Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

142 reviews

katebrownreads's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

yasperbasper's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Miscarriage, Colonisation, Classism

mir_frog73's review against another edition

5.0

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

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

starrysteph's review against another edition

5.0

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

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

possibilityleft's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

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

cronads's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

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

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

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

ender24's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A wonderful story, with a lot of horror and gore. It’s a bit slow for the first half of the book, but it’s important for the overall story unlike some other writings. Already want a sequel, or something to expand the world of the story.

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Content Warnings

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

devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia

Minor: Self harm, Torture, Pregnancy, Alcohol

Graphic abortion scenes as well as detailed vivisections on children.

pale_faced_fear's review against another edition

5.0

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: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Medical content

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

fanboyriot's review against another edition

5.0

dark 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: Yes

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Read For:

Ghosts

Hurt/Comfort

T4T (ftm x mtf)

Dark Queer Rage

Gothic Victorian Vibes

Absolutely beautiful in a dark and vicious way.  It was heavy and uncomfortable but in a way that made you want to fight for the characters in the pages.  Drawing you in with each chapter.

The trans representation in this book might not have been the happiest I’ve ever read but even though all the angst and hurt there were moments of comfort, of happiness and hope.

Silas was such a lovable main character.  I liked his passion for being a surgeon, trying and fighting for what he wanted even when nearly everyone failed him, time and time again.  Daphne was such a light in his life and to this book I couldn’t imagine it without her.  Again a very lovable character.

This book was not soft or lighthearted and I definitely suggest reading the content warnings beforehand; but this book was written so well.  The setting, the plot, the characters, even the cover of this book was amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(First Person POV)

Spice: 🌶️ (lightly mentioned)

Rep: Trans MC (ftm), Autistic MC, Trans LI (mtf), LGBTQIA+ MC/SCs

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal cruelty, Rape, Vomit