IndieReader Discovery Awards 2024 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2024 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
Tele Aadsen’s WHAT WATER HOLDS explores her four decades at sea through a collection of essays offering readers an honest exploration of some of life’s biggest questions from the deck of a fishing boat. The resulting reflections are intimate, authentic, and surprisingly universal, regardless of one’s prior familiarity with fishing.
The third installment of the John Moore Mysteries, LEGACY OF LIES does not disappoint in its intrigue, fast-paced action and numerous plot twists. Author Ed Marohn keeps the reader engaged as protagonist John Moore takes brutal hit after hit yet still attains his end game. Marohn isn’t easy on his main character, putting him through nail-biting, life-threatening situations throughout the story.
Love and resilience are embedded in THE ROCK IN OUR STORY by J.R. Giuliano, as a young girl—leaving her war-scarred, poverty-stricken country for a new life—learns the truth about her past, present, and future. With an engaging storyline, and sharply-drawn characters, the story has descriptive imagery that gives readers a glimpse of the child’s life as she becomes a young lady. In the end, searching for ultimate happiness takes patience, perseverance, and faith.
THE ENGLANDER by John Righten follows international aid worker Connor Pierce on his mission to expose and confront the Wolves, a gang of highly skilled, well-armed, and lethal killers who have killed his fiancée and daughter and put a bounty on his head. This gang has military connections and high-tech equipment that is difficult to hack, but they are ignorant of Connor’s recent acquisition–a picture book documenting their activities and killings. This engaging story’s creative narrative and exciting action make for a delightful read with a heartwarming victory over a number of conspiracies, including the scheme to kill thirty children in an orphanage.
SCORPIUS by Monty Ryan intricately weaves historical accuracy with imaginative storytelling, offering readers a captivating glimpse into the vibrant world of ancient Rome. Through the compelling journey of Scorpius, Ryan skillfully portrays themes of resilience and ambition, making this novel a must-read for those seeking an immersive and thrilling historical fiction experience.
TANKS: Evil Lurks on Whidbey Island by Ted Mulcahey is a nail-biting mystery/thriller in which a madman has begun to unleash his rage on the public with a bioweapon causing misery and death. Husband and wife Kevin and Jenne Malley are well acquainted with danger and find themselves caught up in the dramatic circumstances surrounding the attacks. Suspense, humor, and thrills are abundant as the Malleys work with law enforcement in attempting to thwart a remorseless killer before he strikes again.
A wondrous discovery of a lineage of humanity capable of manipulating matter (Painters) in an upended world, Rose Card-Faux’s LESSER DEMONS delivers the journey of Zanny Monroe, the convolutions of her newfound powers and the weight of being a prophesied saviour. In that regard, the novel merges an archetypical teenage chosen-one narrative with a mostly original mythology. Through a nostalgic nod to dystopian fiction and classic young fantasy, Card-Faux conveys a well-rounded tale which thrives on the tension between the protagonist’s fate and the might of The Angel, a capricious cult leader.
In Alexa Tuttle’s OVER THE TOP SECRET BY ALEXA TUTTLE, a young girl is abducted by an overly ambitious doctor who aspires to be the first to download knowledge digitally into a human brain. The young lady is helpless and must wait for outside help as she makes fruitless attempts to understand why she has suddenly become the focus of both government programs and criminal organizations. As she discovers a mysterious ability within herself that could be the key to defeating a ”wannabe python” in the Paris sewers, this tragic yet humorous story will captivate every mystery-loving reader.
Cynthia Coppola’s IN THE NAME OF FAMILY is a moving romantic drama about Tony and Ruth, a pair of star-crossed lovers in 1950’s Brooklyn. Despite different religious backgrounds (Ruth is a conservative Jew and Tony a Catholic who emigrated from Italy as a boy) and previous marriages, their attraction is undeniable. The story’s strength lies in its realistic portrayal of a couple navigating the slings and arrows of discrimination while beginning to build a life for themselves.
Good marriages may only seem good on the outside, in Kristen Pursell’s LONG ENOUGH TO LOVE YOU, a 50-something year old woman must decide whether her safe, easy life is worth gambling for a “happily-ever-after.” With friends and therapists advising Jenn to cheat on her husband, the woman must figure out if passion and fantasies are better than a solid loving (yet seemingly boring) relationship. LONG ENOUGH TO LOVE YOU may resonate with others whose lives have followed the same path.
A heart-wrenching love story with charismatic characters, SUN IN MY HEART by Tricia T. LaRochelle brings together two desolate strangers struggling to move forward after experiencing emotional and physical trauma from their individual pasts.
Author Brendan O’Meara starts the second installment in the Crafting Humanity series by dropping the reader into high action, keeping the adventurous pace throughout CARVED FROM WOOD. As a true dystopian story, it puts into perspective how men of power hold to their erroneous ideology no matter the consequences to everyday people. O’Meara crafts a remarkable team of characters trying to make sense of this new world and their place in it; a highly entertaining read.
S. C. Selvyn’s THE TRIALS OF ILDARWOOD: Cinders in the Snow is a fantasy tale that artfully depicts genuine life lessons for reality, as the young characters struggling to run from their past discover the importance of accepting others and embracing one’s core identity.
Set in a darkly illustrative fantasy world, S. C. Selvyn’s THE TRIALS OF ILDARWOOD: Fall of the Forsaken, incites soulful examination and exemplifies loyal sacrifice as a group of troubled kids encounter sinister horrors on a journey to change their fate.
In her memoir ON THE OTHER SIDE: MEMORIES OF A PAST LIFE, Adria Sanders describes her strange dream sequences about her past life and how those experiences affected her current existence. Her life with her extraordinary lover, Rico, whose charisma and disposition she found uncommon in nearly every man she met after his death, is vividly remembered. Her narrative offers readers the opportunity to consider their own aspirations and value each moment spent with a loved one. Moreover, this narrative illustrates how dreams can impart wisdom, understanding, and guidance regarding an individual’s identity and areas of interest for further focus in their current lives.
BROKEN SKY by John Harvey propels readers into a riveting YA sci-fi adventure, blending prophecy, peril, and environmental urgency in a gripping tale that ignites imagination with a resonant exploration of humanity’s fight for survival in the face of looming doom.
Kenneth Vertrees’ GAZEBO delves into the intertwined lives of Laura, Sandrine, Vincent, and Michael, each contending with their emotional predicaments, unspoken desires, and cravings for a future beyond their reach. A profound exploration of the menace of the past, the nuances of love as a collective experience, and the affectionate experience of a stagnant summer for both young and mature. Redemptive, intoxicating, cathartic.
THE LOST HERO by Anna Schroeder follows Ero, the Captain of the Demonwatch, and his struggle to shield his homeland from threats. The novel houses many features from epic fantasy: beautifully drawn, sprawling maps, ancient prophecies and many harrowing mysteries. Political intrigue furthers the plotline while adding suspense as Juen, the Queen of Vabia, faces distrust from Ero – the main characters are forced to collaborate for the sake of survival. The author’s language is prosaic and moving while describing mundane moments from everyday life, such as zooming into the sharp edge of a sword. Fans of well-developed fantasy will love this book.