Super creepy and poetic Southern (Ohio) Gothic.
Subversive and feminist while telling a very ugly truth.
Less of a thriller than a reckoning

If you read one new release this year, please let it be On The Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel. Tiffany McDaniel, who is a fellow Ohioan, writes from the most beautiful/raw/honest place that just gets me perfectly in my feels. I will be a forever fan of hers. Out February 14th. Thank you @netgalley & @aaknopf for the arc.

***Do not read my review of this if you want to go in knowing nothing. I started with the editor’s note at the beginning which offers a different way to read this.

On the Savage Side is the story of an Appalachian town where women are disappearing and being found in the River, likely all by the same killer. Our story centers around two sisters who might be next. We follow them from young girls into the very same young women being targeted.

That’s the plot, but that’s not what this is really about. The editor’s note at the front of my ARC lets us know this is going to make us consider our fascination with serial killers in a new light as it is based on the unsolved murder case of the Chillicothe Six. It also tells us this is to be read twice. The second time to trace all the bread crumbs the author leaves us from the very beginning. Since I had that in mind, the twist actually didn’t completely surprise me. And I’m glad I had this in mind since I think I may have thrown my kindle otherwise. It was great to chat with @kellyhook who did NOT read the editor’s note and was floored.

I also need to note that this is one of the most brutal books I’ve ever read. Several scenes were very very hard to read and there are a whole lot of content warnings. And remember, this book is based on UNsolved murders. It’s a gorgeously written eulogy to unseen women everywhere packed with some chilling and very difficult content.

If you liked Betty or all this sounds okay to you, definitely try this. Thank you so much to @knopf for this advanced copy. On the Savage Side publishes 2.14

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for this advance copy.
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I was so impressed with McDaniel’s previous novel, Betty, that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this newest release. Like Betty, this novel is full of disturbing and difficult subject matter. But unlike Betty, this one left me feeling sad and depressed. I couldn’t find any bits of hope or resilience to balance out the darkness and despair. There were several sections where it was difficult to tell whether what was happening was real, a conscious imagining, a nightmare, or a drug fueled hallucination. Often it would quickly switch from one to the other. Several times while reading I really wanted to set this book aside, but I was very invested in Arc and Dafffy and had to know how things ended for them. It wasn’t a “bad” book, it was just too dark for me.

I was hesitant to read this one because I read the trigger warnings and also heard it was a heavy, heavy sucker punch of a book. I am so glad and grateful that I did and for the experience it awarded me. I feel different after reading this. It is just one of the most nuanced, layered, haunting, poetic, evocative and darkest novels I’ve ever read. I was not expecting to read this in a day but I did because the soul of the characters, McDaniel’s prose/clear, strong voice and message were just way too hard to step away from. I love that the author gave agency, power, and voices to the women who disappeared from her home state. The amount of empathy shown to each character made my heart swell and taught me a lot as a public librarian. It’s so easy to label, blame, and discard those suffering from addiction. This mentality obscures the institutionalized/ ingrained violence against women (especially those who are not “good”) and it rocked me to my core just how pervasive this is. Addiction is everywhere, but we’d rather punish than rehabilitate. I’m so absolutely haunted but this. Tiffany McDaniel is a powerhouse and we all aren’t worthy. Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the advanced copy.

Daffodil and Arcade are twin sisters growing up in the chaos of poverty and addiction. This novel is a coming of age story that takes a hard look at the environment these girls grew up in and how it shaped the path their lives took. It's also set against the backdrop of a mystery as local women begin disappearing with their bodies turning up in the river.

This was my first Tiffany McDaniel book and all I can say is "Wow!" I was blown away. I don't often designate someone as an auto-buy author off of one book, but I'm ready to do so for McDaniel. I will happily read anything she writes and will definitely be reading her other two novels soon (though maybe not immediately, as I definitely need to recover after this one).

I ended this book speechless and it has lived rent-free in my mind for the past week. McDaniel did such a great job at narrating the bitter effects of generational poverty and addiction. She captured so much of these circumstances and the role that these factors and the environment the girls grew up in had on their lives. These are heavy topics but McDaniel deftly maneuvered them in ways that were insightful and compassionate.

In addition to the themes and overall story arc, McDaniel also created well rounded characters who you couldn't help but hope for, even though early on the author tells you just what to expect. Her ability to craft such full characters is a major part of why this novel hits so strongly. Daffy and Arc's story gave me such pause, because while they are fictional characters, they felt real. They felt like so many individuals that you could find across the US today. I was invested in them, had hope for them, and felt my heart break for them. It is the reader's connection to these characters that makes the story. Without such expertly crafted characters, this book would not hit the same.

Additionally, the layout and the path this novel took was also perfect. I often prefer things with a linear timeline, but McDaniel's approach in this novel worked flawlessly. Pieces came into place at just the right time to hit with such a strong impact.

I struggled to write a review that I felt would do this story justice. I think McDaniel is immensely talented. She is a masterful storyteller and I can't pick out a single thing that I would change about this novel. It's only January, but I believe I may have just read my book of the year!

I recommend this book to everyone! Though I do recommend any reader that has triggers to review the trigger warnings for this book beforehand as there are a lot of heavy topics.

This is a beautiful, haunting, heartbreaking tale of twin sisters desperate to become more than their upbringing. It’s a stunning tribute to the Chillicothe Six, and to victims of unsolved murders everywhere. If you love purple prose with your serial killer thrillers, get this one right now!

Wow now I need to go to TM’s backlist and read “Betty!” This was quite an experience to read folks. This book is inspired by the unsolved murders of the Chillicothe Six in the small rural town of Chillicothe, Ohio. Tiffany McDaniel has written a novel that is raw, violent and utterly heartbreaking, and one that most certainly, after reading, compels you to be more mindful of your loved ones. Kudos to TM for this well-told, tragic + unimaginable story.👏🏻 4.5 stars — Pub. 2/14/23

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

On the Savage Side is a devastating coming-of-age story, based on the true story of 6 missing women in Chillicothe, Ohio. Set in rural Appalachia, similarly to Demon Copperhead, life is bleak and poverty is rampant. So is heroin use. The two sisters at the center of this story are twins, trying to survive in a home with their mother and aunt, addicts and prostitutes. As much as they try, the girls succumb to the life that they were raised with. As young women start to disappear, only to be found floating in the river, Arc, one of the twins, tries to make sense of it but only gets herself in trouble. This is the second book I've read by this author and her writing is exquisite. This is not an easy book to read--there is rampant drug use and violence against women-- but I found myself drawn into the story and had difficulty putting it down. I think it is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

I was very disappointed with this book and quit about half-way through. I found the writing to be heavy-handed and the characterizations dark but limited. I really wanted to like this novel because, as a clinical social worker, I am very interested in poverty, addiction and the treatment of women. Despite my interests, I could not finish this novel.

This is my first book by this author and I didn't know what to expect going in.

Daffodil and Arcade are twin sisters growing up in a life of poverty, drugs and prostitution. As you read the story you realize how hard it is to overcome and get out of that life for something better. Told from times when the girls are young and in adulthood

You can't help but feel for the twins who's life seems doomed from the start.

Make no mistake this is a gritty book and based on real events.

I had a hard time reading this one. Usually I can get past the dark topics with some ease, but not this one. The flowery writing that so many other reviewers seemed to love just felt wrong to me. The wording didn't match the content. I guess this writing style just isn't for me. This is the only book I've read where the river talks.

Many, many other people loved this book, so I'm an outlier here. Don't let my opinions stop you from giving it a try.

Many thanks to netgalley and Knopf for the arc.

3.5

I think this book is a dark, beautiful and hauntingly heartbreaking look at lives lost too soon, addiction, poverty and loss.

The writing style is lyrical, flowery and even though it’s done well and written beautifully, it is also very dense and requires all of your attention to move through it and keep up. I had a particularly hard time with this and that made this a more challenging read for me.

Ultimately, I think it perfectly captured the bleak sadness that it was working to illustrate for readers. I found Arc and Daffy endearing and likable. I was a huge fan of Mamaw Milkweed and the role she played in their lives as the children of an addict. I am always in the mood for a secondary caregiver who fills the gaps that primary caregivers leave open.

I’m grateful to the author for sending me the digital arc to enjoy, I will definitely be reading more from them in the future.

Rounded up from a 2.5, this one is based on true events in Ohio. With that being said it is fictional, and the horrendous nature of these events is where the truth comes from. It’s a dark, dark book but the writing style is very poetic in most parts and thus is a stark contrast to the content. This is a book you have to pay attention to while reading - there’s a lot to unpack as you look at the lives of these young girls and women that are struggling to survive. There are obvious dark themes - murder, poverty, child abuse - so keep that in mind for triggers. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Wow. This is my first book by Tiffany McDaniel and I am such a fan! I loved the beautiful writing about such a horrifying subject. My heart broke for Arc and Daffy. This novel focuses on the victims and gives them a voice. It’s a hard look into the world of drug addiction and I had to put it down several times because of how heavy it was in parts. The last 20% or so really blew me away.

You will find yourself feeling awful for how Arcade and Daffodil were raised and verbally and sexually abused. It is so vividly described and one of the men that rapes a child is even a police officer. They learn that they must keep silent about the abuse they have suffered. The girls make up an imaginary world where they can escape the harsh realities of what is happening and call themselves Queens. Their mother and aunt are prostitutes and they end up the same.

Arc suffers guilt on trying to keep her sister safe. She is tormented as all her her friends die and are put in the river. No one cares because they are poor and prostitutes.

The vivid descriptions and the abuse they suffered will stick with you as it is just so gut wrenchingly sad to read about their ordeal and that no one stepped in to help them. The author did a great job creating villians and how vial some people can be. This book is not for the faint of heart but such a mesmerizing read.

I like how she gave the description of a savage side and a beautiful side and how you could make the savage side beautiful. A great analogy for life and how to look at the same thing from different views.

How sad is this haunting literary thriller inspired by the murders of six women in Chillicothe, Ohio and later known as the Chillicothe Six! It is haunting to hear the voices of their past struggles, their laughter and their demise. Growing up in Chillicothe, they revealed their hopes, dreams, and aspirations to grow up to be famous.

"We had hopes and dreams of being something more. Our dream wasn't to give ourselves away. That much is true."

Twin girls are depicted and one of them we know will become a victim: Arcade (Arc) and Daffodil (Daffy). Their parents struggled with drug addiction and they made a vow to their grandmother Mamaw Milkweed, who looked after them, never to become like them. It is heartbreaking and raw to see the path their lives took. Their generational chaos caught up with them in severe form of trigger warnings: sexual assault, child abuse, and drug abuse. I was deeply disturbed and carried high hopes throughout that their life would get better. But, this is more of a story about their lives and imagination as any child has even in their darkest most harrowing moments.

I had not heard about this but have traveled to Chillicothe, Ohio to the World Series and could not get past the smell of the paper mills in this town. In the book they mention the smell, but they loved their old town and looked past it. I also could not get over the string of prisons that dotted the landscape before arriving. I had no idea so many existed until our trip. The struggles this town and family face is real across America. It appears as a never ending cycle that I had hoped they would be able to break. Judge them? These girls will let you know, they lived in poverty and found no other solution.

The narrator Arc leads the story from her memories. It was a creative portrayal and sometimes quite lyrical, which I read is the author's theme in all of her books. I loved the character Mamaw Milkweed who took a step forward to guide her granddaughters, but after her death their lives became darker and more disturbing!

"Somewhere in that very conversation, someone will say our names. The names of the women whose bodies spent their death in the river, like me, disappeared in the unsolved case that today is known as the Chillicothe Six."
Take heart! It's powerful! This will chill your soul for a better life for so many. Outstanding writing and research from this author which happened in her home state.
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
▫️Thank you @aaknopf & @netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to review this amazing book.

-On The Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel
-Release date February 14th 2023
⭐️5,000 stars (seriously)

⚪️ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: A literary thriller inspired by the true story of six missing Chillicothe Ohio women, whose murders remain unsolved. Twin sisters Arc and Daffy only know a violent world filled with drugs, prostitution, and heartbreak. But there is always hope, and together they hold onto it as well as their incredible bond. Right to the very bitter end.

▫️ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Wow. Wow wow wow! I knew this was going to be good but it far exceeded my expectations! As far as I am concerned, McDaniel is thee literary queen 👑 No one can tell a story like she does. If you haven’t read any of her books, you are truly missing out.

The characters have settled in my heart (right along side Betty), built a home there, and forever they will stay.

The material is brutal and I would be lying if I told you this was an easy one to get through. It is raw, violent and ugly but also so tragically beautiful with so much hope. I feel like I’m not even making sense. But that’s what this book did to me. It left me feeling like I completely lack the ability to review a book in a way that gives it all the justice it deserves.

❕I think it needs to be said that this book is *loaded* with trigger warnings. If you check them and feel like you can, You. Need. To. Read. This. Book! You NEED Tiffany McDaniel to fill up your book shelves!

I now believe Tiffany McDaniel's writing just isn't for me: the overly poetic language and the clunky dialogue doesn't leave much of an impact.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Netgalley ARC - Pub Date: Feb 14, 2023
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On The Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel is a gut-wrenching shocker of a story about addiction and murder. Specifically, the author develops this fictional story based on the true story of the “Chillicothe Six,” who went missing from the poverty and drug-addicted small town of Chillicothe, Ohio. I have read at least four books in the past year about the curse of opioid addiction, and this book will haunt me for a very long time. The two twin sisters, Arcade and Daffodil, are born one minute apart, and that beginning may have been the best and only good day in their lives. This story is scary, sad, harrowing, tragic, frightful, and honest. Born to an addicted mother, a dead father, a grandmother who loves them but can’t save them, and a crazy drug-fueled aunt, these girls don’t stand a chance. Nature and nurture are a fact of life, and no matter what, they were born to lose. They were born into a lifestyle that sucked the life out of them slowly. You can watch your own mother’s destructive life of prostitution to buy drugs and despise her for it. Still, one day, you will be looking in a mirror that reflects the toil of a druggie's face of vacant eyes, endless days of doing whatever to get your next fix, and eventually giving up your life. This story is VERY WELL TOLD, and the author doesn’t flinch in her description of this town where hope goes to die. It took me ten days to finish, but if you can, I challenge you to read “On The Savage Side” for a real-life look at trying to survive in unforgiving circumstances. The fact that this novel is based on factual events is shocking. Not every story ends well. #drugs #prostitution #fantasy #wastedlives #opiods #heroin #deadgirls #unresolved #murder #hopelessness #TRIGGERS #fiction #literaryfiction #mystery @netgalley @aaknopf #knopfpublishinggroup #book #books #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #tiffanymcdaniel
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Knopf Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Pub Date: Feb. 2023.

This is not a story for the faint hearted. More a rolling history of desperation than a murder thriller, On the Savage Side tells the story of twins Arc and Daffy. While the book is inspired by local murders, McDaniel has spun a beautifully written tale of first children, then women trying to outrun the destiny projected upon them by tragedy and poverty.
This is a sad story, but I still loved it and recommend it to those who enjoy learning about the obstacles in life that some face.