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betweentheshelves's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
In London 1883, the Veil between the living and the dead has gotten thinner. This allows those with violet-eyes to commune with spirits, but only through the guidance of the Royal Speaker Society. Silas Bell would rather do anything than become a dutiful Speaker wife. But according to his mom, he’ll be married by the end of the year. No matter his autism or the fact that he’s a boy and not a girl.
After an incident at the Society, Silas is sent to Braxton’s Finishing School and Sanitorium diagnosed with Veil sickness. But at the school, he realizes girls are disappearing and no one cares. It’s up to Silas to expose the secrets of the school–if those in charge don’t get to him first.
Thanks to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White to review! White jumped onto the YA scene last year with Hell Followed With Us, firmly planting himself in the YA horror field.
Let me start by saying this is not an easy book to read. It’s a little bit fantasy, a little bit history, with a heavy emphasis on the horror. It shows how dangerous the world was at that time for women who didn’t fit the mold. Women who were a little different. Women who were queer. There is some hard, dark stuff in this book, and if you’re not in the mindset for that, save it for a time that you are.
Despite the difficult nature of the text, it is beautifully written. There are lines in this story that feel like a gut punch, because you know that there are women who were treated like this at this time. And we’re not even going to get started on how trans people were treated, because it was much the same. White does the horror elements so well in this book. Teens looking for dark gothic horror will definitely be drawn to this book.
And the characters! The relationship between Silas and Daphne was just so wonderful. The book may be dark, but it is not without its moments of hope. Tender, sweet moments of hope that really keep them going despite the darkness.
The fall is really the perfect time for this book to come out, so if you find yourself looking for something dark and queer, definitely pick this one up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Colonisation
meshell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I realize there is so much pressure on authours that write an incredible first book to live up to those expectations in their second book, and Andrew Joseph White's last book, Hell Followed With Us was something special. I think it's fair to say that his second book, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is immaculate.
It is incredibly crafted, the words are so intentional, and the authour creates such a visceral ambiance of horror and discomfort. But in a way that for me was tolerable, didn't feel gratuitous, and at times, was even oddly uplifting. The characters are lovable or strongly dislikable. where appropriate, but they all feel very alive, flawed, wonderful, and/or terrible, and they could step out of the page at any moment.. The descriptions of the settings transported me to a dark creepy house/finishing school/institution while I was curled up with my e-reader, I simply couldn't put this book down and the pacing was great.
I'll admit, horror isn't generally my genre and I probably would have missed out on reading his first book without a direct recommendation from a trusted friend, but I really like what he's doing with his writing - this book held my hand a little, made me feel some feelings, and told an absolutely compelling story, that's brutal, but also loving and empathetic.
Does this book require content warnings? Yes. Does the authour provide many of them himself in his kind Letter from the Authour at the very beginning? Also yes.. I appreciated the encouragement to not endure the book if it wasn't what you were able to read at the moment. I also appreciated the authour note at the end - reenforcing that while this book is a work of fiction, real horrifying things have been done in the name of science and medicine, especially in history, and suggests two very good books to learn more.
thankful to the publisher for access to this one via NetGalley.
It is incredibly crafted, the words are so intentional, and the authour creates such a visceral ambiance of horror and discomfort. But in a way that for me was tolerable, didn't feel gratuitous, and at times, was even oddly uplifting. The characters are lovable or strongly dislikable. where appropriate, but they all feel very alive, flawed, wonderful, and/or terrible, and they could step out of the page at any moment.. The descriptions of the settings transported me to a dark creepy house/finishing school/institution while I was curled up with my e-reader, I simply couldn't put this book down and the pacing was great.
I'll admit, horror isn't generally my genre and I probably would have missed out on reading his first book without a direct recommendation from a trusted friend, but I really like what he's doing with his writing - this book held my hand a little, made me feel some feelings, and told an absolutely compelling story, that's brutal, but also loving and empathetic.
Does this book require content warnings? Yes. Does the authour provide many of them himself in his kind Letter from the Authour at the very beginning? Also yes.. I appreciated the encouragement to not endure the book if it wasn't what you were able to read at the moment. I also appreciated the authour note at the end - reenforcing that while this book is a work of fiction, real horrifying things have been done in the name of science and medicine, especially in history, and suggests two very good books to learn more.
thankful to the publisher for access to this one via NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault and Colonisation
mo345's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was a beautiful, gory, well-written story about what men in power will do to get what they want, and those who have to suffer because of their whims. It was a fantastic second novel and is, in every way, a perfect successor to Hell Followed with Us while still managing to be unique and tell its own story. I loved every second and I am immensely grateful to Peachtree Teen for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility, Sexism, Slavery, Vomit, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Classism