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A review by lydiareads247
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
"Everyone is made up of stories, when you think about it. You only really come to understand yourself by comparing other people's stories to yours; you find where things are the same, and where they're not."
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have no words to describe how absolutely incredible this book was. What a hell of an adventure.
"The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is a rollercoaster of emotions set in an alternative Victorian Era London, where some people are born with violet eyes and can open "the veil", allowing the dead to step back in the world of the living. The Speakers control and dictate who can interact with said veil and destroy anyone else they deem not worthy - which is to say anyone who was not born a man. The women born with violet eyes are to be engaged with whichever man bids the highest. This is to be the fate of our main character, Silas, who is very much against it. So, he takes a shot at his one chance to be free and leave London behind... which fails, and now he's a in school for those with "veil-sickness".
First, I have to admit I'm not particularly fond of first-person narration but, somehow, the author made it work! I didn't have a hard time reading or was bored for any second of the book. The writing flows nicely and really captures the reader, it made me feel like I was inside the book.
The concept of the book itself was very interesting and it was everything I expected it to be but, at the same time, so much more. There are definitely some scenes that are not for the faint of heart, and some of them left me truly shocked (and I had to close the app and lay down to reflect on my life), but it really conveys everything the book is supposed to be about and adds so many layers to the plot and characters.
As for the characters, the author did an incredible job - he crafted them perfectly, in my opinion. I love how we are introduced to Silas, how afraid he is but he doesn't put his foot down either. He's been brave since the very first page of the book, but it's not until the very end that he sees and embraces it. I loved getting to know Silas and seeing his journey - I loved how we're shown his struggles and wishes and how we're there to see every single one of them fulfilled. Personally, I loved the journey of Silas figuring out that his transness and austim are separated, how one doesn't necessarily lead to another and how this disproves everything he's been taught. I can't express how much I cried when he first met Daphne. The book is set in such a dark world but that was such a bright and joyful moment. I could reread it a hundred times more. And the three little moments with the groundskeeper? It just made me wish there was more time for them to interact.
Daphne was also very interesting to get to know. She's not really a main character but every page she's in she shines. Every time she visits she shows a new side to herself and turns the story a little brighter. Her story culminates at the end of the book in a way that I loved (and hoped for). There is one thing I would have liked to see her do (which is stand up to her father in some way, even though I'm sure that's got to have happened at least once in the past. I would have liked to see it), but overall I liked how she was introduced, and how she played her part in the middle and am incredibly happy with her ending. Also, she saved me from one very stressful moment in this book and I will never be more grateful for that.
There are other characters in the book that I loved - the girls Silas spent time with in the school: Isabella, Mary, Louise and Charlotte. Ellen and Frances didn't show up much but I did enjoy the few little moments they had. I liked the bonds between the girls and how they stuck with each other, most of all how they stuck with Silas too (mostly towards the end of the book). I loved how involved Mary got and how much of her character we got to see towards the end.
There's also one character I have to mention. I will not say the name because of spoilers but I would like to point out that I did not trust this person one single second and I was so correct and I hate being correct about this. Given that last line of the book, I hope this person gets what they deserve (and if they do, I will be the first in line to a get a copy of whatever it comes written on, it can be a book or an article or even a pamphlet).
Overall, this story is filled with adventure and ghosts and revenge. More importantly, it's about accepting and fighting for yourself. It's about society pressuring you to be one way, telling you to do certain things, when none of the ways you were ever presented a problem. The others were the problem all along, their lack of understanding and zero effort are to blame. It's a story about a boy who simply wants to live free and be happy - oh and be a surgeon. That part is important.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have no words to describe how absolutely incredible this book was. What a hell of an adventure.
"The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is a rollercoaster of emotions set in an alternative Victorian Era London, where some people are born with violet eyes and can open "the veil", allowing the dead to step back in the world of the living. The Speakers control and dictate who can interact with said veil and destroy anyone else they deem not worthy - which is to say anyone who was not born a man. The women born with violet eyes are to be engaged with whichever man bids the highest. This is to be the fate of our main character, Silas, who is very much against it. So, he takes a shot at his one chance to be free and leave London behind... which fails, and now he's a in school for those with "veil-sickness".
First, I have to admit I'm not particularly fond of first-person narration but, somehow, the author made it work! I didn't have a hard time reading or was bored for any second of the book. The writing flows nicely and really captures the reader, it made me feel like I was inside the book.
The concept of the book itself was very interesting and it was everything I expected it to be but, at the same time, so much more. There are definitely some scenes that are not for the faint of heart, and some of them left me truly shocked (and I had to close the app and lay down to reflect on my life), but it really conveys everything the book is supposed to be about and adds so many layers to the plot and characters.
As for the characters, the author did an incredible job - he crafted them perfectly, in my opinion. I love how we are introduced to Silas, how afraid he is but he doesn't put his foot down either. He's been brave since the very first page of the book, but it's not until the very end that he sees and embraces it. I loved getting to know Silas and seeing his journey - I loved how we're shown his struggles and wishes and how we're there to see every single one of them fulfilled. Personally, I loved the journey of Silas figuring out that his transness and austim are separated, how one doesn't necessarily lead to another and how this disproves everything he's been taught. I can't express how much I cried when he first met Daphne. The book is set in such a dark world but that was such a bright and joyful moment. I could reread it a hundred times more. And the three little moments with the groundskeeper? It just made me wish there was more time for them to interact.
Daphne was also very interesting to get to know. She's not really a main character but every page she's in she shines. Every time she visits she shows a new side to herself and turns the story a little brighter. Her story culminates at the end of the book in a way that I loved (and hoped for). There is one thing I would have liked to see her do (which is stand up to her father in some way, even though I'm sure that's got to have happened at least once in the past. I would have liked to see it), but overall I liked how she was introduced, and how she played her part in the middle and am incredibly happy with her ending. Also, she saved me from one very stressful moment in this book and I will never be more grateful for that.
There are other characters in the book that I loved - the girls Silas spent time with in the school: Isabella, Mary, Louise and Charlotte. Ellen and Frances didn't show up much but I did enjoy the few little moments they had. I liked the bonds between the girls and how they stuck with each other, most of all how they stuck with Silas too (mostly towards the end of the book). I loved how involved Mary got and how much of her character we got to see towards the end.
There's also one character I have to mention. I will not say the name because of spoilers but I would like to point out that I did not trust this person one single second and I was so correct and I hate being correct about this. Given that last line of the book, I hope this person gets what they deserve (and if they do, I will be the first in line to a get a copy of whatever it comes written on, it can be a book or an article or even a pamphlet).
Overall, this story is filled with adventure and ghosts and revenge. More importantly, it's about accepting and fighting for yourself. It's about society pressuring you to be one way, telling you to do certain things, when none of the ways you were ever presented a problem. The others were the problem all along, their lack of understanding and zero effort are to blame. It's a story about a boy who simply wants to live free and be happy - oh and be a surgeon. That part is important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Torture, Ableism, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death