Embodiments of the present disclosure describe device, methods, computer-readable media and system configurations for decoding codewords using a side channel. In various embodiments, a memory controller may be configured to determine that m of n die of non-volatile memory (“NVM”) have failed iterative decoding. In various embodiments, the memory controller may be further configured to generate a side channel from n-m non-failed die and the m failed die other than a first failed die. In various embodiments, the memory controller may be further configured to reconstruct, using iterative decoding, a codeword stored on the first failed die of the m failed die based on the generated side channel and on soft input to an attempt to iteratively decode data stored on the first failed die. In various embodiments, the iterative decoding may include low-density parity-check decoding. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.