One of my most anticipated reads this year and I was NOT disappointed!

Silas is a boy. If only the rest of the world would see him that way. After a failed attempt trying to escape his arranged marriage he’s said to have Veil sickness and sent to a school that turns young women into perfect little wives. He either has to do as they say or go missing like the others.

It’s dark. It’s gritty. It’s gory. It’s everything I’ve come to love about this authors writing. My heart broke for Silas throughout this entire book and I couldn’t stop reading! I did not want to put it down.

An instant new favorite

5/5

“If a dead girl prays to God can he hear her?”

—

Oh. My. God.

Andrew Joseph White has absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one. I’ve been in quite the reading slump lately, but I devoured this book in under 48 hours. It’s truly a talent for a YA book to keep me on the edge of my seat to this extent. I found myself seriously questioning whether or not we’d get a happy ending. For me, it was unprecedented in this genre and utterly exhilarating.

But, at the same time, it was completely harrowing. I kept thinking, “This is awful, I can’t imagine it getting any worse,” and then, you guessed it, it got so much worse. And frankly, I’m not sure I’m surprised. White has a talent for taking the gruesome, violent reality of things and forcing you to look it in the eyes whether you like it or not. One of the notes I left while reading the book reads: “I feel like every time I whip my head to look at the awful thing that’s just happened a new atrocity pops up behind me… I can’t escape them.” And I think that’s the most apt way to describe this book.

But, that said, this book had some moments of bliss, as well. Between Silas, our autistic trans main character, and his trans love interest. And between Silas and another autistic character he meets. I found myself unable to sit still in the few moments we see Silas find peace with his identity thanks to recognizing it in someone else because they were so truly happy.

While the words “trans” and “autistic” are never used due to the anachronistic issues with the terms, the joy (and the pain) these characters undergo is so unique to the experiences of those communities that White makes it impossible to think them anything but what they are.

I am a huge fan of Hell Followed With Us and had wondered if this novel would be able to live up to its predecessor and I can say with absolute certainty that White has managed that and more. The Spirit Bears Its Teeth is a perfect mix of magic and reality so that it builds upon the themes it sets out to portray rather than overshadowing them. I couldn’t look away, even when I really wanted to, and I think that’s the point.

Oh man- I expected The Spirit Bares Its Teeth to be good, but I truly did not expect it to take hold of my heart ad head the way it did. This book is visceral, gory at times, and an absolutely wild ride. Silas, Daphne, and the other characters absolutely stole my heart. The lore of the Speakers and the magic system was presented in a way that wasn't too complex but still gave enough information to understand the world that had shaped Silas' family, the school, and the adults around him. I truly cannot recommend this book enough. Another absolute winner from AJW.

I will add to this review once I have all my thoughts in order, but I am obsessed with this book. I was hooked from the start!

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is about a boy stuck in a female's body, who wants to be a surgeon. Much like his brother as well as inspired by the late (fe)male Dr. Berry. In this world are people who have various shades of purple irises. These people are important to the elitists of the old Victorian, Great Britain.

TW transphobia, ableism, graphic violence, sexual assault, discussions of forced pregnancy and miscarriage, mentions of suicidal ideation, extensive medical gore

This historical fantasy is not for the faint of heart. This is actually my first horror book so I had no expectations other than that it could have gore. Which it did.
I have respect for all these characters and I would even call Daphne my favourite. When I started to read this book I had forgotton who she was and to me she was a woman from the start. The trapped women all had distinct personalities which was great and they all impressed me on an emotional level. It made it easier for me to form opinions about them and imagine a backstory for the ones that didn't really have one.
It had so much empathy for the people who were treated as lab rats and was uninterested towards the ruthless men. I wish I could say that George's betrayal shocked me.

Something I can't let go of is the pronouns of he main character and which view I had over him.
The other characters used the pronoun they saw to adress the main character (she/her), therefore it was difficult to stitch the correct pronoun to Silas/Gloria. And I was only able to see him as a boy at the very end. It bothered me to an extent that I thought of myself of a hater who is not capeable to correctly use his pronouns. Which, thankfully, happend even if it was too late.

I had not even the tiniest idea of what type of story this could be and the first chapter alone told me I had to be ready for the craziest book I'll get to read this month, The story is beautifully written with not to many details unless it had to be. Personally I wasn't a fan of the abortion part. And the only reason for that was because of the details that quite literally made me shiver. That and the dissected women in the basement. Even though the events in the book most likely have happend before to minorities, it's something I'd like to forget.

There grammar was not hard so I'm confident that the readers whose native language isn't english, are still able to follow this story with ease. Something that some authors don't care about. Not saying that it should be their top priority though. Just something I appriciate.

Is the book dark? Yes but if have read books with these tw's before, and weren't traumatised by them, this will work just fine.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Last year I read Andrew Joseph White’s first book Hell Followed With Us, and it ended up being my favourite book of the year. So it’s safe to say that I had incredibly high expectations for his second book, and I definitely was not dissappointed.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth had me glued to the pages from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the very end. I loved the horror elements and the setting a lot, but most of all I loved the characters. Silas and Daphne were both incredibly complex characters and it was very easy to fall in love with them, which, thinking about all the horrible things that happen to them, especially to Silas, was great, but also heartbreaking.

I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t wait to see what Andrew Joseph White writes next, because after having read his first two books and loving both of them, I’m convinced that whatever comes next will be just as horrifying and amazing.

I realize there is so much pressure on authours that write an incredible first book to live up to those expectations in their second book, and Andrew Joseph White's last book, Hell Followed With Us was something special. I think it's fair to say that his second book, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is immaculate.

It is incredibly crafted, the words are so intentional, and the authour creates such a visceral ambiance of horror and discomfort. But in a way that for me was tolerable, didn't feel gratuitous, and at times, was even oddly uplifting. The characters are lovable or strongly dislikable. where appropriate, but they all feel very alive, flawed, wonderful, and/or terrible, and they could step out of the page at any moment.. The descriptions of the settings transported me to a dark creepy house/finishing school/institution while I was curled up with my e-reader, I simply couldn't put this book down and the pacing was great.

I'll admit, horror isn't generally my genre and I probably would have missed out on reading his first book without a direct recommendation from a trusted friend, but I really like what he's doing with his writing - this book held my hand a little, made me feel some feelings, and told an absolutely compelling story, that's brutal, but also loving and empathetic.

Does this book require content warnings? Yes. Does the authour provide many of them himself in his kind Letter from the Authour at the very beginning? Also yes.. I appreciated the encouragement to not endure the book if it wasn't what you were able to read at the moment. I also appreciated the authour note at the end - reenforcing that while this book is a work of fiction, real horrifying things have been done in the name of science and medicine, especially in history, and suggests two very good books to learn more,

Thank you Netgalley and Peach Tree Teen for approving my request to read this. I kept hearing such good things about this novel and had previously read another work Andrew Joseph White's Hell Followed With Us. I had been anticipating reading more since I read that one. I saw all over Twitter and TikTok that this novel was on its way.
I devoured this the moment I got a notification that I got approved. I loved the presentation of the plot and the characters. I wanted to know what would happen with Silas and this novel kept me on my toes. With this novel, I felt the angst of having to conform. No one should be forced into conforming and this novel does an excellent job of sharing the perspective.
I extremely enjoyed this novel and can't wait to read more from this author. I plan to buy both this work and his other work. I'm so glad I got a chance to read the arc.

"if we still had the fingers to take out their eyes, we would feast on them like witches"

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this arc!
This book has left me spellbound. Every single word of this novel has bewitched me and is crafted with care and precision. I immediately fell in love with the characters, and I want to cradle them and their sharp teeth to my chest. I am so excited to see what Andrew Joseph White does next!

Andrew Joseph White's "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is a suspenseful supernatural thriller that combines themes of mystery, horror, and the paranormal. White provides a fascinating and suspenseful read with its atmospheric location, chilling suspense, and a terrifying tale of ancient curses and evil spirits.

The narrative centres on Silas Bell, a sceptic investigator who becomes sucked into a web of sinister secrets and paranormal activity in a tiny hamlet. He discovers a long-forgotten curse that endangers the lives of the town's residents as he looks further into the mystery. Before it's too late, Bell must battle evil spirits and discover the truth.

The setting that Andrew Joseph White has created for "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is where readers are drawn into a world tinted with horror and mystical undertones because of the author's descriptive descriptions and meticulous attention to detail. As the plot develops, White's dramatic and evocative writing style heightens the suspense.

The interesting and complicated characters in "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" each have their secrets and goals, giving the story depth by bringing a sense of mystery and mystique. There is a noticeable uneasiness because of how tense and distrustful the character's relationships are.

The narrative is paced with increasing suspense and riveting discoveries by White. Readers are kept on the edge of their seats as they solve the mystery alongside the protagonists as the plot takes unexpected turns. Readers are left wondering what is real and what is a result of the characters' worries and beliefs as a result of the author's deft merging of supernatural aspects with psychological suspense.

The book explores issues like the strength of faith and the evil that lurks within us. The distinction between the natural and the supernatural is hazy within the exploration of the thin line between reality and superstition. The novel also explores the effects of earlier decisions and the extent people will go to keep secrets hidden.

The supernatural thriller "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is suspenseful and evocative, yet some of the characters or the plot should have been explored more. The occult may not be appealing to all readers because the plot is mostly centred on the paranormal. However, the eerie surroundings, thrilling narrative, and examination of old curses and evil spirits produce a terrifying reading experience. This novel is an engaging and compelling read because of the language, fascinating characters, and effective blending of supernatural and psychological themes. If you enjoy reading stories of mystery, horror, and the paranormal, "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" will leave you with a lingering feeling of unease and a desire for more. Suspenseful storytelling, the investigation of ancient curses, and malevolent spirits make for an engaging and chilling reading experience.

"Mors vincit Omnia."

Wow! What an amazing book!!
Would love to read more from the author.
Thankyou netgalley for the Arc!
Full review will be uploaded soon

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a story enjoyed on two simultaneous planes: The story itself is horror-filled and wonderfully macabre, written with the kind of poetry that reminds you of biting because you must, but it's everything else - the detail, the word choice, and the pacing - that really sells it. From seeing the world through the lens of Silas' struggles of being both autistic and trans to the largely misogynistic underpinnings that keep their world moving, every detail feels hand-crafted to keep you looking at the realities of a world most would shy away from. Andrew Joseph White has a way of capturing the reader's attention, of making them look and saying, "Isn't this abominable? Isn't it grotesque?" while leaving you wishing for more.

There is strength in breaking the status quo, in being yourself and fighting against that which harms, in accepting weakness, and I think that's something captured beautifully here.

This book is so wonderful! Watching Silas learn to love himself was an absolute joy. The historical portion of this was really well done and absolutely terrifying. This is an engaging book that captures a lot of terror.

I just want to scream about this book it was so good. I'm definitely buying this as soon as it comes out. Yeah it was gory and incredibly sad and I did cry so many times that I had to take off my glasses but it was beautiful. I loved Daphne and Silas and the autism representation was amazing and so relatable I am going to force all the people around me to read this book I will not stop talking about it ever! The love between Daphne and Silas too was just so cute and perfect they had me screaming. Thank you for writing such a masterpiece.

Dark, twisted, haunting, visceral story about an autistic Trans man wanting to just live his life in Victorian England. Gothic horror is my favorite genre and throw in asylms I'm hooked. This book, left me in awe. Definitely a favorite of 2023.
Thank you Netgalley and Peachtree for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a tale about reclaiming one’s own body and mind in a time when everything that deviated from the norm was seen as a sickness, shamefully hidden and forcefully corrected. It is a tale about the power men hold through systematic oppression, about silenced women and trans men who won’t bear anymore the injustices and horrors they are being put through. It is a small act of defiance that roars where there once was a fearful silence, a scream of an identity that doesn’t want to be caged, that wants to be free of living.

In Victorian-era England, people with violet eyes have the power to commune with the spirits behind the Veil and the Royal Speaker Society regulates these practices, making them forbidden for women and anyone else they deem unfit. Silas Bell, an autistic trans boy, desperately wants to become a doctor and avoid marriage with a Speaker at all cost. But he is diagnosed with Veil-sickness, an alleged disease affecting violet-eyed women, and he is sent to an asylum, where he either becomes a compliant housewife or disappears.

I have read dark fantasy before but never horror, so this book was my first of this genre. It didn’t disappoint, but, quite the opposite, it was so good I couldn’t put it down. It is horrific, not just because of the surgeries described down to the last detail or the violence. No, the scariest part of this novel is that these horrors originate from systematic oppression, they are silently accepted by other people for that’s how the world has always been and would ever be. It is real, not sugar-coated history.

Despite the horrors, there is also so much hope and a love so tender it got me teary-eyed and brought me some comfort. Silas Bell is not the usual tough main character, he is soft but also smart and determined. I do not particularly enjoy reading books written in first person point of view, but this is an exception. It feels like the voice of a real person, with his own personality: this feeling is emphasized by the unique way it is narrated, with all the medical metaphors, as medicine, specifically surgery, is Silas’ special interest. His raw emotions seep through the pages, through the beautiful writing style they are written in.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is gut-wrenching, visceral, brutal. It takes your sanity and throws it out of the window. It punches you in the gut multiple times and you thank it for doing so.

It’s full of angry, murderous ghosts, and only a thin veil is blocking them from destroying everything.


Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing me with this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book is phenomenal but definitely not for the faint of heart. Horrifying in both its imagery and ties to actual historical events, this will repulse you, break your heart and heal it all over again. I’ve never read a story with more horror, more anger or more love

words can’t possibly describe how much i loved this. there was so much going on for a ya novel – the queer rep was absolutely delightful in general, but the way ajw reflected on trans experiences and the way trans men regard their own masculinity in relation to their bodies and how there’s so much about gender that has simply been imposed on us! i’m just so thrilled to see that there’s such high-quality ya out there and that many young peeps are gonna read this & feel seen & understood :’) i also loved the way it delved into the pathologisation of homosexuality & pretty much every little thing that women did & went out of the norm. plus the writing’s just stunning! i can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

After loving Hell Followed With Us, I knew I had to read everything else Andrew Joseph White wrote in future. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth has cemented this fact.

This book just flowed in a way no book has for me in a while. I barely felt like I was reading, it was just the act of consuming a story, of pleasantly drinking it up. It's not a light-hearted novel, the content warnings are certainly warranted, but it was so easy to read.

I loved Silas as an MC and Daphne as his LI. I especially loved the details of Daphne having got her name from Ovid's Metamorphoses. I also adored the historical details of mentioning James Barry.

Because this flowed so beautifully, I don't have much more to say. This was just beautifully written. I loved the trans rep, the t4t relationship, the autistic rep and the sapphic/lesbian rep in Mary & Frances. I loved the characters and character dynamics - especially Silas/Daphne and Silas & Isabella. All in all, a good book that I'd definitely recommend.

The only downside was just in the formatting of the eARC as sometimes the first word of a chapter came after the rest of that first sentence and there were also random black boxes that I couldn't quite discern the meaning of. I'm guessing maybe the pale ghost text was meant to be on those so that it was more readable (as pale grey on white isn't the clearest). Luckily I was able to read and understand the book still but I can see that being a potential accessibility issue - hoping that was just an eARC issue and won't carry over to the published eBook.

I could not put this book down!

Everything feels very put together from behind to end. The author had an idea in mind and he executed it wonderfully.

It’s really interesting to read about trans people in non-contemporary settings, same with autism, so you can imagine that I liked the mix!

It really felt that the author is both trans and autistic, because the representation of them both in the text felt very real, like an actual lived experience. But with more ghosts.

Speaking of the ghosts, the implementation of black pages to show their thoughts! So good!

I love that Silas comes to terms with himself through the book, despite the numerous attempts to make him conform to the model of a good aristocratic girl. And that it is contrasted by Daphne is marvelous.

The horror bits a gruesome, with anatomical language making them feel very objective and real. I also love that it works as a way to characterize Silas.

All in all a wonderful, horrifying story to read!