the ending of this book will bump anyone’s rating up. in fact, it is an ending—which i’ve only felt one other time—that made me immediately revisit it in its entirety because it contextually flips you over yourself. and in mcdaniel style, it is with great heaviness one rates this book highly, but one also cannot help but do so.

Tiffany McDaniel writes an emotional, gut-wrenching story inspired by the unsolved murders of the Chillicothe Six. Instead of focusing on the serial killer, McDaniel focuses on the women, women who have odds stacked against them: victims of systemic poverty, generational abuse, and drug addiction. In other words, women who live on the savage side of life. However, McDaniel quickly points out these women were not born troubled. As children, they had hopes and dreams to be more than what surrounded them.

The Savage Side is my first book by Tiffany McDaniel. Her writing style is exceptional, as she skillfully portrays a brutal and unrelenting world that grips you emotionally. With her meticulous attention to character development, McDaniel keeps you invested in the story. She seamlessly weaves the plot and characters together to create an unforgettable, albeit heartbreaking, tale that will leave you wanting to read it more than once.

Dark. Haunting. I felt myself cringing and sad at multiple parts. Please make sure you are in the right head space before starting this book.

Twin sisters Arc and Daffy grow up in a poor neighborhood. They are raised by their addict mother and aunt. The only thing keeping them going is the love and wisdom from their grandmother. Entering their 20s, Daffy and Arc try to find their way while battling loss and addiction. During this time, fellow sex workers are found dead in the Chillicothe river.

Marketed as a mystery, but I found it to be more of a character study of women dealing with addiction. There is a little bit of mystery thrown in, since it is based on the unsolved murders of the Chillicothe Six. Beautiful writing and characters you truly won’t forget. By the end I felt deeply connected to Daffy and Arc. They felt real and my heart hurt for everything they went through. I will say, there is a twist at the end that caught me off guard. I honestly wish the author did without it…despite this, I still recommend this book. I think it would be perfect for a book club discussion.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARCg in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to buy the lipstick color they used on the cover of this book. Such a cool vibe. In this compelling narrative, the author deftly explores themes of love, loss, and redemption against a backdrop of vividly rendered settings. The characters leap off the page, their struggles and triumphs resonating with readers on a deeply emotional level. With a masterful blend of suspense and introspection, this book keeps readers eagerly turning pages until the very end. A testament to the power of storytelling, this is a book that lingers in the mind long after it's been read, inviting reflection and sparking conversation.

This was the first book I have read by this author and let me say it was the weirdest book I have ever read. It was one of those I can't really tell if I liked it or not. It didn't take very long for me to read it. I probably would still recommend this book.

"On the Savage Side" by Tiffany McDaniel is a raw and immersive journey through the complexities of love, loss, and survival in a harsh world. McDaniel's lyrical prose and vivid imagery paint a haunting portrait of characters grappling with their own demons and the unforgiving landscape of rural America. This gripping novel challenges conventions and leaves a lasting impression with its poignant storytelling and unforgettable characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

This is a well written book. It has some fine lines, a few well-conceived set pieces, a fair share of perceptive and insightful observations, and lean dialogue. That said, try as I might I found neither the characters, nor their situations, nor the overall narrative engaging enough to arouse or hold my curiosity and attention. As a consequence, it doesn't seem fair to write much more of a review, apart from encouraging inquisitive readers to give the book a try.

Can a book be beautifully written showcase the ugly side of addiction. If so, this book does that. It is a powerful but sad read.

I really enjoyed this author's writing style. I can't really explain why it was so appealing to me but it sucked me in and I didn't want to stop. I look forward to more from this author!

Interesting and plot driven. I didn’t find it overly engaging but enjoyed the concept. I struggled to finish it.

5/5⭐️

Narrative fiction inspired by the Chillicothe Six, On the Savage Side follows tightly-bonded twin sisters, Arcade and Daffodil, who are victims of generational trauma and addiction. Throughout their lives, they are left to fend for themselves in rural Ohio where bodies of women like them are found floating in the river, discarded like trash.

“A mother’s hands are hourglasses to her children. Our lives fall into yours as we pass the sands of time to you. I give you the grains of my unspent days and enough time to look back on a moment we both remember with love.”

After I read Betty, I was hooked on McDaniel’s writing. Her talent is so palpable; each and every sentence she writes is intentional. The prose is so effortless in this novel, and I truly feel like I’m a character myself in her novels. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m so impressed every. single. time. by McDaniel’s ability to effortlessly weave real-life experiences into fictional narratives.

As far as the plot goes, On the Savage Side does not disappoint. Each and every character is raw and dynamic, the sequence of events is both straightforward and winding. The ending? Totally unexpected.

TL;DR you can’t go wrong with a Tiffany McDaniel novel, and this one is a fantastic place to start exploring this author’s incredible art.

I started this book months ago and it was not catching my interest. I put it aside and recently picked it back up and was immediately engulfed in the story.

This is a powerful story of the generational effects of addiction and trauma told through the eyes of two girls as they grow up, Arc and Duffy.

I do think that this was a bit too long, given the heavy subject matter. Also recommend checking content warnings before diving in.

I do not know how to do this book justice but as someone who usually prefers plot driven over character driven stories, I have to say this was an exception. Beautiful writing in a haunting story.

On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel is a powerful novel set in Ohio based (with liberties) on the unsolved Chillicothe murders. At the heart, however, it's a story of sisterhood. Twins, Arlys and Daisy, have to navigate a harsh world.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy.

I know this book is among the favorites with reviewers but I had an extremely hard time with it. Every single woman in the story had a depressing narrative and I fully understand that was done intentionally to portray their poverty and lack of resources. However there were also instances where certain female characters seemed to do nothing and just be bystanders where they had some potential to do something, especially mothers protecting their daughters. I have a very hard time with books that show women as utterly defenseless and not wanting change. Some of the names and descriptions were also very repetitive, and the coping strategies adopted by the main character were bizarre and just downright depressing.

This was a very graphic book. It was disturbing to read at times. Haunting, gritty, and unsettling. There’s an uneasy feeling from the first page and it continues through all the twists, especially that last one!

I was gifted a copy of this book from Net Galley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor books in exchange for an honest review. This book is currently available. Tiffany McDaniel sure knows how to write a brutal story that keeps you reading! This is my third Tiffany McDaniel book and my third 5 star Tiffany McDaniel book. This book was a rough one to get through due to the subject matter but it was so well written. It was heart wrenching, made me angry at times, and I couldn't stop thinking of Arc and Daffy. Highly suggested.

I don't even know how to describe my feelings on this book. What an absolute heartbreaking, brutally breathtaking story. I have never read anything so incredibly difficult to read, yet it was so intriguing and deep that I couldn't stop reading. I plan to share it with my friends with proper trigger warnings.

On the Savage Side is a gritty book that follows the lives of a handful of women and their relationship to a crime. But honestly, the crime portion takes a backseat to the horror of their everyday lives. We follow them through abuse, addiction, and violence, which shapes them into the people they are. This book is certainly not for the faint of heart, as it features so much violence. The writing was amazing and was both understated and striking. The comparisons to those who pretty on the women to animals was both hard-hitting and completely appropriate. Overall, such an emotional read. It was hard to read but I just couldn't put it down.

Sisters against the world. A hauntingly beautiful journey through the life of two girls that had nothing but eachother to lean on. Written in a way that will have you wanting to soak in every sentence, this was a book that will stay with me for a very long time and is a real contender for my book of the year.

Shoutout to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

5 ⭐️