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mmccombs's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
On the Savage Side was both beautiful and brutal, something that came as no surprise to me since I’d already read Betty. Knowing that this story is inspired by the Chillicothe Six it was clear that it was going to be bleak and brutal, that happy endings for the characters were unlikely. The book is a compassionate and unflinching look at the reality for girls and young women whose lives involve abuse, addiction, and prostitition, who live on the margins of society, and whom society (mostly) has given up on. Even though I’m well aware of the harsh realities of the world, the way the men in this story disregarded and abused women, that Arc and the others knew so many men who could realistically have been responsible for the killings, that some police were predators while others were complicit or did not care, gutted and infuriated me all the same. I credit McDaniel’s writing with that. It was lyrical and beautiful and she really made the reader care about her characters. They were daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and friends. They’d been children with talent, imagination, and curiosity, who had dreams for their futures and desperately wanted better for their children. The love and support especially between sisters Arc and Daffy, but also between Harlow, Imogen, Violet, Thursday and Sage Nell was another point of beauty. So too was the way the characters drew on the environment as well as local folklore and mysticism as sources of strength. Another source of strength was the concept of a savage side and a beautiful side which became an extended metaphor throughout the story and was an important legacy from Mawmaw Milkweed. I loved the way they referred to themselves as Queens, a poignant juxtaposition to the way society treated them.
McDaniel included a couple of innovative aspects in this book which enhanced my reading experience. The first was the short sections narrated by the river and briefly outlining the fate of a woman’s body. This won’t be to everyone’s taste but it worked for me. The second was her sketches. It didn’t take long for me to get a sense of deep dread every time I saw a spider, while the annotated sketches for each dead woman emphasised their uniqueness and the reality of their murder. Finally, I want to mention a twist that comes towards the end of this story. Some readers may be surprised and feel a little manipulated. I had suspicions but even had I not, I still feel the twist fitted the book’s theme, and added to the nuance and complexity of the characters and the bonds between them.
Highly recommended but only when you are up for a heavy read.
Graphic: Addiction, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
reading_and_roaming20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The circumstances sisters Arc and Daffy endured from childhood and beyond are heart wrenching. The reality is that the abuse and cycle of addiction within the pages of their story is not at all fictional for so many. TIFFANY MCDANIEL humanizes and creates empathy for women on the fringes. I had such love for all of the Chillicothe Queens.
MCDANIEL uses unique aspects of this book to make it so much more. The first section blew me away with the river’s perspective of a murdered woman traveling through her waters at the end of each chapter. It was both eerie and beautiful.
This book is not going to be for everyone. As far as content warnings go, it’s got them all. There are graphic descriptions of drug use, assault, and violence. But they are not gratuitous or included for shock value. Each horrific scene serves a purpose in building the story and invoking emotion in the reader.
There are illustrations throughout that set the scene as you progress from one chapter to the next. I made an effort to finish reading at one of these illustrations each time I put the book down. I would absolutely recommend this strategy. It immediately put me back in the story to open back up to a keyhole or drawing of an eye.
And I can’t post this review without giving MCDANIEL credit for one of the best twists of all time. It is not often that I am caught so completely off guard. Honestly, just incredible.
There is simply not enough that can be said about ON THE SAVAGE SIDE. It deserves all the stars and then some.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder
lilacsandliterature's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Murder
_treatyoshelves_'s review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
kekemper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Murder
celineks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder
diannasbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
It did take me awhile to read this because of the themes. The author did a very good job writing this. I will think about this story for a very long time. I really want to read more from them. I didn’t see the twist in the book, and the ending was beautiful.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
hippiequeen's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail