This is a book set in 1883 where being different is frowned upon. Silas and Daphne and the other waifs are for sure different so they have received abuses from the patriarchal society. Silas is an autistic transman who wanted to be a surgeon. Of course, at that time, Silas is not diagnosed or even allowed to be a transman or a surgeon. Fantastical elements are added to the story. Silas is purple eyed which means he has access to the Veil and talk to dead people. At the end though everyone is happy and everything works out which is I feel is impossible in that time frame. Silas undergo some terrible abuses and traumatic events but everything works out in the end with a red bow to wrap it all up. The ending seemed rush and I feel it could have been done better.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the advance copy in return of my honest review.

Andrew Joseph White, the PHENOMENAL author that you are, you have done it again. After reading Hell Followed With Us I had to do a deep dive and read all the other short stories that have been released and I took a little break but as soon as I started this one, I could not put it down. To write out exactly how it feels to be trapped in a body you do not recognize in such a beautiful and painfully descriptive way but still turn it into something that keeps people, not wanting but NEEDING to read more. If I had a better brain this is exactly what and how I would write. Going to be recommending this one to anyone who will listen to me ramble about it.

I was deeply disappointed that this wasn't an immediate hit for me after loving "Hell Followed with Us." I'm inclined to continue following this author in their future releases but this one simply was not for me. Though the premise had me intrigued, and I normally value representation very highly (I absolutely loved having an autistic and trans MC) the plot didn't grip me enough to hold my attention throughout the book. There wasn't any one particular thing about it that put me off aside from characters that I didn't find particularly developed and a very loose plot once you get mid-way through.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a historical fantasy/horror novel about a trans man maligned by society for his "veil sickness", essentially a diagnosis given in-fiction to those seen as women, who present a problem to patriarchal society. He is sent to a sanatorium for reeducating those with veil sickness, where a variety of horrifying things take place. Shortly after I began reading this, I began feeling a deep feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach; the kind you feel when you know something horrible is going to happen but you just have to see it through. The dread that pervaded me throughout this novel is a kind that is fairly rare amongst media, though similar to that found recently in the film "I Saw the TV Glow": a deep seated knowledge that your body is not As It Should Be and that you will be forever marked by society for this, forever a mistake to be "fixed". I, as a trans woman, am obviously coming at this book from the opposite perspective of our main character Silas, but even so the journey remained a highly relatable one (I could imagine even more so for trans masculine readers). As an avid horror reader, several times in this novel I read something so disturbing that I had to pause to collect myself. There is also a good deal of gore, both medical and otherwise, which may be a hard out for some readers. This is a stunning second novel from Andrew Joseph White, whose prior novel Hell Followed With Us I also very much enjoyed, and solidifies him as one of my favorite new horror authors working today.

This book was received by NetGalley in response for an honest review; thank you to the author and publisher!

I picked this up and put it down so many times and for only the best reason: Andrew Joseph White is a stellar author who manages to shock me to my very bones. I loved Hell Followed With Us more than I could put into words and I'm glad to say the same about The Spirit Bares Its Teeth.

Thank you to PeachTree and Netgalley for the ARC. Spoilers have been (mostly) avoided, but may be hinted at!

All the five-star reviews say it all—this is an incredible, unique, and dark book that will haunt you long after you've finished it. Silas, an autistic and trans protagonist in Victorian-era London, must survive in a finishing school and sanitorium filled with the ghosts of its missing students. Writing both in and against the gothic tradition, Andrew Joseph White unveils the true horror as the patriarchy and its institutions that enact violent surveillance and conformity, harming those who fall outside its rigid norms. When reading THE SPIRIT BEARS ITS TEETH, it's easy to see why White is quickly becoming known for crafting some of the most daring, poignant, and heart-rending books in YA.

The book is quite gory and dark. I would highly recommend this book for horror lovers as well as the horror-averse (like me!)—but definitely check the included content warnings!

Horrific yet hopeful, this bleak and beautiful novel is a stunning sophomore novel.

I picked this up because of the cover and read it because the blurb contained "trans autistic protagonist." This is an gothic horror novel, with strong romantic elements, about our boy Silas, who can speak to ghosts in a society where spiritualists are regulated by the all-male Speaker Society. The moments where he finds connection and solace are so welcome, and so hard-won. This is an absolutely bleak setting, and the plot, involving helping ghosts and preventing more harm, is fast-paced and doesn't miss a step. "Harrowing" is an excellent word to use here. This is a gorgeous read for any horror enthusiast, but especially for trans folks/allies and neurodivergent readers. The horror elements are quite strong (I ate them up with a spoon) but romance readers who don't usually enjoy horror should still give it a try. I have been hand selling this one for months now.

I know I'm incredibly late for this review but I still wanted to say that this book is absolutely gorgeous despite I went into the reading knowing I would be horrified by some of it, and I still loved everything about this.
White's voice is definitely needed in the publishing world and I will be looking forward to see whatever he does next.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital arrc.

Absolutely horrifying but so addicting.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White was a highly anticipated read for me after the authors debut horror novel in 2022. I’m a big fan of horror but this book introduced me further to the historical fiction and gothic genres.

Set in London 1883, we follow the story of an autistic transgender teenager as he faces the challenges of a patriarchal society that’s goal is to force conformity upon anyone who tries to defy their preconceived norms.

Although I had expectations of quite graphic horror based on the authors previous book, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth was on a whole other level. Its focus on medical gore was particularly terrifying as I was reading it just prior to having surgery.

Andrew Joseph Write is an incredible author that has the ability to fully capture the reader and immerse them in the story. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of horror or gothic novels.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an eARC for review.

This was really great. I liked it even more than his debut, which I also thought was great, but he's really elevating his skills in this one, and the way he writes trans and autistic characters is just so good and so needed. With this book it solidified that Andrew Joseph White is a must-read author for me and I'm even more excited for his adult novel now.

I read the audiobook for this, which lead to a bit of confusion at times with the narrative not always being clear, but for the most part that didn't take away from my understanding or enjoyment- I did have a physical copy with me that I just never got around to picking up to see the written structure, I may still do that at some point. So I'd recommend the audiobook, but it may be nice to have the physical book too.

Definitely check trigger warnings on this one, I really appreciate the author intro with a trigger warning at the beginning. Some CW: a lot of medical/body gore/body horror, sexual assault, conversion therapy, transphobia, pedophilia, abortion, miscarriage, death, murder

I don't typically read anything that could be categorized as horror, but I am so glad I made an exception for the Spirit Bares Its Teeth. This book was shocking in all of the best ways and the trans and autistic representation was fantastic. I was so invested in Silas's story, the camaraderie built between the individuals at the Sanitorium and Finishing School. This may not be a book for everyone, but it was definitely one for me!

I am so glad that this sophomore novel from Andrew Joseph White lived up to the awesomeness of his freshman effort! This one is for those who love Gothic horror and, as always, trans / queer rep. Grab this one and be sure to get it in your favorite school, classroom, and/or public library!!

Was this horrifyingly gory and bloody? Yes. Did I eat this book up? Also yes. I am definitely getting my hands on a physical copy as soon as possible, as well as copies of the author's other books, because it was amazing. It was one of the most brilliant books I've ever read I think, it showed the darkness of humanity with crude honesty. I have no words to talk about this book, just please read it!

So unique! White masterfully intertwines elements from both fantasy and horror to create such a rich and immersive world. I was very late to the party in reading this one, but I would honestly recommend this to anyone. I can see why this author is so beloved (:

I believe this was my first book where a main character is trans and autistic, what is weird for how many books I read in my life.

The author made me feel so absolved in the history and Silas mind, it was an incredible sensation.

Silas was an amazing main character, his fight for freedom in the middle of all the cruelty and prejudice. There were so many moments in with, I wanted to get in the book and hug and help him.

I recommend this reading a lot, this was a book filled with pain, fight and strength of people trying to survive a cruel society ready to use and destroy them.

Andrew Joseph White managed to outdue Hell Followed With Us which I didn't even think was possible!! I love the time period that was chosen for this because it seemed like a more realistic jump for a secret society like this to exist. The addition of the asylum to... "fix" people who belonged to the queer community was a phenomenal choice for the setting of a horror book, a mix of reality and fantasy. We had a wonderful cast of characters and AJ really toed the line of what's allowed in a YA book (I mean the "surgery" that was completed without anesthetic genuinely made me nauseous). Daphne's existent was something I picked up on pretty early in the book, but truly made such a wonderful edition to the story, especially the ending.

I know for certain I will be picking up anything AJ writes and I find it hard to believe I wouldn't enjoy it.

Could not recommend enough!!

I'm not the biggest fan of horror stories and I was a bit hesitant when I requested this title, but I heard queer paranormal romance and I couldn't not give the novel a try. And I'm so happy I did because I LOVED every second of this reading. It's very gorey and queer and I couldn't recommend it enough!

*Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Heart wrenching, horrifying, but I couldn’t put it down. The spirit bares it’s teeth is not an easy read but it is an impactful and insightful one. Andrew Joseph White rarely fails to make an impact and this book is no different his discussion and centralization on marginalized communities and identities is part of what makes his writing. The mixture of historical events with the fantasy genre lends itself to the discussion of these communities and the issues that exists within them and outside of them. The seamless intersection of gender and queer issues was well written and truly creates an impact. An incredible book by an incredible author.

This book is absolutely incredible. It was everything I wanted from a LGBTQIA+ romance paranormal novel. It encouraged me to seek out Andrew’s first novel which I’m reading currently and am loving. I am also looking forward to his next novel. Phenomenal author, great world building, great characterisation, and great story teller. Would highly recommend this novel!

The story captivated me from the first moment. Silas's voice is so strong, so solid, that it's impossible not to immerse yourself in the reality of him. He is a very well-constructed protagonist, just like the story, surprising with every opportunity, as viscerally human as can be, to the point of involving you in this emotional reality.

Andrew created a world that is difficult to escape from once you enter it, with established rules as difficult to break as they are to accept. In that aspect, he is very similar to the reality we live in today, although this, despite all the blood and guts, is a story of hope, illusion and love above all things.

I feel like the ending was a little weak after so much tension and drama. I am satisfied, I'm a happy reader, and to be honest there are only a couple of lines that I would have changed. It is as well structured as the rest of the book, with those details that left me dissatisfied. What did cause me some displeasure was that almost all the male characters are toxic because, although the context lends itself to this result, I find it difficult to believe that it is almost impossible for there to be a decent man besides Silas, in addition to that twist easy to expect when the novel reached its climax.

However, it's a difficult novel to put down once you start it, if not impossible. Silas, Daphne and Mary are characters as endearing as Charlotte, Lord Luckenbill, Ernest Forrester and Mrs. Forrester are despicable. It makes you think if things have really changed since the time in which the novel is inspired, because there has been progress, but also new forms of abuse, discrimination and torture. Not to be missed.