Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

375 reviews

faeandferal's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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: No

---

Beautiful written, full of dark twists, emotional moments and hidden mysteries. I found the characters highly relatable, especially Silas, and really enjoyed the trans and autistic representation. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexism, Grief, Abortion, Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Self harm, Torture, Pregnancy

bbitzan's review against another edition

4.25

---

I didn't love this one as much as my last two AJW reads but it was very good regardless.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Deadnaming, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

shanayyy's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

The author writing is very detailed especially in the main character’s body dysmorphia and autism- especially the panic attacks and involuntary movements. Through their writing, I was able to imagine myself (a cis female) in Silas’s shoes and understand how the behaviors of those around him affected his psyche.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Transphobia

The ending leaves so many questions: how did Louise know all that information, why does she refuse to meet Silas Mary and Agnes after the school was destroyed, is Silas going after his brother, what is Agnes’ life as a widow, what was the cover up for Luckenbills’ death, what are Silas and Daphne’s adult life like?

claire_not_rebecca's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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: Yes

---

This was everything I wanted it to be. It was creepy and intelligent and deeply personal, I absolutely adore it. Cyrus is so cute and also so relatable, the writing of autism is really interesting to me in this book, and the story is just so so so addictive. It’s deeply creepy, so please check your TWs! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

madamvonsassypants's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

This book did not feel like it was YA to me. The writing was really well done, sophisticated, and dealt with a LOT of heavy things. I found the tale gripping, the intimate inner monologue of a trans person so well done and fraught with emotion, and the world in which the story exists to be fascinating and frustrating. Truly so well done. I tore through this in just a few days, and recommend it highly.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

___person___'s review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

One of my favorite books! Wonderful trans and autistic representation, I love being able to delve into these topics in a historical fantasy context! The horror really shines with how White writes and describes what’s going on, holding the reader in building suspense and dawning horror as more discoveries are made.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria

deadly_kitten777's review against another edition

5.0

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

---

Beautifully written and truly displayed some of the horrors a not so distant past held, as a queer person I found the graphic descriptions of the disgusting reality of conversion therapy and forced child birth deeply heartbreaking and horrifying, loved the magical twists but honestly got invested enough in the vileness of it being so close to reality I might have preferred a more realistic setting, truly a masterpiece of fiction

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Transphobia, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment

Minor: Self harm, Classism

ajenkies4's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark 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: Complicated

---

For the love of God please read the content warnings. My only small quibble is that the dialogue wasn't even close to historically accurate. But everything else about this book overshadows that - it's gruesome and infuriating and empowering.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

aimeeslittlelibrary's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous 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: Complicated

---

Well, that was a lot! I can't beleive this is young adult?! There was such a lot of TW Content: mentioned sexual assault, child SA, a lot of medical content and body horror, self-mutilation, self harm, murder, torture, and animal death. And not that young adults aren't affected by or shouldn't read these issues, but damn, it was graphic at times! This was great. I loved the character of Silas so much. He was so well-rounded, complex, and his voice was so clear. The rabbit was an excellent device, and that dark inner critical voice was so brutal to read. The plot was so well delivered I honestly had no idea what was happening until the end, I had vague thoughts, but to discover THAT was happening.. phew. Mary also gets honourable mention for being the most viscious and violent lesbian in this world. This whole book is a good, 'good for her' moment of the wrongs women, female presenting people, and AFAB people have dealt with through time - with a magical realism twist that brought horror and fear into this book. I couldn't put it down. I wonder if there will be a sequel. I hope so.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

inkstainedghosts13's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Amazing, read all in one night. Amazing trans and neurodivergent representation. Got the Gothic style perfectly. Fantastic book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail