Ravings of an Unsettled Mind

by J.A. Barrios

This first collection from storyteller J.A. Barrios takes themes that haunt us in everyday life - grief, loneliness, desire, addiction - and twists them into horrific nightmares.

We've all faced the challenge of accepting our own fate and releasing fear, but could you make the ultimate Acceptance? Nathan is a desperate child who makes an innocent wish to finally find a friend in The Well.
Vampires seem darkly glamorous to mortals; how might an eternity of loss affect these cursed creatures? This country is built on sacrifices and Reivaj Castillo is about to learn how much he has to give up in The Making of a Hero. The misfortunate Jarek yearns for his heart's desire... is that too much to ask?

These are but a few of the gothic tales of sorrow J.A. offers.
Welcome to the realm of an unsettled mind.

172 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2023

About the author

J.A. Barrios is an award-winning author who's been telling stories since he could put pen to paper. When not writing, J.A. tells his stories through music in a duo, Cigar Etiquette. He finds inspiration from the cosmos where he seeks further truths about the human experience.

J.A. is also very passionate about mental heath, due to his own struggles and those of his loved ones, and hopes his words can reach others dealing with similar challenges.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these stories. I wanted a little more from Road Trip but they were all fantastic!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Ravings” collection of short stories are as complex as a fine wine. Barrios addresses many fears, both common and supernatural, throughout the novel by using various writing styles. Although the first couple short stories didn’t immediately hook me mostly because of the writing style, once I got to “Death Valley” I was fascinated by the original stories that played on human fears. My personal favorite was the Making of a Hero because of the sci-fi element and the detail behind the making of a super soldier while also seeming to have a parallel to the world we live in today. I recommend giving this book a read if you’re interested in short stories and horror from a new author!

[Marco Workman · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a thrill ride Ravings of an Unsettled Mind turned out to be. I had the pleasure of chatting with Barrios on several occasions at length at AuthorCon 2025 and he explained to me that most of this collection was spawned from his own fears and nightmares.. Well freaking done! Thanks to Barrios I am jotting down my own nightmares. Thank you for opening up and sharing your stories.

[Ryan Deitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ravings of an Unsettled Mind" was a good read from beginning to end! I was quite interested in the depictions of vampires in one of the stories and would love to see more.

[Bryn Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up from JA Barrios directly at the Fairfax ComicCon this year. I was not disappointed. I've grown to respect him as a person and author and enjoy speaking with him at various events we both attend.

This collection was as good as I expected it to be.

Well crafted stories with both classic elements (add in vampires and zombies) are mixed with other horrors and suspense that keep you going. Being a short story collection, it also gives you the oportuntiy (if you're like me) to put a book down and come back to it later without missing anything. Each tale is stand alone and packs its own punch.

My favorite was 'Our Happy Family'.

I can't wait to see what new things the author comes up with and you should jump in to the mix with him.

[Michael Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly original horror stories featuring both fresh takes on classic icons like vampires and zombies as well as bold, untapped avenues into the unknown. Barrios is a master of suspense and delivers hard-hitting, chilling tales that will keep you turning the page. Dripping with visceral, descriptive language, each story is uniquely narrated by speakers with distinct voices. Expertly crafted and packed with symbolism. Lovers of the genre will devour Barrios’ collection and eagerly seek out more by this talented author.

[Jaeger Spratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ravings" is an emotional journey of a collection. This is one that really sticks with you, long after you put it down.

Each story has its own feel, and the characters are gripping even when we only get to know them for a few pages. Many of the stories have a dreamy but unsettled feel where both the reader and character can't tell what's quite "real" - that atmosphere adds a lot to the moody, gothic vibes of the collection as a whole.

[Harry Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with any collection of short stories, there will be some absolute winners, and some not so much. With Barrios, it's hard to not like a story because their origins are steeped in real emotional traumas, like loss, grief, depression, and even suicide.

Overall, I think this is a collection of books people need to check out! I had a blast reading it in ARC form! I received the book free in e-book form (and now also own the paperback).