Tiffany does it again! Pure magic - and by magic I mean heart crushing grief and a deep dive into the realities of poverty, addiction, and the deep impacts of the environments we are born into.
I absolutely adore everything this woman writes. Stunning writing, incredible depth of character, shocking twists (literal gasps came out of my mouth), and all the feels.
Thank you so much for allowing me to read this and provide feedback. Unfortunately I have none - it’s beautiful, in true Tiffany fashion.

Arcade and Daffodil are twins with a poor home life. They use their imaginations to escape together. As an adult, Arcade looks back upon her life while trying to avoid a killer and generational ghosts that haunt her.

This was such an emotional and hard hitting read. There are some major trigger warnings to be aware of (addiction, child abuse, sexual abuse, animal cruelty). I love books and dysfunctional families and the relationships , and friendships were all so interesting. The language and poetry was typical of Tiffany McDaniel, securing her spot as one of my favorite authors! This was a pretty genuine portrayal of addiction and the people that enable and support us in different ways.

“All the sadness goes away. The warmth washes over you. It’s the most magnificent thing. It makes me feel like glass. The way it breaks me into pieces. But I love being broken by it.”

On the Savage Side comes out 2/14.

Absolutely gorgeous prose, and an extremely important story told with empathy and love. Tiffany McDaniel just does not miss, this was one of my favorites of the year.

As always no one writes a book like Tiffany can. The layers she shows of a character. In on the savage side her third I have read of hers. We follow two twin girls as they struggle with poverty, pain and addiction. This raw sad tale will leave you thinking about it for years to come.

On The Savage Side is Tiffany McDaniel's third novel - I'm not sure I was ready for another novel that turns my insides and rips my heart out.

Inspired by the murders of the Chillicothe Six, McDaniel takes us deep inside a family struggling with addiction, poverty, and abuse. The reader knows from the beginning that this story is going to end in death, yet McDaniel weaves the sadness and tragedy with folklore, fables, and character storytelling. McDaniel's character development is second to none - you will feel all of the emotions right from the first page, and at times, you'll both love and hate the same characters.

On The Savage Side is not a fast read - you will need to read every word. There is a mystery/ true crime element at work in this novel, but McDaniel most successfully brings light to a marginalized group in our society, and she makes their story beautiful. I would consider this to be somewhat risky writing because I have seen other authors attempt to do the same and fail while McDaniel is authentic and organic in her portrayal of this group.

To be honest, I've never cried writing a book review, so I'm not surprised that it is a McDaniel novel that brings tears to my eyes while I reflect upon my reading. McDaniel is one of the most progressive and talented authors of our time.

Thank you to Tiffany for an ARC in exchange for review.

Wow. On the Savage Side is a tough one. My emotions were all over the place and completely jacked up; melancholy, rage, heartbreak.......Ooof, my head is still spinning.

McDaniel paints a vivid & shocking portrait of twin girls growing up in poverty, completely neglected, assaulted, discarded. What follows is a path of desperation & destruction that will break your heart.

There's love here too though. Especially between these two sisters, that’s so big, it feels tangible.

This book is heavy & raw, difficult to read and oh so beautifully written. This book will stay with me for a long time. It’s my first by McDaniel but certainly not my last!

4 stars! And big thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
ttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5099689006

On the Savage Side is one of those books that sneaks up on you and takes all the air out of your lungs in the process. Beautifully written and equally horrifying at the same time, twin sisters Daffy & Arc have struggled more than most children - born to a widowed mom with heroin problem who relies on prostitution for her next fix, the girls end up in unspeakable situations, but the skill in which McDaniel tells this story is so beautiful , you will want to rescue the girls yourself.

This book has a lot of triggers so be sure to do some research if need be.

Thank you to Knopf for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

CONTENT WARNING: addiction, mention of death of a parent, grief, graphic depictions of drug use, gore, violence, blood, child neglect, prostitution, sexual abuse, death, murder, harm to animals, torture

From McDaniel’s other two books, I knew this one was going to be powerful, but I had no idea how hard this one was going to hit. And it scored a direct shot right to the feels, making me get attached to these women, even knowing what was going to happen. I found myself praying for a happy ending, even when I really didn’t think it was going to come, because that isn’t how McDaniel rolls.

If your life hasn’t been touched by addiction, it’s really easy to look down from a high horse. But when it has, this book hits completely differently. Arcade and Daffodil are twin sisters who are born into a life of chaos, with parents who are addicted to heroin. The story opens with their mother hanging up their father’s clothing in the windows after his overdose death. They live in a house with their mother and aunt, both of whom are addicted to heroin and support themselves through prostitution. The only stable spot in their life is their grandmother, who periodically takes custody of the girls, but relinquishes them back into their mother’s custody when she cleans up her act enough. However, it never sticks, and they’re subjected to neglect and wind up raising themselves.

You can already predict that this is going to set the stage for them to follow in the footsteps of their mother and aunt, and if you guessed that, you’d be right. Their life doesn’t improve, even though Daffy has an incredible talent for swimming and Arc expresses an interest in archaeology from a young age. We never see their mother or aunt encourage them to do anything positive with their talents, or even show them any love, affection, or even a tiny bit of care, and it’s heartbreaking. Reading about what the twins go through as children isn’t for the faint of heart, and the content warnings are rough—most of them are depicted pretty graphically and on-page, so beware before going into this of what you’re getting into.

Even with all of this, the story combines a feeling of claustrophobic and crushing despair and magical, flowery, lyrical writing. These women work to incorporate beauty into the ugliness of their daily lives, and despite everything happening around them, they cling to each other to develop the loving, family connections that they lack. I loved the bonds between the Chillicothe Queens, even as death is breathing down their necks, whether it’s from heroin or whoever is killing women in their town.

I found myself so invested in the stories of the women, even more so than discovering who was killing them. The tension amps up throughout the story, and it’s almost as if you can feel the net closing in around them, especially as the women in their circle start to disappear little by little. But what this story does most beautifully is painting them as individuals, rather than defining them by the choices they make. They’re each unique people with hopes, dreams, goals, and regrets, not simply addicts or prostitutes. That’s what they do, but it isn’t who they are underneath, and it’s just another part of the net that closes in around them.

This is a difficult read, but it’s extremely deep and powerful, and it has officially cemented McDaniel’s place as one of my favorite new authors. She’s one to watch, with a strong message and an incredible talent. If she isn’t on your radar, she should be.

“On the Savage Side” – Tiffany Daniel

Get ready to see A LOT of praise for this book, judging by the early reviews on NetGalley and GoodReads. I saw “Betty” all over Instagram and I expect the same for this one.

“On the Savage Side” is loosely based on the Chillicothe Six, impoverished women who found themselves victims of a suspected serial killer, as of now unsolved cases. While these murders occurred in 2014 and 2015, McDaniel places her tale in the 70s and 90s, tracing the lives of twins Arcade and Daffodil. To say that they are vulnerable is an understatement: their mother is a heroin addict and sex worker, and they live in poverty in the Appalachians. Several men arrive to abuse and take advantage of all the women in this book in all forms, not just “johns” and drug dealers but also police and others in authority who look down on them due to their place in society.

What follows is not up my street, bordering on misery porn for me. The lives and traumas of all the characters are told in both graphic detail and obtuse metaphor, somehow at the same time, to the point I found this a real slog to get through (it’s close to 500 pages, I don’t feel it needed to be). I think I can see what the author is going for here, and there are points where the stories of the twins mixed with the old folktales of the area really soar, but I just found this too much emotionally and literarily for me. That said, I reckon people out here will get on with it much better than I did. It certainly has merits, and other reviews I’ve seen have been way more positive. Feeling this could be a “A Little Life” type of book, incredibly Marmite.

Thank you to @netgalley, @knopf, @pantheonbooks and @vintageandanchor for an ARC copy in return for an honest review. On The Savage Side is released on 14th February, and it seems like the perfect Valentine’s gift….

Did you read “Betty”? Is this on your radar?

This book was bleak, thoughtful, so incredibly dark but at the same time hopeful and honest and beautiful. Giving a voice to the voiceless in such a tender way is an incredible act and Tiffany McDaniel did it with ease.

Thank you to the publishers for the arc.

Tiffany McDaniel's debut novel, Betty, was one of my favorite books of last year. I was definitely excited to see a new one from this author, and it did not disappoint! Very enjoyable read.

I was not ready for this new Tiffany McDaniel’s book, ya’ll. It completely wrecked me.

ON THE SAVAGE SIDE is the second novel I’ve had the honor of reading before it hit shelves and I think it is my favorite. It is inspired on an unsolved murder case of the Chillicothe Six - six women who went missing in the rural town of Chillicothe, Ohio between the spring of 2014 and summer of 2015. Following twin sisters, Arcade and Daffodil, ON THE SAVAGE SIDE weaves the story of the two sisters as they navigate friendship, generational trauma, poverty, drug abuse, and sex work.

I feel like I can’t truly do it justice talking about this work because it is so layered. I think it's really about many different things that are adjacent to the lives of the sisters. McDaniel is a master storyteller. Her work is thoughtful and gut wrenching in the most satisfying of ways. Everything falls into place in ways that are unexpected. Her lyrical prose is stellar and truly her own.

This a heavy read that is full of darkness lurking in every corner, but there is also beauty and hope. There is so much respect and love in the writing of the Chillicothe Queens, the young women who find themselves forever intertwined with the twins and us, the readers, too.

On THE SAVAGE SIDE is beautiful, haunting, and a stunning tribute to the forgotten. You’ll never forget it.

I hate to say this, but this book did nothing for me. I absolutely loved Tiffany McDaniel's debut novel, "The Summer that Melted Everything", and I haven't gotten a chance to read her sophomore effort, "Betty" - but I had high hopes for "On the Savage Side". The main problem is the writing style. McDaniel is a gifted writer, but her prose is too flowery for my taste. She is such a descriptive writer, but this is her downfall. Instead of moving the plot along, she tends to over-embellish the details of things that don't add anything to the overall story. Too much exhibition. This book could've been something special, but the plot is so watered down by the prose. Also, this book is too long. It was such a struggle to get through, and the pay-off wasn't even worth it in the end. So frustrating.

Thank you, Netgalley and Knopf for the digital ARC.

On the Savage Side, written on the dark side, is a depressing drug, sex-motivated novel that reverts back and forth from before to present with prostitution more prominent on each page. It is not my cup of tea but the ending was a surprise although, pleasant?

When I first read The Summer That Melted Everything it changed the way I looked at reading and literature. Betty cut me to my absolute core, in a way I didn't know was possible. On The Savage Side has solidified Tiffany McDaniel as my favorite author (not that she had any real competition). I've referred to her many times as a literary wizard and this book has further convinced me that it is true.

The thing about Tiffany's writing… she tells the most heart wrenching stories with this dreamy, lyrical flow. She finds the beauty within the horrors that life throws our way, and turns it into these amazingly beautiful books.

She breaks my heart while simultaneously allowing me to see the beauty that hides within everything, and inside all of us.
On the Savage Side was no exception. A book focusing on addiction has the potential to be incredibly bleak. While this book was certainly dark, there is so much charm weaved throughout. You fall in love with these girls. You become addicted to their stories. You feel their pain, their grief, their strife, so vividly. You celebrate the highs and you certainly feel the lows.

I'd recommend this book to everyone who likes to have their heart shattered, and then pieced back together. Those who can see the beautiful side, through all that is savage.

Incredible book, ten thousand shining stars for Tiffany, once again.

On The Savage Side is coming out February 14, 2023 and pre-orders are now available!! Thank you Tiffany, Knopf and NetGalley for a copy of this novel! ❤️

“It’s easy for people to judge us. I won’t make excuses. I made the choice is to take the needle, but I will say an addict was a child once, too. We had hopes and dreams of being something more. Our dream wasn’t to give ourselves away. That much is true.”

What is there to say? Tiffany McDaniel is one of the best there ever was. I feel such a deep sadness after finishing On the Savage Side. I’m sad it’s over. I’m sad it happened. I’m sad I have to wait for more of her words and stories. I’m just sad. This book was beautiful. I think of Betty every day, and now I will think of the Chillicothe Six, too.

Wow. That was my initial reaction upon finishing this book, just WOW. I’ve sat with my thoughts for awhile, it’s been several days since I finished this one and I needed some time to process my feelings. I almost didn’t have a choice in the matter, the way that these characters and this story got under my skin and in my heart and head is unmatched and unlike any other experience I’ve had with a book before. It’s the kind of story you cannot escape. I took my time reading it too, and there were many reasons for that as well. The story the author tells is harrowing and uncomfortable to read about so as a reader you will need to take a breather occasionally. But it is important and necessary and I don’t think it is the type of book you’re meant to read in just a few sittings. You’ll need time to sit with the beauty of the writing. You’ll need time to process the horrors you just read about. You’ll need time to think about all of the women who live lives like this. You’ll just need time, but the time invested is so very worthwhile.

I don’t think it’s necessary for me to get very far into the plot itself because there is a special kind of magic in the way this story unfolds. I will talk about the characters and the way the author humanizes the victims of the River Man because it gave a voice to women everywhere. Arc and Daffy are followed throughout several years, through life and death. Through addiction and prostitution. Through loss and more tragic loss. If there is an issue that anyone could find triggering it is in here at some point, but again it is important. I can’t even begin to describe how phenomenal the authors writing is, she’s on a level all of her own and it’s incredible. It’s haunting and devastatingly beautiful and the kind of poetry that speaks to my soul. It was an honor to read this one, I won’t soon forget it and I’m glad I won’t.

"Sometimes the only thing left to do is to be a beautiful girl, nice enough not to scream when they break you over their knee."

I've read this author before and am just in awe of her talent. I feel like I want to read her books slowly and savor them, but at the same time I feel like I'm being repeatedly punched in the gut. Her writing forces you to be fully present, so you can't look away from the painful parts. And the painful parts are plentiful. There is a pervasive sadness throughout this book. Every page just reeks of desperation. SO many triggers, and so many parts that leave you despairing, and still it's possible to feel compassion for the pregnant woman wrapping the strap of her diaper bag around her arm to find a vein to inject.

"I will say an addict was a child once, too. We had hopes and dreams of being something more. Our dream wasn't to give ourselves away."

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Man, Tiffany McDaniel sure knows to how to create characters. Because Betty was based on her family, a part of me assumed that all the awful things that happened to Betty and the family were real, and that McDaniel just forced the trauma on us. However, after reading this, I am convinced that she may be one of the best authors out there because of how she writes about trauma.

This book will not be for everyone. There were parts that I could barely stomach, and parts where the nature metaphors and symbolism were too much for me, but I do think this is the kind of book that should be studied. I can imagine this being read in classes and becoming a classic for other writers.

After reading Betty earlier this year, I was over the moon to get my hands on the ARC of Tiffany McDaniel's next novel. And boys and girls, you need to get your hands on this book as well!

Finishing this book feels like letting out a breath you didn't realize you were holding for the 450+ pages this book consists of. McDaniel's writing grabs you by the collar, pushes your nose to the page and you'll keep it there yourself, because it's so hard to put this down once you start.

The story follows twins Arc & Daffy, growing up in a house in which they paint their own birthday cakes, where their mother hung their overdosed father's clothes as drapes and where johns visit their mother and Aunt Clover on a regular basis.

This book portrays the coming-of-age of two young girls who are doomed from the beginning, and their attempts to make the savage side beautiful. The book is heavy (reminiscent of Requiem for a Dream), beautifully written, unforgettable and unputdownable.