Considering I went into this with completely the wrong expectations, I'm impressed that I still managed to enjoy it.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, set in the 1880s, follows trans boy Silas, whose efforts to become a surgeon in a Spiritualist-run Victorian England are thwarted, leading to his forced sectioning in a finishing school/sanitorium with blood-soaked buried secrets.

I read Hell Followed With Us about a month ago, and I've got to agree with the general consensus that The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is the stronger of White's novels that I've read so far: I'm a huge fan of historical horror so I was excited to see where White would take it.

In terms of a historical period to analyse queerness, its representation and its oppression, Victorian England is an almost-perfect one given its staunch societal expectations and purity culture. The juxtaposition between Silas and the girls of Braxton's vs the society trying to break them becomes so much more stark when there are such stringent rules to be queered.
It's important to regard that Silas is also autistic, which greatly impacts the lens through which the narrative is viewed, and it's fascinating to see how White places a character who stims and misreads societal rules in a society where concepts of conduct are so black-and-white. Silas' anxiety is also characterised as a metaphorical rabbit in his chest that criticises him and goads him into panicking, and as someone with anxiety, I really liked how White handled this.
Victorian Spiritualism is also adapted in an interesting way by being placed in the seat of power rather than being a fringe belief system, and it acts as a nice backdrop to a ghost-infused setting while utilising some historical context.

In both of his books I've read so far, White consistently writes body horror brilliantly. In many ways this is a medical horror: there's a narrative thread of surgery vs butchery which I really enjoyed reading, especially in the context of Victorian medical experimentation and concepts of eugenics. I would definitely recommend checking out the trigger warnings before reading: from the first chapter it's a blood-soaked book, and there's a particularly graphic depiction of a cesarean section towards the climax. There's also depictions of sexual assault, child marriage and pregnancy, strangling and aggressive misgendering, among other things that might be upsetting for younger YA readers, so please do be mindful before delving in!

Most of my qualms with this book are based on the fact that I went into this book with the expectations I would have for a Victorian Gothic, rather than a book specifically about teenage trans rage: the Victorian setting beyond what I've mentioned is very much a setpiece, and while there are Gothic tropes utilised (for instance, preoccupations on madness, literal buried secrets and abusive sexual behaviour), I think this would have benefitted from being advertised as a gaslamp fantasy-horror than as a historical horror.
When I read Hell Followed With Us, one of my very slight questions was about how seamlessly Benji slotted into the ALC considering his being raised in a fundamentalist Christian cult: however, since it was a more modern dystopia, this was something that was easy to overlook. There's a very similar narrative issue with Silas. He reads very much as a modern boy in a historical setting rather than one raised in a Victorian setting, with very modern opinions and understandings of the world. Not to say that people never thought such things during the 19th century, but it's confusing considering the family he's been raised in: some of Silas' inner thoughts can become quite repetitive as the book progresses, which means that aspects can come across as heavy-handed in a way that I don't think was intentional. This book also engages with one of my all-time pet peeves when it comes to historical fiction, which is using a very modern American vernacular for a 19th-century boy's dialogue, which in turn feels like it pokes holes in the suspension of disbelief. Since I read the upcoming UK release, I'd be interested to see how the editorial process went for this one, since I know it's already been published in the US!

I don't want any of these comments to insinuate that I didn't like this book, because I did! It's really visceral in its description, and White captures a really effective emotional rollercoaster throughout: there's a particularly powerful scene when Silas encounters another trans person for the first time, and his overwhelming joy is infectious. However, as I mentioned, I think I went into it expecting a book that engaged more with the Gothic tropes that it utilises and had a stronger sense of place. A medical asylum horror? Definitely. A Victorian horror? Less definitely.

Thank you to Daphne Press for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

AJW is easily one of my top authors of 2024. I've read all three of his books this year, and each one has absolutely blown me away with the creativity.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth fantastically blends fantasy, historical fiction and horror into a gripping tale that I absolutely could not put down. This book doesn't hold back on representation or the realities of this time period, but allows for an almost positive ending in amongst the body horror (it's pretty gory!).

A 5* read, for sure.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

4.5 stars

Following Silas Bell, a young autistic trans man set in Victorian times who finds himself at a finishing school for 'sick girls', where the disappearance of students and the discovery of spirits begins an investigation that unearths the dark truths of the school and the society of which it is a part of.

'The Spirit Bares Its Teeth' is a novel of resilience, determination and bravery whilst highlighting troubles and battles many still face today. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful from start to finish. The writing was stunning and I was encaptured from the beginning, unable to turn away even during the darkest of moments.

This book hurt as much as it healed, and I could not recommend it enough.

Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for this truly superb arc. I cannot wait to read (devour) more from this author.

I was provided with an advanced copy of this book for review (ahead of it being published in the UK, I believe) through NetGalley.

This book is WONDERFUL. As a general rule, I'm a fantasy guy over a horror guy, but this is a fantastic blend of the two. The fantasy elements at play are simple but effective, with no complicated magic system or anything that necessitated too much explanation. I understood what was going on, both in the context of things the narrator knew and didn't feel the need to explain and also the things he didn't understand but the reader was meant to.

That leads me onto representation, which is just... I've been trying to put this into words when discussing this book with friends and I haven't been able to yet, but it goes something like this: I've always believed that representation is important, but I've never quite found things that represent me to this degree before. As someone who's transmasc and autistic, the way this book sets out some of the very complicated ways I relate to the world made me feel like the author had crawled into my brain. It was immensely gratifying.

This book is dark - it covers topics that I know would cause a lot of people to hesitate when recommending this book to its target audience. It handles these topics not delicately but with a surgeon's scalpel - cutting deeply and precisely, laying all the most important parts out for readers to see. It's absolutely fantastic work surrounding issues that are presented in a historical fiction context but their modern relevance is blatantly obvious.

This was a solid 4-4.5 when I got to the final couple of chapters of the book - and then the author pulled out more from the narrative and the book rocketed into incredible. This is a beautifully, painstakingly constructed book and it's very special.

This was my very first gothic horror book and I'm blown away. What a treat!

The story is set in Victorian London where the Veil between the living and dead has never been this thin, and 16-year-old trans and autistic Silas Bell would do anything to escape his fate as a Speaker wife. Unfortunately, this will lead him to be sent to Braxton's Sanatorium to be cured of Vail-sickness. He doesn't want this, he's not prepared for it, but he's certainly not ready for the horrors he will have to face and what needs to be done to stop it all.

This story is not for the faint of hearts, so be aware of every listed trigger warning because this book doesn't shy away! The writing is blunt, harrowing, gory and even cruel sometimes, just as the world around us can be. But it makes the book feel real even though magical elements are involved. I felt uncomfortable and angry to the point I wanted to set the world on fire (and it made me happy and genuinely cheer in the last chapter).

So, if you can handle all of this, I sincerely suggest you check out this book!

The perfect YA horror following the life of a young autistic trans man who is struggling to get society to accept his identity - even more difficult since he lives in Victorian times.

Add a trip to a haunted asylum for women with The Veil Sickness (Violet eyes that can see things), and you've got the perfect blend of spooky literature and social commentary that makes ND and trans young people centre stage in their own story, something I think is long overdue.

Fabulous book for young people.

I absolutely loved this one! Historical fiction with just the right amount of ghosts.
This is exactly how books with queer and neurodiverse characters should be written. You can tell that White writes from his own experiences rather than trying to create representative content jus to tick boxes.

I loved the story. Shocking, frustrating and even though it features magical realism it is so close to the horrific truth of the treatment of marginalised communities through-out history that it is a true horror story.

An autistic trans man trapped in a society which refuses to accept him for who he is is forced into a school to ‘cure’ his sicknesses—but dark secrets lie inside this school, and ghosts burst at the seams of the Veil.

A gorgeous, painful book which was at times hard to read, but ultimately not possible to put down. Silas is the sort of protagonist I want to read more of in YA—the way his internal monologue and thoughts on gender, pregnancy, love, etc are weaved into the narrative was perfect. I also loved the side characters (especially Isabella, Daphne and the groundskeeper!)

The prose, though often poetic, is never overly dense or challenging. The pacing was fast—if anything, I wanted more time to live in this world, to learn about the Speakers and their impact on society, but equally it feels like this book did what it wanted to do and no more. I liked that the ending was realistic and brutal, but left some space for hope.


So excited to read more from this author. Cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Daphne Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don't even know where to start with this review,

This book hurt so much, it was uncomfortable, painful and at the same time affirming.

More coherent thoughts to come soon.

But for now,I highly recommend this book (but not to everyone), please check the content warnings before you dive into this absolute masterpiece!!

"The Spirit Bares Its Teeth" is a novel following the story of Silas Bell. He is a trans boy who wants to be a surgeon. However, in London, in 1883, society refuses to acknowledge Silas as a boy and throws him into a girls' finishing school; a school for "sick" girls. At the school, ghosts of missing students start begging Silas to help them and when Silas starts investigating the matter, he finds himself with new, accepting friends and plenty of danger.

This was a brilliant novel! The writing was addicting and there were so many aspects of the plot and world-building I enjoyed. I liked the way the novel dealt with the Victorian patriarchy trying to justify cruelty upon those who do not fit into the rigid societal norms and expectations. It was not easy to read at times, but it's an important topic that I'm glad was handled well.

I was very intrigued by how the rabbit was used throughout the novel as well. I don't think I've ever come across another novel which expresses a character's inner thoughts through an animal motif. So, this was a really fascinating and creative way to tell us more about Silas' thoughts, emotions and fears (and hopes).

Similarly with "Hell Followed With Us", I don't often read horror novels, especially horror novels with a lot of detailed gore. There were a few sections I skipped over because it was a bit too much for me, however, I think I am slowly getting used to the more gory details.

Overall, this was an AMAZING novel and I will definitely be recommending it to others!

The Spirit Bares It Teeth beautifully captures the pain and fear of having to hide and mask who you are, and also the joy of being yourself and finding people like you. It's an angry and gory story but with a thread of hopefulness weaved throughout.

Silas and his world - an alternative Victorian London - are vividly drawn on the page, meaning as a reader you are swept into both the brutal awfulness of the situation he is in and the people around him, and also the little moments of connections and joy he finds.

Most of the story takes part in a mental institution/ school for "unwell girls", and through this setting, White rips apart the hypocrisy and brutality of Victorian patriarchy and its use of "female hysteria" as a means of control.

The use of the rabbit as the voice in Silas' head works brilliantly as a narrative device. It shows the fears and anxieties he's internalised from being brought up to hide and be ashamed of his differences (his autism and transness) and how he learns to overcome them.

This book had me riveted from start to finish, whether it was horrifying me with *that* caesarean scene, drawing me into its mystery, making me hate its many despicable characters, or bringing me joy for Silas and his little moments of connection.

5 star read for me. Loved every second of it. I recommend everyone to read this lovely book. The plot is amazing.

The Spirit Bares its Teeth is set in 1800s London, where violet eyed mediums can commune with the dead. It follows Silas, a 16 year old autistic trans boy who dreams of being a surgeon, not a man's wife, worthy only because of his violet eyes and uterus. In a desperate bid to escape, he poses as another man but his impersonation is caught. He's deemed to have "veil sickness" a disease where any woman who opens the veil descends into madness. Instead of being sent to Bedlam, a wealthy suit sweeps in and he is instead sent away to a finishing school to teach him how to be a proper lady and beat the madness away. As he learns of missing students, and the truth the headmaster is hiding, he discovers that the punishment for disobeying the patriarchal norms is worse than death.

This book was beautiful. I've highlighted parts that really spoke to me, and it was especially evocative when discussing the trans and autistic experience, eloquently describing the horrors of being perceived: "It is only when I step back to see it all through another’s eyes that I want to unravel it and carve the meat into a new, different, more acceptable shape. The only thing that will ever matter is how others see you. I want to take myself apart into something else, and if I cannot do that, I want to destroy every part of it that could ever be used against me. And if that is my eyes, or my womb, or all of it—" and the connection of girls and womanhood through being AFAB and raised as such: "I still connect with women. I find companionship with them, closeness that cannot be denied, because the world will always do its damnedest to see me as one of them. As long as we are seen the same, we will experience the same. Our lives will be linked. I will be held to the same unfair standards, punished under the same unjust rules. To separate how you are seen from who you are sometimes feels nigh impossible.". There was also an immaculate summary about my feelings as a doctor and a uterus: "know enough about pregnancy to be terrified of it, which is the only sensible reaction to discovering how it works." As well as a many tragically beautiful descriptions of grief: "Death never goes after those who deserve it. It only ever takes from those who aren’t ready." and the horrors of man: "why is it that when they hide their faces, men become monsters instead of angels?". I'll stop quoting the book now and let you enjoy it in its entire form, but God I want you all to read it immediately. I want to highlight it in its entirety.

I couldn't put this book down, and it was sad when it ended. It's an exquisitely haunting tale tackling patriarchy, identity, and complex relationships. Whilst the plot points were predictable for me, it was still satisfying: the blossoming love story and the ones that never got to be; the evil deeds committed by men; betrayal and courage and anger and cowardice and fight. Parts were akin to screaming at your TV for the character not to go up the stairs when the killer is chasing them, not to be alone in a room with a man. It did a great job at revealing information, even if I knew it already, especially early on when Silas is investigating the missing students. The world is immersive, and whilst the author notes taking historical liberties, I found everything worked and nothing pulled me out. I would have preferred more of the ghosts, opening the veil, talking to the spirits, etc but it didn't feel lacking (I'm just a spooky bitch). The horrors of man are far worse than ghosts could ever be. We're treated to small exerts from the ghosts perspective, and they are so deservedly angry. The book came the a satisfying conclusion (even if it would have preferred a more torturous end), and I want to read it for the first time again. It does feature dark themes, but none of it feels gratuitous - this is how a horror about transphobia should be done. It does not deadname for the readers sake nor try to justify itself. The queerness felt natural, as did the relationships and reactions to events. There is a kinship amongst the different characters, and I'm glad Silas had people he could trust.

Overall, this was piercingly beautiful, and whilst I wouldn't say not to more supernatural elements, a more brutal punishment, or a tad more vengeance, it was a fantastic read. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

This is the second novel that I have read by the author, and he gets several things right; first of all, writing in the first person, secondly, the pacing and active, visual language, and thirdly inventing interesting premises which combine important themes. The protagonist is an autistic and trans individual and it is best not to know much about the setting (hope you forget what you read in the promotional descriptions). The writer is also great at making the unusual, the gore, the gothic not disturbing, but entertaining and curious.

I have also found the titles of his books and the book covers extremely beautiful and fresh.

I look forward to reading more by this author. I am sure I will never be able to guess what premise and setting he will next come up with.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a queer gothic novel about an autistic trans man with medium powers who is locked in a haunted sanitorium. In late nineteenth century London, the Royal Speaker Society has risen to power due to the ability of its members to speak to and control the dead, with violet eyes a marker of these powers. Silas Bell is sixteen and desperately trying to escape the world in which he must be an obedient housewife instead of the surgeon he wants to be, but an attempt for freedom lands him at Braxton's Sanitorium and Finishing School, where people with so-called Veil Sickness are either cured into perfect wives or seem to disappear. He finds new allies, but also great danger at the sinister school.

Having read White's previous Hell Followed With Us, I was expecting something quite dark and gritty, and this certainly is that, a young adult novel that has a lot of horrifying things happen. The narrative centres around the "school" and what happens when Silas is there, with a pretty expected narrative of uncovering secrets and trying to find allies when everyone with power seems to be part of it. As it is so focused, a lot of the wider world and implications aren't really explored, so though this is in some ways historical fantasy, it is the gothic horror elements which feel more developed, though the historical setting is of course vital.

The characters are messy and interesting, and the softer side of the novel is in the connections between some of them, even when these don't come easily. Silas' relationship with Daphne in particular is very sweet, bringing a 'trans teens find each other' element to a harsh narrative. There are also interesting snippets of the ways in which Silas relates to and interacts with the girls in the school, both due to being a trans man in a closeted environment and due to being autistic.

This book is a gripping read, full of darkness, that combines some classic gothic elements with a story of surviving in a society that wants you to be completely unlike yourself.

Andrew Joseph White can do no wrong. If they have no fans, I am dead. EVERY NEW PUBLICATION GETS BETTER.

This is uncomfortable, eerie and disturbing and I have never wanted a book to last longer more than this. The characters were enthralling and the plot reveals itself in a slow burn release that I just couldn’t get enough of.

I cannot express how excited I am for Compound Fracture. May AJW write many many more books

This was the first book I read of the author and be sure that I will absolutely read more of his works. I went into The Spirit Bares Its Teeth knowjng I would be hotrified and sick to my stomach but this book is much more than that. It's about finding yourself and being seen by the world around you and accepted by it. I felt seen in Silas' autism and I loved him as a main character and what he represents.
The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I feel like the "one year later" section was a bit unneeded amd the book was complete with just the last chapter.

This book left me absolutely awestruck. Its unique blend of historical horror with supernatural and Victorian elements sets it apart, making it challenging to draw comparisons to other works. It's important to note the presence of trigger warnings, as some readers may find certain elements disturbing.

While the story started off a bit slow for me, I trusted the recommendations of other reviewers and persisted—and I'm so grateful I did. Silas, the main character, is trans and autistic, and I found myself wholeheartedly rooting for him as he navigates the oppressive society of 1883 London, resisting pressures to conform at every turn.

Do yourself a favor and dive into this book. If you're a fan of dark, spooky tales with supernatural and Victorian undertones, this is a must-read.

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

Short summary:
In 19th century London the Veil between the living and the dead has thinned. Mediums with violet colored eyes are the only ones able to communicate with the dead but there is a shady society, the Speakers, that keep them under their thumb. Sixteen year old Silas Bell is diagnosed with Veiled sickness and shipped away to Braxton’s Sanatorium where girls are turned into docile wives or simply disappear. When the ghosts of the missing girls reach out to him, he decides to help them but will he be able to without succumbing to the same fate?



This was the first book I’ve read from this author and I cannot wait to read more of them.
The writing style really draws you in, I was hooked from the very beginning. It is a very unique story and I kind of went in blindly but it did not disappoint in any way, shape or form. I’m that kind of person that closes their eyes when there’s something surgical happening during a tv show/movie so those passages were kind of hard to read for me but I understood the necessity of it. I adored the relationship between Silas & Daphne! I loved how they immediately could be their true selves with each other.

Btw; that plottwist at the end???

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review