The Spirit Bares Its Teeth

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Andrew Joseph White: The Spirit Bares Its Teeth (EBook, 2023, Peachtree Teen)

eBook, 400 pages

English language

Published Nov. 25, 2023 by Peachtree Teen.

ISBN:
978-1-68263-618-3
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5 stars (6 reviews)

Mors vincit omnia. Death conquers all.

London, 1883. The Veil between the living and dead has thinned. Violet-eyed mediums commune with spirits under the watchful eye of the Royal Speaker Society, and sixteen-year-old Silas Bell would rather rip out his violet eyes than become an obedient Speaker wife. According to Mother, he’ll be married by the end of the year. It doesn’t matter that he’s needed a decade of tutors to hide his autism; that he practices surgery on slaughtered pigs; that he is a boy, not the girl the world insists on seeing.

After a failed attempt to escape an arranged marriage, Silas is diagnosed with Veil sickness—a mysterious disease sending violet-eyed women into madness—and shipped away to Braxton’s Finishing School and Sanitorium. The facility is cold, the instructors merciless, and the students either bloom into eligible wives or disappear. When the ghosts of missing students start begging Silas …

2 editions

My Review Of "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth"

5 stars

First and foremost, I'd just like to say wow. TSBIT was a roller coaster from start to finish, especially the ending, which I'm still playing out in my mind. I loved that somebody finally learned how to write neurodivergent people RIGHT; the mannerisms and thought processes were so beautifully fleshed out, it's a testament in and of itself!

I loved Silas' characterization especially, the rabbit motif was a lovely touch, a portrayal of that ever nagging voice deep inside and what happens when we finally lose it! TSBIT was hauntingly beautiful in all of its portrayals, I especially loved how the spirits were described; the image of death and emotion personified! I liked the way the veil was described, wistful yet tangible, something that could be sliced into and torn asunder!

The plot with the groundskeeper really struck something in me, I hope he got his happy ending!

Review of 'The Spirit Bares Its Teeth' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

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 …

avatar for kisse

rated it

4 stars
avatar for theconfusedyeti

rated it

4 stars

Subjects

  • Young adult fiction, lgbtq+
  • Young adult fiction, paranormal, occult & supernatural
  • Young adult fiction, fantasy, historical