Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

119 reviews

kharlan3's review against another edition

dark tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

Top YA of 2023

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!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Torture

Includes graphic

vivisection

buntern's review against another edition

challenging dark tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Abortion, Death, Torture, Medical content, Blood, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Forced institutionalization

jupitermaybe's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Death, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Abortion, Ableism, and Injury/Injury detail

Heavy on transphobia, deadnaming, and grand misgenderment. Heavy on body horror and medical experimentation.

Explicit abortion without anesthesia.

kase's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Murder, Blood, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Abortion, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Body horror, Self harm, Transphobia, Ableism, and Adult/minor relationship

kingsteph's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, Pregnancy, Rape, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Torture

lizziaha's review

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

oh i feel sick 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Sexism, Confinement, Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Medical content, Murder, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death

mlovesbooks's review

challenging dark 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

Didn't expect to love it this much. Amazing and gut-churning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Sexism, Blood, Body horror, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Sexual assault, Ableism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

Minor: Self harm and Miscarriage

felicitydevoria's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Medical trauma, Medical content, Dysphoria, Death, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Confinement, Child death, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Sexism, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Deadnaming, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Sexual content

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.25

This book took a lot out of me. It is heavy and gruesome and beautiful. I will admit the surgical body horror made me a little squeamish, but as a trans autistic person, I loved the way the main characters were written. I don't usually like historical fiction, but I really loved this fantasy take. Highly recommend to anyone who is invested in dark fantasy, the trans experience, the autistic experience, and Victorian times (especially from a gendered/medical view) Just make sure you check trigger warnings for this one!

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Content Warnings

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