4.25 stars. This author has beautiful writing and characters that I relate to way too much. I highlighted 22 times!!

This is a gothic medical horror trans autistic queer asylum finishing school type novel. It is amazing.

The first thing I heard about this author was the way body horror & gore was described could be a bit nauseating. Honestly, I have a pretty good stomach for those kinds of things so I was pretty much sold on reading anything by White!

Aside from that, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is full of beautiful queer representation. As an autistic queer reader, I felt so SEEN by White’s writing.

Gothics settings + queer rep is my idea of a perfect story. Literally a million stars for this book.

I didn't think a YA horror novel could impact me so much, and yet here we are. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth has all the elements of a book I love: accurate representation, gothic/historical horror (!!!), and an adorable cast of characters I couldn't help but root for throughout. The way that this book navigates transphobia, ableism, sexism, and oppression really makes it such a powerful text, and a must read.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is an absolute triumph in the realm of gothic historical horror. White's masterful storytelling transports readers to a captivating 1883 London, where the boundary between the living and the dead grows thin, and the atmosphere drips with an eerie intensity that sends shivers down your spine. White's writing is a tour de force, painting vivid scenes that transport you effortlessly to the haunting world he's created. His deft hand at weaving historical details into the narrative enhances the immersive experience, making every moment feel palpable and authentic.

What truly sets this novel apart is its unflinching exploration of societal prejudices. White fearlessly delves into the realms of misogyny, racism, transphobia, and ableism through the lens of medical history, creating a tapestry of thought-provoking conversations that resonate deeply. The narrative brilliantly navigates the struggles of both women and those perceived to be women by a transphobic society, offering a poignant commentary on the harsh realities they face. The way White addresses these themes is not only eye-opening but also deeply empathetic.

The heart of The Spirit Bares Its Teeth lies in its protagonist, Silas Bell, an autistic trans man. Silas's journey is a poignant exploration of sacrifice. The novel beautifully explores both the sacrifices required to conform to society's expectations, and the sacrifices one must make to avoid going down this path. Silas's determination to resist such conformity is powerful and serves as a rallying cry.

In The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, Andrew Joseph White has crafted a gothic historical horror masterpiece that transcends its genre. It's a chilling tale that confronts prejudice and societal norms head-on, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat. This book is more than just a story; it's a mirror that reflects the struggles of marginalized individuals, a mirror that invites readers to introspect and evolve. This is a must-read that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

Wow. Al I can say is wow. Another hit out of the park by this author. I would say if you are not a fan of body or medical horror this is not the book for you by a long shot but if you stomach it, than this book is such a great read.

I have SO many feelings about this book! Part of me this wishes it were broke down into 2 books because they are so many important conversations. That's why I'll divide my review in 2 parts:
-Fantasy aspect: I think the story could be differently put together, plot was not revealed til over the 100 pages mark. And the whole "magic" aspect was forgotten til way latter. This being said this is basically a queer whodunnit!
-Social aspect: Please read TW's. Raw, powerful and full of hard necessary discussions. What does it mean to be a man, women or queer person? WOW, author talks about this topics in such a beautiful and open way. Author has become an autobuy for me! Queer and autistic rep is chef's kiss.

#TheSpiritBaresItsTeeth #NetGalley

I mean, let's just start with: YA horror goes SO MUCH HARDER today than it did in my Youth (tm). Whewwwwww buddy, I had some very stressful nightmares after reading this one, and I am a thirty-something horror lover!

I loved so much about this book -- Silas is such a wonderful protagonist, and I was immediately drawn into his curious, thoughtful mind that doesn't always fit with society's expectations of what someone in his body 'should' think and act like. White offers such a nuanced, loving portrayal of a nineteenth-century autistic trans boy without ever using either term. I will always be a sucker for 'boarding school where something Wrong is happening,' and my only qualm is that I wish we'd gotten a bit more details about the other girls' "illnesses." (That is, some characters are obviously queer-coded, while others are a bit more nebulous. Was the Headmaster's wife in love with Henrietta? Some plot details moved by too quickly!) The horror and gore in this novel is a force to be reckoned with -- so much medical trauma, so much pulled from actual history. (White's author's note at the end does admit that such experimentation/torture was largely reserved for people of color in Victorian medical history, but I would've preferred to see that fact fleshed out on the page -- not seeing girls of color tortured, of course, but perhaps referenced as something the Speakers started with or do in the colonies. I understand White's reluctance to replay that history, but there's always room to remind the reader of Britain's horrifying legacy of colonialism and racism IMO.)

White accomplishes a lot in one novel, and I respect the choice to make it a standalone rather than stretching the plot into a duology. That said, I often wanted the novel to slow down a bit and give a little more build-up. The entire Speaker / spirit work / violet eye system was confusing -- I'm willing to roll with it, as it's primarily a way for us to dig into medical misogyny/transphobia/homophobia/racism, but I wished the connection to empire were a bit more clear. (Something something, spirit workers, something something, useful for the British army -- but how? what?) Also, while I enjoyed Daphne as a character and her budding relationship with Silas, the jump to love was rather sudden. They literally speak for ten minutes and then Silas moves from 'wait, there are more people like me?' to 'I like her!' to 'I am IN LOVE' without further interaction. Again, I'll suspend a lot of disbelief in order to keep the plot rolling, but I would've liked to sink into their love story a bit more.

Despite my nitpicks, I did really enjoy this novel and will be happily recommending it to my customers (with MANY content warnings). Sick cover, sick plot, perfect fall read. HELL YEAH, AJW, what a gruesome lil gem of a novel you've created!

god, i love a book that keeps me up until i finished the whole thing! AJW has done it again folks!!!
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This is one of those books that I love so much, that I find it hard to write a review that reflects the burning adoration I have for the work. Let's try though.
Truly a masterful follow-up to his debut, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth feels refreshing, while evoking all the same great (although not exactly pleasant) feelings - anger and connection chief among them - from Hell Followed With Us. [If you read HFWU you need to read this one, and if you read TSBIT go read HFWU!!] I have been anxiously waiting to read more from Andrew Joseph White and this did not disappoint one bit!
The writing and imagery continues to be exquisite and the plot feels like a galloping rabbit through the meadows of Victorian England. If you're looking for a book about the survival of intersectional identities in a world where anything but the norm is broken apart, about humans surviving despite the narrow-eyed views of the powerful, about bringing them down the best you can, this is for you. [(plus, go read HFWU)]
If you're hesitant over the content warnings and the gore, I don't think it was that bad, and I'm quite squirmish at times, unless specifically medical gore messes with you. but the discrimination CW are very much there and very much real - I said anger was central, it will be central in the reading experience too.


Thank you so much to NetGalley and the PeachTree for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

“Mors vincit omnia. Death conquers all.” When Silas Bell was born, her parents named her Gloria. She had violet eyes and was destined to become the wife of a member of the Royal Speaker Society. Sent to Braxton’s Sanatorium and Finishing School and recently diagnosed with Veil sickness, Gloria insists that he is a boy named Silas and not the girl the world sees. “Speaking tiles, white porcelain squares engraved with letters, light enough for spirits to move” lead to a mystery involving girls previously diagnosed with veil sickness but now missing. “You know what happens to little girls who play with ghosts.” Autism and transgender representation, vivid imagery, found family and the horrors of medical experiments made The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White a five star read for me. Be aware of the content warnings including transphobia, ableism, violence, sexual assault, discussions of forced pregnancy and miscarriage, and extensive medical gore. Thanks to Andrew Joseph White, Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peachtree teen
*Quick trigger warning for transphobia, medical malpractice, ablism and abuse *
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a phenomenally written novel that gives the gothic story that every lover of the genre could sink their teeth into. Silas is a wonderful protagonist to follow as he grapples with the veil sickness as well as the societal norms found in the Victorian era. I would say this novel is similar to the haunting of hill house in terms of how much this book sucks you in. If your looking purple pros and a story that will suck you in and leave you fascinated I can't recommend The Spirit Bares Its Teeth enough

Gosh this book people, I loved it so much.

White's previous book Hell Followed With Us already blew me away with how amazing it was so I definitely had some high expectations. But oh boy did it deliver. This book was absolutely amazing.
The book was so full of gore and I loved every second of it. It was so cool how this book most of it was very medical instead of battle injuries. It gave a very different vibe to most books that I've read and it was awesome.

It's said in the trigger warnings for this book that there is a lot of transphobia in this book. And gosh there really is. The transphobia was harsh and quite a bit there, but the book balanced it out really well and it never became excessive. But through it all it was so amazing to see SIlas hold strong against it all. It gave me a lot of strength to keep pushing forward in life myself. And especially when some people start to stand by his side, it quite made me sob I will tell you.

Because even if this is horror, this book made me very emotional and cry a lot. A big part is because the Autism and trans rep is very near to my heart. I related to so so much, and to see all those struggles I know very personally to be put on paper so well, it made every thing that happened feel very close to me. His experiences with Autism are extremely relatable. I never had a tutor try to take the Autism away, but that doesn't mean that is not a reality for other Autistics in this current age as long as ABA still exists. Nonetheless was my environment not very friendly either, and the comments on the flapping hands were spot on.
A bit later into the book there is also a fully nonverbal Autistic character that appears. I started crying out of happiness when I came upon that character. A nonverbal Autistic character that is handled with love and dignity by the main character? instead of a deviant that needs fixing? that was so refreshing and healing to me. I bonded with him immediately and it will be forever be a character I love in this book.

Altogether this book was amazing and I am already recommending it to many of my friends.

Oh. My. God. AJW doesn't disappoint.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth blew me away. I'm talking "read it all in one day because I'm getting actual anxiety putting this book down." I'm talking "get upset because I read it all in one day, since this is clearly a read to be savored, and then immediately get the urge to reread." I'm talking "I need an audiobook of this, stat, because AJW's command of language is absolute poetry and I want this in my ears, right now."

This book cut me open and tore me apart in the best possible way. In incise, cutting language--which perfectly suits our medically-inclined protagonist Silas Bell, don't think I didn't notice that--AJW lays bare the intersection of transphobia, ableism, homophobia, and misogyny. This is one of the most clever, haunting, and FEROCIOUS books I've read this year. And did I mention the representation yet? It's stunning. I am a sucker for historical representations of queerness and I couldn't get enough of Silas and Daphne, the trans couple at the heart of this story. This is a book that I want to shove at everyone, and say, "you need to read this. It's stunning and life changing and will make you furious in all the best ways."

If you are hesitating because of some of the trigger warnings and the medical content (like I was when I read on AJW's Twitter that there was an on-page at-home C-section), it actually wasn't that bad, in my opinion. Yes, Silas sees the world in terms of anatomy and many of the metaphors are medical in nature--and, not going to spoil things, but there is a fair bit of actual, on-page dissection going on--but it all felt meaningful and oddly poetic. Even the one specific scene I was worried about wasn't enough to turn me away.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Andrew Joseph White, and Peachtree Teen for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I cannot wait to see what AJW writes next!

You may not want to read this book at night, but what a thrill and spooktacular read! I could not put this book down and needed to devour not only the words, but it's soul that AJW wrote on it's pages. I loved every minute of it and it's characters, even the ones less deserving of praise. Such a wonderful representation of not only Trans & Queer youth, autism, indoctrination, but the reality of what those who were seen as different in society faced back in history. I haven't had the pleasure of reading AJW's first work "Hell Followed With Us" as I have a lot of religious trauma, but will definitely be reading soon as I loved their 2nd work so much. AJW was also afraid of second book syndrome with "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth", but I'm glad to write that since I didn't read their first book before this, it is a perfect standalone with no need to compare. If you are looking for a perfect read for fall and spooky season, I will highly praise and recommend this book every year.

4.5 stars

Take my trauma, several of my fears, put them in a blender and that’s the gist of this book. It was HEARTBREAKING and made me so glad I wasn’t born earlier than I was.

The writing was amazing. The imagery was vivid (maybe a little too much sometimes). This is definitely a book that you need to be in the right headspace to read.

DO NOT ignore the trigger/content warnings. Seriously.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book.

This was yet another amazing horror novel from Andrew Joseph White!

The Spirit Bares its Teeth takes place in an alternate Victorian England where people with violet eyes can “tear open the veil,” allowing them to interact with ghosts. However, anyone seen as less than (i.e., not straight, white, abled, cisgender men) is oppressed and not allowed to practice. The story follows an autistic trans boy, Silas, who wants nothing to do with his violet eyes and refuses to be the obedient speaker wife his parents want him to be as he is diagnosed with veil sickness and forced to go to the horrifying Braxton’s Finishing School and Sanitorium.

This book is so well-crafted and completely uncomfortable. I loved how the horror came from the ableist society and not the patients. White continues to make my skin crawl with his descriptions and horrifying situations. Warning: this is not an easy book to read. But I could not look away the whole time. Silas is such an endearing character, too, making me wish I could protect him from his nightmare world. What makes it so much worse is the realism of this novel’s horror. There aren’t words enough to describe all the ways this book blew me away.

No book is perfect, and this one is no exception. Silas is a very strong character, but the other characters don’t stick out as much. The intention of making Silas isolated added to the horror but took away from the other characters feeling real and kept me from feeling as attached as I could have. I also wish the medium ability was more connected to Silas and the other characters. Without spoiling anything, it was important to the plot but felt separate from the characters arcs.

This story will stick with me for a while. I was completely captivated in a way that not many novels accomplish. I sincerely recommend this to anyone who’s interested.

Arc provided via NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This book really surpassed what I was anticipating and in the best way. There were so many elements I didn't know I needed in this story. Fair warning this one is fairly graphic. And look at the many trigger warnings. There were so parts I found hard to read myself.

While I don't think this book was as good to me as AJW's first book, I'd still say he maintained his momentum here. Silas, Daphne, and all the others in the finishing school were great characters, and while I don't share a facet of identity with Silas, I found his story compulsively readable. I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading it (unlike Hell Followed With Us in which I felt like vomiting at times) because it was just so engaging and bewitching and I wanted to know more. I still wouldn't give this book five stars as it wasn't a favorite or anything, but I'd recommend it to people who want more mystery and horror in their lives.

At once harrowing and hopeful, THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH was the story I didn’t realize I needed.

Andrew Joseph White has such a way with horror and YA horror in particular that never ceases to amaze me. THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH follows Silas, an autistic trans boy, when an attempt to escape arranged marriage gets him sent to Braxton’s Sanatorium and Finishing School. As he’s held there, he finds himself confronted by secrets worse than he imagined.

Reading this book felt like being punched in the face repeatedly. Like. When I say there were descriptions that were so visceral that they had me squirming and feeling them for DAYS I’m not exaggerating. The horror of this book is very present at every angle. Sure, there’s the paranormal, magical, otherworldly elements, but the real horror doesn’t lie there; it lies in the cishet men in positions of power who stop at nothing to get what they want.

I definitely urge anyone interested in this book to give yourself some grace and to please check content warnings, as apart from an extensive amount of descriptive medical and surgical content, there are many instances of homophobia, transphobia, sexism, misogyny, and ableism. Be gentle with yourselves if/when you pick this up, but also know that despite the harrowing experiences that these characters are put through, our MC still comes out on the other side. There’s still a note of hope on the ending.

I resonated so heavily with Silas’ character. The way his transness was approached was so refreshing to read, and I saw myself in his experiences with autism. This book was phenomenal and cathartic, and I can’t stress enough how much I recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of horror, who craves messy trans mcs who bite back.

Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink, Peachtree Teen for the eARC.

"Everyone is made up of stories, when you think about it. You only really come to understand yourself by comparing other's people's stories to yours; you find where things are the same, and where they're not. It's difficult when the story isn't one the world wants to hear, though."

4.5 stars rounded up.

I'm not a horror reader, but I simply couldn't pass up this concept, and I'm so glad I gave this book a shot. It was a work of art. The characters are incredible, and will likely stick with me for years to come. The horror and gore are unflinching, but still grounded and realistic.

The only thing I didn't like is that I wanted more worldbuilding and more of a conclusion. The concept of the Speaker Society is SO intriguing, and the worldbuilding that does exist builds on that, but it felt less like an immersive world and more like a backdrop when reading the text. And with the characters that survive this sordid tale, I wanted more of a fleshed-out ending for them. The epilogue was a lovely addition to the plot, but I was still left with so many questions and a desire to know more about specific characters.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I was curious about this book because it has a trans autistic protagonist in a historical setting, and I was not expecting just how good it was. This is easily one of my favourite books I've read this year, and also one of the most heartbreaking.
Part of me was so unnerved, anxious and freaked out while reading portions of this book, and the other part of me was on the verge of crying because I could relate to Silas so much in terms of how they feel about their gender, their internal rabbit, their autism. A lot of books protagonists can be hard for me to relate to because it can be hard to find books about non cis characters and neurodivergent characters while not feeling honed in or half done (let alone a character who is trans and neurodivergent simultaneously), but Silas is added to my list of those characters. The ending was tragic, but I felt it was the most fitting ending there could be.
The relationships between Silas and the other characters in the book - Daphne, Isabella, his brother - felt so fleshed out and distinct, and I love White's writing style so much.
The gore, while getting to be a lot at times, especially in the later half, I thought helped make the story what it was. Not shying away from just how poorly these people were treated, both due to misogyny and ableism was incredibly important. I also appreciated the author notes at the beginning and end, acknowledging while this is awful, it was often worse (especially in cases where racial prejudice was involved).
It's incredible, awful, and it's by far one of my favourite books now, and I will be looking forward to anything this author decides to write in the coming years.