What do you think?
Rate this book
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares
A Goodreads "Best of Horror 2020" Selection From waking fears to heart-breaking nightmares, this collection of short fiction is a glimpse into the terrors we face every day from the mind of Robert P. Ottone.
In "The Arborist," a woman hears the mysterious call of the forest.
Five friends exploring an archipelago find themselves set upon by the island's hungry inhabitants in "The Monitors."
A young woman confronts the mystery of her infertility in "Kelly Watch the Stars."
These works are joined by the title novella, Her Infernal Name , about the cruel intersection of desire and desperation, and many other stories crafted in the hopes of keeping you up at night.
In "The Arborist," a woman hears the mysterious call of the forest.
Five friends exploring an archipelago find themselves set upon by the island's hungry inhabitants in "The Monitors."
A young woman confronts the mystery of her infertility in "Kelly Watch the Stars."
These works are joined by the title novella, Her Infernal Name , about the cruel intersection of desire and desperation, and many other stories crafted in the hopes of keeping you up at night.
322 pages, Paperback
Published July 23, 2020
13 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Robert P. Ottone
29 books111 followersRobert P. Ottone is the two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE TRIANGLE and THERE'S SOMETHING SINISTER IN CENTER FIELD. He is also the best-selling author of CURSE OF THE COB MAN, THE SLEEPY HOLLOW GANG, THE VILE THING WE CREATED and NOCTURNAL CREATURES.
His short fiction has been collected in TEAR ME OPEN: FEARS UNWRAPPED as well as HER INFERNAL NAME & OTHER NIGHTMARES.
He holds two master’s degrees in Education, as well as an MFA in Children’s Literature.
A bagel-loving fabulist of spooky absurdity, Ottone enjoys cigars, cocktails and time with his wife.
His short fiction has been collected in TEAR ME OPEN: FEARS UNWRAPPED as well as HER INFERNAL NAME & OTHER NIGHTMARES.
He holds two master’s degrees in Education, as well as an MFA in Children’s Literature.
A bagel-loving fabulist of spooky absurdity, Ottone enjoys cigars, cocktails and time with his wife.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 30, 2023
These stories were so deliciously inventive!!!
Some were creepy, some were weird, some...made sense in a very unsettling way, while others were just so freaking creative that if someone had been sitting next to me while reading them, I would have been pulling on their arm to show them what I just read.
My typical method of reading short story collections is to read one story per day - give each story its time in the limelight to shine. Also because sometimes when they're all by the same author, the writing style is the same and I'm scared they'll all run together. That is NOT the case with Robert P. Ottone. I was reading 3-4 stories per day, back to back - I didn't want to put this book down!
I'll absolutely be rereading these as the mood strikes or just when I want to revisit a particular story - a great one for those who just want some bite-sized horror in their reading diet.
Some were creepy, some were weird, some...made sense in a very unsettling way, while others were just so freaking creative that if someone had been sitting next to me while reading them, I would have been pulling on their arm to show them what I just read.
My typical method of reading short story collections is to read one story per day - give each story its time in the limelight to shine. Also because sometimes when they're all by the same author, the writing style is the same and I'm scared they'll all run together. That is NOT the case with Robert P. Ottone. I was reading 3-4 stories per day, back to back - I didn't want to put this book down!
I'll absolutely be rereading these as the mood strikes or just when I want to revisit a particular story - a great one for those who just want some bite-sized horror in their reading diet.
November 7, 2020
Huge thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this Collection for an honest Review 👍
Overall this is a well rounded fun read full of creatures of all shapes and sizes. Ottone writes wonderful stories that capture the true nature of the humans involved on the pages.
Plot and Writing 4 stars
I felt every story was well fleshed out and honestly the character work was outstanding in this Collection.
Well crafted stories. I loved the story Support involving a group of vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and demon's chatting about the human world. I wished I could have spent more time in that story. That is a great feeling to have when finishing a story. I also loved the story involving teachers and a swarm of knats taking over the school. Having worked in the school setting I really felt the characters were believable and very relatable.
Horror 3 Stars
There is a story in here for everyone. I definitely was left thinking after some of the twists and turns in these stories.
Overall definitely recommend this Collection to the Horror fans out there 🔥👍
Overall this is a well rounded fun read full of creatures of all shapes and sizes. Ottone writes wonderful stories that capture the true nature of the humans involved on the pages.
Plot and Writing 4 stars
I felt every story was well fleshed out and honestly the character work was outstanding in this Collection.
Well crafted stories. I loved the story Support involving a group of vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and demon's chatting about the human world. I wished I could have spent more time in that story. That is a great feeling to have when finishing a story. I also loved the story involving teachers and a swarm of knats taking over the school. Having worked in the school setting I really felt the characters were believable and very relatable.
Horror 3 Stars
There is a story in here for everyone. I definitely was left thinking after some of the twists and turns in these stories.
Overall definitely recommend this Collection to the Horror fans out there 🔥👍
March 15, 2021
What a fanfreakingtastic collection!
16 delicious stories to sink your teeth into, there is something for everyone in this collection.
This was my first experience reading Robert’s work and I look forward to more.
Usually, when it comes to short story collections I can pick and choose a handful of my absolute favourites but in this case I couldn’t. Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares has such a wide range of dark adventures, each story with a glowing aspect that really stood out. Some stories were plot drive, some character driven, some of the stories were this crazy, far-fetched, gruesome horror and some laid closer to a realistic horror. I thoroughly enjoyed each, making it next to impossible to pick favourites.
Robert’s storytelling and writing style is phenomenal! One moment I would be creeped out, next I would be exploding with laughter and then I would be scrounging my nose in complete disgust.
