Reviews with content warning for Rape - On the Savage Side

This was the most depressing book I’ve ever read and while I powered through, it was not worth it. I have enjoyed McDaniel’s writing in the past, but this book full of addiction, rape, violence, was too heavy. There is friendship and love but almost no hope.

Content Warnings

smagzisreading's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

4.0

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unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

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jaxgirl007's review

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dark 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? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I pick one word to start my review. For 'On the Savage Side', the word I picked is 'gutted'.

Merriam Webster defines 'gutted' as: to destroy the inside of

This book was such a hard read. The list of trigger warnings is long: sexual abuse, rape, drug abuse, animal cruelty...there's more but I'm a bit stunned after finishing this and so I'm sure I'm missing some of them.

Somehow I was compelled to keep going. The writing definitely runs heavy with the purple prose and I normally don't like that but it worked for me this time. It made me feel like I was experiencing the floating haziness that Arc and the others in the story were experiencing because of their drug use. The extra wordiness did tend to drag the story out a bit long than necessary. The first 3/4 of the book, I was mesmerized; the last part was too much for me. But I also felt like I needed some of the purple prose sections to recover from the more reality based happenings...it became an escape for me just like it was for the characters.

I think what also kept me going was hope: I really did want Arc (and the others) to find a way out of the terrible life she was in and I kept reading hoping she would get there....I was pulling for her to make it. I saw the end coming

her murder

but was still engrossed along the way.

I think it's important to mention that the serial killer/murder aspect of the story is a small part of the plot. While this is inspired by the real-life case of the Chillicothe Six, this is not a story about an investigation into a serial killer. The vast majority of the story is given to Arc, her family and her friends' struggles with addiction and the (100% horrific) impact on their lives.

I have respect for this book and think it is very well-written. I put McDaniel's other book, 'Betty' on my TBR...but not for a while as I will need some time to recover from this one. If you can stomach the subject matter, it is a haunting story that will definitely give a reader a lot to think about.

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ksanderss's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.0

A very sad, reflective, poetic story.

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cclardo's review

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This is a beautiful, devastating story of addiction, grief, and humanity. Tiffany McDaniel is masterful with her lyrical prose and delicate unspooling of the plot.
This book is not for everyone. Check content warnings and know that portions of this book are like a gut punch.
I also want to note that I have seen this marketed in the mystery/thriller category and that is a misrepresentation of the book. If you are looking for a heartbreaking exploration of self and survival, read this book. If you are looking for a mystery/thriller about a serial killer and a potential victim, this will not scratch that itch.

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chrisp189's review

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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