WARNING! The following story contains language and graphic depictions of extreme sexual fetish and violence which may offend and disturb some readers. A little over three years ago, I met the woman of my dreams. Considering who I am, I never thought I would meet another human being that I was compatible with. Then Alicia came into my life like a storm, and we hit it off right from the start. Ours is a story of true love, the kind of love that only comes around once in a lifetime, if ever. Most people will not recognize the beauty of the life we have made together or understand the necessity of our deeds, but that doesn't matter to us. Because Alicia and I are ready to spread the light of our love across this darkened world, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop us.
River Dixon has unknowingly found himself trapped in the incessant heat and beauty of Arizona. It is here, along with his family, that he finds solace stringing together words in an attempt to find a structure or sequence that may one day make sense of all this. River can be found hanging out at thestoriesinbetween.com where he shares his poetry and short fiction.
On December 8, 1980, as John Lennon entered the archway of his apartment building, he was shot four times in the back and subsequently died of his wounds. The gunman was Mark David Chapman.
But this book is not about him. It is about a couple who idolized Chapman for what he did. Her name is Alicia. My name is [UNDISCLOSED]. This is our story.
WARNING: There will be cursing in this review.
I almost gave up on this one before I reached the halfway mark. Why? Because of the sex. No, no, not because I am a prude, but the sex in the story is seriously fucked up!
Stop shaking your head let me explain my scale:
Every one of us has a fetish. If you think you don’t, you just haven’t discovered yours yet. Remember, fetish and fantasy goes hand in hand. I try not to judge people on whatever they do to get themselves off, but some things are just not for me.
No, I’m not going to share my fetish. However, I will tell you what I think about some stuff:
A golden shower is messed-up.
BDSM is effed-up.
A Cosby sweater is fucked-up. (You may need to Google that one in the urban dictionary.)
The things these two do to each other is SERIOUSLY FUCKED UP! And, no, it is probably not what you think it is consensual.
By the second sex scene I was sitting with legs crossed, knee-on-knee, and swallowing hard on my dried up spit. I was questioning whether this could be one of those erotic books I can’t stand. But I pushed through and I’m really glad I did.
It made me think of a song – this is (for me) probably the sexiest music video ever...And can somebody tell Miley Cyrus this girl didn’t need nudity or skanky-ness to achieve it.
‘Honey, I wanna break you I wanna throw you to the hounds, Yeah I gotta hurt you I gotta hear from your mouth Boy, I wanna taste you I wanna skin you with my tongue I’m gonna kill you, I’m gonna lay you in the ground.’
DESIRE – Meg Myers
I came to realize, toward the end, that the author was cleverly planting a seed in your head about the psychology of the characters. If I had to compare this book to a movie (loosely), it would be TAXI DRIVER with Robert De Niro. This story is about the evolution of these two people and the special bond they share.
While this story may not have been as poetic as THE SMELL OF CEDAR, there is exceptional skill in his writing to gently push you forward toward the destination he has planned.
My biggest worry (for the author) is who his target audience will be. I have to wonder if this book may not move a little too slow for the usual extreme and splatterpunk crowd, or even horror readers. Even when I say it is worth it to stick with this one, I’m not sure how the average reader will feel about it. Also, I have to wonder if the erotica crowd will be into the ending, since the sex is gradually phased out and the gore notched up.
Dixon took a gamble with this one and my personal feeling is it might be a cult classic or it might flop. Personally, I think it was well written and very much worth it to push through to the end.
As a side note, my wife asked me the other day if she should be getting worried about the type of books I am currently reading. For me, extreme is one of the only two genres who can still go anywhere, making it unpredictable. And, while some might be just as biased toward the readers as the authors because they can’t understand what we get out of it, I can assure you that most of these people are the nicest folks you could ever meet. There is a very very small percentage of them who might be into some questionable stuff, like stalking women and masturbating in their dungeon to the Russian Roulette scenes in THE DEER HUNTER... And since I promised this author his secret is safe with me, I want to emphatically state that it isn’t Simon McHardy. So, for the record, there is an art to this genre and people shouldn’t be worried about readers and writers. They should, however, call the doctor if one of us gets the urge to watch KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS!
This is one helluva novella. It is saturated with violence, abusive sex, obsession and ...love. What begins as a consensual sex show of blood and pain morphs into a story of hero worship, which then turns the corner to what frees a person to be who he or she truly is. It is an extreme horror novel that leaves no holds barred. I had no idea what to expect, and while some of the material made me cringe, I appreciated where it went. Score your copy.
Wowwwwww!!! I feel as though I’ve just gone 12 rounds in a boxing ring with Mike Tyson!! I’m totally exhausted after reading this craaaazy book! Lots of brutality, graphic physical violence, sexual violence.....I won’t be forgetting the iron in a hurry!!
Loved the ‘pounding’ of the bullet hole, in Chap’s fantasy, made me LOL imagining someone doing that 🤣
This was the first book from River Dixon which I’ve read, and tbh I didn’t know what I was gonna get! This is a love story of extreme horror between ‘Chap’ and ‘A - LEE- SHE-UUUH’, and it definitely is NOT for the easily offended (I seem to be saying that a lot lately, in my reviews 😆), but this will not be my last outing with Mr Dixon.....HELL NO!!!!
I don’t know what to write, without giving the story away. But know that , this story captivated me.
At first River Dixon , showed us how in love these two lovers are. This is not your typical love story. Far from it . To read about their lovemaking was disturbing and brutal, so very brutal. I felt sick, after I read certain scenes.
I liked the way the story, and the characters evolved. At the beginning they are two insecure people, with extreme sadistic and masochistic fetishes . And then together they help each other, become what they truly are.
It’s kind of a beautiful love story ,in a brutal and gruesome fashion.
I never read a story like that. I read stories with insane ( yes for me they are crazy 😆) sadistic characters but never in that kind of situation. Nobody, ever asked to be treated like Alicia wanted it , never. While I was reading, I was telling myself, No way . Is it possible ? No way ! All the sex between Alicia and Chap was so , I don’t know which word to use, brutal, weird, insane, atrocious . I was shocked. I think I’m a little bit traumatized, just a little bit. By now, you know I like to read about "crazy things ".😄
Anyway, this book is unique, well written, with very interesting (Crazy , in my opinion. I’m a little bit judgmental, I know.😝. But seriously , The Iron ! THE IRON !!! )characters.
It’s my first time reading a River Dixon’s book. But it won’t be the last. I like his writing style.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to read a brutal, crazy, horrific, sadistic love story.
Well damn.. Need some time to digest this, review to come.
This book kind of got to me, that I actually took a wee break from reading. Okay, I had also been drinking the devil's juice and on the same day had just finished Hubert Selby's "The Room" but I couldn't get to sleep that night with a few scenes playing through my mind. It's full on brutal, especially the first half but written in a very realistic way. About a couple of lovers, mainly the character of no name who is unhappy about everything in his life apart from his sadomasochistic girlfriend and worshipping his idol Chapman. Following in the line of his idol, no name pulls the trigger on his unhappiness and finds release. If you can stomach the brutality, read it. It's a good book that will give you food for thought.
‘Sadistic love story’ does not do the level of fuckedupness Chap and Alicia stoop to in the bedroom justice. One particular scene with a mirror has given me PTDS. I breathed a sigh of relief and uncrossed my legs when the couple’s violent tendencies spill out onto the streets. Dixon’s first foray into splatter is a remarkable achievement. Chapman will long haunt you after you put it down.
A very cringeworthy book to say the least. The sex scenes will leave you saying wtf over and over while your cringing thinking about how much pain those acts would cause. A quick, disturbing and dark read, with a very dysfunctional couple, who finds there soulmates in each other. To each their own right? Yowza!
Wow, just wow! I feel like I’ve gone a few rounds in the ring after reading this one. Oof!
River Dixon somehow managed to make me like these two sadistic characters. It really is a love story in the most twisted and vile way. If Natural Born Killers and Taxi Driver had a book baby it would be CHAPMAN. Just be warned that it has very extreme physical and sexual violence. Highly recommended and I need more of this author’s books in my life.
This most definitely was a sadistic love story. Sadistic, sick, gory, brutal, savage, shocking and brilliant. And yes, there were a couple times in this book where I smiled, when the characters realised they were murdering, messed up soulmates (So I'm an old romantic, who knew 😉😂) There were definitely a LOT more jaw dropping moments than smiles I admit, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this sick, twisted book. My first by River Dixon, but most definitely not my last!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
After binge-reading a few of this author's works the past few days, I can safely say that CHAPMAN is my favorite. This is vivid, visceral, unforgettable fiction. Highly recommended!
Well that was definitely a brutal, gory, sadistic, fucked up love story. This was my first experience reading River Dixon and I have to say it was awesome. River Dixon is such a smooth writer and a awesome storyteller that I was right in this one the whole time and I enjoyed every page. If you want a engaging violent quick read check this one out it rocks.
Wow is all I can say. This book is amazing. It starts off with a bang and is shocking. I really loved the characters in this book. Alicia was deeply disturbed, but was likeable. River Dixon is very good with words. Can't wait to read more by him. If this isn't true love I don't know what is.
Chapman was my introduction to River Dixon. This was a very fast paced fun read. The disclaimer at the beginning is no joke. Knowing what I was getting myself into, I was very impressed. The two primary characters are sick, very sick, however Dixon finds a way to make them so relatable in ways. They were very human, almost very "everyman" is certain aspects.
I do recommend Chapman, as well as Dixon. I am going to download another one by River immediately.
Chapman really is a sadistic love story. only people deeply in love would go this far for each other. weirdly romantic (i said "awwww" multiple times) and brutal as all hell, this story is exactly what i wanted it to be! highly recommended!
There’s an undeniable art to writing pulpy horror or psychological pulp, and River Dixon was able to fulfill his ideas in the book “Chapman: а sadistic love story.” He created a new kind of monster, very modern, multifaced, attractive... because of his terror. But I see this story more as the idea of fear, a possession that can physically grab you by the collar. There’re complex relationships and the elements of true sadism/fetish. Still, the terror in this book is second (the side dish) because I think the heroes, the idea, the psychology of personality is the entrée. The book is dynamic, grotesque, effective, and makes you think - and it's beautifully done. Read it if you dare.
When I recommend this author to people, I describe his writing like an abusive boyfriend. He sweet talks you until you feel nice and safe with him and his words, and then strikes at the end, backhanding you. (No, it may not be as tactful a description as many would like, but it's true) With this one, he proves he doesn't need to sweet talk you to get you to like him. He can just come in, fists flying, and fuck you up-all while you beg him for more. One of my favorite authors, and River doing extreme horror!!are you kidding me! Read this.
I absolutely loved this, it’s sadistic, gruesome and completely messed up, but utterly brilliant. I really liked both of the main characters and their completely F’d up love for each other. This short story was well written and I’ll definitely be trying more from this author, I highly recommend.