I noticed Robert’s attention to detail, especially when it came to describing scents. I love a story that is so descriptive that it’s almost as if you can reach out and touch, fell and smell the setting around you and Robert was on point with this. Almost each story he would describe a scent and it was as if the room I was in while reading would fill with this odor and my stomach would churn.
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is genuinely a great collection! Robert is such an awesome guy and clearly a talented author! I would definitely recommend this collection. I’m very happy I picked a copy up for myself!
Thank you all for reading.
Your Nose Scrunching Book Worm
Nichi
16 delicious stories to sink your teeth into, there is something for everyone in this collection.
This was my first experience reading Robert’s work and I look forward to more.
Usually, when it comes to short story collections I can pick and choose a handful of my absolute favourites but in this case I couldn’t. Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares has such a wide range of dark adventures, each story with a glowing aspect that really stood out. Some stories were plot drive, some character driven, some of the stories were this crazy, far-fetched, gruesome horror and some laid closer to a realistic horror. I thoroughly enjoyed each, making it next to impossible to pick favourites.
Robert’s storytelling and writing style is phenomenal! One moment I would be creeped out, next I would be exploding with laughter and then I would be scrounging my nose in complete disgust.
I noticed Robert’s attention to detail, especially when it came to describing scents. I love a story that is so descriptive that it’s almost as if you can reach out and touch, fell and smell the setting around you and Robert was on point with this. Almost each story he would describe a scent and it was as if the room I was in while reading would fill with this odor and my stomach would churn.
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is genuinely a great collection! Robert is such an awesome guy and clearly a talented author! I would definitely recommend this collection. I’m very happy I picked a copy up for myself!
Thank you all for reading.
Your Nose Scrunching Book Worm
Nichi
November 13, 2020
Robert Ottone's writing is superbly done to say the least. An amazing ride and very well done. Many of his stories had a humor and wit to them as well as a genuine scare. The Gnats in The Lounge was downright insanely good. One of my faves in the entire book. Well worth the time and i recommend it for an awesomely fun read!! Thanks for your contribution to the writing world, Mr Ottone!
November 16, 2020
Ottone does a great, humorous, job telling fun stories that are spooky, disgusting, morbid and dreadful!! Pick it up and enjoy the stories!
September 23, 2021
Eighteen stories make up this collection by author Robert Ottone, and there's something here for everyone.
.
The titular story, and by far the longest, asks just how far people will go for internet fame. Answer: to some pretty dark places.
The rest of the stories range from creepy to sad to downright gross.
Most notable in my opinion were:
The short but brutal zombie story 'Elevator of the Dead'. (What's worse than zombies? Zombies and claustrophobia.)
.
'The Sugar Bowl': A truly gag-worthy little tale of gluttonous proportions sure to disturb entomophobics everywhere.
.
'Apple Valley', which takes readers on a journey into the mind of a madman.
.
'Playing God': once again, the dangers of technology addiction come into play as a man finds his life-simulation game a little too real.
.
The collection also includes a new take on "becoming one with nature" in 'The Arborist'; a foray into Lovecraftian horror of Biblical proportions in 'The World Whispers Madness', and a sad little ghostly tale in 'The Final Goodbye'.
.
In addition to all this there's vampires, aliens, giant lizards, serial killers, infestations, and overprotective mothers (the most dangerous creature of all).
.
My favorite little blip of a story, the one that I would love to see fleshed out into a novel, though, has to be 'Support', a horror-humor piece in which a rabbi holds a weekly support group for the creatures of the night: vampires and werewolves, ghosts and elder demons. Wouldn't that make a great series?
.
I always appreciate both a thinly veiled reference to the classics and a recurring character or location in a collection of stories, and Ottone gives us both in the fictional town of Resting Hollow which is the stage on which several of the stories play out. Resting Hollow, tucked into the mountains along the Hudson River. Sound familiar? 😉
.
The short downsides: editing oversights, though few and far between, and perhaps a tendency to spend too much time giving the reader unnecessary details. But all that is easily overlooked (or skimmed over) and the collection was truly an enjoyable one.
.
The titular story, and by far the longest, asks just how far people will go for internet fame. Answer: to some pretty dark places.
The rest of the stories range from creepy to sad to downright gross.
Most notable in my opinion were:
The short but brutal zombie story 'Elevator of the Dead'. (What's worse than zombies? Zombies and claustrophobia.)
.
'The Sugar Bowl': A truly gag-worthy little tale of gluttonous proportions sure to disturb entomophobics everywhere.
.
'Apple Valley', which takes readers on a journey into the mind of a madman.
.
'Playing God': once again, the dangers of technology addiction come into play as a man finds his life-simulation game a little too real.
.
The collection also includes a new take on "becoming one with nature" in 'The Arborist'; a foray into Lovecraftian horror of Biblical proportions in 'The World Whispers Madness', and a sad little ghostly tale in 'The Final Goodbye'.
.
In addition to all this there's vampires, aliens, giant lizards, serial killers, infestations, and overprotective mothers (the most dangerous creature of all).
.
My favorite little blip of a story, the one that I would love to see fleshed out into a novel, though, has to be 'Support', a horror-humor piece in which a rabbi holds a weekly support group for the creatures of the night: vampires and werewolves, ghosts and elder demons. Wouldn't that make a great series?
.
I always appreciate both a thinly veiled reference to the classics and a recurring character or location in a collection of stories, and Ottone gives us both in the fictional town of Resting Hollow which is the stage on which several of the stories play out. Resting Hollow, tucked into the mountains along the Hudson River. Sound familiar? 😉
.
The short downsides: editing oversights, though few and far between, and perhaps a tendency to spend too much time giving the reader unnecessary details. But all that is easily overlooked (or skimmed over) and the collection was truly an enjoyable one.
January 5, 2021
**4.5 stars**
Okay, so I will fully admit that I do not normally reach for short stories and novellas, but wow, am I glad I took a chance on Her Infernal Name.
First of all, I loved the writing. Each of the stories had its’ own uniqueness, but still felt connected to one another. The many mentions of Resting Hollow reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with the creepy-crawlies choosing to settle there instead of Sunnydale. Second, I was honestly, a little surprised at how quickly I was able to fall into each of the different plots. With a limited number of pages, a short story author has to be careful with their words and I think Ottone does this exceptionally well. There were no extra characters or tangents that led nowhere and I was impressed how he was able to create a world that seemed so normal, but also so dark and freaky.
I enjoyed all of the stories, but my top ones (other than the title novella), are:
The Monitors - Extra creepy because I could legitimately see this happening.
Final Goodbye - Touching and completely unexpected! Loved it!
Playing God - This completely solidified my decision to never, ever, play the Sims.
And, Gnats in the Teacher’s Lounge - It was disgusting but I was laughing just as much as I was cringing because don’t we all work with a Mrs. McCauley?
Honorable mention: Support - Not scary per se, but love the idea of a “support group for things that go bump in the night”.
My only complaint was my copy had odd editing issues where the title was randomly inserted into the text, and sometimes in the middle of a sentence, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Robert Ottone for my copy!
Okay, so I will fully admit that I do not normally reach for short stories and novellas, but wow, am I glad I took a chance on Her Infernal Name.
First of all, I loved the writing. Each of the stories had its’ own uniqueness, but still felt connected to one another. The many mentions of Resting Hollow reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with the creepy-crawlies choosing to settle there instead of Sunnydale. Second, I was honestly, a little surprised at how quickly I was able to fall into each of the different plots. With a limited number of pages, a short story author has to be careful with their words and I think Ottone does this exceptionally well. There were no extra characters or tangents that led nowhere and I was impressed how he was able to create a world that seemed so normal, but also so dark and freaky.
I enjoyed all of the stories, but my top ones (other than the title novella), are:
The Monitors - Extra creepy because I could legitimately see this happening.
Final Goodbye - Touching and completely unexpected! Loved it!
Playing God - This completely solidified my decision to never, ever, play the Sims.
And, Gnats in the Teacher’s Lounge - It was disgusting but I was laughing just as much as I was cringing because don’t we all work with a Mrs. McCauley?
Honorable mention: Support - Not scary per se, but love the idea of a “support group for things that go bump in the night”.
My only complaint was my copy had odd editing issues where the title was randomly inserted into the text, and sometimes in the middle of a sentence, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Robert Ottone for my copy!
November 24, 2020
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is a collection of short horror fiction from the mind of author Robert Ottone.
Each story takes us on a journey on a different sort of nightmare. From one about an Instagram Famous model in “Her Infernal Name” to “Playing God,” each story plays on the nightmares of our modern society.
I like this collection, but I found some of the stories a little predictable or cliche. If that doesn’t bother you, then you’ll get a kick out of these horror stories.
My favorite stories were “Apple Valley,” “Gnats in the Teacher’s Lounge,” “Playing God,” and “Green World.”
“Apple Valley” is a twisted story about a doctor who does tests on various creatures, some of these creatures are fish with human body parts. This is disturbing and weird, and I love this for that very reason.
“Gnats in the Teacher’s Lounge” is disgusting. Oh, boy. I HATE gnats so much, and this feeds off that hatred and fear. Very good story, but don’t plan to eat while you read this!
“Playing God” reminds me of my childhood, which is probably why I like this story so much. As a child, I played a computer game called “The Sims” a LOT. It’s a simulation of the human world, where the gamer plays various characters, gives them jobs and falls in love. “Playing God” has a lot of similarities, at least at the very beginning.
“Green Gospel” is what I wish the world would do—it fixes itself, changing the minds of humans to make the world a better place.
If you’re looking for some short, disturbing stories, then this collection is for you!
Each story takes us on a journey on a different sort of nightmare. From one about an Instagram Famous model in “Her Infernal Name” to “Playing God,” each story plays on the nightmares of our modern society.
I like this collection, but I found some of the stories a little predictable or cliche. If that doesn’t bother you, then you’ll get a kick out of these horror stories.
My favorite stories were “Apple Valley,” “Gnats in the Teacher’s Lounge,” “Playing God,” and “Green World.”
“Apple Valley” is a twisted story about a doctor who does tests on various creatures, some of these creatures are fish with human body parts. This is disturbing and weird, and I love this for that very reason.
“Gnats in the Teacher’s Lounge” is disgusting. Oh, boy. I HATE gnats so much, and this feeds off that hatred and fear. Very good story, but don’t plan to eat while you read this!
“Playing God” reminds me of my childhood, which is probably why I like this story so much. As a child, I played a computer game called “The Sims” a LOT. It’s a simulation of the human world, where the gamer plays various characters, gives them jobs and falls in love. “Playing God” has a lot of similarities, at least at the very beginning.
“Green Gospel” is what I wish the world would do—it fixes itself, changing the minds of humans to make the world a better place.
If you’re looking for some short, disturbing stories, then this collection is for you!
November 26, 2020
This collection is really good, read it.
Oh yes, I should also explain why.
I really enjoyed it mainly for three reasons:
1) It's very, very original. Every story has a fresh setting and they are all wildly different from each other, to the point I found myself looking forward to starting a new story because I was curious to see what the setting and premise would be.
2) The pacing is one of the best that I read in a long time. Ottone doesn't jump the gun and everything that happens in the story feels earned, without it overstaying its welcome.
3) The dialogues are very good. No characters have a cheesy monologue that might as well read "I am the badass one" nor there are any conversations in which the characters for some reasons remind each other of their recent past in an attempt to fill the reader in. It all feels very organic and natural.
If I have to really scrap the bottom of the barrel and give one - hopefully - constructive criticism, that would be that a couple of the shortest stories were too short, meaning that it almost felt like they should be a section of a longer story. But then again, the fact that I wished they were longer rather than shorter, it's testament to good writing.
Oh yes, I should also explain why.
I really enjoyed it mainly for three reasons:
1) It's very, very original. Every story has a fresh setting and they are all wildly different from each other, to the point I found myself looking forward to starting a new story because I was curious to see what the setting and premise would be.
2) The pacing is one of the best that I read in a long time. Ottone doesn't jump the gun and everything that happens in the story feels earned, without it overstaying its welcome.
3) The dialogues are very good. No characters have a cheesy monologue that might as well read "I am the badass one" nor there are any conversations in which the characters for some reasons remind each other of their recent past in an attempt to fill the reader in. It all feels very organic and natural.
If I have to really scrap the bottom of the barrel and give one - hopefully - constructive criticism, that would be that a couple of the shortest stories were too short, meaning that it almost felt like they should be a section of a longer story. But then again, the fact that I wished they were longer rather than shorter, it's testament to good writing.
July 23, 2021
Book Review✨
Her Infernal Name and Other Nightmares by Robert P. Ottone
Her infernal Name and Other Nightmares is a collection of 18 short stories. Each story is unique but most do have a recurring setting, Resting Hollow, NY… a sleepy, supernatural town. 😉
From classic monsters to curses and zombies, each story focuses on a horror trope, with a twist that gives the stories that extra oomph.
Characters are written well and relatable, which isn’t easy to do in such a short story but Ottone nailed it. The stories are written well and keep your interest. No two are alike.
There’s bits of humor sprinkled throughout the stories, which is always appreciated in horror.
I have a few favorites that stood out from the rest but they were all enjoyable and none were boring.
“Her Infernal Name,” which touches on internet fame in the age of social media. That story is both entertaining and disturbing.
“Support,” is a cute take on an AA meeting but for Supernatural beings and I would love to see this created into its own novella.
“The Arborist,” while it doesn’t scare me, I enjoyed the story because I love nature and mother-earth and would love to see these events come true 😅
“Playing God,” was one of my favorites because as a fellow Sims gamer, I could relate to this story. It also reminded me of the platform SecondLife and how serious people take digital life.
“Gnats in the teacher’s lounge,” is both disturbing and had me squeamish.
“Miscellaneous Ephemera,” is also one of my favorites. It’s about a mother’s obsession with her son and the extent she will go to, to keep him close. I particularly enjoyed this story because I went through a similar experience 😅
The stories listed are a few favorites out of the collection, but there is something for everyone, spanning from Komodo dragons, to vampires, to gothic haunted houses. There’s even a tiny sliver of romance thrown in. This collection is excellent and I highly recommend. Check it out for yourself. 🦇🧟♀️
@
May 14, 2021
The author offered me a free copy of Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares to read and review. Thank you so much, Robert! I truly enjoyed reading this!
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is a short story collection. Her Infernal Name being the first of 18 short stories, it’s also the longest of the bunch deserving to have its name in the title. However, all of these nightmares are just incredibly written!
These nightmares touch on all aspects of horror and not all of them will scare you. These gave me all the feels as I went through these individual stories. A few truly made my heart hurt! There were just so many emotions. I will say I did enjoy basically all of these shorts. There was only one I didn’t enjoy. Out of 18 stories, I’d say that’s pretty good!
All of these nightmares flow so well! It was easy to breeze right through this collection. And I swear at practically the end of each story I had an intense feeling of shock often going “Woah… What did I just read” or a more colorful reaction… A few times I even went back and reread portions of them. It was just that good! These nightmares will surely make your skin crawl and your stomach unsettle, I know mine did!
This collection is perfect for horror and paranormal fans. From vampires to aliens and every monster in between, you’ll surely be entertained with these nightmares! There’s even an odd story told from the perspective of a fly. That one weirded me out…
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is a short story collection. Her Infernal Name being the first of 18 short stories, it’s also the longest of the bunch deserving to have its name in the title. However, all of these nightmares are just incredibly written!
These nightmares touch on all aspects of horror and not all of them will scare you. These gave me all the feels as I went through these individual stories. A few truly made my heart hurt! There were just so many emotions. I will say I did enjoy basically all of these shorts. There was only one I didn’t enjoy. Out of 18 stories, I’d say that’s pretty good!
All of these nightmares flow so well! It was easy to breeze right through this collection. And I swear at practically the end of each story I had an intense feeling of shock often going “Woah… What did I just read” or a more colorful reaction… A few times I even went back and reread portions of them. It was just that good! These nightmares will surely make your skin crawl and your stomach unsettle, I know mine did!
This collection is perfect for horror and paranormal fans. From vampires to aliens and every monster in between, you’ll surely be entertained with these nightmares! There’s even an odd story told from the perspective of a fly. That one weirded me out…
November 11, 2020
Within the pages of "Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares," you will meet dark goddesses, giant hungry lizards, curses thanks to Hecate and a protective mother, and learn the "sweet" perspectives of a fly. I recently learned of Robert P. Ottone, and this work. I am so glad I did.
This work has stories that everyone will enjoy. Particularly, I loved his words of how our Mother Earth recoups. It is relatable to me as a "hippy," and I hope the story might be possible. My only "complaint" is how short some of the stories are, if it can be considered a negative at all.
Ottone makes it clear that he is not afraid of the realm of the disturbed, and telling those stories. I hope he releases many more.
This work has stories that everyone will enjoy. Particularly, I loved his words of how our Mother Earth recoups. It is relatable to me as a "hippy," and I hope the story might be possible. My only "complaint" is how short some of the stories are, if it can be considered a negative at all.
Ottone makes it clear that he is not afraid of the realm of the disturbed, and telling those stories. I hope he releases many more.
May 1, 2022
A Killer Collection!
I had a blast with these tales. This collection of nightmares has it all: ghosts, vampires, demons, zombies, even komodo dragons. I enjoyed all the stories, but "Her Infernal Name" is my favorite. Highly recommended!
I had a blast with these tales. This collection of nightmares has it all: ghosts, vampires, demons, zombies, even komodo dragons. I enjoyed all the stories, but "Her Infernal Name" is my favorite. Highly recommended!
January 21, 2021
Heard about this book on the Slashenings Podcast, and picked it up. Really liked “Support” the most but I really enjoyed “Apple Valley” too
Good collection
Good collection
November 16, 2020
A creepy mix of different horror ideas.
September 28, 2020
Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is a book about five friends exploring an archipelago find themselves caught in an island inhibited by hungry inhabitants in “The Monitors.” It’s a thrilling story about their adventure and how they managed to escape the hurdles on their way through out their journey into a different world of creatures.
The story has agile twists, skin-crawling creatures, and weird supernatural entities that will haunt readers long after the story ends.
But the story was not that good as I had expected by looking at the title and the cover.
The story has agile twists, skin-crawling creatures, and weird supernatural entities that will haunt readers long after the story ends.
But the story was not that good as I had expected by looking at the title and the cover.
July 5, 2022
I downloaded this book on kindle and intended to just read the first few pages and come back later...but I was so sucked in that I had to finish the opening novella immediately! Robert's prose and concepts have a way of drawing you in and leaving you desperate to know what's going to happen next. I loved the way the titular novella combined ancient and very modern ideas in a unique way (not going to say any more for fear of spoiling). Highly recommended!
August 18, 2020
Like Joyce Carol Oates’ The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares, the first story of Robert P. Ottone’s dark fiction collection is the title’s novella. In it, Shoshanna, a Brooklyn schoolteacher having a difficult time making ends meet, lands a position as a private tutor for Royce, a teenaged social media influencer. The job thrusts Shoshanna into the front and center of Royce’s life, and soon, the twenty-something is frequenting the clubs, going on vacation, and palling around with her famous ward. When Shoshanna witnesses a strange and disturbing encounter on a boat trip, she shrugs it off as a bad dream until the online titan’s lack of boundaries begins to consume her bit by bit. “Her Infernal Name” is an effective allegory of how social media, and FOMO in particular, can devour us, forcing us to the brink of self-destruction. (Bonus points for some creepy imagery akin to the best parts of Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby!)
I am familiar with Ottone’s other short fiction: one of his greatest strengths is this ability to pull powerful metaphors out of nightmarish horror yarns. Another is his skill in building ominosity in seemingly safe settings, whether it be a Midtown office building or a mountain cabin. Because of that, his psychological horror is especially powerful. Her Infernal has plenty of that, plus a potluck of every other subgenre of dark fiction, from bizarro to sci-fi terror. One of the first stories in the book, “Elevator of the Dead,” provides a fun spin on the zombie trope when a legal assistant leaves the office for the day only to encounter the claustrophobia of his workplace’s elevator as the newly animated deceased swarm the upper floors. In “The Arborist,” Cleo lives and breathes trees: she even dreams of them. This story reminds me of a serious-toned version of Stephen King’s “Weeds” but with a much smarter (and sympathetic) protagonist and a more sensual enveloping of the foliage (which somehow, makes it all the more disturbing).
My two favorites in the collection, “The Nebulous They” and “Apple Valley,” are classic examples of where Ottone really shines. Each tale bewitches the reader with a well-crafted main character, then straps the reader in for a hellish hayride into terror. In the former, a police officer named Blatty questions a man suspected of being a big city serial killer, but when the man begins prophesizing of a mysterious “They” who are due to arrive, the needle on the creep factor jumps into the red. The latter follows Gart, a life insurance salesman whose house call to a retired therapist’s mountaintop manor turns surreal and spooky after he accidentally falls asleep on the owner’s couch. To provide any more detail would spoil the ending, but I assure you: it’s one that sends chills up the spine.
The book closes with a handful of unusual ditties, including a heartfelt “The Final Goodbye”: Bradley Ellis’s father, Bart, is dead, so when Bradley receives in the mail a traffic ticket with a photograph of his late father behind the wheel, wearing his burial attire, he jumps at the opportunity to see the parent he lost one last time. My only complaint with Her Infernal is that there are a few stories with worlds I wish I could have visited longer. An example of one would be “Panels,” which features Mack, a solar panel installer, and his encounter with a strange customer whose Achilles’ heel is, ironically, the sun. Perhaps Ottone will revisit some of these tales one day and expand one or two into a novel? One can only hope.
I am familiar with Ottone’s other short fiction: one of his greatest strengths is this ability to pull powerful metaphors out of nightmarish horror yarns. Another is his skill in building ominosity in seemingly safe settings, whether it be a Midtown office building or a mountain cabin. Because of that, his psychological horror is especially powerful. Her Infernal has plenty of that, plus a potluck of every other subgenre of dark fiction, from bizarro to sci-fi terror. One of the first stories in the book, “Elevator of the Dead,” provides a fun spin on the zombie trope when a legal assistant leaves the office for the day only to encounter the claustrophobia of his workplace’s elevator as the newly animated deceased swarm the upper floors. In “The Arborist,” Cleo lives and breathes trees: she even dreams of them. This story reminds me of a serious-toned version of Stephen King’s “Weeds” but with a much smarter (and sympathetic) protagonist and a more sensual enveloping of the foliage (which somehow, makes it all the more disturbing).
My two favorites in the collection, “The Nebulous They” and “Apple Valley,” are classic examples of where Ottone really shines. Each tale bewitches the reader with a well-crafted main character, then straps the reader in for a hellish hayride into terror. In the former, a police officer named Blatty questions a man suspected of being a big city serial killer, but when the man begins prophesizing of a mysterious “They” who are due to arrive, the needle on the creep factor jumps into the red. The latter follows Gart, a life insurance salesman whose house call to a retired therapist’s mountaintop manor turns surreal and spooky after he accidentally falls asleep on the owner’s couch. To provide any more detail would spoil the ending, but I assure you: it’s one that sends chills up the spine.
The book closes with a handful of unusual ditties, including a heartfelt “The Final Goodbye”: Bradley Ellis’s father, Bart, is dead, so when Bradley receives in the mail a traffic ticket with a photograph of his late father behind the wheel, wearing his burial attire, he jumps at the opportunity to see the parent he lost one last time. My only complaint with Her Infernal is that there are a few stories with worlds I wish I could have visited longer. An example of one would be “Panels,” which features Mack, a solar panel installer, and his encounter with a strange customer whose Achilles’ heel is, ironically, the sun. Perhaps Ottone will revisit some of these tales one day and expand one or two into a novel? One can only hope.
October 20, 2020
Do you read dark fictions?
Let's start by discussing the cover of this book. It is so tempting that it has the power to attract readers. I really want to give +1 to this book for this amazing cover. There are many dark stories in this book. All the stories are different from each other and that makes this book even more interesting. There are wide characters, different and fresh plots, fresh writing.
Even if you are not a fan of horror genre, I would suggest to read one story from this book and I am sure that you won't be able to put it down without reading more and more stories. "Elevator of the Dead" and "Apple Valley" are the most spooky for me. Elevator of the Dead has scared me to take the elevators. Whenever an elevator suddenly stops or the light went off and it gets all dark inside, it scares the hell out of me.
This horror fiction is a nice book. One could enjoy these stories few at a time. Well penned down short horror stories. I am definitely interested in more horror books by Ottone.
Let's start by discussing the cover of this book. It is so tempting that it has the power to attract readers. I really want to give +1 to this book for this amazing cover. There are many dark stories in this book. All the stories are different from each other and that makes this book even more interesting. There are wide characters, different and fresh plots, fresh writing.
Even if you are not a fan of horror genre, I would suggest to read one story from this book and I am sure that you won't be able to put it down without reading more and more stories. "Elevator of the Dead" and "Apple Valley" are the most spooky for me. Elevator of the Dead has scared me to take the elevators. Whenever an elevator suddenly stops or the light went off and it gets all dark inside, it scares the hell out of me.
This horror fiction is a nice book. One could enjoy these stories few at a time. Well penned down short horror stories. I am definitely interested in more horror books by Ottone.
March 18, 2025
This is an interesting mix of cosmic, modern, and personal spooky tales. The writing style is more sparse than other work I've read of Ottone, but effective. In places it expands on his Resting Hollow universe, particularly the last story, Miscellaneous Ephemera, which seems like a short run on his more recent novel, The Vile Thing we Created, that I read at the end of last year. In this collection, Ottone creates unsettling horrific tales that draw you in. They are character-centered and many seem to spring from his education career, my favorite of which is "Gnats in the Teacher's Lounge. " Ottone touches a lot on modern anxieties and the current shape of the world as well, perhaps the best of which is the story the collection is named after, that tells of a young influencer whose price of fame comes with a dark cosmic price that affects the people around her. All in all, I recommend this collection.
October 21, 2020
"Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares" is the first book that I have read by Robert. It has spooky stories.
Fans of paranormal stories will find this horror stories collection as per their taste. Robert has covered wide range of topics in this novel. It includes zombies, werewolves, vampires, etc. Title of each story is picked wisely by him and it suits the stories well.
I love horror stories but I get scared easily. After reading this book, I have to sleep with lights on for next few days. These stories will stay longer in my head for sure. Such a nice collection.
I really appreciate author's vivid imagination skills in creating the dark world. This book will give you chills while reading. Stories are unique and are not the usual kind of horror stories. Robert's writing has impressed me a lot. Looking forward to read more books by him in the future.
Fans of paranormal stories will find this horror stories collection as per their taste. Robert has covered wide range of topics in this novel. It includes zombies, werewolves, vampires, etc. Title of each story is picked wisely by him and it suits the stories well.
I love horror stories but I get scared easily. After reading this book, I have to sleep with lights on for next few days. These stories will stay longer in my head for sure. Such a nice collection.
I really appreciate author's vivid imagination skills in creating the dark world. This book will give you chills while reading. Stories are unique and are not the usual kind of horror stories. Robert's writing has impressed me a lot. Looking forward to read more books by him in the future.
January 14, 2021
Let me start by saying that short stories are not my usual jam. I often find that the stories are not interesting enough or go on for way too long. This book has changed everything for me.
I LOVED every story in this collection. Each one felt like it was written for me. There are demons, zombies, aliens and more! This is the perfect book for fans of classic and new age horror.
The title story, Her Infernal Name, left me wanting more. Shoshana is a recently unemployed teacher drowning in student loan debt. Her debt agency offers a position as a tutor/personal assistant for a social media guru. Royce is young, impossibly beautiful, and very inappropriate for her age. Despite their differences, Shosh and Royce become as close as sisters do. Like most horror stories, not all is as it seems.
My favorite story from the collection is Kelly, Watch the Stars. After many attempts to get pregnant and failing, Kelly is now divorced and angry. The doctors tell her that her womb has been so scarred that she may never be able to carry a child. Kelly is determined to find out what happened to her. Through past regression therapy, she finds out she was abducted by aliens. Now that Kelly knows what happened to her, she is out for revenge.
Honestly, all the stories are fun and leave you entertained. I highly recommend for fans of horror!
Read my review and more at https://www.horrorbound.net/blog/2021...
April 10, 2021
I didn't exactly have problems with this book but i really expected something better. The title suggests horror stories and while they were 'horror' technically , you can't really get spooked from something that's too short. A lot of too-short and cut-off stories with interesting plot and a hint of horror in them but in order to really get into it you have to care about the characters and the story and i just simply couldn't. I've even skipped one chapter about the aquarium because the description of the octopus or whatever was too detailed and boring. This felt like watching short youtube clips when you were promised full horror movie.
October 23, 2020
Vivid, provocative, and bizarre; Robert Ottone's collection is delightfully terrifying.
An innovative horror anthology, self-contained short stories grapple dark themes through powerful and thought-provoking writing.The unsettling, twisted tales crawl under the skin and accompany the reader for many nights to come.
Genre busting fiction takes the reader on a voyage to Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'
"Cover to cover mystifying — a dark, awakening anthology."
Highly recommended to readers of occult and horror fiction. Looking forward to future works of Robert Ottone.
An innovative horror anthology, self-contained short stories grapple dark themes through powerful and thought-provoking writing.The unsettling, twisted tales crawl under the skin and accompany the reader for many nights to come.
Genre busting fiction takes the reader on a voyage to Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'
"Cover to cover mystifying — a dark, awakening anthology."
Highly recommended to readers of occult and horror fiction. Looking forward to future works of Robert Ottone.
December 20, 2020
An amazing book full of scary, intriguing shorts. I absolutely enjoyed reading the first story, it draws you in so good with the mystery and suspense, I didn't know that I flying through it. So if you are wanting something that is chalked full of mystery, thrill and excitement then I'm sure you'll find a story in within this book. Definitely worth reading.
January 14, 2021
I received a copy of this from voracious readers only for an honest review.
I did enjoy this, although I wouldn't really call it a horror anthology (but it did have horror and supernatural elements to it).
Unlike some anthologies where either the stories don't get going or end abruptly without rhyme or reason, each story had a sense of completion to it. There were a couple of stories that has the potential to be adapted further ('Panels' and 'Support' for example), and one that didn't really go with the supernatural theme ('Green Gospel' is more of an eco story). There was one that, for me, seemed to finish before it even got started ('You can't walk it back').
Each story had a different theme and didn't feel repetitive at all.
Over all, an enjoyable collection of short stories.
I did enjoy this, although I wouldn't really call it a horror anthology (but it did have horror and supernatural elements to it).
Unlike some anthologies where either the stories don't get going or end abruptly without rhyme or reason, each story had a sense of completion to it. There were a couple of stories that has the potential to be adapted further ('Panels' and 'Support' for example), and one that didn't really go with the supernatural theme ('Green Gospel' is more of an eco story). There was one that, for me, seemed to finish before it even got started ('You can't walk it back').
Each story had a different theme and didn't feel repetitive at all.
Over all, an enjoyable collection of short stories.
October 5, 2020
Robert Ottone gives us a slithering and creeping dose of cosmic terror in Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares! This collection of short horror stories is filled with great page turners. Nothing is ever as it seems as police cases turn into invasions of darker things and a normal day becomes anything but. I loved the way Ottone slowly built the suspense in each shadowy tale towards a dark climax that typically stuck with me! If you’re looking for a buffet of Lovecraftian horror with great variety, come sink your tendrils into Her Infernal Name!
December 12, 2020
“Herskovitz never thought of anyone in the group therapy sessions as ‘evil,’ just that they needed to be heard, regardless of whatever they were up to.”
Her Infernal Name and Other Nightmares is a collection of 18 varied stories from gore to grief. If you’re a starter in the horror realm, this would be a great book to read through to see what genre of horror intrigues you the most. It has a little bit of everything and the writing style carries you along quite well. I’m honestly impressed at the range of ideas and as always, I LOVE when anthologies link together either with a common place or common entity. I feel it makes the book a universe rather than a grouping of disjointed tales. The common entity in this book leaves much to be wondered and I wish it were expanded upon a bit more just to see what really goes on in this twisted corporation that affects the lives of a few of our characters.
That being said, my one personal negative is a few of these stories were incomplete. And I say this is a personal negative because this is a style some writers use and I recognize it as effective for most. These stories are like fever dreams... or fever nightmares, I should say. There’s a scene or emotion the author wants to put in question in your mind but then doesn’t supply you with an answer - the story simply ends. And that can be conclusive in the sense of wonderment! It’s a matter of what you’re looking for in your readings.
My top three:
Support (This is such a brilliant idea. The thought of modern monsters needing a support group makes so much sense.)
Playing God (Tech horror gives me the best chills. This was probably my favorite story in the collection. The imagery still haunts me.)
The Final Goodbye (An endearing, quick tale of grief horror I found both sweet and haunting.)
Her Infernal Name and Other Nightmares is a collection of 18 varied stories from gore to grief. If you’re a starter in the horror realm, this would be a great book to read through to see what genre of horror intrigues you the most. It has a little bit of everything and the writing style carries you along quite well. I’m honestly impressed at the range of ideas and as always, I LOVE when anthologies link together either with a common place or common entity. I feel it makes the book a universe rather than a grouping of disjointed tales. The common entity in this book leaves much to be wondered and I wish it were expanded upon a bit more just to see what really goes on in this twisted corporation that affects the lives of a few of our characters.
That being said, my one personal negative is a few of these stories were incomplete. And I say this is a personal negative because this is a style some writers use and I recognize it as effective for most. These stories are like fever dreams... or fever nightmares, I should say. There’s a scene or emotion the author wants to put in question in your mind but then doesn’t supply you with an answer - the story simply ends. And that can be conclusive in the sense of wonderment! It’s a matter of what you’re looking for in your readings.
My top three:
Support (This is such a brilliant idea. The thought of modern monsters needing a support group makes so much sense.)
Playing God (Tech horror gives me the best chills. This was probably my favorite story in the collection. The imagery still haunts me.)
The Final Goodbye (An endearing, quick tale of grief horror I found both sweet and haunting.)
August 18, 2021
Rob Ottone asked me if I’d put a few lines together to stick at the beginning of his collection of short fiction, Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares, before its release earlier in the year. Having revisited a couple of the tales therein, I’m convinced that what I said back then still holds true.
The title novella, Her Infernal Name, was a particular highlight for me. However, it’s one of those stories for which just about any summation would ruin the twists, turns, surprises, and dread-inducing shocks. All I’ll say is that it’s the perfect horror retelling of the whole modern-day social media influencer thing, intelligently commentating on the phenomenon in the most bloodcurdling way possible. Also, one part reminded me a little of of Andrzej Zulawski’s Possession, which is never, ever, ever, ever a bad thing.
There’s not much more I can say besides what I already wrote in my intro to the book. The true strength of the collection – as my summary indicates – is the sheer wealth of topics he tackles. This lends itself to the readability of the volume, and serves as a worthy workout for his writing chops and imagination.
Rob’s a horror scribe to keep an eye on. Start with Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares – you won’t be disappointed.
Read the thing I put together for him below:
Infertility, gluttony, technological obsession, fear for the future: topics disparate yet with hidden thematic links. In Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares, Rob Ottone pulls at the thread of terror that runs through these themes and allows the stories within to unravel in the reader’s mind, leaving a resounding sense of horror unlike any other.
From fear of an economy unable to support the future, to the lengths one may go to in order to survive, Rob’s writing flows with an efficiency of prose and rhythm sublimely suited to the tales awaiting you.
Embark upon Her Infernal Name, the opening novella; get lost in Kelly, Watch the Stars, and The Sugar Bowl; then crash back to reality after the closing The Final Goodbye and Miscellaneous Ephemera. From a support group for supernatural beings hosted by a Brooklyn Rabbi, to an exploration of the intersection between technology and obsession, Rob’s stories run the gamut of primeval dread, to contemporary anxiety-fed horror.
Enter the mind of Rob Ottone, and allow the terrors therein to plague, haunt, and change you.
The title novella, Her Infernal Name, was a particular highlight for me. However, it’s one of those stories for which just about any summation would ruin the twists, turns, surprises, and dread-inducing shocks. All I’ll say is that it’s the perfect horror retelling of the whole modern-day social media influencer thing, intelligently commentating on the phenomenon in the most bloodcurdling way possible. Also, one part reminded me a little of of Andrzej Zulawski’s Possession, which is never, ever, ever, ever a bad thing.
There’s not much more I can say besides what I already wrote in my intro to the book. The true strength of the collection – as my summary indicates – is the sheer wealth of topics he tackles. This lends itself to the readability of the volume, and serves as a worthy workout for his writing chops and imagination.
Rob’s a horror scribe to keep an eye on. Start with Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares – you won’t be disappointed.
Read the thing I put together for him below:
Infertility, gluttony, technological obsession, fear for the future: topics disparate yet with hidden thematic links. In Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares, Rob Ottone pulls at the thread of terror that runs through these themes and allows the stories within to unravel in the reader’s mind, leaving a resounding sense of horror unlike any other.
From fear of an economy unable to support the future, to the lengths one may go to in order to survive, Rob’s writing flows with an efficiency of prose and rhythm sublimely suited to the tales awaiting you.
Embark upon Her Infernal Name, the opening novella; get lost in Kelly, Watch the Stars, and The Sugar Bowl; then crash back to reality after the closing The Final Goodbye and Miscellaneous Ephemera. From a support group for supernatural beings hosted by a Brooklyn Rabbi, to an exploration of the intersection between technology and obsession, Rob’s stories run the gamut of primeval dread, to contemporary anxiety-fed horror.
Enter the mind of Rob Ottone, and allow the terrors therein to plague, haunt, and change you.
October 24, 2020
Do you love dark fiction? If yes, then this one would be the perfect pick by you. "Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares" by Robert P. Ottone is a short fiction involving various horror stories. These stories have different plots. I liked so many stories from this collection but the one that stand out the most for me is "The Arborist".
It is the story of Cleo who had studied forestry. She has been hearing voices since her childhood and same thing happened to her one day. She is an arborist. She even noticed some scratches on her body. What is so strange with Cleo? Find out yourself.
Author has written this entire book with amazing stories and an intriguing plots. Stories are based on wide concepts and won't let the readers feel bored. I read couple of stories in a single sitting. I guess it's the first time that I have read horror stories collection and I loved it. I like to recommend this book to those who love horror stories. It's a promising read. So, don't think twice and go ahead with it.
It is the story of Cleo who had studied forestry. She has been hearing voices since her childhood and same thing happened to her one day. She is an arborist. She even noticed some scratches on her body. What is so strange with Cleo? Find out yourself.
Author has written this entire book with amazing stories and an intriguing plots. Stories are based on wide concepts and won't let the readers feel bored. I read couple of stories in a single sitting. I guess it's the first time that I have read horror stories collection and I loved it. I like to recommend this book to those who love horror stories. It's a promising read. So, don't think twice and go ahead with it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews