Name: C. J. Daley 's review of Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
Item: Such Sharp Teeth
Rating: 4
Author: C. J. Daley

Rachel Harrison

A young woman in need of a transformation finds herself in touch with the animal inside in this gripping, incisive novel from the author of Cackle and The Return. Rory Morris isn’t thrilled to be moving back to her hometown, even if it is temporary. There are bad memories there. But her twin sister, Scarlett, is pregnant, estranged from the baby’s father, and needs support, so Rory returns to the place she thought she’d put in her rearview. After a night out at a bar where she runs into an old almost-flame, she hits a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate, she’s attacked. Rory survives, miraculously, but life begins to look and feel different. She’s unnaturally strong, with an aversion to silver—and suddenly the moon has her in its thrall. She’s changing into someone else—something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she’s putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance? This darkly comedic love story is a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage, and vulnerability.

Such Sharp Teeth

Cassidy Nolan

“Just be careful,” I whisper. “I have such sharp teeth.”

He kisses me anyway. Not careful. Not afraid.

“Rory, I’ve been in love with you since the sixth grade,” he says. “When I saw you at the bar that night in October, I thought, ‘Really? Still?’ We hadn’t seen each other in years, and I was right back. A lot has changed. A lot 

 change. But turns out I’ll always be in love with you.”

I pull my eyes away from the night. I look at him. When he’s in front of me, there’s nothing else. He’s all there is.

She recommended books. Books about being the child of immature parents, about healing from trauma. It gave me all this perspective I didn’t know what to do with.

And it hatched this anger. There was suddenly so much of it. Too much.

I didn’t know how to experience it. I didn’t know how to hold it, where to put it.

When you’re sad, you cry. When you’re happy, you smile, you laugh. But what do you do when you’re angry? Not just mad, but filled with this ugly, consuming rage?

And the thing is, women aren’t allowed to be angry. Nobody likes a mad woman. They’re crazy, irrational, obnoxious, shrill.

If nothing happens, then I’m just a relieved idiot in a dog crate somewhere. If it does, well, fuck me, I guess.

I’m being tragically uncool. It’s kind of amazing how uncool I’m being, considering I’m actually pretty fucking cool.

I don’t think it’s lost on either of us that he’s waited fifteen years for this. Now that it’s happening, now that I’m here inside this kiss with him, it’s no wonder why it took me so long. This is a game-over kiss. It’s an electric, world-stopping, heart-cartwheeling, you’re-totally-fucked kiss.

I step toward it, holding my breath, preparing my apology to Spot or Bambi.

Ian’s so tall he blocks out the moon. When he’s in front of you, there’s nothing else. He’s all there is.

surtified™

I learned young how to pretend like bad things never happened

Bad things have a way of severing your life into “before” and “after.”

Lana Aaron

I’ve seen so many positive reviews for the author this year that I finally grabbed one of their books. I did the audio, and Kristen Sieh did a fantastic job with it.

On the surface, this is the quintessential werewolf story. A mysterious attack that ends in a bite. Strange healing, new appetite, an aversion to silver, and then of course, that first full moon, incredible pain, fur, and waking up bloody. But what the author has layered here is anything but typical. What could virtually function as a familial contemporary drama has been layered within this werewolf horror. Rory has returned home for a few months to help her twin sister out with the end of her pregnancy. She’s in need of something new, a change, a transformation, but the one she gets is anything but what she had in mind. And as she begins to work through the past she thought she had left behind, old friends and even old flings begin to make themselves known.

An additional layer that I thoroughly enjoyed throughout was the novel’s humor. The author has imbued this story, and even some of its more serious moments with some really great, tongue-in-cheek turns. From Rory’s dark, sarcastic millennial attitude, to her almost entirely meat driven diet, there is a sense of comic relief even when the beats turn emotional. I think as a novel taking on the werewolf trope that was a really wise and well done choice.

And while there are some darker notes here, especially those around sexual assault and compounded family trauma, the novel in essence is about bodily autonomy and choice. The mirroring of Rory losing her choice and freedom to this monstrous change to her sister’s fear and loss as she’s about to give birth and virtually have to completely relearn the idea of “self” really can’t be understated. The fact that they are twins, one with a past of trauma and the other without, really drives home that closeness as well. And together they learn that they can forgive and grow, to move forward.

The romantic side story in this did move a bit fast, but when you keep in mind their past together, it’s pretty understandable. His ability to see past her imperfections, including the monthly side with fangs, ties back into choice and the ability to move on. I will definitely read more from the author!

C. J. Daley 

I’ve seen so many positive reviews for the author this year that I finally grabbed one of their books. I did the audio, and Kristen Sieh did a fantastic job with it.

On the surface, this is the quintessential werewolf story. A mysterious attack that ends in a bite. Strange healing, new appetite, an aversion to silver, and then of course, that first full moon, incredible pain, fur, and waking up bloody. But what the author has layered here is anything but typical. What could virtually function as a familial contemporary drama has been layered within this werewolf horror. Rory has returned home for a few months to help her twin sister out with the end of her pregnancy. She’s in need of something new, a change, a transformation, but the one she gets is anything but what she had in mind. And as she begins to work through the past she thought she had left behind, old friends and even old flings begin to make themselves known.

An additional layer that I thoroughly enjoyed throughout was the novel’s humor. The author has imbued this story, and even some of its more serious moments with some really great, tongue-in-cheek turns. From Rory’s dark, sarcastic millennial attitude, to her almost entirely meat driven diet, there is a sense of comic relief even when the beats turn emotional. I think as a novel taking on the werewolf trope that was a really wise and well done choice.

And while there are some darker notes here, especially those around sexual assault and compounded family trauma, the novel in essence is about bodily autonomy and choice. The mirroring of Rory losing her choice and freedom to this monstrous change to her sister’s fear and loss as she’s about to give birth and virtually have to completely relearn the idea of “self” really can’t be understated. The fact that they are twins, one with a past of trauma and the other without, really drives home that closeness as well. And together they learn that they can forgive and grow, to move forward.

The romantic side story in this did move a bit fast, but when you keep in mind their past together, it’s pretty understandable. His ability to see past her imperfections, including the monthly side with fangs, ties back into choice and the ability to move on. I will definitely read more from the author!

I liked this a lot. It has a bit of a "Teen Wolf" for adults vibe to it; it is fun and the characters are likeable and do things that normal people their age do. The writing was also flowed super easily. Just a refreshing read (maybe especially after my previous audiobook read nearly took me out).

Put my own rage into words, expressing feelings I didn't even know could be expressed, let alone shared. An amazing read, and a fantastic portrayal of trauma.

Danielle Raymond 

For all the girls who just need to lie down and rot sometimes.

An ode to the hopelessness that comes after the loss of bodily autonomy and a blindingly smart take on what happens when rage is swallowed down one too many times.

explores what it feels like to have none of your expectations met—to watch them fall more than short—but still manage to scrape yourself off of the floor and take all the crap the world gives you and mold it into something worth holding on to with both hands.

Sisterhood and motherhood and daughterhood (and the journey between them) all feature very strongly here. In some pretty heartbreaking and familiar ways.

A truly riveting tale about the nature of forgiveness and the power that comes from self-acceptance.

Disclaimer: 4 stars simply because I was able to deduce the one true mystery in this book very early on. Regardless, this is going on my re-read shelf for forever.

Catherine

For all the girls who just need to lie down and rot sometimes.

An ode to the hopelessness that comes after the loss of bodily autonomy and a blindingly smart take on what happens when rage is swallowed down one too many times.

Such Sharp Teeth explores what it feels like to have none of your expectations met—to watch them fall more than short—but still manage to scrape yourself off of the floor and take all the crap the world gives you and mold it into something worth holding on to with both hands.

Sisterhood and motherhood and daughterhood (and the journey between them) all feature very strongly here. In some pretty heartbreaking and familiar ways.

A truly riveting tale about the nature of forgiveness and the power that comes from self-acceptance.

Fangs, fur, and all.

Disclaimer: 4 stars simply because I was able to deduce the one true mystery in this book very early on. Regardless, this is going on my re-read shelf for forever.

A light and goofy tale about what happens when you go home to the town you grew up in, and the guy that used to have a crush on you is hot now, and you might also have been bitten by a warewolf recently. 

Apiecalypse Jen

Sweet lil romance with a touch of horror. 

Kristen G

Okay but i've never read a werewolf novel so I didn't really know what to expect, but this was pretty cool. It was gory and gruesome and disgusting and unapologetically detailed and I love every bit of it,from the bubbling boiled and burned skin from silver to the chicken and deer she swollowed and gnashed whole. I'm not going to lie, I really badly wanted Ian to be the wolf who bit her. That would actually be so cool, but nah to be honest that's kind of predicatble I guess. 

But I also feel this book was kinda banal, it didnt really mean much to me and whilst it does have loads of different aspects and stuff involved, it didn't really mean much at all.

Okay but i've never read a werewolf novel so I didn't really know what to expect, but this was pretty cool. It was gory and gruesome and disgusting and unapologetically detailed and I love every bit of it,from the bubbling boiled and burned skin from silver to the chicken and deer she swollowed and gnashed whole. I'm not going to lie, I really badly wanted Ian to be the wolf who bit her. That would actually be so cool, but nah to be honest that's kind of predicatble I guess. 

But I also feel this book was kinda banal, it didnt really mean much to me and whilst it does have loads of different aspects and stuff involved, it didn't really mean much at all.

Pretty average.

It's funny how sometimes you come across books when you need them the most. TMI: A few weeks ago I was having an unbearably hard time; more than usual. And as I was venting to my cousin I said "sometimes I just want to become a wolf. Then I'll have an excuse to let loose and be free and wild." I've been filled with such rage but society can't handle angry women and so, well I haven't turned into a werewolf or screamed and howled at the moon.  

But then I come across Such Sharp Teeth in the library and my goodness it was goddess-sent. I could feel in my bones Rory's rage at the world and the power she felt when finally able to embrace and release it. I know (as many of us women do) how it feels to be out of control of your body. To have zero say what happens to it. Reading how Rory takes her trauma, her inability to fully control it and turn it into something great, made me feel like I could do anything. 

I appreciated it that alongside Rory's character growth, we get bits of her twin sister's as well who is pregnant and not sure how to feel about it. I think many people who are able to get pregnant aren't sure how they feel about it though. Are on the cusp of wanting and not. Are grieving the loss of control of their bodies and the potential loss of the life they could have had. I appreciate that the author included this perspective because not ALL potentially birthing people actually want to have kids and not all people have wonderful birthing experiences if they end up deciding that they do want kids. 

Okay I've gone on a tangent. Here's one more which is not really a spoiler but sort of? (Read at your own risk)... I was sadden that Rory's mother could never completely own up to her mistakes as a parent. We know that parents do the best that they can but that still doesn't excuse what they put their kids through. I was hoping for a bit of closure however, the author kept this relationship in the book pretty realistic and I appreciate that as well. 

Okay I'm done. Read this book please and lets become werewolves together. 

Gisela Ayala 

It's funny how sometimes you come across books when you need them the most. TMI: A few weeks ago I was having an unbearably hard time; more than usual. And as I was venting to my cousin I said "sometimes I just want to become a wolf. Then I'll have an excuse to let loose and be free and wild." I've been filled with such rage but society can't handle angry women and so, well I haven't turned into a werewolf or screamed and howled at the moon.  

But then I come across Such Sharp Teeth in the library and my goodness it was goddess-sent. I could feel in my bones Rory's rage at the world and the power she felt when finally able to embrace and release it. I know (as many of us women do) how it feels to be out of control of your body. To have zero say what happens to it. Reading how Rory takes her trauma, her inability to fully control it and turn it into something great, made me feel like I could do anything. 

I appreciated it that alongside Rory's character growth, we get bits of her twin sister's as well who is pregnant and not sure how to feel about it. I think many people who are able to get pregnant aren't sure how they feel about it though. Are on the cusp of wanting and not. Are grieving the loss of control of their bodies and the potential loss of the life they could have had. I appreciate that the author included this perspective because not ALL potentially birthing people actually want to have kids and not all people have wonderful birthing experiences if they end up deciding that they do want kids. 

Okay I've gone on a tangent. Here's one more which is not really a spoiler but sort of? (Read at your own risk)... I was sadden that Rory's mother could never completely own up to her mistakes as a parent. We know that parents do the best that they can but that still doesn't excuse what they put their kids through. I was hoping for a bit of closure however, the author kept this relationship in the book pretty realistic and I appreciate that as well. 

Okay I'm done. Read this book please and lets become werewolves together. 

Will post my full thoughts later...but kinda loved this more than Cackle. Def love Harrison's writing style and bringing the supernatural to the real world and real-life things.

(Bre)anne✨

TW to be added later

Will post my full thoughts later...but kinda loved this more than Cackle. Def love Harrison's writing style and bringing the supernatural to the real world and real-life things.

Lana Aaron &
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

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Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison