Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

103 reviews

jei_reads_sometimes's review against another edition

4.5

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: Complicated

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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, Fire/Fire injury

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

Minor: Torture, War

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

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Bloody, brutal, and utterly compelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria

Moderate: Ableism, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Colonisation

Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm

Graphic:: Saneism, Misgendering, Toxic masculinity Moderate:: Slut shaming

kerry_mayyy's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Rating: (4.5 rounded up for Goodreads)

This book was so interesting and I devoured every page. My only reasoning for not giving this a full 5 stars was the sometimes whiny, negative tone of the mc; for example anytime he spoke self-deprecatingly towards himself, I understood the purpose of the self-doubt, but it read like an old tumblr post. I think there were other ways to include that feeling of self doubt without making me feel annoyed at the character. However, this was still a very minor portion of this book, whereas the other 95% was phenomenal.

Not for those with a weak stomach. Absolutely loved the Victorian gothic horror with the combination of LGBT themes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Transphobia, Medical content, Abortion

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria

estlin_is_out_there'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: Complicated

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This book is a horror novel because it describes horrors that were all too real in the not-so-distant past. If body horror makes you squeamish, do not read it. If you’re like me, however, and that is your favorite genre of horror, then devour this novel as quickly as possible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder

corsetedfeminist's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-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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I would give this book all the stars in the world if I could. I was not prepared for this book, but I’m not sure how one could be prepared for this book. To begin, it features the most realistic and visceral descriptions of gender dysphoria and autism that I have ever read. This book is intensely emotional and physically gory, but it has a passionate heart that I fell in love with. The romance is raw and tender in a very intimate way that I adore. It’s t4t love in the best possible way. This book is a story about queer love and hope and pain and rage. If you can handle the very detailed (and special interest fueled) discussions of organs, the detailed descriptions of violence, and the multiple murders (as well as an abortion) you’ll find the the best poetry and the starkest honestly about what it is really like to be queer and autistic in a world that tries constantly to force you to be neither. I audibly gasped and yelled at the book several times at various plot twists, and the ending is the perfect example of catharsis and queer victory… just with a side of magical murder this time. 100/10, absolutely read this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

breadbummer's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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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It's been maybe five years since the last time I remember being so engrossed with a book! For once, I'm so glad I judged a book by its cover (it's a pretty neat cover), as The Spirit Bares Its Teeth has just about everything I could want from a story.

• Trans protagonist (written by a trans author) ✅
• Murder mystery ✅
• Set in the Victorian era ✅
• Upfront trigger warnings ✅
• VENGEANCE!!!! (no bs about forgiveness) ✅

I cannot recommend this novel enough!! As I said, though, please note the HEFTY list of content warnings before jumping in. White makes sure to cover the big hitters like anti-transness and ableism, but it should also be noted that

abortion

(among many other things) has its very graphic moment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Colonisation

Minor: Animal death, Genocide, Infertility, Sexual content, Terminal illness

There was no specific option for animal dissections or something close enough to it listed here, so I thought I'd make note of it. Everything that is done to animals in this book is post-mortem, though it's still graphic.

athlen_47_'s review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

punchofwishes's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-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: Complicated

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Holy shit, what a book. Having previously read and enjoyed Hell Followed With Us, I had high expectations for The Spirit Bares Its Teeth and it somehow surpassed them. This is a gritty, dark, but somehow hopeful novel centered around a trans autistic boy in an alternate late 1800s England where spirits are just as real as misogyny and the violence of the imperial patriarchy. I absolutely loved the vivid world building, the boarding school asylum setting, the discussion of neurodiversity and gender diversity, and the hopeful determination present throughout. The T4T romance was wonderfully sweet and excellently done. An unforgettable reading experience and my favourite AJW novel to date.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Dysphoria

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide attempt

paxalotile's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria

izzyisbusy's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism