Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

385 reviews

sweetflipsbrah's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

While not the worst book I’ve ever read, “The Spirit Bares It’s Teeth” by Andrew Joseph White leaves a lot to be desired for me. Maybe my approach to this book is all wrong, but if the world presented in “Spirit” is meant to reflect our modern world in any way (which I think even deeply fantastical fiction can/does), then ours is an inhospitable cesspit of violence, misogyny, and transphobia. And as a trans man myself, I spent a lot of my time reading this book in despair of the author’s outlook on our present world, particularly his view of cisgender men. The level of both overt and implied sexual violence enacted against the main character is almost fetishistic, particularly when you remember this is a YA novel. 

I think there are a lot of elements to “Spirit” that are interesting - a trans male protagonist in a historical setting, the exploration of gender and weaponizing the pathology of human behavior, the aesthetic of Victorian esoterische and spiritualism, etc - that the author, in my opinion, doesn’t explore enough, or is lacking nuance. I think a more historically accurate approach to this story would’ve made it more enjoyable, as sort of a better analysis of Victorian and modern attitudes towards sex, gender, mental health and disability. I also find some of White’s stylistic choices grating, including an over-reliance on certain imagery in the form of simile that made roll my eyes (I challenge you to count how many times something is described as being “like a scalpel”). Overall, there were a handful of scenes I enjoyed, but I ultimately finished this book out of sheer determination.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Vomit

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

jei_reads_sometimes's review

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

4.5

I don't normally read horror but this was popping up on so many lists I figured I'd give it a shot.  
Please check and take the CWs seriously.  I felt myself have visceral reactions at times and yet... I couldn't put it down.  The way the story held up a mirror to how it feels to be different in so many ways in a world that just wants you to conform hit hard.  I'll be looking into more works from this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Torture and War

kolbier's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Forced institutionalization, and Blood

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

xxkatastrophe'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: Gore, Transphobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, and Vomit

kingsamong's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

dogearedbooks'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

At 35 years old, this is the first time I've seen myself so fully in a character. I cannot explain the wealth of emotions I feel reading through Silas' eyes and knowing, even for a fictional character, I am not alone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape

evelyno's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• 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: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

sara_reads_and_wines's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.5

It's hard to rate this one, because the story was so traumatic and hard to read, but the voices and experiences that this story brought to light were ones worth reading!

The trans and autism representation was so well done. This was also truly one of the top horror novels I have ever read. Just read with caution, but this one is heavy, dark, and traumatic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Gore, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abortion

Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Child abuse

lapis's review against another edition

Sadly I think I'm too much of a chicken for this book. If you are not a weenie (I never read horror, so I'm a pretty big weenie) I would recommend it if you want to see a trans masc autistic boy and supernatural powers.

If I ever gain more courage I will try this book again

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Transphobia, and Forced institutionalization

lizardgod's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

5.0

 I love women as men are expected to, but the way only one who has ever experienced womanhood can. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail