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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
In Victorian England, Silas is an autistic sixteen-year-old boy facing imminent marriage and the expectation to reproduce, for he was born with a womb and the coveted violet eyes which mark him as a medium. When a last ditch effort at survival goes wrong, Silas is sent to a (very haunted) reformatory school for wives-in-training. Andrew Joseph White writes about trans characters with such tenderness and beauty while utilizing horror to discuss the persecution of the othered, cruel medical experimentation, “hysteria,” and fear of trans magic. Stitched with rabbit imagery and the gory realities of humanity throughout, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a knockout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Complicated
"Mors vincit omnia - Death conquers all"
And so this visceral, raw book opens. At it's core, this book is about death. The ability to speak with the dead, dead violet-eyed girls killed by greedy men, men wanting to control girls who can reach beyond the Veil. But even more so, it is about the death of the self. The little deaths that occur every time you are forced to be someone you are not, forced to hide the truth of yourself from everyone for fear of repercussion. And above all, it is about the death of the old, ill-fitting self you were pretending to be when you are finally able to be who you truly are. Death and transness can be inherently linked in many ways and are never far from each other in this book.
Silas is a autistic trans boy in Victorian England. Born with violet eyes and forced to act "normal" and present as a girl, they are seen as nothing more to their parents than a stepping stone in societal graces. He is considered a Speaker because of his eyes and will be married off to someone in the Speaker Society, which is mostly made up of older men who want control over those who can reach beyond the Veil. After his brother marries and he loses his one supporter in his dreams of becoming a surgeon, he disguises himself and attends a Speaker Society gathering, pretending to be a boy who is meant to receive his medium's seal that night. If successful, SIlas will be free from their parents and able to live as they please. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as planned and Silas is discovered and sent to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanatorium, diagnosed with Veil Sickness. There, they and other girls are "cured," turned into dutiful obedient wives, or they disappear forever. Soon ghosts of these missing girls begin to appear to Silas and beg for help. With the help of the other girls and his betrothed, a trans girl named Daphne, he must try and discover the secrets the school is hiding and expose them - and stop the school from taking him down first.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Yes, there were many uncomfortable parts: some gory descriptions, the constant deadnaming of Silas and Daphne (though expected due to the nature of the time period and the book's own premise), the treatment of those seen as "othered", etc. it was still an amazing journey. The world building was fantastic and the characters fleshed out beautifully. There were many sweet, tender moments between Silas and Daphne, sandwiched between horrible depictions of abuse, torture, grief, sorrow, and pain. They were a breath of fresh air before diving back into this horrible world to find out what was truly happening and if Silas would succeed in exposing the school. It was truly a joy to read and I very much hope there will be a follow up novel with more of Silas and Daphne.
ARC provided by NetGalley
And so this visceral, raw book opens. At it's core, this book is about death. The ability to speak with the dead, dead violet-eyed girls killed by greedy men, men wanting to control girls who can reach beyond the Veil. But even more so, it is about the death of the self. The little deaths that occur every time you are forced to be someone you are not, forced to hide the truth of yourself from everyone for fear of repercussion. And above all, it is about the death of the old, ill-fitting self you were pretending to be when you are finally able to be who you truly are. Death and transness can be inherently linked in many ways and are never far from each other in this book.
Silas is a autistic trans boy in Victorian England. Born with violet eyes and forced to act "normal" and present as a girl, they are seen as nothing more to their parents than a stepping stone in societal graces. He is considered a Speaker because of his eyes and will be married off to someone in the Speaker Society, which is mostly made up of older men who want control over those who can reach beyond the Veil. After his brother marries and he loses his one supporter in his dreams of becoming a surgeon, he disguises himself and attends a Speaker Society gathering, pretending to be a boy who is meant to receive his medium's seal that night. If successful, SIlas will be free from their parents and able to live as they please. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as planned and Silas is discovered and sent to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanatorium, diagnosed with Veil Sickness. There, they and other girls are "cured," turned into dutiful obedient wives, or they disappear forever. Soon ghosts of these missing girls begin to appear to Silas and beg for help. With the help of the other girls and his betrothed, a trans girl named Daphne, he must try and discover the secrets the school is hiding and expose them - and stop the school from taking him down first.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Yes, there were many uncomfortable parts: some gory descriptions, the constant deadnaming of Silas and Daphne (though expected due to the nature of the time period and the book's own premise), the treatment of those seen as "othered", etc. it was still an amazing journey. The world building was fantastic and the characters fleshed out beautifully. There were many sweet, tender moments between Silas and Daphne, sandwiched between horrible depictions of abuse, torture, grief, sorrow, and pain. They were a breath of fresh air before diving back into this horrible world to find out what was truly happening and if Silas would succeed in exposing the school. It was truly a joy to read and I very much hope there will be a follow up novel with more of Silas and Daphne.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Deadnaming, Gore, Misogyny, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Vomit
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
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
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
dark
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:
Complicated
This book was amazing. There are very few bad things I could say about it, and most of those are personal preference. Now, it isn't for everyone, as it's basically gothic horror to the extreme with some very sensitive topics. However, as long as you can stomach this sort of thing, I highly recommend this book. It's dark, tense, and not without some hope. My one technical gripe is how perfect Daphne seems, but that can be easily brushed past. I really liked the writing, especially with how the author played with the style and actual look of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
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:
No
"This is what happens to people like me if we don't have the money for tutors, if we refuse to listen, if we don't have wombs that are worth the effort. He's scared. He's cornered. Like me."
THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH, at its core, is a tale of solidarity and strength.
Andrew Joseph White's second novel follows Silas, an autistic trans boy, and his gnashing battle with a world that attempts to shape his flesh as it deems fit—and how hard he fights to take control of his body and life.
Juxtaposing the times he claws his way out of the basement, painted with mangled wounds where stitching was torn back by scalpel, are the times in which he burrows his exhausted face in the neck of his lover.
Daphne was an exquisite character. She is a delicate, brave woman, with an adoration for Silas so genuine it made me weep. Every moment the pair shared was held in place by incorrigibly horrendous events that occurred both before and after, which only made the sweetness more bitter. Even so, the few specks of time in which solace was found in their shared company were perfect.
Silas's story is raw, tender down to the fragile bone. Every moment had me chewing my lip, clawing at my chest in an attempt to calm my racing heart. Every emotion was visceral, as bloody and brutal as the surgeries our ravenous protagonist performs.
"It distracts me for just long enough to make me laugh, and Daphne does too. Her eyes shine when she laughs. She's beautiful.
A beautiful thing. Here. I almost don't believe it."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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:
No
"Everyone is made up of stories, when you think about it. You only really come to understand yourself by comparing other people's stories to yours; you find where things are the same, and where they're not."
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have no words to describe how absolutely incredible this book was. What a hell of an adventure.
"The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is a rollercoaster of emotions set in an alternative Victorian Era London, where some people are born with violet eyes and can open "the veil", allowing the dead to step back in the world of the living. The Speakers control and dictate who can interact with said veil and destroy anyone else they deem not worthy - which is to say anyone who was not born a man. The women born with violet eyes are to be engaged with whichever man bids the highest. This is to be the fate of our main character, Silas, who is very much against it. So, he takes a shot at his one chance to be free and leave London behind... which fails, and now he's a in school for those with "veil-sickness".
First, I have to admit I'm not particularly fond of first-person narration but, somehow, the author made it work! I didn't have a hard time reading or was bored for any second of the book. The writing flows nicely and really captures the reader, it made me feel like I was inside the book.
The concept of the book itself was very interesting and it was everything I expected it to be but, at the same time, so much more. There are definitely some scenes that are not for the faint of heart, and some of them left me truly shocked (and I had to close the app and lay down to reflect on my life), but it really conveys everything the book is supposed to be about and adds so many layers to the plot and characters.
As for the characters, the author did an incredible job - he crafted them perfectly, in my opinion. I love how we are introduced to Silas, how afraid he is but he doesn't put his foot down either. He's been brave since the very first page of the book, but it's not until the very end that he sees and embraces it. I loved getting to know Silas and seeing his journey - I loved how we're shown his struggles and wishes and how we're there to see every single one of them fulfilled. Personally, I loved the journey of Silas figuring out that his transness and austim are separated, how one doesn't necessarily lead to another and how this disproves everything he's been taught. I can't express how much I cried when he first met Daphne. The book is set in such a dark world but that was such a bright and joyful moment. I could reread it a hundred times more. And the three little moments with the groundskeeper? It just made me wish there was more time for them to interact.
Daphne was also very interesting to get to know. She's not really a main character but every page she's in she shines. Every time she visits she shows a new side to herself and turns the story a little brighter. Her story culminates at the end of the book in a way that I loved (and hoped for). There is one thing I would have liked to see her do (which is stand up to her father in some way, even though I'm sure that's got to have happened at least once in the past. I would have liked to see it), but overall I liked how she was introduced, and how she played her part in the middle and am incredibly happy with her ending. Also, she saved me from one very stressful moment in this book and I will never be more grateful for that.
There are other characters in the book that I loved - the girls Silas spent time with in the school: Isabella, Mary, Louise and Charlotte. Ellen and Frances didn't show up much but I did enjoy the few little moments they had. I liked the bonds between the girls and how they stuck with each other, most of all how they stuck with Silas too (mostly towards the end of the book). I loved how involved Mary got and how much of her character we got to see towards the end.
There's also one character I have to mention. I will not say the name because of spoilers but I would like to point out that I did not trust this person one single second and I was so correct and I hate being correct about this. Given that last line of the book, I hope this person gets what they deserve (and if they do, I will be the first in line to a get a copy of whatever it comes written on, it can be a book or an article or even a pamphlet).
Overall, this story is filled with adventure and ghosts and revenge. More importantly, it's about accepting and fighting for yourself. It's about society pressuring you to be one way, telling you to do certain things, when none of the ways you were ever presented a problem. The others were the problem all along, their lack of understanding and zero effort are to blame. It's a story about a boy who simply wants to live free and be happy - oh and be a surgeon. That part is important.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have no words to describe how absolutely incredible this book was. What a hell of an adventure.
"The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is a rollercoaster of emotions set in an alternative Victorian Era London, where some people are born with violet eyes and can open "the veil", allowing the dead to step back in the world of the living. The Speakers control and dictate who can interact with said veil and destroy anyone else they deem not worthy - which is to say anyone who was not born a man. The women born with violet eyes are to be engaged with whichever man bids the highest. This is to be the fate of our main character, Silas, who is very much against it. So, he takes a shot at his one chance to be free and leave London behind... which fails, and now he's a in school for those with "veil-sickness".
First, I have to admit I'm not particularly fond of first-person narration but, somehow, the author made it work! I didn't have a hard time reading or was bored for any second of the book. The writing flows nicely and really captures the reader, it made me feel like I was inside the book.
The concept of the book itself was very interesting and it was everything I expected it to be but, at the same time, so much more. There are definitely some scenes that are not for the faint of heart, and some of them left me truly shocked (and I had to close the app and lay down to reflect on my life), but it really conveys everything the book is supposed to be about and adds so many layers to the plot and characters.
As for the characters, the author did an incredible job - he crafted them perfectly, in my opinion. I love how we are introduced to Silas, how afraid he is but he doesn't put his foot down either. He's been brave since the very first page of the book, but it's not until the very end that he sees and embraces it. I loved getting to know Silas and seeing his journey - I loved how we're shown his struggles and wishes and how we're there to see every single one of them fulfilled. Personally, I loved the journey of Silas figuring out that his transness and austim are separated, how one doesn't necessarily lead to another and how this disproves everything he's been taught. I can't express how much I cried when he first met Daphne. The book is set in such a dark world but that was such a bright and joyful moment. I could reread it a hundred times more. And the three little moments with the groundskeeper? It just made me wish there was more time for them to interact.
Daphne was also very interesting to get to know. She's not really a main character but every page she's in she shines. Every time she visits she shows a new side to herself and turns the story a little brighter. Her story culminates at the end of the book in a way that I loved (and hoped for). There is one thing I would have liked to see her do (which is stand up to her father in some way, even though I'm sure that's got to have happened at least once in the past. I would have liked to see it), but overall I liked how she was introduced, and how she played her part in the middle and am incredibly happy with her ending. Also, she saved me from one very stressful moment in this book and I will never be more grateful for that.
There are other characters in the book that I loved - the girls Silas spent time with in the school: Isabella, Mary, Louise and Charlotte. Ellen and Frances didn't show up much but I did enjoy the few little moments they had. I liked the bonds between the girls and how they stuck with each other, most of all how they stuck with Silas too (mostly towards the end of the book). I loved how involved Mary got and how much of her character we got to see towards the end.
There's also one character I have to mention. I will not say the name because of spoilers but I would like to point out that I did not trust this person one single second and I was so correct and I hate being correct about this. Given that last line of the book, I hope this person gets what they deserve (and if they do, I will be the first in line to a get a copy of whatever it comes written on, it can be a book or an article or even a pamphlet).
Overall, this story is filled with adventure and ghosts and revenge. More importantly, it's about accepting and fighting for yourself. It's about society pressuring you to be one way, telling you to do certain things, when none of the ways you were ever presented a problem. The others were the problem all along, their lack of understanding and zero effort are to blame. It's a story about a boy who simply wants to live free and be happy - oh and be a surgeon. That part is important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood