Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

69 reviews

thatchickengirl23's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Abortion, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Outing, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage

aetherthedino's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Death, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Murder, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Ableism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Blood, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Confinement, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Rape, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Violence, Abandonment, Child death, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Vomit, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Bullying, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt

micaelacccc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Blood, Gaslighting, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Medical content, Sexism, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, Gore, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Death, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Murder, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Rape and Miscarriage

gwenynenbrenin's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

5.0

I will say this is not for the faint of heart, due to what goes on. PLEASE heed these TWs. 

This story is genuinely incredible. I love how Andrew Joseph White writes, it's gut-punching and amazing. A harsh look at how society used to be and what did happen, paranormal aspects aside. 

I genuinely love how, in his stories, there is always a focus on how supportive people around the MC can be, to offset the horrid transphobia they have to face. There is always a focus on the positive; yes, transphobia is obviously present, but the MC is not constantly hindered by it, and is able to push through her. The small twists every so often always caught me off guard, never failed to keep me hooked.

I also love that, in the end, there is always a happy ending. I bloody love the ending to this, it is SO satisfying to me, and so heartwarming too. Silas and Daphne deserve the absolute world. 11/10, wish I could read for the first time again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Abortion, Blood, Death, Medical content, Deadnaming, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, and Gore

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Murder

Minor: Miscarriage

eeefann125's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Deadnaming, Grief, Dysphoria, Rape, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia

tgaddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Gore, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Abortion, Body horror, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Dysphoria, Sexism, Suicide, Transphobia, Bullying, Child death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

katebrownreads's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

jasper_is_atypical's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Classism, Colonisation, and Miscarriage

mir_frog73's review against another edition

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

5.0

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

starrysteph's review against another edition

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

5.0

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