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The Savages #2
American Savage
Vegan, veggie, carnivore... humanitarian? Welcome to the top of the food chain.
The Savages are back - this time in a country where servings come supersized. Titus, Angelica and the kids go to great lengths to fit into their new lives in sunny Florida. But that's not easy when their appetite runs to feasts of human flesh.
In this dark comic serving of everyday family life with contemporary cannibals, the Savages seek to hide in plain sight by setting up a vegan café. But when the venture turns out to be a surprise sensation, and bad apples bob to the surface, Titus is forced to question whether the family have finally bitten off more than they can chew.
The Savages are back - this time in a country where servings come supersized. Titus, Angelica and the kids go to great lengths to fit into their new lives in sunny Florida. But that's not easy when their appetite runs to feasts of human flesh.
In this dark comic serving of everyday family life with contemporary cannibals, the Savages seek to hide in plain sight by setting up a vegan café. But when the venture turns out to be a surprise sensation, and bad apples bob to the surface, Titus is forced to question whether the family have finally bitten off more than they can chew.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2014
6 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Matt Whyman
40 books103 followersMatt Whyman is an award-winning novelist and non-fiction writer. He has co-written bestselling books with some of the world’s leading figures in sport, high performance and popular culture including Gareth Southgate, Matthew Syed, Billy Connolly and Sir David Attenborough as well as the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 13, 2014
I don't know how to start to review this.
I loved 'The Savages' and I bought this book on the strength of that novel. I am now suffering a 'book hangover' from finishing the sequel. Fair to say I loved this too!
So, the story picks up a few years and in a different country from the first one. The author made a brave choice in omitting the main character from the first book completely in this one and it let the other characters shine. There are a few new characters that get introduced but this book is about the family. From the grandfather in love to the very likeable youngest daughter every character is well written and plays a part in the story.
The plot has a few twists and plays like a 'who-is-going-to-get-it' rather than a 'whodunnit' which keeps the reader guessing. I love the style of Matt Whyman's writing, his characterisations and his choice of words. I was happy to enter his world of 'The Savages' for the second time.
I am hoping that this becomes a trilogy now. I honestly have not had so much pleasure from reading (which is a pleasure in itself) as I have from The two Savages books in a very long time. The hardest part is finding words to describe just how much I love these books!
As a side note I see no reason why The Savages could not be adapted for the big screen or television. I for one would watch it (and bitch about how the adaptation is not as good as the books).
Thank you again, Matt Whyman.
You have given me great pleasure from your words.
I loved 'The Savages' and I bought this book on the strength of that novel. I am now suffering a 'book hangover' from finishing the sequel. Fair to say I loved this too!
So, the story picks up a few years and in a different country from the first one. The author made a brave choice in omitting the main character from the first book completely in this one and it let the other characters shine. There are a few new characters that get introduced but this book is about the family. From the grandfather in love to the very likeable youngest daughter every character is well written and plays a part in the story.
The plot has a few twists and plays like a 'who-is-going-to-get-it' rather than a 'whodunnit' which keeps the reader guessing. I love the style of Matt Whyman's writing, his characterisations and his choice of words. I was happy to enter his world of 'The Savages' for the second time.
I am hoping that this becomes a trilogy now. I honestly have not had so much pleasure from reading (which is a pleasure in itself) as I have from The two Savages books in a very long time. The hardest part is finding words to describe just how much I love these books!
As a side note I see no reason why The Savages could not be adapted for the big screen or television. I for one would watch it (and bitch about how the adaptation is not as good as the books).
Thank you again, Matt Whyman.
You have given me great pleasure from your words.
July 28, 2014
"American Savage" is about cannibalism, which is quite a macabre subject, hence it may not be to everyone's tastes (literacy tastes, not food). However the author does point out that he wasn't trying to write "a novel driven by horror and gore," rather one about about our relationship with food, e.g. "as a culinary concept, cannibalism was not something Titus expected to break into the mainstream any time soon."
The book follows the Savage family in America. It is the follow-up to "The Savages" which you don't need to have read to get into this one. Also if you have read the original I don't know if by this book the joke is wearing a bit thin.
The book starts slowly. The family are introduced: Titus the father, Angelica the mother, Ivan the 15-year-old son, Katya the 5-year-old daughter, a little nipper in more ways than one, and the vegan lodger Amanda, who makes an exception to her vegan-ism for human meat. 103-year-old granddad Oleg lives just down the road too in a OAP home. They have a family "feast" at the beginning before their separate lives are told episodically throughout until there is a coming together of story-lines at the end. The main strand sees Titus, as head of the family, trying to source the main ingredient for the next feast, and the pressure everyone else is putting on him to do just that. However Titus has scruples and will only take someone who doesn't deserve to live, e.g. a problem tenant.
Other side-orders, for example, follow the family setting up a vegan restaurant whilst getting on the wrong side of a Russian gangster.
Overall then I felt that this book was OK, although it took a while to get going. Given the praise on the back cover "The Savages" is probably the better book.
(I got this book through a Goodreads First Read competition. This review is my honest opinion of the book.)
The book follows the Savage family in America. It is the follow-up to "The Savages" which you don't need to have read to get into this one. Also if you have read the original I don't know if by this book the joke is wearing a bit thin.
The book starts slowly. The family are introduced: Titus the father, Angelica the mother, Ivan the 15-year-old son, Katya the 5-year-old daughter, a little nipper in more ways than one, and the vegan lodger Amanda, who makes an exception to her vegan-ism for human meat. 103-year-old granddad Oleg lives just down the road too in a OAP home. They have a family "feast" at the beginning before their separate lives are told episodically throughout until there is a coming together of story-lines at the end. The main strand sees Titus, as head of the family, trying to source the main ingredient for the next feast, and the pressure everyone else is putting on him to do just that. However Titus has scruples and will only take someone who doesn't deserve to live, e.g. a problem tenant.
Other side-orders, for example, follow the family setting up a vegan restaurant whilst getting on the wrong side of a Russian gangster.
Overall then I felt that this book was OK, although it took a while to get going. Given the praise on the back cover "The Savages" is probably the better book.
(I got this book through a Goodreads First Read competition. This review is my honest opinion of the book.)
September 27, 2017
Yes this book is about a family of cannibals, but don't let that scare you off. It's heart warming and funny at the same time.
August 9, 2021
the first book was so good and left me wondering what will happen to the family, of course i had to read the second book!
it did start off quite slow which isn't surprising. we get to know how the family gets by with their new lives as they adjust to a new environment.
i was entranced by the story of each character and their growth especially ivan.
now thinking about it, i wish there was more action like something to keep you at the edge of your seat. there were definitely instances when i would be excited to know how the thoughts and planning/decisions of the characters will play out in reality - so that was fun. but compared to the first book, I'd say this one is less intense.
nothing really bothered me though imo, it was a pleasant read and i enjoyed every second of it. i laughed several times throughout this book.
it did start off quite slow which isn't surprising. we get to know how the family gets by with their new lives as they adjust to a new environment.
i was entranced by the story of each character and their growth especially ivan.
now thinking about it, i wish there was more action like something to keep you at the edge of your seat. there were definitely instances when i would be excited to know how the thoughts and planning/decisions of the characters will play out in reality - so that was fun. but compared to the first book, I'd say this one is less intense.
nothing really bothered me though imo, it was a pleasant read and i enjoyed every second of it. i laughed several times throughout this book.
December 15, 2025
This book, personally in my choice is really good. It's really interesting and cool too. It includes how the Savages must hide themselves from public (not telling you how. Find out yourself.). It's good.
October 21, 2021
4.2/5⭐
This book is really interesting. I like how it focuses on foods, the source, the preparation, the cooking and the effects that it will bring to the consumers. It feels closer and somehow relatable because food is one of our basic needs. What we eat doesn't always reflects who we are as a person, but it indeed plays an important role in our daily life.
The Savages family is cannibals but they always make sure to follow a great deal of rules in obtaining the source of human meat. They can't simply just kill random people and cook them, because they have principles that have been passed down since their grandfather's generation. Oleg Savage, the grandfather believes that consuming the meat of their own kind make them feel more refreshed and feel more alive. He is 103 years old and he insisted that due to his diet of having human meat as feast, is what makes him able to live longer and still look young. I love how in this story, we are introduced to each of the family members, and the problems they need to deal with, for example, Ivan the son is facing difficulty to fit in the school because of his accent and he is seen as a weird kid. Meanwhile, Amanda the guest of their family is struggling to find a job that really suits her preferences, as she is a vegan.
Next interesting (but creepy) thing is, the family will have a feast once in a while, and during that feast is the time when they consume human meat. They do not eat it daily, instead, they make it as a family tradition. All of them still eat normally, burgers, steak, chicken etc but when they eat human meat, they always feel refreshed. I like how this story shows the family bond, as each of them has their own role to play and contribute to the family. Also, the habit of eating together, somehow also strengthen the family bond. The Savages is not the kind of family who go out and plays outside together. They prefer staying at home, spending time with the family rather than going out partying late at night. But, as they follow their own role in the family and always highlight the important of manners, they become a family who always take care of each other diligently and live peacefully.
This book gives me an insight of something I've never experienced in any other books. I'm glad I enjoyed it so much despite the dark comedy and quite sensitive, controversial topics; cannibalism and vegan. I also find the writing style amusing and easy to read. It really suits the vibe of this genre~
This book is really interesting. I like how it focuses on foods, the source, the preparation, the cooking and the effects that it will bring to the consumers. It feels closer and somehow relatable because food is one of our basic needs. What we eat doesn't always reflects who we are as a person, but it indeed plays an important role in our daily life.
The Savages family is cannibals but they always make sure to follow a great deal of rules in obtaining the source of human meat. They can't simply just kill random people and cook them, because they have principles that have been passed down since their grandfather's generation. Oleg Savage, the grandfather believes that consuming the meat of their own kind make them feel more refreshed and feel more alive. He is 103 years old and he insisted that due to his diet of having human meat as feast, is what makes him able to live longer and still look young. I love how in this story, we are introduced to each of the family members, and the problems they need to deal with, for example, Ivan the son is facing difficulty to fit in the school because of his accent and he is seen as a weird kid. Meanwhile, Amanda the guest of their family is struggling to find a job that really suits her preferences, as she is a vegan.
Next interesting (but creepy) thing is, the family will have a feast once in a while, and during that feast is the time when they consume human meat. They do not eat it daily, instead, they make it as a family tradition. All of them still eat normally, burgers, steak, chicken etc but when they eat human meat, they always feel refreshed. I like how this story shows the family bond, as each of them has their own role to play and contribute to the family. Also, the habit of eating together, somehow also strengthen the family bond. The Savages is not the kind of family who go out and plays outside together. They prefer staying at home, spending time with the family rather than going out partying late at night. But, as they follow their own role in the family and always highlight the important of manners, they become a family who always take care of each other diligently and live peacefully.
This book gives me an insight of something I've never experienced in any other books. I'm glad I enjoyed it so much despite the dark comedy and quite sensitive, controversial topics; cannibalism and vegan. I also find the writing style amusing and easy to read. It really suits the vibe of this genre~
October 31, 2020
I wanted to read this one ever since I found out the first book had a sequel, and even though I must admit that I didn’t find this as appealing as I did the last one I wouldn’t mind another one just for laughter and character development, besides Matt Whyman makes everything he writes way more appealing than any other could have tried to if he/she had had this idea before.
LACK OF MEMORY.
I had no idea who this Amanda girl was when she suddenly appeared in people’s conversations and setting until some kind of slight memory of the other vegan girlfriend the Savages’ daughter’s ex had. Yeah, I had no recollection of her and when I saw this girl on the cover I was like well, it seems like the daughter got a tan. Also, I seriously believed Oleg had died in the last book, no joke.
MISSED KILLS.
I mean it was pretty fucking disturbing that they all ate Oleg in the end and that that was their feast, pretty rough and hard to picture. However, I would have felt more enthralled and desperate for more like a rabies rat, if Angelica had killed Joaquín and delete her problem once and for all instead of just traumatizing him back to Argentina. Or even if Ivan had gotten even and slaughtered his three tormentors, those little bastards did not deserve the gift of a human feast, no way.
TITUS GREW A PAIR AGAIN.
I guess I would’ve liked Titus growing a pair again if he had killed Nikolai in cold blood, perhaps with some torture in that bloody lake, but nope… He only gave him to the gators to feet, I was not pleased but at least that gave him some street credit and kept their business safe. Though, I have to admit that I wanted Angelica to take over the family and show them who’s boss. One can only dream.
LACK OF MEMORY.
I had no idea who this Amanda girl was when she suddenly appeared in people’s conversations and setting until some kind of slight memory of the other vegan girlfriend the Savages’ daughter’s ex had. Yeah, I had no recollection of her and when I saw this girl on the cover I was like well, it seems like the daughter got a tan. Also, I seriously believed Oleg had died in the last book, no joke.
MISSED KILLS.
I mean it was pretty fucking disturbing that they all ate Oleg in the end and that that was their feast, pretty rough and hard to picture. However, I would have felt more enthralled and desperate for more like a rabies rat, if Angelica had killed Joaquín and delete her problem once and for all instead of just traumatizing him back to Argentina. Or even if Ivan had gotten even and slaughtered his three tormentors, those little bastards did not deserve the gift of a human feast, no way.
TITUS GREW A PAIR AGAIN.
I guess I would’ve liked Titus growing a pair again if he had killed Nikolai in cold blood, perhaps with some torture in that bloody lake, but nope… He only gave him to the gators to feet, I was not pleased but at least that gave him some street credit and kept their business safe. Though, I have to admit that I wanted Angelica to take over the family and show them who’s boss. One can only dream.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2018
I think I liked this sequel even more than the first one, despite Sasha not being present in this book. Amanda is the Savages' lodger who is a diehard vegan, who can't hold down a job because she keeps lecturing the customers on how they're murderers because they eat meat. She's okay with killing people to eat on the other hand, which is why the Savages are okay with her coming with them.
They settle down in America in a place that has a history of cannibalism. Titus owns property and any problem tenants he kills for the family to eat and then golfs occasionally with some Russian mob guys. Angelica is a stay-at-home mum who has a regular personal trainer (who I liked despite myself and was glad he got that ending), Katya keeps 'tasting' people at nursery and Ivan is determined to be on the American football team despite still not knowing the rules. Sasha is at college so everything worked out for her.
I liked the conflict of this story much more, probably because we didn't know how it was going to end. I was left guessing about how it was going to turn out, especially with the vegan cafe and Ivan's bullies at school, but I really liked the ending and how everything was wrapped up. While Sasha was my favourite character in the first book, I think I liked Katya and Priscilla in this book.
Another enjoyable book in the Savages series! 4.5 stars!
They settle down in America in a place that has a history of cannibalism. Titus owns property and any problem tenants he kills for the family to eat and then golfs occasionally with some Russian mob guys. Angelica is a stay-at-home mum who has a regular personal trainer (who I liked despite myself and was glad he got that ending), Katya keeps 'tasting' people at nursery and Ivan is determined to be on the American football team despite still not knowing the rules. Sasha is at college so everything worked out for her.
I liked the conflict of this story much more, probably because we didn't know how it was going to end. I was left guessing about how it was going to turn out, especially with the vegan cafe and Ivan's bullies at school, but I really liked the ending and how everything was wrapped up. While Sasha was my favourite character in the first book, I think I liked Katya and Priscilla in this book.
Another enjoyable book in the Savages series! 4.5 stars!
May 11, 2020
Sooo I got this book as a gift and it is not something I would pick up normally. It is said to be somewhat children's book but at the same time also a YA.
This book is something I was intrigued by. The concept of cannibals seemed so weird and unrealistic to me that I was sceptical about the story.
I found it sometimes kind of hard to go through the chapters as they were a bit boring to me. No real action or suspense. The part I did like was that it is just a peaceful read with dark humour.
Overall, would not read again
This book is something I was intrigued by. The concept of cannibals seemed so weird and unrealistic to me that I was sceptical about the story.
I found it sometimes kind of hard to go through the chapters as they were a bit boring to me. No real action or suspense. The part I did like was that it is just a peaceful read with dark humour.
Overall, would not read again
August 3, 2020
hmmmm,hmmmmmm
not sure how to review this book, It is a weird one that is for sure, even weirder than the first, the idea of this family and their values ,,I didn't enjoy reading it,it wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't joyful, you like none of the characters, there is no climax, no twist, it is a mundane book a family living peacefully killing occasionally to eat a human being, that is it, it is not scary it not funny, it is nothing, just meh...dont even think i will read it again, nor recommend it to anyone.
but have to admit the cover of both novels is cool.
not sure how to review this book, It is a weird one that is for sure, even weirder than the first, the idea of this family and their values ,,I didn't enjoy reading it,it wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't joyful, you like none of the characters, there is no climax, no twist, it is a mundane book a family living peacefully killing occasionally to eat a human being, that is it, it is not scary it not funny, it is nothing, just meh...dont even think i will read it again, nor recommend it to anyone.
but have to admit the cover of both novels is cool.
January 13, 2018
I did like this book but it wasn't as good as the first.
I really missed Sasha as i think she was a really interesting character.
I think that Amanda has really developed and i actually love her now.
I hated crystal as she was very annoying.
This was a good book like i said but it was a it slow to begin with and not an awful lot really happened.
I really missed Sasha as i think she was a really interesting character.
I think that Amanda has really developed and i actually love her now.
I hated crystal as she was very annoying.
This was a good book like i said but it was a it slow to begin with and not an awful lot really happened.
April 5, 2018
Brilliant sequel
It helps to have read The Savages first, but stands on its own. The siege of Leningrad did happen, incidentally. A quibble I might raise, is the British author having Americans use British idiom, such as "you can count on our custom." I still get the impression the author is intelligent.
It helps to have read The Savages first, but stands on its own. The siege of Leningrad did happen, incidentally. A quibble I might raise, is the British author having Americans use British idiom, such as "you can count on our custom." I still get the impression the author is intelligent.
September 13, 2019
3 stars
I didn't care for Amanda. Joaquin was intriguing enough, though I was confused with why he ended up the way he did. My favorite, as in the first book, was Ivan. He shone in this book.
However, I thought the writing was a bit dry. Seeing the characters' full names in every chapter was also annoying. Still, it's a nice enough sequel to The Savages.
I didn't care for Amanda. Joaquin was intriguing enough, though I was confused with why he ended up the way he did. My favorite, as in the first book, was Ivan. He shone in this book.
However, I thought the writing was a bit dry. Seeing the characters' full names in every chapter was also annoying. Still, it's a nice enough sequel to The Savages.
January 19, 2020
This book is actually closer to 3.5 stars for me, I enjoy the dark humour and the family dynamic portrayed in this book significantly and it’s a fascinatingly dark and gripping story but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one and did miss the presence of Sasha who was my favourite character from the first book.
May 10, 2021
I like Book 2 better. It still has vegan-thinking in it but with Sasha absence. I think in the book 2 it has more conflict and issue discussed compared to book 1. And I like how it focused on Ivan more in this book as I managed to understand Ivan a little better. I hope if there is book 3, I can dive into Katya's mind and how she view her family feast.
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November 23, 2022read this as a kid and it was really good! the cannibal aspect was so very weird, but it’s written in a way that isn’t graphic or gory at all so it was almost fascinating. Loved the side ‘romances’ and although I didn’t know I would relate to the boy one day, he’s a pretty accurate teen so there’s that.
Perfect for anyone who wants a ‘spooky’ read but can’t stand adult horror.
Perfect for anyone who wants a ‘spooky’ read but can’t stand adult horror.
November 23, 2017
Another great easy read.
March 18, 2022
-actual rating : 3.75 stars ⭐
May 22, 2022
Delightful
February 13, 2023
Doesn't quite match the charm and thrill of the first installment, but American Savage is an entertaining sequel.
4 stars !!!
4 stars !!!
February 12, 2025
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! Sad Sasha wasn’t in it :( it would have been very easy to say she came back for summer/Christmas etc.
December 11, 2021
This was pretty good. The family members are all interesting and believable. I liked the exploration of ethical/sustainable eating from a darkly comic perspective. Plot quite simple and in a way falls a bit flat but you don't really notice this because the writing is good and the characters are engaging.
March 14, 2017
In this novel, story about Ivan was the one that gave 'refreshment'.
I dunno if this one or the previous better. I just, for me this book wasn't that great but there's something about this book that makes me want to follow through it.
I dunno if this one or the previous better. I just, for me this book wasn't that great but there's something about this book that makes me want to follow through it.
July 6, 2014
I loved the original stories of The Savages, the family with unusual eating habits. A different kind of topic for young readers, but one handled with flair and humour.
This time around, it's three years on since the Savage family had to flee England after nearly being caught out in their cannibalistic practices. They have acclimatised to life in their suburban American town. Mum Angelica is a fitness convert, Dad Titus is putting on the pounds (due to the different composition of his new source of local meat), Ivan is struggling to fit in at his school. Oleg is now 103 and enjoying his electric scooter and his new lady friend in a retirement home. Little Katya is as American is she can be. Big sister Sasha is out of the picture, at University (I missed her), though Amanda the vegan returns as her substitute, the lodger who shares their feasts but refuses all other meat meals.
It's good to see the family again, so close and caring, brought together in their secret, and coping in a different world. The stories of each character come together around their Feasts - a lovelorn fitness instructor, bullies who must be taught a lesson, a dying old lady in need of sustenance, and the club Titus closes down for its treatment of its female staff, that happens to be owned by a notorious Russian mob boss, who is rumoured to like raw human flesh...
I think I preferred the original tale slightly, but this follows on beautifully and does give pause for thought (if only for a moment!) on the key issues, but is an excellent portrait of a very unique family, one whose loyalty and love aren't in question.
Entertaining, darkly funny and something a little different for 11-15 year olds.
This time around, it's three years on since the Savage family had to flee England after nearly being caught out in their cannibalistic practices. They have acclimatised to life in their suburban American town. Mum Angelica is a fitness convert, Dad Titus is putting on the pounds (due to the different composition of his new source of local meat), Ivan is struggling to fit in at his school. Oleg is now 103 and enjoying his electric scooter and his new lady friend in a retirement home. Little Katya is as American is she can be. Big sister Sasha is out of the picture, at University (I missed her), though Amanda the vegan returns as her substitute, the lodger who shares their feasts but refuses all other meat meals.
It's good to see the family again, so close and caring, brought together in their secret, and coping in a different world. The stories of each character come together around their Feasts - a lovelorn fitness instructor, bullies who must be taught a lesson, a dying old lady in need of sustenance, and the club Titus closes down for its treatment of its female staff, that happens to be owned by a notorious Russian mob boss, who is rumoured to like raw human flesh...
I think I preferred the original tale slightly, but this follows on beautifully and does give pause for thought (if only for a moment!) on the key issues, but is an excellent portrait of a very unique family, one whose loyalty and love aren't in question.
Entertaining, darkly funny and something a little different for 11-15 year olds.
April 15, 2015
Deliciously written. Matt Whyman did a great job with this sequel.
No Sasha in this book, just so you know. I missed her. In her place is Amanda Dias. Remember her from the first book? The radical vegan? The Savages have now become her surrogate family. She's still a vegan, but with a taste for human meat.
It has been a few years, and we find that the Savages and Ms. Dias have moved to Jupiter, Florida...which is funny because it is also where American Horror Story: Freak Show was set in. I guess Jupiter is the haven for interesting people.
What has the family been up to? Titus manages an apartment complex where he sources their main feast ingredient. Amanda successfully talks the family into setting up a vegan cafe, which is also a business front for a money laundering Russian "cannibal". Angelica has snared the affections of her young, passionate Argentinian personal trainer. Ivan is being bullied, but is cooking up a plateful of revenge against his oppressors. And Oleg has fallen in love with Priscilla, a terminally-ill resident at his elderly home. Sasha is away for university, and doesn't make an appearance at all.
Throughout this book you'll find yourself wondering who is going to end up being served for the family's feast. You won't see the twist coming until it's too late.
No Sasha in this book, just so you know. I missed her. In her place is Amanda Dias. Remember her from the first book? The radical vegan? The Savages have now become her surrogate family. She's still a vegan, but with a taste for human meat.
It has been a few years, and we find that the Savages and Ms. Dias have moved to Jupiter, Florida...which is funny because it is also where American Horror Story: Freak Show was set in. I guess Jupiter is the haven for interesting people.
What has the family been up to? Titus manages an apartment complex where he sources their main feast ingredient. Amanda successfully talks the family into setting up a vegan cafe, which is also a business front for a money laundering Russian "cannibal". Angelica has snared the affections of her young, passionate Argentinian personal trainer. Ivan is being bullied, but is cooking up a plateful of revenge against his oppressors. And Oleg has fallen in love with Priscilla, a terminally-ill resident at his elderly home. Sasha is away for university, and doesn't make an appearance at all.
Throughout this book you'll find yourself wondering who is going to end up being served for the family's feast. You won't see the twist coming until it's too late.
May 6, 2014
Everything that I adored about the previous book is still there. Superb writing, unique characters, macabre humour, and that even though you know you shouldn’t you kind of understand the ethical belief the Savage family have. But one thing is missing; Sasha. Given that she was my favourite family member in the first book I really felt her loss this time round (she’s at university).
The relocation to America has bought a few challenges. Mainly that the ‘family feast’ now has a higher fat content. While Titus struggles with his waistline, Angelica with her trainer at the gym and Amanda (their lodger) with finding a job it’s Ivan Savage who’s struggling the most. He’s tried fitting in at school but nothing has worked. Continuously bullied he begins to plot revenge as only a Savage can.
I thought American Savage balanced the time spent on each character well. Everyone had their own story; it makes you more attached to the characters. Both Titus and Ivan changed from the first book, particularly Ivan. I really liked the direction Matt Whyman took with that character.
I could quite happily read a book about the Savage family every year.
The relocation to America has bought a few challenges. Mainly that the ‘family feast’ now has a higher fat content. While Titus struggles with his waistline, Angelica with her trainer at the gym and Amanda (their lodger) with finding a job it’s Ivan Savage who’s struggling the most. He’s tried fitting in at school but nothing has worked. Continuously bullied he begins to plot revenge as only a Savage can.
I thought American Savage balanced the time spent on each character well. Everyone had their own story; it makes you more attached to the characters. Both Titus and Ivan changed from the first book, particularly Ivan. I really liked the direction Matt Whyman took with that character.
I could quite happily read a book about the Savage family every year.
June 24, 2014
Books about cannibals are few and far between, you cant go into a book shop with out been bitten in the ass by a zombie book but would have to search hard for novel about cannibals so it made a nice change to read a novels with living breathing flesh eaters instead of the undead kind. Not that this is a horror novel, more of a slice of life drama with a family full of Dexters with a young teenage Dexter as the most intresting character in the novel. There are multiple story lines in the novel, maybe a bit to many but they all share dark undertones from obsession to revenge to fear to old age and death. The cannibalistic tendencys of these characters is something that just makes them a little bit more interesting. I really enjoyed the dark humour of the novel which was well written and not overly complacated. Overall a entertaining read that's a little bit different. As I received this book in a first reads giveaway, I have not read the first book in the series, something I plan to rectify as soon as possible.
March 22, 2015
The Savages are cannibals. To read more about the family, you can read my review of the first book in the series: The Savages.
Without telling you too much about the plot as this book is part of a series, I enjoyed this book.
There are new characters and slightly different plot and different problems for the characters to face and I think I enjoyed this more than the first.
The Savages series is fun and definitely not to be taken too seriously but the writing style makes you take notice. It's interesting how Whyman can make you forget he's talking about cannibalism, even though it's openly discussed and explained on almost every page and even makes it sound like a positive, delicious nutritious choice that can prolong your life and have numerous health benefits. Which is absurd when you realise how positively he's portraying cannibalism and how it comes off as though he's speaking about something accepted in todays society. In my opinion, this is why Whyman is an excellent writer and I would definitely recommend reading this book.
*won on Goodreads First Reads
Without telling you too much about the plot as this book is part of a series, I enjoyed this book.
There are new characters and slightly different plot and different problems for the characters to face and I think I enjoyed this more than the first.
The Savages series is fun and definitely not to be taken too seriously but the writing style makes you take notice. It's interesting how Whyman can make you forget he's talking about cannibalism, even though it's openly discussed and explained on almost every page and even makes it sound like a positive, delicious nutritious choice that can prolong your life and have numerous health benefits. Which is absurd when you realise how positively he's portraying cannibalism and how it comes off as though he's speaking about something accepted in todays society. In my opinion, this is why Whyman is an excellent writer and I would definitely recommend reading this book.
*won on Goodreads First Reads
July 24, 2014
I was excited to read this because I loved The Savages. I did enjoy this book a lot and the characters were just as dark and funny but there wasn't quite the same atmosphere of them being discovered in this compared to the first. I preferred Sasha's character to Amanda and the storyline wasn't as engaging. I did like the fact that they open a vegan cafe as a front and I think that Amanda's passionate campaigning against meat eaters while still eating humans was funny. Ivan was great as always, he is such a strange character and his fitting into Amercan life carried the story with his elaborate revenge plot to get back at the bullies from school. I would still recommend this but I don't think it quite lived up to the first book.
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