Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

451 reviews

knittyreader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

This has been one of those books I could barely stop reading once I started. It is haunting, the kind of horror book I love - with roots in Victorian times as well as dabs at modern times. As a (gender-)queer autistic person I love how this book shows the dangers of what was basically ABA too, how molding people into hiding who they are to fit into society is wrong and dangerous, all in a great and well written story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Violence

livelaughlovejackie's review against another edition

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

5.0

this book had me on an absolute chokehold while reading which is v rare for me <3333

The actual rating is probably something like 4.5 but the experience is just so fun i need it higher 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent

self_fulfilling_prophecy's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abortion

faephoenix's review against another edition

Maudlin and self-serving 
I wanted to believe in this book but too much abuse for shock value 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Violence

jocielu's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

5.0

I have only read one other book by Andrew Joseph White, but what I can tell from his writing is he is someone who knows how to make super complex and interesting worlds. I think I liked this book a little better than Hell Followed With Us, but both books were so well written.
This book follows Silas, a young trans boy who is in a society that is based in reality (London 1833) with some bits of fantasy in it. He was born with purple eyes that makes it so that he can speak to spirits. This is something only people assigned female at birth are able to do. All Silas wants is to become a surgeon but because everyone around him sees him as a girl he is unable to do so and they determine him to have veil sickness. Although this book is a Fantasy horror, it touches on a lot of things that actually happened to people in this time and like the author mentions at the end specifically people of color and queer people.
I would really recommend this book to others, but please go into reading this knowing that it has a lot of graphic scenes of what is probably best describe as "medical gore." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Gore, Transphobia, and Medical trauma

kellamyles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexism, Transphobia, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Bullying and Rape

lucianagrimm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.25

Spirits and violet eyes were the two things that dragged this book into my hands. Immediately I was drawn to Silas, a fellow queer autistic person, and the not too unfamiliar world of ignorance and conformance. I love the way each element and complexity of Silas’ personality was explored because it is something so often missed when queer stories are told. There are so many facets that cross and change and even evolve as our experiences shape us and to see Silas explore that in both light and dark ways was really exciting. 

Daphne was a gift in this story and I truly wanted to weep at the joy, wisdom, and love that her character brought into the story. The representation in this book was truly outstanding. 

Along with the loveable characters, the villains were also incredible. So perfect to hate. So relatable to want to see them punished. But there was also the establishment of characters who fell in between and they added a really great dynamic to the flow of the novel.

The landscape and set had a mixed approach as the supernatural mixed with the late 1800s London but the outfits and cult like gatherings kept the scenes intriguing.

I really enjoyed reading The Spirit Bares its Teeth and found that it came to a really satisfying and heart-warming end. A traumatic and winding road to a somewhat pretty happily ever after.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy

sincerelyeriss's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Blood, and Medical trauma

ash_hatt's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

No book I have ever read has ever captured me the way this one has. This is such a horrible vile story that tore me to pieces and I enjoyed every second of it. I found this book so deeply relatable it was almost scary 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Medical content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Transphobia

chrisb913's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I was not prepared for this book. While I loved it, I probably should have read some of the TWs before hand 😅😅. This was weird and creepy and I loved the medical aspect of it along with the gorey subject matter. Overall this was a fantastic read but again please check TWs before hand as the author handles a significant amount of tough subjects throughout the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, and Vomit