Andrew Joseph White did it again! he has a way of creating characters that you'll love and relate to from the first page. even tho i'm not a fan of horror, i loved this book so much!

thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I've been a fan of Andrew Joseph White for a little over a year now and he continues to amaze me with his insane storytelling abilities. This book is just perfect in every single way: horror, t4t romance, autistic representation, historical fiction. It's like Andrew looked inside my brain and new exactly what I wanted to read. I really hope he continues to write, because his books are perfect and so underrated.

Please read this if you get the chance and don't forget to read the content warnings on Andrew's website! Take care of yourself.

⭐️=4.25 | 😘=2.75 | 🤬=5 | ⚔️=5 | 17/18+

summary: set in faux-Victorian England where people have magic powers and can see into/interfere with the spirit world; trans autistic boy who wants to be a doctor is sent to (basically) an asylum/school meant to “fix” sick girls; girls go missing, spirits go haunting, men are disgusting, and it’s really difficult to read but so so good

thoughts: incredible. heart-breaking and terrifying and tragic but also a fascinating and salient discussion of the intersection between neurodivergency and gender identity. ugh. it’s really good. (also I’ll just note that genre labeling this is weird, because I guess technically it’s YA but I doubt there’s a teenager on the planet mentally stable enough to handle this.)

content note(s): like… everything. gore, sexual assault, trans and homophobia, mentions of rape, just Victorian men being gross and disgusting in general

This book was such a spectacular and visceral experience to read. 5 messy, gory, horrifying stars. I was glued to it from the very first chapter in an absolute chokehold. I think I am potentially still in shock from the whole thing honestly.

The horror of this story really exists on so many levels, and while the fantasy elements of it had its unsettling moments, I think the true horror lies in the historical aspects of it and the number of queer people and women who were subject to such unspeakable horrors and violations in the efforts to 'fix them'.

This story had an exceptional cast of complex characters who's successes you cheer for and villains who comeuppance you crave. Daphne and Silas made a lovely little safe port in the storm of this story and I feel myself grateful that these fictional characters were able to find themselves in each other.

I am (kindly) going to be throwing this book at everyone I know (who has a strong stomach cause of gosh).

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew Joseph White, for the ARC of this and the opportunity to be able to leave my honest and uninfluenced review for this amazing book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the eARC in exchange for honest review!

The Spirit Bares Its teeth was really good if you want to be absolutely horrified. I tend to be pretty prose-blind when it comes to most books, except in three cases: the writing is bad, the writing is too flowy for my taste, or the writing is superb. This book was the latter. I noticed the writing and word choice in a good way (and sometimes bad but it being bad was the point when Silas is describing the horrors of being trans in a magic cult in Victorian England). I thought Silas as a main character was very compelling, and I loved how him wanting to be a doctor and surgeon tied so well in with all the other themes in the book. The stakes were high, the pacing was snappy and kept me wanting to read more, and the side characters were hateable (and others loveable). This was pretty much everything I could want from a YA horror, which was really nice since I have a bad track record with the genre in the past and I don't usually like it very much.

4.5/5

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a t4t historical horror novel primarily about the medical experimentation on societal outcasts that while perhaps illegal are often encouraged and funded by well-regarded organizations under the guise of things like cure rhetoric and institutionalization.
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth did a horrifyingly good job at representing the terrible truth of what it's meant historically to exist as we are in this world and the ways we find each other despite everything being against us.
I don't know that I'll ever be able to fully articulate what it means to read books from the perspective of trans and autistic protagonists. Having my own experiences reflected back to me in this book frequently brought me to tears.
The authors note included book recommendations for nonfiction titles about the history of medical experimentation that primarily impacted Black communities. As a disabled reviewer who has read both of these titles, I highly recommend reading these for further context on the history of medical experimentation.

