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Fiend: The Novel
Fiend is the prequel to The Novel. The backstory.
Ryder Strickland is a young man who barely knows how to feed himself. He dwells in a dangerous environment of trailer parks, drug dealers, and single mothers. But he knows how to hurt them, all of them. And he does so while attending college and volunteering as a firefighter.
Follow along as Ryder begins his journey, before he became the most dangerous man in history. A trial by fire, where the fire is his weapon.
Ryder Strickland is a young man who barely knows how to feed himself. He dwells in a dangerous environment of trailer parks, drug dealers, and single mothers. But he knows how to hurt them, all of them. And he does so while attending college and volunteering as a firefighter.
Follow along as Ryder begins his journey, before he became the most dangerous man in history. A trial by fire, where the fire is his weapon.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2023
115 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 25, 2024
This is a great read! It’s a prequel to another book which I am yet to read. Dark, violent, depraved, funny, sexy(yes I am sick in the head and might have found a lot of the scenes erotic).
January 15, 2025
Sooooo brutal, check your trigger warnings if you plan on reading, very very dark.
March 25, 2024
This is an incredibly sadistic book, I look into a psychopath’s mind.
June 2, 2025
This needed run through another round of editing. 1-2 typos is about my limit as a reader. This had several.
This was as advertised. I'd be curious as to the authors age because this really reminds of me the mindset men had of women in the 80's. It also read like something from the 80's. I'm not sure if we had horror erotica then - or just really messed up porn. LOL Just the vibe.
This was as advertised. I'd be curious as to the authors age because this really reminds of me the mindset men had of women in the 80's. It also read like something from the 80's. I'm not sure if we had horror erotica then - or just really messed up porn. LOL Just the vibe.
September 16, 2024
I don’t know what book you all read but this was absolutely garbage, and not because of the material.
Writing style, plot, character development, dialogue, everything about this book. Absolutely terrible.
Also, from the foreword:
“This book was designed for the reading enjoyment of men. Some women will also enjoy the nuanced perspective taken”
???? Seriously? This is highly sexiest and derogatory. Mostly because there was nothing nuanced about this book, and because it insinuates women wouldn’t enjoy reading the material and exploring dark themes.
It’s no wonder the author is anonymous. Cannot express enough how angry I am with myself for reading the entire book.
Writing style, plot, character development, dialogue, everything about this book. Absolutely terrible.
Also, from the foreword:
“This book was designed for the reading enjoyment of men. Some women will also enjoy the nuanced perspective taken”
???? Seriously? This is highly sexiest and derogatory. Mostly because there was nothing nuanced about this book, and because it insinuates women wouldn’t enjoy reading the material and exploring dark themes.
It’s no wonder the author is anonymous. Cannot express enough how angry I am with myself for reading the entire book.
December 8, 2024
This is the most disturbing book I have ever read. The author is absolutely brilliant. The writing is phenomenal. I could not stop reading. If you are curious as to what the brain of a psychotic sadist looks like, then this is the book for you. I would not recommend anyone to read this book, because it’s F’d up. But it truly is brilliant.
December 2, 2023
Fantastic!
Dr. F. has done it again with this prequel to Psychopath! This is the origin of our dear charming and sadistic monster Mason. I very much enjoyed reading this and look forward to anything else he decides to write. I wish I could read this and Psychopath again for the first time so badly.
Dr. F. has done it again with this prequel to Psychopath! This is the origin of our dear charming and sadistic monster Mason. I very much enjoyed reading this and look forward to anything else he decides to write. I wish I could read this and Psychopath again for the first time so badly.
May 12, 2024
This book is so fucked up, there are several parts that were very difficult to read (brutal, descriptive rape) but the story was great! I need the next book immediately!
🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀
🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀
February 16, 2025
This is NOT a romance.
It's a prequel with an insight into the mind of a psychopath. It was dark and depraved with explicit rape and murder scenes.
It explained his thought process and somewhat of a childhood story and a reasoning behind his mental illness. His urges to kill and rape. The voices in his head. The lack of sympathy. The thought that he is untouchable.
It just showed a damn psychopath indulging in his disgusting pleasures. I will be reading the 2nd book now.
It's a prequel with an insight into the mind of a psychopath. It was dark and depraved with explicit rape and murder scenes.
It explained his thought process and somewhat of a childhood story and a reasoning behind his mental illness. His urges to kill and rape. The voices in his head. The lack of sympathy. The thought that he is untouchable.
It just showed a damn psychopath indulging in his disgusting pleasures. I will be reading the 2nd book now.
February 18, 2024
Dark, sweet, tragic, so much detail and gore etc… check tws before diving into this book but I’m so enjoying this ride inside a psychopaths head. Through all his trials and errors, struggling with mental illness and life… brilliant
October 27, 2024
Boy was this badly written! For the love of god, pay an editor, Doctor.
I’ll go ahead and quote the author: both the writing and the story were “monotonous and repeating at best”.
What’s more, the disclaimer at the beginning of this boring, flaccid book featuring a dumb main character stated: “This book was designed for the reading enjoyment of men. Some women will also enjoy the nuanced perspective taken”. Dude, “nuanced perspective”? lol 🤣 Don’t flatter yourself. That’s a lot of audacity for someone who clearly picks words off Word-of-the-Day toilet paper and has no clue how to use them correctly. Remember when Joey from Friends wrote that adoption agency recommendation letter for Monica & Chandler using a thesaurus in an attempt to sound smart, and “warm, nice people with big hearts” became “humid, prepossessing Homo sapiens with full-sized aortic pumps”? Yeah, that.
I’ll go ahead and quote the author: both the writing and the story were “monotonous and repeating at best”.
What’s more, the disclaimer at the beginning of this boring, flaccid book featuring a dumb main character stated: “This book was designed for the reading enjoyment of men. Some women will also enjoy the nuanced perspective taken”. Dude, “nuanced perspective”? lol 🤣 Don’t flatter yourself. That’s a lot of audacity for someone who clearly picks words off Word-of-the-Day toilet paper and has no clue how to use them correctly. Remember when Joey from Friends wrote that adoption agency recommendation letter for Monica & Chandler using a thesaurus in an attempt to sound smart, and “warm, nice people with big hearts” became “humid, prepossessing Homo sapiens with full-sized aortic pumps”? Yeah, that.
January 21, 2024
This book is awesome! I really loved the read and how to see a fully different perspective. I wasn’t able to stop reading because i was so into it. I‘m looking forward to read the next book „Psychopath“.
Great work Dr F. ! That must have been a lot of research to wrote the book that amazing way.
Great work Dr F. ! That must have been a lot of research to wrote the book that amazing way.
October 9, 2024
So, it's 5 stars but not a book I'd recommend.
This is the darkest book I've ever read. You are getting inside the mind of a schizophrenic rapist. It is graphic and unsettling but well written. It is very hard to read many parts of this book, but it is hard to stop reading. It hits on many dark sadistic desires. These are the kinks people dont want other people to know about. I don't even know what to think. It was erotic in the sickest way.
If you decide to read this please please read the authors note at the beginning and understand that the content is 100% graphic and vulgar. This isn't like the popular dark romance books, at least based on the ones I've read. This is much much darker and twisted.
This is the darkest book I've ever read. You are getting inside the mind of a schizophrenic rapist. It is graphic and unsettling but well written. It is very hard to read many parts of this book, but it is hard to stop reading. It hits on many dark sadistic desires. These are the kinks people dont want other people to know about. I don't even know what to think. It was erotic in the sickest way.
If you decide to read this please please read the authors note at the beginning and understand that the content is 100% graphic and vulgar. This isn't like the popular dark romance books, at least based on the ones I've read. This is much much darker and twisted.
September 14, 2025
I thought I would be disturbed, however, I was bored. Nothing was shocking or surprising. I predicted the “plot twist” from a mile away. I don’t even think this is an accurate profile of a psychopath lol. Don’t get me started on the writing.
Exhibit A: “ 'This is a joke to you isn’t it?' Columbo has nothing else to say but that.”
Exhibit B: “ 'It seems like everywhere you go, you leave a trail of bodies.’ Marshal Paschall declares what’s plain to see.” In conclusion, it just seems as though the author wanted to write about his fantasies under the guise of a poorly thought-out narrative.
June 6, 2024
Want a peak inside a psychopaths mind? Then the one is for you.
This book is very dark and has a lot of gruesome descriptions.
I actually am really looking forward to reading the second book as this one left the MMC with a completely new identity and basically a do over.
February 25, 2025
Very dark and hard to read at some points but, I enjoyed the psychology aspect of learning about the depths of the mind of a real psychopath.
January 6, 2025
I feel so f*ckin weird rating this, this high. It's truly disturbing. The rating is for the story but it needs editing. The typos and issues aren't so common that I couldn't handle it but they do happen regularly and are distracting. In terms of plot, more than once, I found myself flinching and feeling a little sick. I can't do the five because I will never read this again. BUT this is hands down the most convincing story I've ever read from the POV of a psychopath. I will be reading psychopath, the book for which this is the prequel, because I can't not know how he gets away with the next step. Though I think I need the lightest of romcoms or a whole dozen of them before I do it. A few things were a little too tied up (mostly the end) but it almost doesn't matter because everything else is so absolutely unnerving. If you have SA trauma of any kind at all or trauma caused by someone afflicted with psychopathy, put this sh*t down and back away as fast as humanly possible. The scenes are VERY graphic and the kind of disturbing that if it were anything but fiction, I would not be able to handle even hearing about it in a courtroom. This duet is often recced in dark romance circles. Don't buy that nonsense. This is horror. Just horror. Maybe even erotic horror, but in that the erotic is horrific. If you are like, "I love dark romance, haunting adeline was so good," this is not the book for you. It's not a romance. Not at all. You'll be mad. Don't believe those FB threads. This is for the splatterpunk fiends. If you don't know what that is, but want to, start with something like the venue, and then work your way up. Don't start here. Good luck.
March 4, 2024
One word WOW!
Knew it was going to be a wild ride based off of Psychopath but the twist that's revealed at the end? Mind blown! Lots of triggers so approach with caution!
Knew it was going to be a wild ride based off of Psychopath but the twist that's revealed at the end? Mind blown! Lots of triggers so approach with caution!
January 16, 2025
When I was finally able to get through the rape scenes, I really started to enjoy Eve and Ryder - then the author wrote a cunnilingus scene where the clitorus apparently has a hole??? Googling what a vagina looks like isn't hard - finished the book to find a handful of misspellings including the wrong use of "they're" when it should've been "their".
Besides the obvious lack of editing from an outside force, and to my surprise, I really enjoyed how it ended. I do want to read the sequel, but will probably need some palate cleansers before I can get to it.
Besides the obvious lack of editing from an outside force, and to my surprise, I really enjoyed how it ended. I do want to read the sequel, but will probably need some palate cleansers before I can get to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2023
SO MUCH YES
First off: YASSSSSSSS.
The poetry was even better in this novel, the ones above the chapters?
There were so many deep thoughts and pleasant, yet funny quips.
And the transition into becoming Mason is *chefs kiss* at the end.
This holds way more depth than even Psychopath, and I don’t know how that’s possible.
It’s beautiful, and I hope people can encompass the truths found within.
Fiend just became my new favorite book.
A+
13 Stars
First off: YASSSSSSSS.
The poetry was even better in this novel, the ones above the chapters?
There were so many deep thoughts and pleasant, yet funny quips.
And the transition into becoming Mason is *chefs kiss* at the end.
This holds way more depth than even Psychopath, and I don’t know how that’s possible.
It’s beautiful, and I hope people can encompass the truths found within.
Fiend just became my new favorite book.
A+
13 Stars
December 8, 2023
Wow
A really interesting dive into the mind of a psychopath. I am open to anything in my reading for the most part and I really enjoyed this read. I appreciated the look into this side of things. I feel like it was done well and felt very real. I will be reading Psychopath next. I was glad that I waited until both were out so I could read this one first.
A really interesting dive into the mind of a psychopath. I am open to anything in my reading for the most part and I really enjoyed this read. I appreciated the look into this side of things. I feel like it was done well and felt very real. I will be reading Psychopath next. I was glad that I waited until both were out so I could read this one first.
December 5, 2024
W.T.F.
December 28, 2024
Book #155
"Fiend" ~ Dr. F.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Warning:
"Fiend" by Dr. F. delves into dark and unsettling themes, including violence, arson, psychological manipulation, and life in toxic environments. The book portrays graphic depictions of abuse, crime, and morally ambiguous behavior. It is a gripping but heavy read that may not be suitable for readers sensitive to these topics or under the age of 18. The forward in the book warns not to continue on if any of the above applies.
"Fiend" by Dr. F. is a chilling dive into the mind of Ryder Strickland, a young man navigating a treacherous world of poverty, crime, and broken homes. At first glance, Ryder seems like a survivor: balancing college and firefighting volunteer work. But beneath the surface, he harbors a dark and dangerous nature.
Dr. F. expertly crafts a story of psychological complexity, showing how Ryder’s upbringing shapes him into someone capable of extraordinary harm. The book is both a character study and a thriller, keeping readers engaged as Ryder's descent into darkness becomes clear.
The story is sharp and unrelenting, mirroring the rawness of Ryder’s environment. However, the graphic content and morally ambiguous protagonist may make some readers uncomfortable. For those who enjoy exploring the darker sides of human nature and psychological thrillers, Fiend is a compelling and unforgettable journey. #book #horror #booktok #booktokfyp #booksontiktok #bookish #booktoker #ilovetoreadbooks #bookrecommendations #booksworthreading #booksgoals2024 #booklover #read #reading #books #booksbooksbooks #reader #fypviral #fyp #fypviralシ #fypシ゚ #horrorbooktok #eroticthriller #triggerwarning #bookstagram #booknow #bookishlife #read #readinggoals #readingtime #horrorbooks #readmorebooks #Fiend #DrF #bookrecs #bookreviewer #bookreview #review #reviews
"Fiend" ~ Dr. F.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Warning:
"Fiend" by Dr. F. delves into dark and unsettling themes, including violence, arson, psychological manipulation, and life in toxic environments. The book portrays graphic depictions of abuse, crime, and morally ambiguous behavior. It is a gripping but heavy read that may not be suitable for readers sensitive to these topics or under the age of 18. The forward in the book warns not to continue on if any of the above applies.
"Fiend" by Dr. F. is a chilling dive into the mind of Ryder Strickland, a young man navigating a treacherous world of poverty, crime, and broken homes. At first glance, Ryder seems like a survivor: balancing college and firefighting volunteer work. But beneath the surface, he harbors a dark and dangerous nature.
Dr. F. expertly crafts a story of psychological complexity, showing how Ryder’s upbringing shapes him into someone capable of extraordinary harm. The book is both a character study and a thriller, keeping readers engaged as Ryder's descent into darkness becomes clear.
The story is sharp and unrelenting, mirroring the rawness of Ryder’s environment. However, the graphic content and morally ambiguous protagonist may make some readers uncomfortable. For those who enjoy exploring the darker sides of human nature and psychological thrillers, Fiend is a compelling and unforgettable journey. #book #horror #booktok #booktokfyp #booksontiktok #bookish #booktoker #ilovetoreadbooks #bookrecommendations #booksworthreading #booksgoals2024 #booklover #read #reading #books #booksbooksbooks #reader #fypviral #fyp #fypviralシ #fypシ゚ #horrorbooktok #eroticthriller #triggerwarning #bookstagram #booknow #bookishlife #read #readinggoals #readingtime #horrorbooks #readmorebooks #Fiend #DrF #bookrecs #bookreviewer #bookreview #review #reviews
November 15, 2025
Dark, graphic, and disgusting. Some chapters have fairly cohesive narratives while others read more like "I did this. Then I did that. After that I did this again." There are a few typos and weird grammar errors that also contribute to feeling not entirely polished.
The concept of the book is interesting. It certainly delivers on the vivid imagery it promises with the trigger warning in the foreword. I would have preferred more focus on the arson, murder, etc. that comes from this character's unreliable sense of self much more than so many graphic acts of abuse, one after another. It is not surprising this was authored anonymously.
I considered giving this 4 stars because it does do a decent job at making you uncomfortable exactly how it clearly intends to make you uncomfortable. I'm also a huge fan of first person (and unreliable especially) narrators. However I brought it down to 3 stars because of this line in the foreword:
"This book was designed for the reading enjoyment of men. Some women will also enjoy the nuanced perspective take."
What the hell is that about?
I'm going to go on a walk.
The concept of the book is interesting. It certainly delivers on the vivid imagery it promises with the trigger warning in the foreword. I would have preferred more focus on the arson, murder, etc. that comes from this character's unreliable sense of self much more than so many graphic acts of abuse, one after another. It is not surprising this was authored anonymously.
I considered giving this 4 stars because it does do a decent job at making you uncomfortable exactly how it clearly intends to make you uncomfortable. I'm also a huge fan of first person (and unreliable especially) narrators. However I brought it down to 3 stars because of this line in the foreword:
"This book was designed for the reading enjoyment of men. Some women will also enjoy the nuanced perspective take."
What the hell is that about?
I'm going to go on a walk.
May 24, 2024
Dr. F. took me on a deep dive into the mouth of madness giving me a first person POV in the mind’s eye of deeply disturbed serial killer and his “birth” along with his “rebirth”…and I am here for every disturbing detail.
This author’s impeccable writing drew me in and had me in chokehold until the end while leaving me wanting to know more. This is beyond dark, drawing on every dark nightmare that even the inner psyche is scared to conjure and brings them forth with a spotlight.
For lovers of a really good thriller, being pushed to the edge of being frighten and made uncomfortable along with having insatiable need to know what happens next…this book is for you. It has all of that and more. I am blown away of how this read isn’t more popular than it is. Dr. F. has my full attention and I am diving into the next book as soon as possible.
This author’s impeccable writing drew me in and had me in chokehold until the end while leaving me wanting to know more. This is beyond dark, drawing on every dark nightmare that even the inner psyche is scared to conjure and brings them forth with a spotlight.
For lovers of a really good thriller, being pushed to the edge of being frighten and made uncomfortable along with having insatiable need to know what happens next…this book is for you. It has all of that and more. I am blown away of how this read isn’t more popular than it is. Dr. F. has my full attention and I am diving into the next book as soon as possible.
December 19, 2024
Yea, okay this was way more twisted than I thought it would be 😳😵💫 (loved it 😳) Just when I thought, okay this is it, he's going to be just fine and the voices will let him be, then boom he's back to his wicked ways.
Carefully Ryder your psycho is showing.
You get the feeling Ryder is "normal", but then comes his episodes of psychosis and the brutality of the k^llings...... & yea he is definitely not f^cking normal.
"My name is Ryder Strickland and I’m a fiend to most things bad. I obsess and I persist on what most people in society would never accept."
This book is definitely not for the faint hearted, it's really heavy on r^pe. He's a serial r^pest with a really f^cked up mind.
Carefully Ryder your psycho is showing.
You get the feeling Ryder is "normal", but then comes his episodes of psychosis and the brutality of the k^llings...... & yea he is definitely not f^cking normal.
"My name is Ryder Strickland and I’m a fiend to most things bad. I obsess and I persist on what most people in society would never accept."
This book is definitely not for the faint hearted, it's really heavy on r^pe. He's a serial r^pest with a really f^cked up mind.
February 7, 2025
Well, my flabbers are gasted because, how does this book get such high reviews. First of all, I love dark and gruesome. It’s not the content that’s my hold up, it’s the juvenile writing style. What was with the “OOOOOWWWW EHHHH WAAAAMMMMM”.
The author is anonymous, but he’s clearly a man. How I can tell? The writing is just so flat. If your premise is “the mind of a schizophrenic psychopath, then give me a good story that’s truly horrific, instead of “this is what i did, and then I did this, and then I did that, and then I did this”.
I wanted to like this, but it was just such amateur writing that I struggled through it. Literally fell asleep twice and skimmed through so I could finish.
The author is anonymous, but he’s clearly a man. How I can tell? The writing is just so flat. If your premise is “the mind of a schizophrenic psychopath, then give me a good story that’s truly horrific, instead of “this is what i did, and then I did this, and then I did that, and then I did this”.
I wanted to like this, but it was just such amateur writing that I struggled through it. Literally fell asleep twice and skimmed through so I could finish.
September 19, 2025
This book is f****d from the jump. I had no idea what I was walking into other than something likely a little unhinged given the rec. But unhinged ain’t the half of it.
The MC is a r*p*st and murderer and there is a lot of both in great detail on page.
But the book is more than that. Its take on mental health is riveting and unrefined.
Eve is my kind of fun in a supporting character and I feel like she made the last two thirds of this book fly by.
I will caution that this book is brutal. It is not for anyone who is triggered by on page trauma, because holy hellfire Batman, there is a metric ton in this tale.
The MC is a r*p*st and murderer and there is a lot of both in great detail on page.
But the book is more than that. Its take on mental health is riveting and unrefined.
Eve is my kind of fun in a supporting character and I feel like she made the last two thirds of this book fly by.
I will caution that this book is brutal. It is not for anyone who is triggered by on page trauma, because holy hellfire Batman, there is a metric ton in this tale.
February 6, 2025
I’m used to read about psychopaths from a female and victim pov and this books was really refreshing as it’s written solely from the psychopath’s perspective. Well, actually in medical terms I'm not sure if he suffers from psychopathy or schizophrenia or both. Anyway, the plot was great, obviously this is not a DR, this is horror, so please take in mind that there are explicit r*pe scenes, violence and gore. The only thing that didn't convince me was the author's way of writing, perhaps with an editor this book would be 5 stars.
March 30, 2025
Very disturbing, but I couldn't put this book down. The author manages to pull the curtain back and show the interworkings of a mentally ill, violent and disturbed man. The story is told solely from the male main character's point of view, in first person, as he commits atrocities in the dark corners of Detroit. Arson, murder, rape, torture. Will he get caught, will he get back on his meds, what will he do next, how far off the rails will he go? This was a very tough read. There really are people like this in the world. I will make sure my doors are locked tonight!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews