Ordinary Souls

by J.S. Bailey

Sixteen ordinary souls. Sixteen not-so-ordinary tales.

Ordinary Souls is an anthology about ordinary people. This new collection from J. S. Bailey features an archaeologist in the future who meets a resurrected woman from long ago, a spaceship crew stranded on a distant world, a wealthy divorcee whose love of antiques turns her life into a living nightmare, and much more.

Featuring nine new stories and seven previously-published stories including "Vapors" and "Weary Traveler," which appear in print for the first time.

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Speculative Fiction

300 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2017

About the author

J. S. Bailey enjoys writing speculative tales that keep readers on the edges of their seats. She has published eight novels and twenty-two short stories, with more on the way. Bailey is fond of long walks in the woods, British television, and lots of burritos. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and cats.

Follow her on social media to keep up with her upcoming releases:

https://www.facebook.com/jsbaileywrites

https://www.instagram.com/jsbailey_au...

https://twitter.com/jsbailey_author

Reviews

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ordinary Souls, a collection of short stories, was a solid 4 stars.
I found Ordinary Souls to be an interesting and entertaining book-filled with horror and supernatural elements. An anthology about ordinary people (hence the title), this book is filled with dark and creepy stories with several standouts. Readers of this book will be treated to a wide variety of stories and while I I enjoyed the majority of them, I found The Mirror, Agoraphobia and Diamonds in the Sky to be my absolute favorites. Highly recommended to fans to horror, supernatural and darker theme books. Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[G.S. Jennsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eclectic mix of supernatural, suspense and horror, this collection of short stories written by the author throughout her career shines a spotlight on a diverse mix of characters. The theme of the collection, however, repeatedly comes back to the question of how people respond to the fantastic. In true storyteller form, Baily always ties the answer back to the individual.

From a mysterious mirror of questionable origin, to a painting that swallows the souls of those who fixate on it, to houses of ghosts and the night-time drive of a family in the mountains, you’ll be left unsettled, provoked and rewarded with glimpses into the mysteries that live in the corners of our world.

Whether through the eyes of a woman hiking alone or a young man exploring a haunted house with his friends, you will feel their palatable fear, uncertainty and unease as you explore the worlds that Bailey has created. At the other end of the spectrum, the tales of a short order waitress investigating (and possibly stalking) a creep that she comes across at her job and the pieces of an immortal woman’s diary as she lives far, far too long will leave you dreading what comes next. The author excels in bringing you to where she wants you, and by the end of each story you’ll be left pondering the larger mystery and the future of the story’s world.

This is the perfect bedside companion for readers who enjoy a good scare, but also like having something to think about in the morning light. Bailey doesn’t rely on established tropes and is a master at keeping you in the moment with her characters, whether they are racing through the desert away from the horrors they have resurrected or facing their own internal demons found in a life after death.

Ordinary Souls is a chilling set of stories meant to frighten you a bit, but it’s also a compelling sampling of insights into the human condition and a fully satisfying read from beginning to end.

[E.J. Fisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been familiar with J.S. Bailey's work but having never read any of it, I was excited by the opportunity to read this collection this summer after she asked if I'd be willing to write a short blurb for it. It was the perfect introduction to her writing; this anthology contains a fairly wide variety of stories that could fit into several different genres, giving readers a little taste of each of Bailey's styles. Sci Fi. Fantasy. Thriller. Supernatural thriller. She's got it all.

This collection had a very personal feel to it. It opened by offering short summaries and brief descriptions of the experiences or ideas that sparked each story, and I found that particularly interesting. When a writer publishes a book, they are, in a way, revealing a hidden part of themselves. They're entrusting their readers with a secret. This is why publishing will always be at least mildly terrifying. But since this is an anthology, it's like we're getting glimpses inside multiple parts of Bailey's mind, especially when you stop and consider the origins of each story. Because of those variations in genre, style, mood, theme, etc., it's impossible to pick just one word to describe this collection. Some stories were clever and humorous, while some were more somber, thought-provoking, and even had me on the verge of tears by the end. Others were darker and grittier, and a couple were downright disturbing. In all the anthologies I've ever read, I don't think I've ever seen that much variety.

But despite that variety, each story still contains the same theme, and it's exactly what the title of the collection suggests: ordinary people who find themselves caught up in extraordinary situations. In some cases this is due to paranormal or fantastic circumstances. Other times it's simply a crazy turn of events they never saw coming. Despite the diversity in the stories' settings and environments, all of the characters still display qualities that are inherently human, prompting the reader to root for -- or at least feel for -- all of them in some way. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, quick read that makes you think.

Of note: a few of my favorite entries were Agoraphobia, White Lightning, There We Will Be, and The Weary Traveler.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I've come to a story that has suicide, but not in great detail, but it is there, for anyone uncomfortable with the subject.*

I will rate/review the short stories as I read them.

The Mirror: 5/5
I really enjoyed this short story. It is about a mirror that shows you things it shouldn't show you. (Yeah that doesn't sound confusing at all, does it? I promise the story itself makes much more sense than I do!) I couldn't help feeling some Harry Potter "Mirror of Erised" vibes while reading this because the moral of the story. Great short story and I liked the writing style. Set in the UK. I appreciate the research J.S did to make it sound authentic. (Maybe that helped with giving me the Harry Potter vibes lol) The ending was perfect and left me wishing this story was a longer one! For sure a spooky concept!

***

The Ghost of Memory: 3.5/5
I felt like it needed to be longer. I did like it, but everything happened so fast. I know it is a short story, but I can't help desiring more. I however really enjoy the writing style. There are a couple parts mentioning spiders, so arachniphobia warning. I just felt like mentioning I got another weird vibe while reading this, totally unrelated to the book and J.S Bailey, but funny at any rate. A character is being referred to as "Cheese Man" and for some reason, I can only think of the Cheese Man on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

To Willow: “I've made a little space for the cheese slices.”

To Xander: “These… will not protect you.”

To Giles: “I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.”

To Buffy: (silently shakes the cheese slices, then retreats)

I'm sorry.

***

Vapers: 3/5
I don't have much to say about this one other than it was confusing. I did like it and I enjoy the writing style. It was more science fiction than supernatural; maybe that is the cause of my confusion because I don't read much sci-fi.

***

Maria - 1/5 - This one isn't for me. It has a creepy vibe, but it doesn't feel like a complete story whether it was a short story or not.

***

Agoraphobia - 4/5 - This story hits too close to home. It was written in the second person, so that made it even more personal as if I were the main character. Thankfully, it gives a hopeful message."

***

The Author, The Lonely Walker and The Class - 4/5 - This one is interesting. It is a story within a story… within a story. I’m not going to say it isn’t confusing at first. I'm not usually a fan of this, but I think it was handled well here. This kind of story (especially considering it is so short) is a hit and miss for a lot of people, but I liked it. I feel like I could also relate to “the author” who talks about what I assume is social anxiety and having meltdowns in public. I don't want to spoil anything, but I relate to "the author" and "the lonely walker" in other ways, too. Really solid writing style.

***

The Outing - 3/5 - This one seemed like it would be a sweet story about an average looking man (he pretty much describes himself as such) and a younger woman he thinks is out of his league getting together and getting married. It is a much darker story than that. I can’t say much without spoiling anything, though. I liked the story, but I wanted more or a little more “oomph.”

***

Imaginary Friend - 4/5 - This story is a prequel to “Rage’s Echo” a novel by J.S. Bailey I haven’t read. Knowing nothing about Rage’s Echo, I really enjoyed this story. It was sad but sweet at the same time.

***

Weary Traveler - 4/5- I really liked this one. It was spooky. I like how you are not sure what is real and what might be supernatural.

***

Journal Entry From The End Of The Universe - 5/5- This one was told in journal entries. I really liked the format. This story makes you think about what matters and to be careful of what you wish for. The thing you wish for might not be what it is cracked up to be.

***

And Lead Us Not - 2.5/5 - Disturbing. I wish there were more details and that it was longer. I know it is a short story, but something was lacking. Well written, but the story wasn't my cup of tea. A great, unexpected way to end it, though.

***

White Lightning - 3/5 - Writing style on point. I like how it seems all the stories are about something different and not 16 stories of ghost hauntings or something. Nothing supernatural about this one that I could tell, but I guess that depends on how you interpret the story.

***

And There We Will Be - 5/5 - This is a really sad story. It deals with some disturbing themes, such as child abuse, but as sad as the story is, there is a feeling of hope, too.

Rochelle’s Pizza Run - -/- I decided not to read this as it is a short story sequel to another one of J. S Bailey’s books “The Story Beyond The Portal” and as that book sounds like something I would like, I want to read it first!

***

Solitude - 4/5 - This is a prequel to “Servant, The Chronicles of Servitude, #1” by J. S. Bailey. I really liked it and look forward to reading the series. I did however not care for the line about suicide. Sometimes I just think people do not realize how lines like that can come across to other people, no matter if it fits the character who said it. Suicide is not something you should ever joke about. “If [ ] heard that they would commit suicide.”

The story was well written and suspenseful and leads into a promising series.

***

Diamonds in the Sky - 5/5 - This was a great story. Science fiction. It was sad, but also bitter-sweet. I loved it.

---

Nov 18 2017
*I met J.S Bailey today when she did an impromptu book signing at my local Half Priced Bookstore. She was really nice. Gave me two free bookmarks and I said I would buy one of her books online as we were carrying little cash. But before we left the store, my husband was nice enough to let me get this one! I really enjoyed how J.S. Bailey described some of the short stories in this collection. Thanks for signing my book!*

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no clue where my review went, but this book was something.

J.S and those short stories, each one creeping into my brain and sinking their little claws in, but I shouldnt be worried, after all it's just Ordinary right?

Ordinary Souls was anything but.
We have ghosts, we have cursed objects, and we have the most dangerous, just Ordinary everyday souls.

This actually gave me big Outer Limits vibes and I mean that in the best way possible.
Captured that, I need the next story, and the next and the next.

I listened to this as a audiobook, which was perfect, I'm picky with voices haha.
My only regret is I couldn't read faster, I cannot speed up audio and understand what's going on 😭
I just kept needing to see what was next.


It was hard to pick a favorite, but The Mirror has to be it, I wasn't sure what the end was going to be but damn.
The Outing ran a very very close second, but The Mirror 😳

I think the best part is this is, these stories aren't even happened to someone special, a celeb, or anyone spectacular, this stuff is happening to everyday normal people, and that's the scary part, it could be you.

J. S. Bailey
Ordinary souls
4/5 stars

[Inkslinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm always really excited to dig into a new anthology, especially in the horror genre, as so many of the creepiest works I've ever read have fallen into these releases. Often the tension of horror works are simply at their most taut over a brief period of time, since few authors can maintain that feeling of miasma through an entire novel.

Unfortunately, this one is just not very creepy at all-- rarely thrilling and barely mysterious. Defying all of its genre tags. It's not terrible.. the stories are just not entertaining as a rule. Most of them started with interesting ideas, but just never panned out.

There were about three that stood apart from the rest.

'The Mirror' did a pretty good job of building that tension.. even dread.. to a degree. It began subtly and the stakes rose sharply. There were some missed opportunities though, I feel, to play out the consequences our characters stumbled upon, and by the end.. it fizzled out rather predictably.

'Maria' had this really cool sort of 'Night Gallery' feel to it. The story felt very old fashioned and moved more briskly than the others. In fact, I think that's the only thing that was really wrong with it. When I finished reading it, I felt like I'd only read about half a short story, even though I'd gotten my ending. It just didn't feel full.

