I feel deeply grateful that authors like Andrew Joseph White exist, as well as the support needed to bring this book to life. I'm actually finding it difficult to articulate all the ways in which The Spirit Bares Its Teeth surprised me and made me feel seen. I found myself stopping at points throughout the book to reread, reflect, and just let in the feeling of experiencing something new... The interesting and spooky storyline, as well as its satisfying conclusion, were added bonuses! The author included analogies to multiple systems of oppression that, while at times felt a little heavy handed, were very necessary and cleverly executed.

I very much appreciated the author's note at the start of the book, warning of graphic descriptions of medical procedures/anatomy, because that is indeed the one aspect of the book that hindered my enjoyment of it. Just like when watching a horror film, I had to cover my eyes for some parts... :) However, I want to reiterate that the author noting this beforehand was extremely helpful and I'm grateful I was able to enter with that awareness. This medical realism did lend even more grit and gravity to an already harrowing premise. (Another author's note I appreciated came at the end of the book: Note on Historical Accuracy and the Representation of Medical Experimentation. I do wish the reality of medical harm toward racial minorities had been represented/addressed more in the context of the story, although I understand this is a work of fiction.)

I did not find Silas particularly endearing as a character--sometimes it was difficult to experience the relentless horrors of the story so starkly through his eyes--but I did find mirrors of myself in him that were both beautiful and forgiving. I also think this quality is a strength in its own way: Silas is unique, without being the "chosen one" at the center of a story, and more believable as a multi-faceted human being because of his flaws/strengths together. I'm SO glad I read this book and I highly recommend reading it, especially during the quickly-approaching spooky season. Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink, Peachtree Teen for this ARC! I feel lucky to have been chosen, as I see this book becoming an important, lasting addition to LGBTQIAP+, social justice, and feminist literature.

Goodreads review link, posted 8/13/23: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5650555506

**Two grammatical errors found will be listed in this review, but are not included in my public Goodreads review above. Thank you, again!
Typo on pg. 156 of 399 (pdf pg. reference) -- "You need to experience the TRUTH depth of manhood..." Should be "true"?
Missing word on pg. 302 of 399 -- "I turn, reaching toward Isabella's body on [the] table..."

E-ARC generously provided by Peachtree Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

5 stars. Written with the unflinching sharpness of a polished scalpel and starring a queer trans protagonist, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a gorgeously Gothic and gruesome novel that examines Victorian England’s mental institutions through a speculative lens: gore and guts and all.

This book is hard for me to talk about.

Not because it's bad. But because it's opened up my chest and ripped out a lot of feelings I had pushed down for a long time. The experience of queerness, identity, and social place with the self and family are themes that White continues to capture much like he did in his debut.

This novel is gross, and I say that as a full compliment. However, for many this may not be to their taste. I think you must keep the content warnings in mind and be honest about what you can and cannot handle. White addresses some of the hard, sometimes violent questions of the trans experience and where transphobia and misogyny collide, both in transmisogyny and the misogyny experienced by trans men that often enforces their 'place' in society. In this case, discussions of preganacy (and abortion) and marriage and worth can make for an uncomfortable experience that I think it worth the read. In addition to this, White continues to press the importance of discussing ableism and does so with utter fury and ferocity. As as a neurodivergent reader, these parts really got to me. I sobbed. I had to put it down. I picked it up with my teeth clenched needing to know more and read the same words used to hurt me, and thousand like me, and see it through to the end.

I would say that The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a book that challanged me. At time I did not enjoy it for that discomfort, but it engaged me, ripped through me, and broke me down. This novel shows to me that enjoyment has a spectrum, and for me, there was enjoyment in my, at times, disconnected feeling from it. That might seem like it makes no sense, but I feel queer readers especially know this feeling when reading about experiences they now all too well but have put distance to.

White continues to prove the need for queer stories that hurt, that are violent, and that don't treat us as delicate flowers unable to confront hard topics. Stories like these are just as important and validating as the stories in which queerness isn't confronted. White chooses to sink his claws into dismantling by force, with blood and fangs and anger... and I love that.

I think Andrew Joseph White is here to stay, and for that I am blessed to be here in the same time to read these stories. This makes my top ten favourite books of all time.

How are you supposed to review a book when it leaves you speachless?

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White chews you up, spits you out, leaves you lying all bloody and bare and you still end up wanting more. It's gory and brutal. It's ferocious and angry, but it's angry for a reason. It's wild and hopeful and validating and it's so, so beautiful!

I didn't even know you could put gore and beauty in the same sentence, but for all the gore I've read before nothing has ever been written so beautifully. And I didn't know you could find so much comfort in a book like this, but it definitely proved me wrong.

So, if you have the stomach for reading graphic medical gore, go read this book! It would be worth it!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review*

TRULY a FANASTIC historical fiction story featuring a trans male and autistic MMC. The #ownvoices rep was amazing as was the historical insights into female mental health and incarceration during this time period! Part historical fiction, part horror/fantasy, this book deep dives into the horrifying (BUT REAL) medical practices performed on women deemed outside the norm.

Great on audio and HIGHLY recommended. I can't sing the praises of this book enough and it was especially good narrated by Raphael Corkhill. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for complimentary early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!! Read especially if you enjoyed A lady for a duke by Alexis Hill or The perks of being a wallflower by Erica Ridley.

DARK, GROTESQUE, EXQUISITE.

Those are the three best words to describe this book. I did not expect to love this book so much, since when the author's debut novel came out I did not like it and dnfed it, nevertheless, since the first moment I read the synopsis of this book I was excited and felt that I was going to like this book, and what happiness I felt when I started it and from the first chapter I was completely hooked, because yes, it is that good.

In this book we follow our main character, Silas, a boy who just wants to live as he is, to be recognized by society for who he really is and to be a doctor, just like his older brother, something that seems even more impossible when he pretends to be someone else and is discovered, causing him to be sent to a sanatorium type of "school" to correct his deviations and make him the perfect woman, everything that his parents and society expect of him, but being in this horrible place he discovers devastating facts that cannot stay that way, so he will try do whatever it takes to get out of that place and expose to the world what is happening in the hopes that they will see all the horrible things that are done to women and people who do not meet the expectations of society.


I really loved the representation and the characters, their motivations and actions seemed very real to me and I empathized a lot. The ending, in my opinion, is left open for a possible sequel, but at the same time, I think that where it ends is still very good and leaves you with a feeling of hope for the characters that survive.

How do I explain this book? I don't even know how. Horror, especially body/ medical horror, is not my thing but the characters are. Sila was an amazing character and my heart went out to the girls at the school. The real horror for me was the society and my argument in my head is the horror that people treated others like this is totally fictional and knowing it happens. Happened. Happens. I want to always believe the best in people and, yeah.

This is a book that will stay with you a long time.

Morbidly fascinating, riveting, and unique. The perfect combination of horrifying situations and characters to love, as well as characters you can love to hate. With masterful and beautiful writing, and a plot that kept me glued to the page, this is one of the few books I can honestly say was impossible for me to put down.
Additionally, I could go on for ages about the representation and personal stories given to us in this book, but for the sake of simplicity, I will say only this: what Andrew Joseph White is doing with his words is incredible, important, and infinitely meaningful.

The Spirit Bares It's Teeth is one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. Silas's story as he navigates societal expectations that constrain him as they try to make him out to be what they want him to be is as moving as it is horrifying. One thing that really stood out to me is that throughout the entirety of the book, Silas never once questions who he is. He knows that he's a trans boy and that he's autistic, and he never thinks that there's something wrong with him. His only problem is that others are putting pressure on him to be someone he's not no matter how much he wishes they'd see him for who he is. Silas's conviction to himself made this book somehow feel like a love letter for trans and autistic people everywhere, despite the graphic content and the terrible ways in which others treat him. The care and craft that went into this story make it a phenomenal book that places it easily in my top three books of the year so far.

Absolutely check the trigger warnings, but if you find that you're willing to risk them, I can't recommend this book enough.

I'm incredibly thankful to PeachTree Teen and NetGalley for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“They can’t keep scraping away layers of me thinking they can find the girl they want underneath. I’m not the dead flesh on top of a healing injury, devoured by maggots making way for the tender meat underneath to bloom. I am not the septic organ or the infected tooth. All of this is me. They can’t just remove whatever they want.” ⭐⭐⭐💫

Andrew Joseph White’s “The Soul Bares Its Teeth” is one of those books I know I’ll need to sit with for a while before I can be certain how I felt about it, so it’s possible my rating may fluctuate over time. Maybe pay more attention to my thoughts than the ratings themselves.

Thank you to @peachtreeteen and @netgalley for giving me the chance to read in exchange for an honest review. “The Spirit Bares Its Teeth” comes out on September 5!

CHARACTERS ⭐⭐⭐ One of my criteria for 3-star characters is “won’t necessarily think about them beyond the last page.” I don’t think that’s the case here; Silas will remain in my thoughts for at least as long as I need to turn the book as a whole over in my mind. But beyond that I did care about what would happen to him, but maybe no more than any other character in the book. I also had issues with too much telling over showing when it came to some of the side characters.

ATMOSPHERE ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cannot fault this one for its atmosphere. The first words that spring to mind are ‘cold’, ‘tense’ and ‘stifling’, and it remained those throughout.

WRITING ⭐⭐⭐💫 White is a writer I would be very interested in coming back to a couple books down the line (I won’t actually wait this long because of who I am as a person, and will also probably read his previous title, “Hell Followed with Us”). There was a lot of beautiful stuff here; he’s clearly in the right business. I did bounce off some of it though, particularly his metaphors, which landed quite well for me 40% of the time but did not the other 60%. This is because Silas sees the world through bodies and his singular focus on and purpose to be a surgeon. At one point he narrates, “I think literature consumes her the same way surgery has swallowed me. She sees the world through the lens of it: she is to stories like I am to meat.” I love that; I appreciate the perspective. But the actual metaphors were more often than not quite strained and excessive to the point of distraction. Neat idea with an execution that didn’t work for me.

PLOT ⭐⭐💫 Started off a little slow for me, but I would certainly have rated this higher were it not for the ending, which took quite a turn and then allowed for very little time to process its impact. The About the Author section says, “Andrew writes about trans kids with claws and fangs, and what happens when they bite back.” I think in the interest of making that happen the end actually betrayed Silas a bit. That’s all I can say without spoiling, but I’m beginning to wonder if horror endings are for me, since I tend to bounce off of them often. But that’s the subject of another post.

PACING ⭐⭐⭐⭐

WORLD BUILDING ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love the ideas for a haunted Victorian England and how that manifests in the horrors of the day (though White confesses to playing fast and loose with historical accuracy).

ENJOYMENT ⭐⭐⭐ I valued my time with this book, but ultimately it was too dark for me. In all narratives I need more hope, or at least a different kind than we’re offered here.

(RELATIONSHIPS ⭐⭐⭐💫 With the slow start, the point where I started to really care about what was happening was when Silas started to create bonds with the girls in the school and how that then affected the narrative. It just took a while to get to that point, which was effective at showing Silas’s loneliness (and subsequent surprise at realizing his loneliness) but did make it harder for me to invest at first.)

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a gothic horror novel set in an alternate Victorian England about Silas, an autistic trans boy who just wants to be himself and wants the opportunity to do what he’s best at, surgery. But, after a failed attempt to get out of an arranged marriage, Silas gets diagnosed with Veil Sickness—a disease that sends violet-eyed women into madness—and gets sent away to Braxton’s Sanitorium and Finishing School. But when the ghosts of missing students come to Silas begging for help, he must risk himself and everything he loves to get justice.

This novel is a tough read (check trigger warnings below) but it was definitely worth it. The writing was beautiful. I found myself highlighting so many quotes. The character work was great. I loved Silas and Daphne and even eventually loved characters that I never thought I would! I am a gore girlie, so I loved all the medical talk and gory scenes! (Even though there was one scene that was even a lot for ME, the girl who loves horror and watches real surgeries on YouTube) But I loved every second of it.

I do wish that the ghosts were a little more prevalent. Most of the book focuses on the horror of the humans, as it should’ve, that’s what the story called for. But in the synopsis there was a lot of emphasis put on spirits and being a medium, so there was less of that than I was expecting. Also, there were a lot of characters introduced at once toward the beginning of the book, and it took me a while to remember who was who and keep up with everyone’s names. Those were my only two complaints though, everything else was great!

This book was a hard read at times, very triggering, but it was worth it! And I liked that there was a note in the back of the book that addressed the fact that in reality most of the things that were done to these characters were historically done to people of color. I’m glad the author shed a light on that for his readers that don’t know. I’d definitely recommend this book to someone looking to get lost in gorgeous writing, characters you care about, and a heavy but necessary story.

Thank you Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

TW: sexual assault (on page), transphobia, ableism, discussions of forced pregnancy and miscarriage, suicidal ideation, misgendering, misogyny, animal disection, abuse, abortion, medical gore, murder, pedophilia

This book is horribly beautiful. That's the best way to describe it. Its hard to read but the thoughts behind it make it worth it. The emotions it'll bring out of you will for sure make you cry. Once again, a wonderful story by Andrew Joseph White

Andrew Joseph White is 2 for 2, and definitely an author I will continue to watch in the future. I loved Hell Followed With Us so I kept my eye out for this one on NetGalley as soon as it was announced. Going in with high expectations can sometimes be a detriment, but in this case my expectations were met and exceeded.

White is the type of author that knows what he wants to say and is excellent at executing it. He writes the autistic, trans, and queer experience extraordinarily well, he creates compelling depictions of toxic families and their deep indoctrination into abusive systems, as well as complex characters with complicated relationships. What draws me to White's writing is his themes are clearly thought out and his writing makes a statement, but he doesn't coddle the audience and he isn't interested in being didactic. He doesn't overexplain identity but allows for nuance in these various experiences and his writing is more interested in the individual characters rather than appealing to the masses. These books will not be for everybody, but I'm glad that they do seem to have found their audience.

This book is still settling in my brain, but I think I liked it more than Hell Followed With Us. I could definitely see improvement from White's previous novel. The pacing was excellent, it was well researched, and all the connections were all there to make a great reading experience. This is definitely a great addition to the queer horror genre. And I have to say, the cover is so perfect.

If you love horror, historical fiction, and queer fiction, I'd highly recommend this book. You will definitely want to check content warnings because it is extremely graphic (I went in prepared, having read the warnings and his previous book, and I was still surprised).

Thank you, NetGalley, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was unable to access this book to read as I’d been approved for it shortly before it was archived, but I am very excited for when it comes out and cannot wait to read it when it comes out, as I loved Hell Followed with Us

Review of "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" by Andrew Joseph White

"The Spirit Bares Its Teeth," authored by the writer Andrew Joseph White, emerges as a transgressive gothic horror novel that slices through the boundaries of conventionality, leaving readers captivated by its visceral intensity.

Set against the backdrop of a hauntingly atmospheric Victorian London in 1883, where the Veil between the living and the dead is thinning, White introduces us to sixteen-year-old Silas Bell, a trans and autistic protagonist whose unique and authentic struggles serve as a beacon of resistance against the suffocating grip of societal norms. Silas's refusal to bow down to an arranged marriage and his subsequent diagnosis with the enigmatic Veil sickness propel him into the nightmarish confines of Braxton’s Finishing School and Sanitorium. As the ghosts of missing students beckon for his aid, Silas embarks on a treacherous journey to expose the insidious underbelly of the school and, in doing so, takes a stand against the patriarchal oppression that insists to crush him.

White's prose, a masterful interplay of horror and hope, strikes a chord with readers who have faced their own "rabbits on their chests". The unflinching depiction of gore and brutality, while unsettling, is accompanied by an undercurrent of acceptance and resilience that offers a comforting contrast. Amidst the blood-soaked tapestry of horror, readers find a profound message of empowerment, revealing the possibility of emerging from darkness whole, battered yet unbroken.

Silas as an autistic and trans protagonist, is a character whose struggles resonate deeply with those who navigate the world differently. Silas's anxieties, vulnerabilities, and emotional complexities mirror the experiences of many, granting them the invaluable gift of representation and recognition, and make you making you feel and understand what it's like to be them.

Despite the horror that permeates every page, "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" serves as an indictment of the violence perpetrated by society, shedding light on the trauma inflicted upon trans youth who are coerced into conformity. The narrative is bold and raw in its exploration of themes such as transphobia, ableism, and the harrowing mistreatment of those deemed 'other.' White's unflinching approach challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and question the norms that perpetuate cruelty.

"The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is a dark story that resonates with both horror enthusiasts and those seeking narratives that shows the shadows of human experience. Andrew Joseph White's sophomore novel stands as a testament to the potency of storytelling in unmasking societal injustices, instilling hope, and empowering voices that have long been silenced. This is a book is an invitation to confront the monsters within and without, and a proclamation that the spirit no matter what, will remain unbreakable.

I did not know what I was in for at the beginning of THE SPIRIT BEARS ITS TEETH. I went into this book practically blind- just knowing this was a young adult horror story with an autistic, transgender protagonist. I was NOT prepared for the beauty, pain, and pure horror of Silas’s story. It took me nearly 3 weeks to read this novel because I felt like reading more than a few chapters at a time would be an injustice to this story and world the author created. I truly had to sit and digest this story in bits and pieces.

This is undoubtedly a novel that will be discussed for centuries to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of THE SPIRIT BEARS ITS TEETH in exchange for a honest review! This novel releases on September 5th, 2023.

screaming crying throwing up, a harrowing and amazingly well told story. One aspect that I really loved was the setting, and how that played into the main character's identity

How to give feedback on a masterpiece? Every single element of this novel fit so perfectly with every other element, that the time and care the author took when writing it is incredibly evident. The carefully interwoven narratives of the trans experience— specifically the experience of being socialized as a woman until you feel like that’s all the world will ever see when they look at you; the autistic experience, of feeling like you’re being left out of a joke that everyone else seems to get; and the experience of surviving trauma so vast and deep that you feel you may never claw yourself free of it. The book also skillfully tackles misogyny, and the feeling that if you’re born female you will never truly get to control what is done to your body.

It is a horror novel. There are blood and guts of course, but there’s more than that. There’s the fear that you’ll never be able to be who you truly want to be. The fear that you’ll never find a place in “normal society.” The fear that they’ll kill you only for the crime of being who you truly are. It’s bone deep fear, fear that makes the blood and guts seem to pale in comparison. They are powerful feelings that are necessary to feel, about people who deserve to be seen.

Andrew Joseph White has truly created a work of art with this novel. I have no negative comments whatsoever. Read this book, and feel everything it has to offer.

This book is absolutely fantastic. It’s as good as, if not better than, Hell Followed With Us. The characters are wonderfully written, especially the main character. This book has fantastic trans and autistic representation. The plot is well-paced and has great foreshadowing. The ending is incredibly satisfying. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was gripping and I found myself incredibly invested. The atmosphere is well-written and based enough in history to be truly awful. This book is haunting and horrifying and an enjoyable read.

𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴
ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs.
Let’s talk about my new favorite book, shall we?
I was so incredibly lucky to receive an eARC of Andrew Joseph White’s new novel, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑡 𝐵𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝐼𝑡𝑠 𝑇𝑒𝑒𝑡ℎ, and I 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 this book.
Let’s get this out of the way. I am autistic and nonbinary. While I loved AJW’s first novel, I had never had much, if any, religious trauma. So while I could relate to some of the things Benji and the others went through in 𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑈𝑠, it didn’t hit me in the gut the way Silas’s story does.
I devoured this book so quickly, y’all. Silas, an autistic trans boy in alternate 1880s England, is only seen as useful because he was born with violet eyes. This means he can see and communicate through the Veil into the spiritual world. But all Silas wants is to be seen for who he truly is: a boy who wants to be a doctor, like his brother. After an attempt to get his medium’s seal from the Speaker Society goes disastrously, he is sent away to Braxton’s, a finishing school of sorts, to cure him of his “Veil-sickness.”
I see so much of myself in Silas, and I think that’s why I love this book so much. It wasn’t until the past few years that books with autistic characters written by autistic authors has made their way into the forefront, and every time I read them, I cry. This book was no different. There is also a fair amount of gore and other triggers in this book. Please treat yourself with grace if you choose to read this. 5★

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