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

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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