And really that's the problem with all the stories in this collection. They feel mostly unfinished. Those that don't, feel like they suffer from the opposite. From taking longer than the particular story maybe needed to. Pacing and substance are definitely an issue.

'Solitude' seemed to lack neither. Though it was more of a sci-fi short story to me and didn't seem to belong in this collection at all. What it did lack, however.. was a good ending. It was almost good. Then some unnecessary fluff was tacked on behind what should have been the end and that weakened the story considerably.

To be honest, if you just need something for a break between heavy reads, it's not bad. I didn't hate it. It just didn't make much of an impact on me. Maybe you'll feel differently.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I think I've had my fill of short story anthologies, I read one that changes my mind. You ever read a book and wonder why you don't see more people talking about it? Why don't more people know about this author? Ordinary Souls is that book and J.S. Bailey is that author. The first story, The Mirror, and the last story, Diamonds in the Sky were my two favorites out of 16 stories. That said, nearly every one was fantastic. Bailey has a knack for building a suspenseful story. I also have a soft spot for the ones that tug at the heartstrings, like Agoraphobia, The Outing, and Imaginary Friend. I look forward to reading more of Bailey's work.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ordinary souls in extraordinary circumstances. That’s the basic premise of this collection. I was vaguely familiar with the author through a Canadian anthology she edited and I enjoyed, but this one intrigued me all the same. And it didn’t really disappoint, either. Bailey’s writing style is very plain, the main start of the attraction is her imagination, though. I really liked some of the plots, they span the gamut of speculative fiction from scary to sci fi to strange, but were mostly a good deal of fun. There are a lot of prequel stories in this volume, almost made it seem like a promo thing, but a lot of them were perfectly enjoyable as standalones, the only one that didn’t really work for me was the fantasy one that had something to do with portals. Otherwise, there are haunted antiques and places, immortals, spaceships and so much more. The plainness of the writing actually worked well to compliment the theme, the ordinariness of these souls as juxtaposed to the wild realities they get thrust into. This collection isn’t going to set the world on fire, but it’s plenty entertaining and the author deftly handle going from natural to supernatural and back again. Certainly impressive for someone who lists Koontz at the top of her favorite authors. What, how, why? I mean, that’s just an embarrassing choice. But then again it’s the one easily surpassed, so one can say with confidence that Bailey is writing with more promise, soul and imagination that her favorite author, already. So yey. A quick and entertaining read, I did have fun with this one. Thanks Netgalley.

[T.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing collection of short stories, some of which will leave you more than a little unsettled and some of which you'll be thinking about for days. The characters' voices are all distinct throughout their respective stories, and Bailey does a good job of exploring different types of short stories while keeping the whole collection cohesive.

Some of my favorites:

Agoraphobia - I admit I was a little suspicious about the 2nd person point of view at first, but it actually worked out really well for this story. I enjoyed it.

The Outing - This was one of the more unsettling stories for me. Everything seems normal at first, but as little details start to show, you realize that's not the case at all.

Journal Entry from the End of the Universe - I really liked the format of this one. And, as someone who wants to do a million things in life and there won't be nearly enough time, I could easily relate to the main character.

And Lead Us Not - Jenna was easily my favorite character in all of these stories, and I loved the ending, which was entirely not what I expected.

There We Will Be - I'm a social work student who wants to work in child welfare, so this one tugged at my heartstrings for obvious reasons. I just want to give Brian a hug.

[Janeandjerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well for starters I just found out I could had been keeping progress here but I kept my progress on my notepad instead. I was given an copy of this from the Blue Harvest Creative Readers Program (BHCRP) and want to thank them as well as the Author for such great work. I enjoyed reading this book and with it it has strong characters in each story and hopefully others will read it and enjoy it as well.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! There was not a dull moment with the short stories! It's hard to pick a favorite. I am expecting to read a few more of her books soon, especially "The Land Beyond The Portal" and "Servant".

[T.C. Slonaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a book of short stories, this was a little hard to rate. Some of the stories I loved, some... not as much. Bailey, however, has such an enjoyable writing style that I gave it 5 stars, despite not liking some of the stories. Good writing makes up for a lot.

[The Book Gawdess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a free advance readers’ copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ordinary Souls was an eclectic blend of extraordinary occurrences in ordinary lives. There was a story about a cursed mirror and there was a story about living on a other planet. It was fascinating how the author mixed in different genres of stories and somehow made it work.

Most of the stories were perfect in my opinion. However, my favorite would have to be Journal Entry from the End of the Universe. It showcased the author's vivid imagination perfectly.

I found Maria to be quite interesting but it felt a bit incomplete. Vapors was a bit confusing to me as well.

Agoraphobia was also one of my favorites. I saw in the author's notes that she wanted to try writing in the second person and it worked quite well here.

The Outing also stood out to me. I can definitely understand why the person who proofread it was concerned about the author's husband. I would have been to. Lol.

This is a book that has something for basically everybody. It can be read by teenagers as the violence in the book was not overwhelming. Based on this book, I would love to try some more of this author's writing.

Violence: Moderate
Sexual Content: None
Profanity: None
Religious Themes: There was talk of a demon in one story.
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mention of moonshine as well as driving drunk.

[E.D.E. Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ordinary Souls is an intriguing collection of creepy stories, each with a different setting and feel. Even for me, not a spooky fan, I found many of the stories very engaging. I especially love how the author introduces each story (you can choose to read this or skip it) with her own inspiration for the tale. I thought that was really fun and made each story even more interesting. If you like spooky stories, sometimes different, and sometimes unresolved, this is for you.

I do also recommend the hardcover presentation - it’s lovely and would make a great gift.

[Ben Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serious Twilight Zone vibes…

I was amazed by how smoothly the stories shifted from one atmosphere to another, gliding through different sub genres at the same time.

That kind of versatility is exactly what it takes to stick the landing on a full collection of stories without any misses or lost momentum. Whether you’re into gothic, sci-fi, psychological, cursed objects, ghosts, isolation… this collection has what you need and Bailey’s expert storytelling will carry you through them all.

[D.M. Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection that is anything but ordinary!

J. S. Bailey always leaves me in awe. Her characters are never predictable, nor are her endings. Masterful crafting of plot and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I love her writing so much that I binge-read this in record time. I think I'll read it again and take more time to savor each tale!

[Laura Custodio · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Honest review in exchange for free ARC*

Eclectric really describes this short story collection. I love how it goes from genre to genre with a different flair for each story. This is a great short story collection if you wish for something strange during your reading hour.

[Kelsey Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

They might be ordinary souls, but their stories are crazy extraordinary. I loved every twist and turn these tales took me on. Definitely would recommend.

[Sergio Yanez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories are all about pace. Writers don’t usually get the luxury of introducing a whole set of complex characters through pages and pages, cause the story itself is short and direct, so giving life to an entire universe after a few paragraphs is a tough goal. J.S. Bailey excels at pacing her stories in this marvelous collection called Ordinary Souls, telling 16 short plots with thrilling (sometimes supernatural, sometimes plain scary) mystery.

The book opens in a strong tone with ‘The Mirror’, an engaging suspense story that leaves readers in the edge of their seats the entire time. Other high points of the collection were “Vapors”, “The Outing”, “There We Will Be”, “Solitude”, all written in such a way that you get immersed and start caring for the characters in minutes. The writing style depicts great expertise at controlling the information given to you and given to the characters, proposing compelling stories that only get better whit time.

The short story format also gives plenty of freedom to the reader to stop and come back later. For me they were basically snacks. I decided to read “just one” and then realize that was clearly unreasonable, no one is satisfied with just one bite

If you enjoy reading Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King and other suspense masters, this book is for you. If you enjoy screaming “No! Don’t do it! Don’t go that way!” at a book, this is DEFINITELY your book!

I really enjoyed this, and look forward to keep reading more of J.S. Bailey’s work

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ordinary Souls is a wide variety of short stories with a bit of creepiness, a dash of horror, a dose of supernatural and a smattering of heart.These realistic characters are all ordinary people just getting through their day, when something happens that shakes things up.. How does individual respond to the event, big or small, that makes the one day in the store different from the days before?
These stories will leave you with a wide range of emotions-from horrified to inspired to saddened to hopeful and in some cases twisted.
"And Lead Us Not" kept me guessing and as it went along I could feel my gut twist....but all it not always what it seems.
If I had to pick a favorite I'd say, "Agoraphobia" would be it. Pain, vulnerability, fear...hope. This left me feeling good.
"Weary Traveler" confused me, in a good way. The narrator was confused and we feel that so very well. In the end we realized why she was so confused and we understand.

J.S.Baily doesn't rely on vampires, zombies or serial killers running around with nail guns, chainsaws and ice picks to creep us out. Perhaps the real monsters are in our own heads...or they're in our own species, and that's the scariest thing of all.
#OrdinarySouls #Netgalley

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bailey covers several subjects in this collection of short stories all of which dip into the style of the Twilight Zone. Interesting Ordinary people who encounter the strange and bizarre and have their lives reshaped. She really creates a visual in many of the stories and sparks interests in the fates of the character in the short time you are with many of time. “Vapors” was my fav tale and they are all worth a read.

[J.E. Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this collection last night. I've haven't read many short stories because I hate that they're short, but this collection is amazing. Some will keep you wondering even after the story has ended while others are satisfying in their own short words. Some of my favorites were: The Mirror, White Lightning, and Diamonds in the Sky. There's a special place in my heart for Imaginary Friend because of Jerry.

[Cindy Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of short stories that all contain an element of mystery and just enough doubt about what is 'real' to cause hesitation and doubt.
Short stories require a lot of information in a short space; this collection does just that. Characters are well drawn and the action moves swiftly.
An interesting addition is the explanations of where the stories came from by the author- it enhances each story.

Good read.

[Paigelauren Forrester · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Review*****



Short-twisted stories.


Perfect if you only have a few moments to yourself. A wide variety of short stories that hold you enthralled from start to finish. Thanks to these short stories I know have three other books by the same author I am going to read. I enjoyed these short stories and hope other will find them as delightful as I did.
Thank you to Netgalley/J.S. Bailey/BHC Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Maudaevee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story collections can be very hit or miss for me, because well they are short and usually just a taste of a story. I judge them on if I enjoyed reading them and if they make me want to read more by the author, This collection was a yes on both counts. Each of the stories left me wanting them to be longer, I was invested in the characters/situations and I think that makes them good short stories. I would definitely read more by this author.

[Ali O · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book of short spooky stories!
Each one tells a different tale and I like the variety of stories, but they still have an underlying similar theme of not so ordinary tales!
The Mirror and Agoraphobia were my favorite of the bunch! The stories are all well written and I enjoyed the majority of them! This is a nice quick read.

Thank you to J.S. Bailey for a copy of an audiobook version to listen to of this neat book of stories!!

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that's a book of short stories! I loved this book- you never knew what to expect. Will it be in the future, on another planet, or just an ordinary Wednesday? A mix of genres, but each with something unexpected. A few even left me with a smile on my face. I will look for other books by this author now!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful book. The stories are either scary, makes you think, thrilling or something in between. My favorites were Imaginary Friend, Journal Entry and Weary Traveler although it was hard to pick out a favorite. There wasn't a story that wasn't a fun read. Give this a try if you like a little horror in your life.

[Darren Manoharan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of stories. Some are prequels to the authors other books (which i will now look into reading). Some of the stories are dark and twisted and others are really quite sweet. Essentially the stories are about how the characters deal with the trauma in their everday lives. Well worth a read!

[Dusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great compilation of stories! There were a couple of short stories that I struggled to get through but the majority of these were excellent! Very unique and imaginative.

I loved the mix of science fiction and horror! A few of these stories will definitely stay with me!