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edebell's review
4.0
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.
I do also recommend the hardcover presentation - it’s lovely and would make a great gift.
inkslinger's review
2.0
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.
whateveryoneelseisreading's review
3.0
I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher BHC Press in exchange for an honest review.
Ordinary Souls is a horror short story collection, supposedly about normal people in abnormal situations but this doesn't really ring true. However, it's a neat collection regardless and I found the majority of the stories interesting. There's quite a large range so I'm going to go over some of the standout ones now.
The Mirror-A woman buys an antique mirror with a dark twist. I liked this story and it was pretty solid but there was a massive plot hole/confusion that I couldn't overlook. So initially the mirror is said to show the future. Later on, it's revealed that it actually shows your deepest fear and the narrator fears the future which is why she sees that. But then at the end, it is showing the future again for different characters? It really bothered me.
The Ghosts of Memory-A group of students go investigate an abandoned house and creepy stuff happens. This was a really solid story, fantastically paced and intriguing. The narrator was a little dense but this was definitely one of my favourites of the collection.
Journal Entry from the End of the Universe-A woman who becomes immortal writes diary entries. A pretty great take on the concept of immortality but I feel like the ending lacked a little detail. I wanted to know more about the future than was discussed, and I think that would have helped this story be even more original in concept.
The Author, the Lonely Walker, and the Class-This is basically three stories in one: a short story, sections from the POV of the author and then sections focused on a classroom discussing the short story in an academic setting. There was a really interesting concept at play her but sadly I didn't find the short story discussed all that compelling. It was a good idea though!
Maria-A couple are looking at a plain painting which appears black to one of them and white to the other. Then it ends. I was so into this story but it is waaaay too short. I don't even know what was meant to be going on and it fell so flat because of that. It's such a shame because it had a great concept. And why was it called Maria? It makes no sense.
There are 16 stories in total so this is by no means a comprehensive list but these are the ones I felt like I had something to say about them. All in all, it's a fair collection but there were sadly a lot of stories which didn't gel with me. Three are related to other works by the author so I felt like I would be missing stuff if I tried to read them. There is also a fair amount of sci fi or other things which don't quite fit the horror genre so just be aware of that as well.
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars
Ordinary Souls is a horror short story collection, supposedly about normal people in abnormal situations but this doesn't really ring true. However, it's a neat collection regardless and I found the majority of the stories interesting. There's quite a large range so I'm going to go over some of the standout ones now.
The Mirror-A woman buys an antique mirror with a dark twist. I liked this story and it was pretty solid but there was a massive plot hole/confusion that I couldn't overlook. So initially the mirror is said to show the future. Later on, it's revealed that it actually shows your deepest fear and the narrator fears the future which is why she sees that. But then at the end, it is showing the future again for different characters? It really bothered me.
The Ghosts of Memory-A group of students go investigate an abandoned house and creepy stuff happens. This was a really solid story, fantastically paced and intriguing. The narrator was a little dense but this was definitely one of my favourites of the collection.
Journal Entry from the End of the Universe-A woman who becomes immortal writes diary entries. A pretty great take on the concept of immortality but I feel like the ending lacked a little detail. I wanted to know more about the future than was discussed, and I think that would have helped this story be even more original in concept.
The Author, the Lonely Walker, and the Class-This is basically three stories in one: a short story, sections from the POV of the author and then sections focused on a classroom discussing the short story in an academic setting. There was a really interesting concept at play her but sadly I didn't find the short story discussed all that compelling. It was a good idea though!
Maria-A couple are looking at a plain painting which appears black to one of them and white to the other. Then it ends. I was so into this story but it is waaaay too short. I don't even know what was meant to be going on and it fell so flat because of that. It's such a shame because it had a great concept. And why was it called Maria? It makes no sense.
There are 16 stories in total so this is by no means a comprehensive list but these are the ones I felt like I had something to say about them. All in all, it's a fair collection but there were sadly a lot of stories which didn't gel with me. Three are related to other works by the author so I felt like I would be missing stuff if I tried to read them. There is also a fair amount of sci fi or other things which don't quite fit the horror genre so just be aware of that as well.
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars
kelseykeating's review
4.0
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.
tahernandez's review
5.0
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.
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.
gs_jennsen's review
5.0
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.
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.
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