Reviews tagging 'Deadnaming'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

344 reviews

manou_r's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Dysphoria

lizzie_yc's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

crabs_with_sticks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

hutchinga's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a very well done horror novel intertwining an alternative historical London with the experience of being Trans and neurodivergent. As one would expect out of a horror novel, much of the content easily is triggering. Still, the author manages to handle dark and heartbreaking moments with grace. Pacing is the best I have experienced in the horror genre thus far, culminating into a poignant ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Forced institutionalization

quitethespectacle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

An incredible book. Visceral and cutting - it pierced me to the core. I read the whole thing over less than 48 hours and am sorely tempted to immediately begin it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

Minor: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Eye gore

Vivisection

Wrist injury

Self surgery

alphabetseeds's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

I read and loved AJW's first novel and knew I had to this up as well. And, fuck, this novel is horrific. Uncomfortable, bloody, unyielding. I read so much of this book with one hand over my mouth and the other clutching my stomach or over my heart, spellbound and horrified. I viscerally felt Silas' anxiety and confusion, felt the glass, clenched my teeth. This story is powerful in its portrayal of the pain and shame inflicted on those deemed lesser or unworthy or unwell.

But there are also moments of softness and tenderness that break up the claustrophobic violence, and these moments are so important. As the reader, I glimpsed for a better life, a safer life, for Silas and the girls and woman, and I desperately yearned for them to get there. To get out. To be loved and free.

To me, this is a must-read, absolutely recommend, with the caveat to brace yourself and prepare to be haunted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Transphobia, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Deadnaming and Vomit

hattey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

The disappointing part of this book is that there isn't more of it! Give me a longer version of this book that has more world building please. And a lot more revenge too. I wanted to learn more about how the spirit work is done and how it affects the world. And the main antagonist's death was too easy on him. I wanted to mc to get revenge personally. That way he would have an active hand in destroying the oppressive system. Without that, the book felt lacking in catharsis. But overall, a very good read! The pacing is great, I had a hard time putting it down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Gun violence, Self harm, Abortion, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Classism

sophee_568's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage

yellowjelly's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Probably one of the best written books I’ve read in my life. The constant motif of the rabbit Silas has to ignore honestly just brung the book together so nicely. The autistic representation in the book is so well written i am lost for words. Ive never felt so seen and so heard. The long discussions of Silas internal struggle of identity and what he wants in life made me love him so dearly and he and Daphne is the only couple I’ve ever truly loved.  Their love and devotion to each other and the deep understanding of what the other needs Is something I’ve never seen before and craved so deeply. One thing I found hard to read is the constant misogyny, I had a hard time reading how the women were being treated and constantly had to stop reading because of it. the pacing of the book is quite uneven like Andrew whites other book hell followed with us but i think it works much better in this book. The middle is slow but it fleshes out every character well enough that the ending is smooth, we know what each character wants and the twists pull at heart strings so much more. Now my only true sadness is how andrew white always writes such amazing worlds, characters and stories and then leave us with only one book in the world. I wish to see more of this universe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture and Violence

Minor: Rape

if you feel uncomfortable about misogyny, pregnancy and sexual assault I don’t recommend you read this book, its amazing discussion for womens rights but it might be a lot to handle especially if your dealing with something. The victim blaming and names they call women of assault was a lot to handle

lalauren04's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, and Medical trauma