A review by queenofvrything
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

4.5 stars. This was a hauntingly macabre novel that has left me reeling. It was hopeful, horrifying, enraging, anxiety-inducing, sad, and all of the other emotions you can imagine. The way Andrew writes made me feel like another person trapped within the confines of Braxton, rather than merely reading Sila’s story, and the visceral feelings evoked throughout really speaks to the power of his writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault