as taylor swift once said… FUCK THE PATRIARCHY.

the spirit bares it’s teeth is a gothic horror with autistic/trans rep rooted with deep enforcements of the patriarchic standards and gruesome medical practice.

this book reminded me of american horror story: aslyum with it’s paranormal elements and being locked away for being different or misunderstood. the anxiety and dread i felt for our MC throughout the book was almost unbearable but extremely necessary.

the scenes in this book are GORY so be warned. our MC is obsessed with surgery and is very descriptive with the procedures performed. you’re going to get lots of blood, lots of abuse, and lots of moments your heart is aching for these characters.

please check the trigger warnings to make sure this book is right for you.

Crossposted to Goodreads

WOW. I was expecting it to be a lot but this book really hit me harder than I expected. This review may be a tad disjointed as I'm still collecting my thoughts on the rollercoaster that was this book

The first thing that struck me about it was the main character. Silas is by far the most beautifully written autistic character I think I've ever read in anything, and I could connect to him SO WELL as a neurodiverse person myself. I think he was written in a way that will captivate and relate to many people. I feel this can be really hard to do in first person, and the author absolutely nailed it. His special interest in surgery was FASCINATING and it made him so much more real.

The Spirit Bares its Teeth is also a horrifying and eye-opening commentary on what happened (and still does) to people who are different, who don't fit into the social norms and boxes they are shoved into. It's horribly sad and horribly important to face, and facing it head-on is EXACTLY what you are forced to do. When you think it cannot get more brutal, trust me, it does. But it's not just trauma dumping--there's something to be said about everything that happens.

Silas's romance and camaraderie with Daphne was unexpected but beautifully written. The bittersweet ending set a year later was what hit me the hardest about it--Mary and Frances never had that option. I also appreciate the fact that it really emphasized how Silas especially was still healing, still struggling, but now that he had a support system he was going to be okay.

Wow...just wow. I went into this having never read White before and was blown away. Over the course of two days, I was sucked into this creepy, spelling-binding story. At its heart, this book is not about the horror but the hope that dwells within in. An absolutely stunning novel that follows the literary legacy set by Stalking Jack the Ripper and Cemetary Boys.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for this arc!

Andrew Joseph White has given us a new visceral, grotesque, heartbreaking yet heartwarming, young adult horror. Or, a historical horror fantasy.

In the vein of his previous novel, the story in <i>The Spirit Bares Its Teeth</i> is told through Silas, an autistic trans boy with the desperate wish to become a surgeon like his brother and to live his life as the man he is. But in an attempt to escape forced womanhood, Silas is caught and sent to the all girls school and sanitorium to combat his 'veil sickness' and prepare him for his future husband. And disturbing things commence.

I find White's books to be important. He centers voices and perspective historically omitted from traditional publishing, and his books are easily accessible for teenagers since he's writing YA, while still keeping the interest of adults. His work holds the potential to reach a wide audience. I think this is fantastic. There are so many people out there in need of this (and the previous) book!

As for the story, I did struggle somewhat to get into it at first. The beginning was very intriguing, and then it sort of lulled for me, but right about halfway it picked up again. I found the book very enjoyable - although sometimes difficult to read because of the topics he's exploring. However, this also made the book even more valuable to me. I like how White doesn't shy away from difficult themes nor extremely visceral language. His stories thrive because of these elements. I do wish we learned even more about the Royal Speaker Society and how the medium stuff worked, but I recognize that this might have turned the story into something other than intended here.

I also really enjoyed the Victorian London setting and the relationship between Silas and Daphne, as well as between Silas and his brother George. It was hard, but also nice, to witness the world through Silas in general. He's a character I see many connecting with. And I enjoyed the exploring of the themes of violence against women, queerness, gender roles, and gender binary. White has shown us that Victorian age London, through the eyes of an autistic trans boy, really is the perfect way of exploring these particular issues.

Andrew Joseph White is an auto-buy author for me from now on! Can't wait for everyone else to read this book - just remember to check trigger warnings!

Also, that cover?? One of my absolute FAVORITES this year.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a beautifully written historical horror. All of the characters were perfectly fleshed out. I particularly loved how all the girls at Braxton all had different personalities, I find in books with ensemble casts it can be hard to separate characters but I did not find this once. I appreciate the LGBTQI+ rep and Autism rep in this so much, I find in the fantasy books that get recommended to me they don’t have a lot of rep in them and it always makes me so sad… and it just adds a whole new layer of relatability for many readers when authors do have rep.

I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the bunny character, it gave a lot more of an insight into Silas as a character rather then focusing just on the plot and was just very relatable to have a little voice in Silas’s head that was impacting his character, it made many of his actions more understandable as we got an insight into his internal thoughts.

The pacing of the book was great I never felt like there were slow parts then really fast part it felt like it flowed really well.

And can we just take a second to talk about how beautiful the cover is! I don’t think I have seen a more perfect cover for a book then this one. it captures the vibe of the story perfectly.

!!!SPOILER AHEAD!!!

It was very upsetting seeing George turn from a very supportive brother to jus not caring about Silas at although, it was just sad to see him loose all of his support from before he got to Braxton, But OMG! I did not see the George plot twist coming!

I was an instant fan of Andrew Joseph White's after finishing Hell Followed With Us, and was absolutely thrilled when I got accepted to be an ARC reader for The Spirit. I think White excels particularly well in the use of the joy of connection in the midst of horrific suffering and trauma, and this book further proves it.

In this story we follow Silas, an autistic, 16-year-old trans boy living in London in the late 1800s. He is highly desirable due to the fact that he has violet eyes, a relatively newfound genetic trait that indicates the ability to commune with spirits and manipulate the Veil. We are presented with a multitude of horrors, including but not limited to: extreme medical malpractice, the abuse of young women, and the harsh attitude towards neurodivergency in this time period. There are so many surgical similes. So many in fact that I thought it was a little bit overkill, but ultimately it made sense due to Silas' hyperfixation on the medical field.

The journey this book takes you on is one of gory madness and farfetched hope, and it is amazing. I was filled with anxiety and dread with every new revelation this cast of characters encountered. White's characterization and plot devices are the perfect blend of YA and grown adult horror. Yes, this is still considered YA, but just like Hell Followed, it really toes the line for me. That being said, definitely approach this one with caution. There are many scenes that are particularly hard to stomach, and general themes that may be a little intense for any who are sensitive to them.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for granting me access to this ARC! I will most certainly be nabbing a physical copy as soon as it's available to the world.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White takes readers on a haunting journey through Victorian London, where the Veil between the living and the dead has grown thin. Silas Bell, a sixteen-year-old boy with violet eyes, finds himself trapped in a society that expects him to conform as a Speaker wife. However, Silas rebels against societal norms, struggling against an arranged marriage and battling with his own identity as an autistic trans man.

The book presents an intriguing concept, blending elements of the supernatural, historical fiction, and themes of identity and oppression. The love story between Silas and Daphne adds a heartwarming touch, and the representation of autism spectrum is commendable. Silas' experiences and struggles are relatable, shedding light on the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals.

One of the strengths of The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is its ability to confront the darker aspects of history. The book delves into the horrors of systematic oppression, and the author does not shy away from depicting the violence and gory surgeries that were prevalent during that time. Trigger warnings are given, and readers should be prepared for the unsettling and disturbing aspects portrayed.

Despite the heavy themes, the book offers a sense of hope and love amidst the horrors. Silas' resilience and determination shine through, and his journey serves as a powerful exploration of navigating a world that is both neurotypical and patriarchal.

It should be noted that the content of the book may be better suited for a New Adult audience rather than a Young Adult one due to its intense and mature themes. The author's portrayal of Silas as a relatable character, regardless of his gender identity, is commendable and contributes to the book's inclusivity.

While the story is captivating and hard to put down, the world building could have been more cohesive and better explained. Some aspects felt messy and could have benefited from further development and clarity.

Overall, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a compelling and thought-provoking read. It delves into dark historical realities while offering hope, love, and representation. Readers should be prepared for the intense content and should take note of the trigger warnings provided. Despite some flaws in the world building, this book stands out as a powerful exploration of identity and resilience in the face of oppression.
4.8 rounded up to 5/5.

The first word I can think of when I describe this book is POWERFUL. There is power on the page here - in the strength of the prose, in the sheer anger that leaps off the page, in the creepy gothic vibes, in the graphic descriptions of gore and body horror. But at the heart of this book is a raw, aching vulnerability that speaks to the main character Silas's experience of transphobia, ableism and misogyny in this Victorian-era world. White's ability to get the reader inside Silas's head and bring us along with his journey was second to none.

The pace is fast and never lets up, the characters are as fascinating as they are horrific, and the atmosphere deliciously creepy. This was the first of White's books that I have read, and it grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go.

Thank you to Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one could easily become one of my favorite YA reads this year. It has everything I like: An interesting main character, a plot full of mystery and murder and queer characters treated respectfully. I´m not much of horror stories myself, but this one was just nice. I´ve been the entire duration of my reading with that sense of oppression (also felt by Silas, and by pretty much everyone who got to be on that orphanage) of knowing something bad would happen... and it did.
This book is a series of cathastrophic misfortunes for which I still don´t know how Silas and Daphne saved themselves, because each and every adult portrayed here is worse than the previous one. As a matter of fact, when they managed to leave the orphanage and everything seemed to be calm, 20 pages before the book ended, I was still paranoid thinking, okay, it can still end badly for the main characters. I think the author nailed the atmosphere. And I also like what he did with the Veil sickness and how he portrayed the blatant discrimination against certain characters just for being different to what society expected of them.

I don’t think I can say any of this in an eloquent way, but holy shit this book. I loved Hell Followed With Us and I love this book. It was such a heavy read and had me so frustrated and upset at times but that’s just because it was doing it’s job. I wish I was better with words to write something deeper than that but holy shit.
Andrew I will be buying your books automatically from now on.

I've yelled from the rooftops of my ig and my tiktok that I loved this book!
Trans, horror, gothic occult, body gore, what else could you ask for?!
Read , buy, tbr this asap!!
But check your triggers before diving into this misogynistic, abelist world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew Joseph White for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loved 'Hell Followed With Us' so to say my expectations were high is definitely an understatement, but oh boy were those expectations beyond met. Horror has never really been my genre. I don't like horror movies, so why should I want to read about it? Well, I simply can't get enough of AJW's horror, and his books are honestly making me want to deep dive into the genre.

I love the way he mixes relevant issues in todays society with a fantasy/horror element. Silas is trans, autistic and born a woman. Everything looked down on in victorian England, but certainly also today. Oh, and he can also open the veil and communicate with the dead. I love love LOVED the world building and the whole concept in general. 'HFWU' was absolutely disturbing and I was uncomfortable the entire way through. This book, however, was different. Was this book disturbing? Absolutely! Silas preforms an on-page c-section and all the uncomfortable details are fleshed out in great detail. There are transphobia, ableism, sexual assault, suicidal ideations, a LOT of medical gore and all kinds of abuse. It was also extremely sad. It pained me to see Silas get treated so terribly, simply by being himself, and not wanting to conform to societies expectations put on him. Not only was he mistreated, but so were the girls at Braxton. Deemed sick simply because they 'misbehaved' and didn't want to do everything the men told them to do. And because they just happened to be born with purple eyes, and the ability to open the veil. What happened if they didn't give in? Not deemed able to cure? Simply killed off. The ones deemed cured? Taken by older, rich, influential men and turned into housewives. Poor Agnes, she was only 14. They were all just children, by the end of the day. Little girls abused by men society allowed to do whatever they please with their bodies. That broke my heart. It broke my heart more, how that's happening in real life too.

Now something less sad, was the bonds Silas formed with many of the girls. The way they all just wanted to protect and comfort each other was so bittersweet. And then there's Daphne. Sweet, sweet, lovely Daphne. I fell in love with her so quickly, and the way she treated Silas was so comforting to read about. Not only were their relationship super sweet, because they understood each other, but it was also T4T, which I loved. The way Silas described her was almost poetic.

I loved reading about Silas, Daphne and Mary trying to solve what's happening at the school, and how to stop it. It was, in a super weird way, comforting. It made me feel that, with enough willpower, you can make a change. You don't have to be powerful or be high up in the social rank to do so. The book was filled with rage, and it made me so happy to see Silas get revenge and live as his true self. I would honestly love to just read about him and Daphne live their day to day life, where Silas is hopefully a surgeon.

This book had me in a chokehold from the very beginning, and hadn't it been for my exams, I would've read it so much faster, because I almost couldn't put it down. AJW's writing is addicting, and I can't wait to read all his future books. If you can get past the triggers, I would highly encourage everyone to give him a chance. He's absolutely become a go-to author for me.

I need to sit down for a minute after finishing that.

This was such an interesting historical paranormal! It is a deeply upsetting and disturbing society that preys on women and considers them worth little more than the value their bodies can give men and future children. Silas is a trans-man living in a world that not only does not allow him to be his true self, but actively oppresses and keeps him in the female mold the men all see ripe for exploiting. It has candid and devastating conversations about gender roles, ableism, marriage, and pregnancy in the Victorian era against a backdrop of ghosts.

Honestly, this book is a heartbreaking read. The way women are abused and silenced is so sad, and viewing it through the lens of a trans-man makes it even worse to experience. It is well thought out and executed and the pain these characters feel is truly visceral. They all deserve the world and I so badly wanted to give it to them. Also, with this being a horror, I'm kind of glad that part of the approach this book took towards pregnancy was as body horror, because not enough people look at it that way when it is practically the very definition of it.

Fair warning that this is at times very gory and graphic. I had to skim a couple paragraph descriptions throughout, but literally skipped almost an entire chapter because of an incredibly macabre scene that made me sick to my stomach. I understand why it was put into the story and support the thinking behind it but I simply couldn't do it. When in doubt, please check the content warnings.

For all the bleakness and terror, this does have a happy and hopeful ending. I will definitely be looking out for more from White in future.

This was the best book I’ve read in 2023 so far. It’s haunting, dark, gory, and rotting from the inside…and I loved it. THIS is the body and gothic horror that all other books in the genre should be measure against. Not only was the atmosphere and prose written in a way you’re scared to sleep at night, it was also written with a respect and tenderness unlike anything I’ve seen. The journey and turmoil that Silas experiences while dealing with transphobia, misogyny, violence, and loneliness is visceral and you feel like you’re experiencing it with him. When Silas meets Daphne, you feel their joy. When the girls start disappearing, you feel their fear. When they find what’s left of the girls, you feel their anger. This is a book about feeling and about injustice, but also about friendship and bravery. This book is steeped in mystery, fear, love, and revenge. It’s beautifully written and one of my new favorites.

A beautifully written tale of the courage it takes to be who you are when the world does not accept you. 11/10. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC (all opinions are my own) - it’s without a doubt one of the best books I have read in all its genres.

Read the trigger warnings at the start of the book if you’re unsure whether this book is for you. I’ll paste them here: transphobia, ableism, graphic violence, sexual assault, discussions of forced pregnancy and miscarriage, mentions of suicidal ideation, and extensive medical gore.

Silas’ voice rang so true, and many aspects of his story resonated with me despite how different my own circumstances are. The author has crafted a world in which necromancy is a normal thing, but like anything else that makes marginalised groups ‘different’ from the ‘normal’, it is used as a tool to further oppress those who already treated as less - in this book, it’s those who are seen as women.

Though these words aren’t used in the text due to the genre, Silas is autistic, trans, and queer (if he were to use a sexuality label, I think it would be bi/pan, but of course no such words are directly used in this book, it being a historical fantasy and such). A tender and devoted romance forms between him and a transgender girl, Daphne. There is also an autistic character whom Silas befriends, but they are not a main character (but play an important and touching role in the story all the same). A character who was something of a main character was also a lesbian.

So what’s it about? Silas is sent to what seems like a school but it is essentially where women with violet eyes, necromancers (they can reach into ‘the Veil’ and talk with spirits), are sent to to be forced into becoming good wives - or they are killed. It is not a murder mystery or an adventure - rather the story of a boy who is trying desperately to carve a place for himself in a world that will not accept many parts of who he is. This story showed anger, rightfully so but not an in-your-face way - rather it cleverly and horrifyingly conveyed the everyday injustices that its characters and many others faced.

And there was hope woven throughout, slowly at first, until Silas began to grasp for a gentle future for himself and fought for it with everything he had. And he does get that future - and so do most of the main characters. They are all complex and multifaceted, and deal with their trauma and experiences in different ways.

Just- do yourself a favour and pick up this book. It is wonderfully written, horrifying and unforgettable and uncomfortable and so, so hopeful. The characters jump off the page and you will feel for them with your whole heart. The insight and depth with which society’s injustices were dealt with, in such a subtle and authentic way, while not diminishing the beauty and hope that the characters’ identities embodied - incredible.

Flesh and bone make more sense to me than the people they add up to.

the spirit bares its teeth has become one of my favourite reads this year. this is the first title i've been able to read from white (i mean come on, that synopsis!) but i know that it most definitely won't be the last—there's something about his writing that just latches onto you.

The dead no longer have reason to lie, so they never do.

something i appreciated was that TSBIT didn't make me as queasy as i had expected it to; i found myself absolutely obsessed with silas and everything he thought, rabbit and all. i think a lot of queer, neurodivergent people will find solace in his character and his experience, even the gruesome and not-so-great parts, because his voice was done so, so well.

You can’t cure something that isn’t wrong. It doesn’t work like that.

i loved reading TSBIT for so many reasons but if not only for the fact that the horrible people got what they deserved and we get some sense of justice for those remaining. the world-building was superb, the characters jumped off of the pages and the world was as suffocating as it was fascinating. please do not take the author's note lightly—but if you find yourself able to get through the story, i 100% recommend doing so.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read The Spirit Bares Its Teeth as an ARC! This is my first time reading something by Andrew Joseph White, and to say I'm enthralled would be an understatement.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a queer historical horror fantasy novel; this book is so beautifully written, but I BEG you to check TW's- including, but not limited to, transphobia, ableism, misogyny, sexual assault, violence/abuse, and gore. This book is graphic and gut-wrenching and painful and beautiful and ends in a way that truly brought me so much joy. Silas held me in the palm of his hand from the first page and kept me there until the very end. Perfectly paced, indescribably raw, and deeply uncomfortable to process- I truly felt every emotion reading this book.

I think this is the kind of book that will bury itself in your bones. I also think that I will be thinking about this book for a very, very long time. I will immediately be picking up a copy of Hell Followed With Us, because I need everything Andrew Joseph White has for me.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow wow wow wow wow!!! Andrew Joseph White is a new must-buy author for me, all of his books are just phenomenal. This book was fairly traumatic, with lots of transphobia and physical and psychological abuse, so go into it prepared and mentally well enough to read it. However, I still enjoyed the book so much!!!
I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Andrew's first book, Hell Followed With Us. After reading his first book, I expected there to be more body horror (which is not something I usually ask for/look for in a book, but he just did it so well) in this book, even though there still was some!
I felt like the romance was a little bit rushed, it felt like Silas and his love interest had only met one or two times and Silas was already in love with her. That's one of my only negatives to this book, but with the shorter page number, I think Andrew did the best he could and it all worked out perfectly in the end!
The gaslighting in this book oooooo the gaslighting hurt my soul, it was so visceral, especially with the "reasoning" behind Silas being trans being about his powers. I'm so glad Silas got a semi-happy ending though even though he just went through all of that trauma.
Overall, I loved it!! I will definitely be buying a physical copy once it is released in September, all of the covers of his books are gorgeous as well, which is a big plus for me.
4.25/5 stars

I thought maybe I just related to Hell Followed with Us and won't like The Spirit Bares it's Teeth because it's usually not my genre and I am an adult. Nope, AJ White is just really good. I loved the novel and I really appreciate it breaching difficult topics and taking young readers seriously. I think the author will revolutionise YA fiction and I think books like this one is just what the teens need in current sociopolitical climate.

I didn’t think Andrew Joseph White could top Hell Came With Us, but I think he has. This book felt like it was written especially for me, and I know a ton of folks who are going to feel the same way.