Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

348 reviews

a_dara_ble's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This is one of the first books I've gotten all the way through in a while. I really enjoyed the world it was set in and the main characters. I personally didn't find it really Scary most of the time, but the author definitely doesn't shy away from descriptions, so I'd really recommend checking the trigger warnings if you have any issues with medical/body horror in the most literal sense. I have a pretty strong stomach for written horror, but this would not be a story I could probably stomach if it was in a visual media.
I'd love to read a second book with these characters, or at least in this world, maybe diving into more of the supernatural elements. But as it is, it's a really good stand alone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

mokkekitty'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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexism, Transphobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

avrija's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This book — it’s certainly something. This is the first horror I’ve read in a very long while and it was very good. Please, please be mindful of the trigger warnings in the “letter from the author” at the beginning. It was very well written, I loved the characters, especially Daphne and Silas and it was suspenseful and gave you that sense of something creeping up on you. However, I think it deserves a mention that I don’t think this book is for anyone who is sensitive to transphobia and body dysmorphia regarding that. Even if you say, you can handle that, please do read this on a good day and check in with yourself. It’s quite heavy and mentally hard to read at times because the descriptions of Silas’ struggles are so very well done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Pedophilia, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

overbooked207's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bleedinxheartx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

ajw the author that you are!!!! I am gagged!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Sexual harassment

danpolta's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

White's characters can be a bit difficult to keep straight at times, but he does a good job of keeping the tension high. Silas's rabbit alone is such an intense representation of all the horrific parts of his internal monologue that you shouldn't give this book a miss.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Deadnaming and Homophobia

Minor: Miscarriage

jjsoupsworth's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

this book drove me nuts and made me wanna eat drywall in the best way possible but oh my GOD PLEASE tread carefully if youre squeamish . congrats on the stonewall honor mr white its deserved

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Gore, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexual assault, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Vomit

octopus_farmer's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Haunting in a satisfying way but still haunting. Do NOT take the content warning lightly at the start of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

thepomegranateseeds's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

I usually don't write reviews, but this book has a chokehold on me, it's like it gets better every reread I do. The concept, the writing style, the characters, just everything about TSBIT is just amazing.

Especially when Silas sliced Luckenbill's throat with that shard of glass, fuck that guy. Oh, and also fuck George, who just tries to kill their own brother like that?

.

Daphne and Silas, my beloveds <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Deadnaming, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

For the minor homophobia part, the reason I put it is because the of the comment that Mary makes saying Daphne looks like she'd rather "bugger men" (this is while she's still male presenting)

livelaughlovejackie's review against another edition

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

5.0

this book had me on an absolute chokehold while reading which is v rare for me <3333

The actual rating is probably something like 4.5 but the experience is just so fun i need it higher 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent