Reviews

On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel

lnetzel's review against another edition

4.0

An important story about addiction, murder, and the value of women to society. I read Demon Copperhead last year and Shuggie Bain the year before, both excellent and heartbreaking stories on addition. On the Savage Side is similar in its heartbreaking aspects and deals specifically with how children get trapped in the cycle of addition and girls end up using their bodies to feed their addiction. They become easy targets for the most depraved of men, who sometimes murder them. They are then further victimized by sometimes a lack of concern for solving their murder and thus maybe preventing their friends' murders as well.

I would not describe this book as a page turner or "I can't wait to get home to read" type book. But I was very committed to the stories of Daffy and Arc. It was hard to read but compelling for sure.

magpie1671's review against another edition

4.0

This book was incredibly sad. It humanizes addiction and explored the nuances of poverty, womanhood, and friendship. It was a bit strange, but overall very well written.

mushy13's review against another edition

5.0

Devastating as always, Tiffany

julyh's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

5.0

stuarts_stories88's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ananascanread's review against another edition

4.75

 

a wild, lyrical descent into the abyss of sisterly love and trauma, where the lines between survival and savagery blur, leaving you both shattered and inexplicably understood.

laura_matias's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense

3.5

dave_grohls_dad's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

heyyitscaitlin's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault

mgierosky's review against another edition

3.0

I so wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't for me. The writing was beautiful, but at times it felt too poetic to actually tell the story. This was framed as a mystery, but it wasn't really told from that point of view.