After how much I loved Hell followed with us I was so excited to read The Spirit Bares its Teeth, and I was not disappointed!
Definitely heed the trigger warnings, as the gore and other heavy themes are quite explicit.
I immensely enjoyed the historical research that went into this - historical fashion and victorian medicine are great interests of mine, and this book does not disappoint in that regard. Any anschronisms are well tailored to the fantasy aspects of the world, making the whole story feel realistic in the given lore.
Also the way Autism and transness is handled and described without modern terms is so immensely well done.
I loved this book to bits and will definitely reread it once it's out.

As a reader, I am often fixated on seeking out books about and by trans men & transmasculine people, hoping that I’ll find little fragments of recognition in them. And honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever found as much of myself reflected back as in this book.

One aspect of this is that Silas, the protagonist, is autistic, and the way his autism is depicted feels incredibly real to me as a fellow autistic person. The descriptions of stimming, of autistic people being seen as unfeeling just because we express our emotions differently, of moulding yourself to behave in a certain way, the constant need to apologise after messing up a social interaction, his inner voice (the ‘rabbit) as a manifestation of his intrusive thoughts - just a few things that made me pause in recognition. What also stood out was this one heartwarming scene where Silas meets another autistic person and recognises a part of himself in another person - it was such a joyful and beautiful scene.

Another part of why I feel so strongly about this book are the visceral descriptions of surgery, anatomy and the human body woven through. Silas’ need to have a hysterectomy and to literally rip out the parts of himself that feel wrong is something I can very much relate to, down to the literal violence of it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone capture this in such a raw and unfiltered way.

My personal connections to this book’s subject matter aside, this book was a very enjoyable though intense read. The worldbuilding and supernatural elements were woven into the story seamlessly & the alternate history felt convincing. I wish we could have gotten to see a little more of this, but I also understand why it was beyond the scope of this book. What I also found interesting was the contrast between surgery and spirit-work in Silas’ eyes - surgery as something physical with fixed rules that feels right for him, versus spirit work as something that feels wrong, as if it shouldn’t exist.

I also really liked the character of Daphne, Silas’ transfemme love interest. She was strong in a completely different way to Silas and despite the fact that as a reader I didn’t get to spend a huge amount of time with her, I feel like her chracater and voice was fleshed out well. Their romance developed very quickly which in most cases I would call unconvincing, but in this case I would say that it worked - I can imagine that meeting another trans person after years of thinking that you’re the only one would lead to an intense connection, especially under ciscumstances such as these.

Speaking of relationships, one of my favourite aspects of the book was Silas’ relationship with his brother George - I can’t discuss it as much as I’d like in order to avoid spoilers, but the way their relationship developed captured well the conditional love trans & autistic people often receive from family and friends.

Overall definitely one of my top 3 books this year. I loved elements of Joseph-White’s Hell Followed With Us but it wasn’t quite a five star read for me, but The Spirit Bares Its Teeth took everything that I loved from Hell Followed and built on that. Thank you to Netgalley & Peachtree for an ARC of this! Incredibly excited that I got the chance to read this book early.

"This is what happens to people like me if we don't have the money for tutors, if we refuse to listen, if we don't have wombs that are worth the effort. He's scared. He's cornered. Like me."

THE SPIRIT BARES ITS TEETH, at its core, is a tale of solidarity and strength.

Andrew Joseph White's second novel follows Silas, an autistic trans boy, and his gnashing battle with a world that attempts to shape his flesh as it deems fit—and how hard he fights to take control of his body and life.

Juxtaposing the times he claws his way out of the basement, painted with mangled wounds where stitching was torn back by scalpel, are the times in which he burrows his exhausted face in the neck of his lover.

Daphne was an exquisite character. She is a delicate, brave woman, with an adoration for Silas so genuine it made me weep. Every moment the pair shared was held in place by incorrigibly horrendous events that occurred both before and after, which only made the sweetness more bitter. Even so, the few specks of time in which solace was found in their shared company were perfect.

Silas's story is raw, tender down to the fragile bone. Every moment had me chewing my lip, clawing at my chest in an attempt to calm my racing heart. Every emotion was visceral, as bloody and brutal as the surgeries our ravenous protagonist performs.

"It distracts me for just long enough to make me laugh, and Daphne does too. Her eyes shine when she laughs. She's beautiful.

A beautiful thing. Here. I almost don't believe it."

as someone who also got an arc for hell followed with us (one of my favorite books of all time), i was very happy and overjoyed to also receive an arc for the spirit bares its teeth! but i’m going to start off by saying that this book is just…wow. absolutely phenomenal and i felt like i was right there with the characters the entire time.

one of my favorite things about this book was the descriptions of silas’s struggles with his masculinity while also maintaining an acknowledgment for his femininity. in other words, he put the feeling of gender dysphoria AND not wanting to lose your old self into WORDS. i’ve always had a hard time trying to decipher ways to tell people what it feels like to not be gender conforming (i, myself, am non-binary with a masc lean)… but the way the author did it in this book, especially with the time period making this topic extremely difficult, was absolutely insane. insane in a GOOD way. insane like i could never imagine seeing myself within a character the way i did with silas.

please read this book, it is amazing and i can’t wait to read more by andrew!

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!

This story did not disappoint. There are a lot of major themes that I was happy were represented such as transgender and neurodivergence. The fact that this was part historical fiction, part fantasy/magic, and part horror/gore was just simply delightful.

As a nurse the medical and surgery components were intriguing, especially because I am ALSO fascinated by these things. The character was very relatable regardless of gender identity and this book made me feel seen as far as being expected to “act” within certain rules.

Beautifully done, please check this out around Halloween season when it releases.

There are a lot of content warnings for this book in the beginning by the author himself, which was very much appreciated. It made me hesitant to read the book, but I decided to follow through. Silas is autistic and trans in 1883 London and can speak to the spirits due to the color of her eyes. Something happens and she winds up at a boarding school for girls just like her – and at the school, she is exposed to the spirits of past patients. The book wound up being very unique and intense, but do not read this book if you don’t like gore and descriptive narration in that genre; this is a dark and brutal read, but in a good way thanks to the author. The author also makes great use of the characters having voices, particularly the historically “different” ones (for instance, those in the LGBQ+ community).

I received this book from NetGalley and Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink in exchange for an honest review.

I was so enthralled, it only took 4 hours to read this. I felt so close to Silas, the main character. AJW is writing about autism, and trans identity and abuse in poetic language, but it’s crystal clear what he’s getting at. The world he created is a fantasy setting but it is so grounded in history that it feels real.

*4,5
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a horror book set during the Victorian era in London.

I am currently struggling to formulate coherent sentences because thoughts are jostling in my head. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth different than any other book I’ve ever read. I started this book not really knowing what it was about and expecting nothing. It turned out to be a gripping and visceral page turner. It is definitely one of the most memorable books I have ever read.

The author depicts flawed and realistic main characters that endure too much despite their young age. Reading about what they go through will make you sad and uncomfortable and make your heart tighten.

Pacing wise, the story was perfect. It was neither too slow nor too fast, easily keeping you hooked till the end.

To sum up, this story blew me away and had me staring at the wall. I recommend it if you’re looking for your next gruesome read.

Wow, wow, wow. This book had me on edge! Definitely not an easy read but I still read it in two days. This is my first time reading Andrew Joseph White and he did not disappoint. The writing was beautiful, the world building was amazing and the Gothic atmosphere was well done. I would highly recommend reading the trigger warnings online before picking this up.

i knew going into this book that it was going to be bloody and disgusting, and it was, but in a way that made it impossible to stop reading.

the spirit bares it’s teeth is based around an autistic transmasc mc who has been forced to be the perfect daughter/wife. eventually he is sent to a school for “sick girls”, and realises just how cruel the men running it are.

one thing i particularly enjoyed in this book (and also in hell followed with us) is despite the mc being a trans man, you still see how being raised and perceived as a girl affects him. silas is not cruel like most of the other men, but instead someone men are cruel to. there’s also discussions on what masculinity really means, and if it is always linked to violence.

the girls at the school were all compelling characters themselves, and i truly rooted for them all (even charlotte, who only wants to please the men)

i highly recommend this book, but please check tws!

// I want to stitch together a person’s body, not dissect their soul. //

This book promises to be gross and include trans people and oh does it deliver! I read Hell Followed With Us at the end of the last year and looooved this author’s style, and I knew I’d want to read everything else they’d written, too! I love body horror elements and the way they portrait everything. The writing is haunting and raw. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth had my heart pounding from the start to the end and it was a gut-wrenching read I’ll be digesting for a while.

Silas is a tortured protagonist, but by the people around him and his own self. Despite his circumstances in the book, he’s managed to grow into himself firmer, and I’ve loved the questions he’s posed throughout the book (“Am I misplacing comfort for love? Does it matter?”, what is it that defines masculinity and manhood and, in contrast, femininity and womanhood, etc.) I’m honestly not sure how to put the way I’ve related to him in proper words without spoiling anything, but Silas doesn’t only battle with those around him but himself as well, poses questions and gives answers according to his situation, and acknowledges that things within him change with external force as well.

The novel is a haunted house, and it’s fitting that the setting is a haunted house too! There is some worldbuilding, although I was honestly more fond of the different characters he came across and I’d love reading more about any of them, but especially of him and Daphne.

This was a horrible, horrifying read that I enjoyed so much that I’m afraid it’ll put me in a reading slump. I loved it!

I don't know that I have the vocabulary to properly explain how I feel this book, or even celebrate it. Don't get me wrong it is painful, it is gruesome, it is vile, it can and will fill you with such rage. And yet, it is undeniable how desperately I needed to read this book. As much as this book is a horror masterpiece, it is also a reminder of queer historical perspectives. I recommend this book to my fellow trans siblings who are full of anger and fear, to all of those who have a scream residing deep inside of them, that can't be let out. This book feels like a primal scream after being backed into a corner, painful and agonizing, and yet full of relief, like weight has been taken off your shoulders. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy and annotate and let my tears hit the pages. I truly loved this book.

Just a quick note about some of the more painful moments to warn anyone. There are many horrifying elements (it is a horror book), but body horror, body dysmorphia, and transphobia is a big part of the book, if that is triggering for you please don't read and/or keep that in mind.

If I wanted to describe this book in a word, it would be violent. Everything from the characters, the horrifying plot the descriptions, the way it made me feel. It's very rare that I read books about people like me, queer and autistic, and I treasured this book as I devoured it.
I found solace in Silas worldview, and found myself nodding alone when he was talking about human biology and experiencing the world in black and white.
I found the romance to be VERY rushed, but I understood how those characters bonded so fast by being similar.
I really loved the descriptions, the horrors, the gore. I would have loved more world building though, at many points in the book the violet-eyes aspect seemed pretty unessecary and easily replaceable with the old good trope of ghosts just lurking around. I want to know more about this alternate england.
And of course I have to mention, how the book depicts womanhood. Even though the protagonist is trans, he doesn't detest it, and instead the narrative celebrates women, their endurance, bravery and rage. Overall, it was a haunting read that I'll remember and recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 
I greatly enjoyed The Spirit Bares Its Teeth. It was a raw and emotional read. (I'm pretty sure I was crying for 50% of it.)
I absolutely loved Hell Followed With Us, so I was ecstatic to get to read The Spirit Bares Its Teeth. It is safe to say my expectations were high, and this book did not disappoint.
It was fast-paced and had an interesting plot. The characters were all unique, and I wanted to get to know them all! The mystery and horror were fantastic and had me on the edge of my seat. 
There were many graphic and raw descriptions, and this book was simply very honest. The mystical fantasy aspect spiced it up, but it definitely wasn’t as well fleshed out as it could’ve been. Compared to the rest of the book, the spirits and mediums felt irrelevant and put on the back burner. 
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2023 so far. I am anxiously awaiting more books from this author.