive. 

“I want to take myself apart into something else, and if I cannot do that, I want to destroy every part of it that could ever be used against me.“

White plays with the very real history of those in power branding women with “hysteria”, and torturing and exploiting anyone who is “unfit” to operate in their world - and properly enforce their societal hierarchy. These villains sure do villain. There’s a pervasive fear of anything unknown and anyone who is an other, and a vicious swirl of misogyny, transphobia, and ableism. 

“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."

But the hauntings come in full force, screaming to be heard & not allowing the misogynistic powers to silence them.

In Andrew’s opening author’s note, he gently shares that taking this journey is a choice for us readers. I found it both horrifying & disturbing and empowering – but if this is too much for you at any time, it’s okay. You have the freedom to step away; you do not have to endure this. 

CW: medical content & gore, medical experimentation, body horror, sexual assault & rape, forced institutionalization, abortion, transphobia, deadnaming & misgendering, gaslighting, misogyny, ableism, death, pregnancy, torture, abuse, miscarriage, self harm, homophobia, animal cruelty & death, religious bigotry, vomit

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(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review. All quotes in this review are from my advance reader copy.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Death, Pregnancy, Body horror, Abortion, Transphobia, Child abuse, Rape, Vomit, Physical abuse, Self harm, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Torture, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

possibilityleft's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Hate crime, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Medical content, Blood, Mental illness, Vomit, Child death, Dysphoria, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

quiltsandtealibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I’ll add more later but holy hell this book is insanely good but super heavy but so good!!!

PLEASE HEED ALL TW/CW !!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, Kidnapping, Body horror, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Blood, Abortion, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence

cronads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Body horror, Abortion, Gore, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Bullying, Confinement, Dysphoria, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Self harm, Deadnaming, Violence, and Death

Minor: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Child death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Vomit

booksmellers's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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? N/A

5.0

Andrew Joseph White is 2 for 2, and definitely an author I will continue to watch in the future. I loved Hell Followed With Us so I kept my eye out for this one on NetGalley as soon as it was announced. Going in with high expectations can sometimes be a detriment, but in this case my expectations were met and exceeded.

White is the type of author that knows what he wants to say and is excellent at executing it. He writes the autistic, trans, and queer experience extraordinarily well, he creates compelling depictions of toxic families and their deep indoctrination into abusive systems, as well as complex characters with complicated relationships. What draws me to White's writing is his themes are clearly thought out and his writing makes a statement, but he doesn't coddle the audience and he isn't interested in being didactic. He doesn't overexplain identity but allows for nuance in these various experiences and his writing is more interested in the individual characters rather than appealing to the masses. These books will not be for everybody, but I'm glad that they do seem to have found their audience.

This book is still settling in my brain, but I think I liked it more than Hell Followed With Us. I could definitely see improvement from White's previous novel. The pacing was excellent, it was well researched, and all the connections were all there to make a great reading experience. This is definitely a great addition to the queer horror genre. And I have to say, the cover is so perfect.

If you love horror, historical fiction, and queer fiction, I'd highly recommend this book. You will definitely want to check content warnings because it is extremely graphic (I went in prepared, having read the warnings and his previous book, and I was still surprised).

Thank you, NetGalley, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Blood, Child abuse, Animal death, Child death, Murder, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Torture, Ableism, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cursing, Miscarriage, Classism, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape