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The Vile Thing We Created
Lola and Ian had what they thought was the perfect relationship. Vacations. Fine dining. A healthy sex life.
But when their childless lifestyle begins impacting their social lives, they decide to take the natural next step.
But what happens when that next step cracks the perfect foundation Lola and Ian have built? What happens when that next step is anything but natural?
Robert P. Ottone's The Vile Thing We Created is a terrifying vision of parenthood in the tradition of Ira Levin and Thomas Tryon.
But when their childless lifestyle begins impacting their social lives, they decide to take the natural next step.
But what happens when that next step cracks the perfect foundation Lola and Ian have built? What happens when that next step is anything but natural?
Robert P. Ottone's The Vile Thing We Created is a terrifying vision of parenthood in the tradition of Ira Levin and Thomas Tryon.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2023
42 people are currently reading
2610 people want to read
About the author
Robert P. Ottone
30 books112 followersRobert P. Ottone is the two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Triangle and There’s Something Sinister in Centerfield. He is also the author of The Vile Thing We Created as well as the collections Her Infernal Name and Tear Me Open: Fears Unwrapped. A bagel-loving fabulist of spooky absurdity, Ottone enjoys cigars and time with his wife at their home in upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
July 17, 2024
I'll write a longer review when I've processed what I've read.
The breath-taking second half totally redeems the first half; Jonesy is probably the best character I've read this year. Too bad the main characters Lola and Ian were such douchebags. In Ian's mother's words: "If you weren’t such a joke, you could’ve been the one to usher in the new world."
The breath-taking second half totally redeems the first half; Jonesy is probably the best character I've read this year. Too bad the main characters Lola and Ian were such douchebags. In Ian's mother's words: "If you weren’t such a joke, you could’ve been the one to usher in the new world."
April 7, 2024
Are You One of Them?...
THE VILE THING WE CREATED
by Robert P. Ottone
No spoilers. 4 stars. Biracial couple Ian and Lola Sumner, feeling left out by their friends with children, decide it's time to...
Have a baby themselves...
Ian's mother begins giving the couple baby gifts featuring seven point stars. She claims it is a good luck symbol to...
Ward off evil spirits...
But since becoming pregnant, Lola has changed. She's scared, has nightmares, and sees things that shouldn't be seen...
Like...
Blackish-grey snow falling, wildlife acting strangely, birds flying in circles for hours...
And...
An unidentifiable thing in the woods with purple eyes getting closer and closer to their home...
After the birth of son Jonesy...
Lola told her therapist that she hated the child. He stared at her constantly with...
His strange eyes; one blue and one brown...
Ian visits the local historian, seeking answers for the bizarre occurances around town surrounding the birth of his son...
But...
Before agreeing to help Ian, the historian has a question of his own:...
Are you one of them?...
This was one of the better horror stories I've read so far this year, but I think a little pep talk is due here. The two main characters are extremely unlikable, making it hard to enjoy the story until you get to the 60% mark. They complain constantly and are very selfish.
Once 60% into the story, the multi-level plot picks up, and it becomes a page-turner. The ending is satisfactory, and there are no loose ends.
This story reminded me of a collision between THE FIFTH CHILD by Doris Lessing and ROSEMARY'S BABY by Ira Levin.
Warning to some readers: graphic sexual content
THE VILE THING WE CREATED
by Robert P. Ottone
No spoilers. 4 stars. Biracial couple Ian and Lola Sumner, feeling left out by their friends with children, decide it's time to...
Have a baby themselves...
Ian's mother begins giving the couple baby gifts featuring seven point stars. She claims it is a good luck symbol to...
Ward off evil spirits...
But since becoming pregnant, Lola has changed. She's scared, has nightmares, and sees things that shouldn't be seen...
Like...
Blackish-grey snow falling, wildlife acting strangely, birds flying in circles for hours...
And...
An unidentifiable thing in the woods with purple eyes getting closer and closer to their home...
After the birth of son Jonesy...
Lola told her therapist that she hated the child. He stared at her constantly with...
His strange eyes; one blue and one brown...
Ian visits the local historian, seeking answers for the bizarre occurances around town surrounding the birth of his son...
But...
Before agreeing to help Ian, the historian has a question of his own:...
Are you one of them?...
This was one of the better horror stories I've read so far this year, but I think a little pep talk is due here. The two main characters are extremely unlikable, making it hard to enjoy the story until you get to the 60% mark. They complain constantly and are very selfish.
Once 60% into the story, the multi-level plot picks up, and it becomes a page-turner. The ending is satisfactory, and there are no loose ends.
This story reminded me of a collision between THE FIFTH CHILD by Doris Lessing and ROSEMARY'S BABY by Ira Levin.
Warning to some readers: graphic sexual content
May 17, 2023
The Vile Thing We Created is a book that doesn’t take any prisoners, leave hope all who enter here type vibes. Writing of the charts, Ottone makes think, feel and despair.
The Vile Thing We Created. Wow, just what can I say? It’s like an orgy between The Omen, Orphan and Insidious. I’m so glad I didn’t overlook this novel because it made me feel so many emotions. Hard hitting themes like postpartum depression, nearly ruined me, a topic close to my heart but handled with the utmost care and tact. The title was totally out there but it made so much sense, it gave me goosebumps.
Did I enjoy this book?
Do bears shit in the woods?
I know I batter on and on about indie horror, but this right here is the reason why I’m so passionate about it. The storytelling, the emotion, the fear. It’s a heady and propulsive mix that has me aching for more every time. Robert P. Ottone has a special skill. If you haven’t read any of his work, do it now. He finds the horror in everyday life, puts pressure on your fears and creates a hole in your psyche. Your fears become bigger, paranoia taking root within all your nerve endings and by the end of This Vile Thing We Created, I was sweating and aching from how hard I was clutching the book. I felt like I’d ran a marathon.
Now onto the actual book…I’ll admit I didn’t exactly know what I was going into with this one. I went in relatively blind. And I’m so very glad I did. I think it helped digest the story – I didn’t put any pressure on it. I just let it unfold in its own glorious time. I was rewarded with an exhilarating and terrifying read. There is horror and then there is horror. This was the latter. It has it all – fear, a compulsion to continue reading and questions, so many questions.
The prologue sealed the deal for me. My eyes nearly fell out of my head. You are plunged into the darkness and left there – there might be a way out, but you have to find it, the author refuses to make it easy for you.
Lola and Ian are made for each other. They have everything to feel fulfilled. Ian’s a teacher aiming for tenure and Lola is a self-employed baker. God, just reading about her culinary skills had me drooling. They go on vacation when they like, drink when they like and most importantly have sex when they like. But when their friendship circle dwindles due to them having babies, Lola and Ian decide that maybe they’re ready for that next step. They have their reservations, but they decide to bite the bullet anyway.
The descriptions of pregnancy and the darkness that can be felt by some mothers after a traumatic birth was expertly done. I found myself having to wipe a tear away after the depictions brought my own experiences back with a vengeance. Bravo, Mr. Ottone, my heart skipped a beat, not many novels can get those feelings so accurate. It isn’t always a picnic for mothers, some don’t have that insta love moment, and I’d love to see more authors bring light to the plight.
The Vile Thing We Created. Wow, just what can I say? It’s like an orgy between The Omen, Orphan and Insidious. I’m so glad I didn’t overlook this novel because it made me feel so many emotions. Hard hitting themes like postpartum depression, nearly ruined me, a topic close to my heart but handled with the utmost care and tact. The title was totally out there but it made so much sense, it gave me goosebumps.
Did I enjoy this book?
Do bears shit in the woods?
I know I batter on and on about indie horror, but this right here is the reason why I’m so passionate about it. The storytelling, the emotion, the fear. It’s a heady and propulsive mix that has me aching for more every time. Robert P. Ottone has a special skill. If you haven’t read any of his work, do it now. He finds the horror in everyday life, puts pressure on your fears and creates a hole in your psyche. Your fears become bigger, paranoia taking root within all your nerve endings and by the end of This Vile Thing We Created, I was sweating and aching from how hard I was clutching the book. I felt like I’d ran a marathon.
Now onto the actual book…I’ll admit I didn’t exactly know what I was going into with this one. I went in relatively blind. And I’m so very glad I did. I think it helped digest the story – I didn’t put any pressure on it. I just let it unfold in its own glorious time. I was rewarded with an exhilarating and terrifying read. There is horror and then there is horror. This was the latter. It has it all – fear, a compulsion to continue reading and questions, so many questions.
The prologue sealed the deal for me. My eyes nearly fell out of my head. You are plunged into the darkness and left there – there might be a way out, but you have to find it, the author refuses to make it easy for you.
Lola and Ian are made for each other. They have everything to feel fulfilled. Ian’s a teacher aiming for tenure and Lola is a self-employed baker. God, just reading about her culinary skills had me drooling. They go on vacation when they like, drink when they like and most importantly have sex when they like. But when their friendship circle dwindles due to them having babies, Lola and Ian decide that maybe they’re ready for that next step. They have their reservations, but they decide to bite the bullet anyway.
The descriptions of pregnancy and the darkness that can be felt by some mothers after a traumatic birth was expertly done. I found myself having to wipe a tear away after the depictions brought my own experiences back with a vengeance. Bravo, Mr. Ottone, my heart skipped a beat, not many novels can get those feelings so accurate. It isn’t always a picnic for mothers, some don’t have that insta love moment, and I’d love to see more authors bring light to the plight.
April 19, 2023
Phenomenal!
Wow, what a novel. Ottone's best book yet, in my opinion. If you're familiar with his work, you'll certainly love this one, for he takes it to another level here. If you haven't read Ottone, THE VILE THING WE CREATED would be an excellent place to start. Highly recommended!
Wow, what a novel. Ottone's best book yet, in my opinion. If you're familiar with his work, you'll certainly love this one, for he takes it to another level here. If you haven't read Ottone, THE VILE THING WE CREATED would be an excellent place to start. Highly recommended!
April 22, 2023
Lola and Ian are a self-described “cool” young married couple living in upstate New York who have suddenly found themselves alienated by their longtime friends as those friends have children and become wrapped up in parenthood. So the couple determine it’s now or never and decide to expand their family. They regret this decision quickly and thoroughly.
The Vile Thing We Created is an entertaining and propulsive read. I don’t think there’s anything groundbreaking here, but the writing was very good and sometimes quite creepy, the main characters were fairly likeable, and there were a few different twists on the evil child (or is it?) trope that I appreciated, including some interesting folklore that I wish had been explored further.
I would recommend this book to most horror readers, except perhaps expectant parents. Maybe give it to people you know who are thinking about having children but shouldn’t.
The Vile Thing We Created is an entertaining and propulsive read. I don’t think there’s anything groundbreaking here, but the writing was very good and sometimes quite creepy, the main characters were fairly likeable, and there were a few different twists on the evil child (or is it?) trope that I appreciated, including some interesting folklore that I wish had been explored further.
I would recommend this book to most horror readers, except perhaps expectant parents. Maybe give it to people you know who are thinking about having children but shouldn’t.
April 17, 2023
One of the best stories I’ve ever read!
If I could give this book all the stars in the sky, I would!
The Vile Thing We Created by Robert Ottone combines all the elements that make the perfect horror story. Relatable characters, utter dread, a solid plot, and so much more!
I have the ebook, but I’ll be purchasing a physical copy so I can hug it and proudly display it on my shelves. It’s THAT good!
Thank you, Robert, for the kick-ass entertainment and crazy dreams. 😁
If I could give this book all the stars in the sky, I would!
The Vile Thing We Created by Robert Ottone combines all the elements that make the perfect horror story. Relatable characters, utter dread, a solid plot, and so much more!
I have the ebook, but I’ll be purchasing a physical copy so I can hug it and proudly display it on my shelves. It’s THAT good!
Thank you, Robert, for the kick-ass entertainment and crazy dreams. 😁
November 18, 2023
There are certain things wrong with me that make it difficult to notice when written dialogue is unnatural or bad or, as they say, cringe. I cannot imagine the average, normal person’s experience reading a book where this problem is so extreme that even I noticed it. And if it were just that, maybe I would have given this another star or two, but I cannot impress enough how flimsy and insincere the characterization of our main couple is, how hollow their internality rings, and how desperately the author tried and failed to communicate their uniqueness. One of the worst books I’ve read in years.
March 30, 2025
Wow, that was some story!
I totally thought it was going to be psychological horror all the way through, but some supernatural elements come into play as well.
The whole pregnancy portion and delivery were distressing to read! I really sympathized for Lola. I did find the timeline a little wonky, sometimes events occurred and it seemed like days or weeks had passed, but then a character mentions it happened the previous day.
After the baby is born things just get more and more weird. I found this section creepy, but also frustrating. Neither parent communicated and this leads to years of struggle.
Still not 100% sure if I fully understand the ending, I definitely wasn’t a fan of the way things played out. Vince being some rando who happens to know basically all the obscure answers felt wrong.
Anyways, this was a genuinely creepy read, with a nightmare pregnancy, delivery, and post partum. I do think this was well described as a terrifying ordeal for any woman who is reading this book. The rest of the story was just too weird and drawn out for me to like.
I totally thought it was going to be psychological horror all the way through, but some supernatural elements come into play as well.
The whole pregnancy portion and delivery were distressing to read! I really sympathized for Lola. I did find the timeline a little wonky, sometimes events occurred and it seemed like days or weeks had passed, but then a character mentions it happened the previous day.
After the baby is born things just get more and more weird. I found this section creepy, but also frustrating. Neither parent communicated and this leads to years of struggle.
Still not 100% sure if I fully understand the ending, I definitely wasn’t a fan of the way things played out. Vince being some rando who happens to know basically all the obscure answers felt wrong.
Anyways, this was a genuinely creepy read, with a nightmare pregnancy, delivery, and post partum. I do think this was well described as a terrifying ordeal for any woman who is reading this book. The rest of the story was just too weird and drawn out for me to like.
August 4, 2023
Just didn't work for me. Wasn't scary but was predictable, too many gratuitous sex scenes (mostly oral sex for some unknown reason) and annoying characters.
Lola got kissed on the cheek, forehead, or patted on her ass nearly EVERY PAGE.
Seriously, I was rooting for the demon baby.
Lola got kissed on the cheek, forehead, or patted on her ass nearly EVERY PAGE.
Seriously, I was rooting for the demon baby.
February 26, 2025
i cant really say i didnt like this book because overall i did, but what i can say is this book shouldn’t have been 442 pages, & the two main characters were annoying as hell (like who decides to have a kid just because they’re feeling left out knowing they don’t actually want one???) but anyways, when i first started reading this book i initially thought it was just gonna be about a couple having a kid and it turns out to be evil & does some scary shit & that’s about it, but no. this book went down a totally different route & idk if i really liked it like that. love the cover and title though.
June 11, 2023
Ugh. God awful! I can’t believe I wasted time reading this nearly 400 page nightmare!! And I don’t mean nightmare like Stephen King—no this book was annoying, too long and often nonsense. Does the writer realize he created 2 characters who epitomize why people hate millennials? They have a kid because everyone else has one and even though the kid is well behaved they hate it? I’m not sure if the intention was to hate them and want evil to win? I was waiting for some interesting cult backstory—maybe 3 pages in all. Just bad!
Read
April 14, 2024I hate to write a negative review for an indie book, but unfortunately I just didn't vibe with this one. My primary problem is that I found the characters unlikeable, and the dialogue and sex scenes cringey. I don't want to write a whole list of everything I disliked. The writing was fine, and I didn't notice any glaring editing mistakes or anything. It just wasn't for me.
May 4, 2025
This is, hands-down, the worst book I’ve read in a long time. I finished it out of spite.
Let’s start with the characters. Lola and Ian are two of the most insufferable protagonists I’ve ever encountered. It felt like the author wrote two male characters, then lazily changed one into a woman without altering a single trait to make her remotely relatable or realistic as a female character. Lola reads like a caricature of how some men think women behave, and it’s painfully obvious.
And the dialogue? If my partner called me “kid” in every other sentence like Ian does, I’d lose my mind. It gave off major “never been in a real relationship” energy and do not know how to write one.
Now let’s talk about the sex scenes. They were so bad, I actually laughed. If someone came at me with any of the moves or lines in this book, I’d leave immediately. It’s the kind of writing that screams a man wrote this, every scene was centered entirely on male gratification and totally devoid of chemistry or realism. There were multiple scenes, and unfortunately, none of them were salvageable.
The plot is equally ridiculous. Two people who are staunchly child-free suddenly spiral into having a kid, not out of love or growth, but because their friends got married and stopped inviting them to brunch. Seriously. Instead of acting like adults and making new friends, they decide to fundamentally betray their values for… peer pressure? Okay.
And then there’s the birth scene. At one point, one of them actually says, “The baby is squirting out.” I wish I was joking.
This book is a disaster from start to finish. It’s a prime example of what readers mean when we say male authors struggle—hard—to write women characters convincingly.
Let’s start with the characters. Lola and Ian are two of the most insufferable protagonists I’ve ever encountered. It felt like the author wrote two male characters, then lazily changed one into a woman without altering a single trait to make her remotely relatable or realistic as a female character. Lola reads like a caricature of how some men think women behave, and it’s painfully obvious.
And the dialogue? If my partner called me “kid” in every other sentence like Ian does, I’d lose my mind. It gave off major “never been in a real relationship” energy and do not know how to write one.
Now let’s talk about the sex scenes. They were so bad, I actually laughed. If someone came at me with any of the moves or lines in this book, I’d leave immediately. It’s the kind of writing that screams a man wrote this, every scene was centered entirely on male gratification and totally devoid of chemistry or realism. There were multiple scenes, and unfortunately, none of them were salvageable.
The plot is equally ridiculous. Two people who are staunchly child-free suddenly spiral into having a kid, not out of love or growth, but because their friends got married and stopped inviting them to brunch. Seriously. Instead of acting like adults and making new friends, they decide to fundamentally betray their values for… peer pressure? Okay.
And then there’s the birth scene. At one point, one of them actually says, “The baby is squirting out.” I wish I was joking.
This book is a disaster from start to finish. It’s a prime example of what readers mean when we say male authors struggle—hard—to write women characters convincingly.
October 19, 2024
With a super intriguing synopsis, and a strong beginning, I told myself this would be a 5 star read. Unfortunately, this ended in me feeling a little let down.
The story follows Lola & Ian, a childless married couple, living their best lives (truly). Feeling excluded by their friends since they are the only pair without children, they decide to take the 'natural next step' and have a baby. (First of all, it is astounding to me the ridiculous reasons people come up with for having children, like hello! you are literally bringing a human being into the world, this should not be taken lightly). Anyway, it doesn't take long for the two to realize there is something very wrong with Lola's pregnancy, and eventually, with the child that comes from it.
Strange bouts of sickness, hallucinations, freak accidents, unexpected deaths, all seem to happen when the child is around...
Starting out, this book was tense, creepy, and addictive. But as time went on, it started to get repetitive, and dragged a bit. We follow Lola & Ian day to day navigating parenthood and being affected by strange events, but still not getting help for their child or trying to seek the truth until the last 5% of the book. Picture me, reading on my Kindle, looking down to see "20 minutes left in book" at the point where the characters are JUST beginning to look into the strange activity. At over 400 pages, I think too much time was spent on the set-up and not enough on the conclusion. By the end, I still had questions and felt unsatisfied with the amount of information we received regarding the truth about what was happening.
One thing I will say I appreciated within the book was the conversation about pregnancy, motherhood, and women's healthcare with a specific focus on maternal mortality and how those rates are higher for black women.
Really interesting idea with characters that I enjoyed, but it fell apart with the odd pacing.
The story follows Lola & Ian, a childless married couple, living their best lives (truly). Feeling excluded by their friends since they are the only pair without children, they decide to take the 'natural next step' and have a baby. (First of all, it is astounding to me the ridiculous reasons people come up with for having children, like hello! you are literally bringing a human being into the world, this should not be taken lightly). Anyway, it doesn't take long for the two to realize there is something very wrong with Lola's pregnancy, and eventually, with the child that comes from it.
Strange bouts of sickness, hallucinations, freak accidents, unexpected deaths, all seem to happen when the child is around...
Starting out, this book was tense, creepy, and addictive. But as time went on, it started to get repetitive, and dragged a bit. We follow Lola & Ian day to day navigating parenthood and being affected by strange events, but still not getting help for their child or trying to seek the truth until the last 5% of the book. Picture me, reading on my Kindle, looking down to see "20 minutes left in book" at the point where the characters are JUST beginning to look into the strange activity. At over 400 pages, I think too much time was spent on the set-up and not enough on the conclusion. By the end, I still had questions and felt unsatisfied with the amount of information we received regarding the truth about what was happening.
One thing I will say I appreciated within the book was the conversation about pregnancy, motherhood, and women's healthcare with a specific focus on maternal mortality and how those rates are higher for black women.
Really interesting idea with characters that I enjoyed, but it fell apart with the odd pacing.
Read
April 18, 2023A couple decides to start a family and a nightmare unfolds that threatens to break the bonds of their relationship, their sanity, and reality itself. This taut, engrossing tale from Robert P. Ottone is full of natural- and unnatural- horror, and will terrify anyone considering parenthood!
July 31, 2023
This title caught my attention as soon as I heard it. Post-partum depression is a real-life horror; this couple has it in spades. Having kids ain't easy if they're normal—never mind supernatural. You get the gist. Thoroughly entertaining from start to finish!
April 19, 2024
Another airplane read while traveling for work and it was such good company.
The Vile Thing We Created is a slow burn horror novel about a couple who decide to have a baby when they realize their friends are all moving ahead without them. It's a dark and twisted spin on the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses".
As a mother, there's nothing worse than thinking there is something wrong with your baby. From the onset of her pregnancy, Lola knows something's not right. The way she feels, the way the baby feels inside her... but the doctors do their doctorly duties and assure her that everything's perfectly normal. Yet once little Jones is born, the fear fails to subside. Quite honestly, for Lola and Ian, his entry into the world only serves to rattle them more. And those strange visions and hallucinations of glowing eyes in the woods that Lola kept seeing while pregnant seem to grow in intensity as Jones grows.
What are you supposed to do when you fear your own child? Who do you go to for help? And how do you not sound crazy when you finally do?
Ottone hits the psychological horror nail right on the head with this one! He perfectly peppered in the in-law dynamics, the overwhelming sense of FOMO the main characters struggled with, and the history of the small town Ian grew up -combined, those elements continued to feed the book's oppressive atmosphere.
The only real complaint I had was some of the odd conversational nuances between the characters. Ian referring to his wife Lola as "kid" all the time was one that kept pulling me out of the page. It felt less like a term of endearment and more like a verbal putdown.
If you're looking for a good "what the hell came out of my coochie" read, this one is it!!! Parental nightmares for the win!
The Vile Thing We Created is a slow burn horror novel about a couple who decide to have a baby when they realize their friends are all moving ahead without them. It's a dark and twisted spin on the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses".
As a mother, there's nothing worse than thinking there is something wrong with your baby. From the onset of her pregnancy, Lola knows something's not right. The way she feels, the way the baby feels inside her... but the doctors do their doctorly duties and assure her that everything's perfectly normal. Yet once little Jones is born, the fear fails to subside. Quite honestly, for Lola and Ian, his entry into the world only serves to rattle them more. And those strange visions and hallucinations of glowing eyes in the woods that Lola kept seeing while pregnant seem to grow in intensity as Jones grows.
What are you supposed to do when you fear your own child? Who do you go to for help? And how do you not sound crazy when you finally do?
Ottone hits the psychological horror nail right on the head with this one! He perfectly peppered in the in-law dynamics, the overwhelming sense of FOMO the main characters struggled with, and the history of the small town Ian grew up -combined, those elements continued to feed the book's oppressive atmosphere.
The only real complaint I had was some of the odd conversational nuances between the characters. Ian referring to his wife Lola as "kid" all the time was one that kept pulling me out of the page. It felt less like a term of endearment and more like a verbal putdown.
If you're looking for a good "what the hell came out of my coochie" read, this one is it!!! Parental nightmares for the win!
August 9, 2023
Ian and Lola are living in constant marital bliss. They have great jobs, great sex, great food but... not so great friends. Their friends seem to have all but ditched them since having kids, and Lola and Ian feel left out. They have never wanted kids, but maybe they are missing out on this "amazing feeling of purpose" that their friends have achieved after having theirs? After this life-changing decision is made, the two of them are brought on a wild ride of blood, sweat, tears, heinous visions, death, and a spawn that they couldn't have possibly have created themselves... could they?
So I read this on a whim per the glowing recommendation from a friend, and I could not be happier that I listened. This is definitely one of my favorite new horror books! It is so scary that I actually refrained from reading it before bed so I wouldn't be too jumpy! Ottone excelled at creating an eerie, ominous atmosphere in the real world. Crazy descriptions and visuals, relational dynamics, and the fear around having children. I could definitely see the "twist" coming to an extent, but I loved the journey. I loved Lola and Ian (most of the time) and was decently satisfied by the ending.
I would give this a go if you're able to! Double it with some creepy ambient music in the background, and this book is enough to scare you away from having kids for good.
So I read this on a whim per the glowing recommendation from a friend, and I could not be happier that I listened. This is definitely one of my favorite new horror books! It is so scary that I actually refrained from reading it before bed so I wouldn't be too jumpy! Ottone excelled at creating an eerie, ominous atmosphere in the real world. Crazy descriptions and visuals, relational dynamics, and the fear around having children. I could definitely see the "twist" coming to an extent, but I loved the journey. I loved Lola and Ian (most of the time) and was decently satisfied by the ending.
I would give this a go if you're able to! Double it with some creepy ambient music in the background, and this book is enough to scare you away from having kids for good.
October 13, 2023
This was incredible, so much so I got paper cuts from turning the pages so quickly 😅 The dread this book emits is palpable, with hard hitting topics (motherhood, postpartum depression, grief) this book does not hold back, in fact it rears back and punches you right in ya mush, I love a slow burn and Ottone created such an uneasy eerie atmosphere, I really love creepy kids in books its one of my favourite tropes, I agree it has a Rosemary Baby's vibe but the vibe is vibing at a way creepier level, the prose was easy to read and I honestly flew through this, if you enjoy occult/ supernatural elements and relatable characters you're in for a treat 🎃 or trick
May 15, 2023
4.5 fun, creepy stars rounded up.
Expectant parents may want to hold off on this one for a minute!
Expectant parents may want to hold off on this one for a minute!
January 7, 2024
✅✅✅✅✅/5
I don’t have kids. Don’t want ‘em. Pregnant women freak me out. I just don’t fully trust what’s going on in there & I know it’s just all like…squishy sounds. 🫥
So having made those odd statements ^^ How do I end up reading all these damned demon baby/pregancy horror stories? Idk, I’ll ask my therapist next week.
So onto The Vile Thing We Created. Incredible, creepy, hilarious, nightmare scenario. You get some big check marks with this one.
✅ Cults.
✅ Sinkholes.
✅ Nailing just how weird parenting a little human must be.
✅ Asylum escapes.
✅ Adorable couple. Unfortunately bedeviled.
✅ Evil cat.
✅ One of the funniest/worst births ever ?
✅ Lingering ominous skinless creature out in the woods that gets closer as the pregnancy progresses. (I said biiiiitch.)
It was great story, very cinematic. I loved all the characters, even the little hellspawn. Which is the worst cuz then when people start dying you’re like wahhh. 😩 This was like a modern take on Rosemary’s Baby x The Omen but the sinister forces are a lot more outwardly terrifying and not just hinted at. Read it if you have kids and even if you don’t. It’s just a damn good story & it made me want to read more from Ottone!
I don’t have kids. Don’t want ‘em. Pregnant women freak me out. I just don’t fully trust what’s going on in there & I know it’s just all like…squishy sounds. 🫥
So having made those odd statements ^^ How do I end up reading all these damned demon baby/pregancy horror stories? Idk, I’ll ask my therapist next week.
So onto The Vile Thing We Created. Incredible, creepy, hilarious, nightmare scenario. You get some big check marks with this one.
✅ Cults.
✅ Sinkholes.
✅ Nailing just how weird parenting a little human must be.
✅ Asylum escapes.
✅ Adorable couple. Unfortunately bedeviled.
✅ Evil cat.
✅ One of the funniest/worst births ever ?
✅ Lingering ominous skinless creature out in the woods that gets closer as the pregnancy progresses. (I said biiiiitch.)
It was great story, very cinematic. I loved all the characters, even the little hellspawn. Which is the worst cuz then when people start dying you’re like wahhh. 😩 This was like a modern take on Rosemary’s Baby x The Omen but the sinister forces are a lot more outwardly terrifying and not just hinted at. Read it if you have kids and even if you don’t. It’s just a damn good story & it made me want to read more from Ottone!
April 26, 2023
This was very enjoyable. I love an evil child trope. I think the less you know going in, the better.
A lot of good commentary on parenting fears and, as a result, I didn’t initially care for the 2 main characters or their cheesy banter. Their reasons for having a child also seemed kind of selfish and unrealistic. However, I understand what the author was trying to convey in terms of their relationship. I think they redeemed themselves by the end, though, and there were definitely elements that kept me guessing throughout. Made for an overall unique and engaging story.
I do wish there had been more about the mythology and history of the supernatural elements and the characters involved in that aspect of the book. I enjoy a good background story and world building but I feel the story fell short in that regard. I also feel some of the aspects of the supernatural elements lacked resolution. I wanted to know more!!
Very good book overall. I hope maybe there will be a part 2! I think this story can definitely be fleshed out into another novel, hint hint.
A lot of good commentary on parenting fears and, as a result, I didn’t initially care for the 2 main characters or their cheesy banter. Their reasons for having a child also seemed kind of selfish and unrealistic. However, I understand what the author was trying to convey in terms of their relationship. I think they redeemed themselves by the end, though, and there were definitely elements that kept me guessing throughout. Made for an overall unique and engaging story.
I do wish there had been more about the mythology and history of the supernatural elements and the characters involved in that aspect of the book. I enjoy a good background story and world building but I feel the story fell short in that regard. I also feel some of the aspects of the supernatural elements lacked resolution. I wanted to know more!!
Very good book overall. I hope maybe there will be a part 2! I think this story can definitely be fleshed out into another novel, hint hint.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2023
Yep, I thought this book kinda sucked. The writing stinks (in my opinion), with a lot of repeated words and phrases, and characters doing something and then doing the same thing a couple paragraphs later (eg, unlocking the front door). The dialogue between Ian and Lola seemed completely unrealistic and annoying and their characters didn’t have much depth or in my opinion, likeability. They were very uncool “cool” people and super judgey of everyone else. They decided to have a child because everyone was doing it even though they didn’t want to. Then they hate him and resent him which huh maybe doesn’t lead to the most warm household. Yeah I get that the child isn’t “normal” but still. The book was confusing with the shocking/scary elements making little sense. Nothing ever really got explained in a coherent way. The ending was ridiculous. Two stars for holding my attention thinking something interesting might happen at some point.
August 22, 2023
A couple decides to have a kid because of FOMO (All our friends have them, might be kinda cool idk??), then suffers the consequences. I, too, suffered along with them – almost half the novel went by without the plot achieving anything significant. Not for me!
August 25, 2023
two super unlikeable and annoying people decide to have a baby they don't really want, and the baby turns out to be the devil or something, but the real devil is ian for the way he talks about all women who aren't his wife or mother
August 26, 2025
This was a WEIRD book, but I loved the concept that the story was telling. I think my gripe with this novel was the execution more than anything. I think the novel was too long and could have been 50-60 pages (or more) shorter so that the story got to the point a bit quicker. There were times that I felt that the story was very long-winded and sooooo slooooowww that it felt a bit like filler.
I do want to say that the concept of the novel, the mystery surrounding Jonesy and the old residents of the town, and the horror that the parents witnessed was very compelling and I did enjoy the overall story. I will say that I'm not a perfect parent by any means, but SHEESH these two kind of suck as parents lol. I also did find the repeated "sex scenes" in the book were a bit unnecessary and got a bit overdone the later the novel went on. I'm glad they find each other sexy, but I don't need to hear about him going down on his wife every other chapter.
I want to also mention that I think the author did capture the depression and thoughts of failure that new parents can feel pretty accurately. There were times with my children that I felt like a failure and that I was unsure of what I was doing and if I really did love these little crying balls of poop, but the author did a commendable job in getting into the minds of these two parents and their thoughts about their child and if there really was something wrong with "him".
Overall, I loved the concept of the novel, the mystery that was hinted at, and the novel overall, but some editing could have gone a long way to make this novel even better (and maybe a bit longer, fear inducing conclusion too).
I do want to say that the concept of the novel, the mystery surrounding Jonesy and the old residents of the town, and the horror that the parents witnessed was very compelling and I did enjoy the overall story. I will say that I'm not a perfect parent by any means, but SHEESH these two kind of suck as parents lol. I also did find the repeated "sex scenes" in the book were a bit unnecessary and got a bit overdone the later the novel went on. I'm glad they find each other sexy, but I don't need to hear about him going down on his wife every other chapter.
I want to also mention that I think the author did capture the depression and thoughts of failure that new parents can feel pretty accurately. There were times with my children that I felt like a failure and that I was unsure of what I was doing and if I really did love these little crying balls of poop, but the author did a commendable job in getting into the minds of these two parents and their thoughts about their child and if there really was something wrong with "him".
Overall, I loved the concept of the novel, the mystery that was hinted at, and the novel overall, but some editing could have gone a long way to make this novel even better (and maybe a bit longer, fear inducing conclusion too).
July 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It was spooky! It made me laugh a few times! It had unlikeable character which I tend to really love! There were supernatural elements that surprised me!
This book is well written and smooth to read. I took this book in small doses until the end and the way it was broken up worked really well with my current reading pace.
Overall I recommend it. Some of the scenes made me loudly yell ‘ew!’ ‘Sick’ and ‘yasss!’
What more can you ask for in a horror novel?
I will say big trigger warning for parents sensitive to perinatal mood disorder content. Some of Ian and Lola’s moments reminded my of my own experience with PMADS.
This book is well written and smooth to read. I took this book in small doses until the end and the way it was broken up worked really well with my current reading pace.
Overall I recommend it. Some of the scenes made me loudly yell ‘ew!’ ‘Sick’ and ‘yasss!’
What more can you ask for in a horror novel?
I will say big trigger warning for parents sensitive to perinatal mood disorder content. Some of Ian and Lola’s moments reminded my of my own experience with PMADS.
July 9, 2023
This book surprised the hell out of me! I didn't know what I was getting into and it was the perfect way to read this. I'm glad I already have children because this might have swayed me. Maybe a trigger warning for people sensitive to infertility or trying to conceive.
September 27, 2023
This book was high on my list of things to read based on it being by Ottone and the awesome cover alone. I seriously didn't even hesitate or bother reading the plot before diving in... and I'm glad I didn't. It was a very well crafted and unnerving story that had me turning pages faster than I like to admit. Highly recommended.
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