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!
First Lady of the United States Elizabeth Velasquez Caen and computer hacker/stock market manipulator Owen Richter seem to have little or nothing in common. However, when they get together, they become a force greater than the sum of their parts. And so it goes in AFFAIRS OF STATE, a fast-paced political thriller by C.A. James, where things are often not as they seem. Fasten your seat belt for this non stop wild ride.
A STERLING LIFE is Mark Hester’s fascinating biography of his previously unknown grandfather, Seattle entrepreneur John Danz. Danz began life as Russian Jew Israel Danowsky, and left with his parents as they made their way across several European countries, finally to the United States. Hester’s portrait of this contradictory man, who was a business innovator yet a strict parent, believed in progress and change yet fought against unions in a 13-year strike, is beautifully rendered. He weaves in his own journey of discovering his biological relationship to Danz, and then the details as he unraveled the genealogical mystery. As engaging as a novel, it integrates strong writing with fascinating history and human complexities. A STERLING LIFE is a biography that is also a social history of place and time, intriguing in the first read, but revealing more layers in each re-read.
A PLACE OF LOVE & LIGHT: by Ellen Edmondson comprises deeply stirring messages that aim to deepen a reader’s connection with their life’s purpose. The author’s longing is to see the world experience the utmost sense of love, joy, peace, contentment, and fulfillment. This is an indispensable resource that will support the reader’s personal and spiritual journey as they awaken to the greater meaning of life.
In JANIE’S NEW LEGS by Diana Tuorto, the bond between a courageous paralyzed girl and a loving rescued horse showcases the transformative power of companionship, charming readers with a heartwarming message of strength in adversity.
Diana Tuorto’s HOW ANGEL HORSES BECOME UNICORNS, beautifully illustrated by tenderly explores life and death, guiding young readers through a child’s gentle exploration of coping with the passing of her beloved horse Luna, offering comfort and reassurance by highlighting the enduring power of love and transformation.
MY DESERT SUN by Diana Tuorto chronicles the experiences of a wild mustang’s journey from wild freedom to challenging captivity, emphasizing resilience and the stark contrast between cruelty and kindness, while inspiring young readers to value freedom and foster a respect for all living beings.
Mysteries of life take on various twists and turns, and for those searching for their biological histories, the answers often lead to more questions. FOUND: Adopted Friends Search for their Birth Families by Trish Diggins and Sherri-Craig-Evans details the lives of two women who are lifelong friends, trying to learn more about their biological truths. Emotional paths are part of the journey, leading to endings that are hit or miss fairy tales. FOUND is a compelling story of honesty with both positive and negative reunion experiences; those searching for their own biological families may find this title to be a helpful tool for understanding the outcomes.
A spellbinding historico-political thriller, Alexander C. Juden’s CROSSING DARKNESS, takes place in post-WWI Europe, where veteran John Griffin is thrust into a death-defying mission orchestrated by the advisory office of President Woodrow Wilson. Juden’s cinematic prose faithfully conveys the treacherous landscape of political intrigue and turmoil, delivering a tale of betrayal, survival, and the high cost of peace in a world on the brink of chaos.
A book about a lawsuit involving data forensics might not seem the most thrilling topic but, in ELECTION HACKS, entrepreneur, software expert, and novelist Bob Zeidman gives a page-turner account of his lawsuit against MyPillow owner Mike Lindell, who claimed to have digital proof that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.
A whirlwind of an experience, David Scott Hay’s excellently written [NSFW] is a biting science fiction social commentary masquerading as a love story. Full of satirical jabs at our culture and our conformity to it–including sex, technology addiction, mental health, religion–the story is incredibly prescient and readers will come to care deeply care about the characters, especially @Sa>ag3 and @Jun1p3r, the couple at the center of of it all, adrift in an unforgiving futuristic world.
Two high schoolers, experiencing true independence for the first time, are set on a fast-paced and exciting adventure to save the very souls of everyone on Earth — before it’s too late. By mixing ancient magic and contemporary technology, ERIFT’S JOURNEYS: SECRETS OF THE SEALED FORREST is a wonderful YA/middle grade modern retelling of a classic fantasy hero’s journey.
All who have suffered abuse and/or gaslighting while navigating the chaotic emotions encountered during the transition from naive teen to enlightened adult will totally relate to POCKET OF PAIN, Lady Warfield’s engrossing memoir. Between the honest, unassuming delivery to the joyous celebration of music and social activities in the 80’s, this debut book will resonate.
In Julie Boglisch’s THE RAVEN’S CRUX, Detective Roger Raven takes his thirteen-year-old twins, Aiden and Noah, to the town of Herisdell to find missing individuals. When Roger goes missing, the twins, alongside their friends Phen and Mia (who is a ghost), set out to find their father and unravel the sinister happenings in the town while discovering their own special abilities. Boglisch crafts a unique and captivating narrative that adds a refreshing spin to the conventional ghost story, making it an appealing read for young audiences.
In BABY DRAGON FINDS HIS FAMILY, Sheryl Bass writes an unforgettable story with themes of kindness, resilience, and the value of belonging. With the dragon’s journey, readers learn about friendship and discover the pleasure of personal development. Remesh Ram’s vibrant illustrations complement perfectly with Bass’s narrative , making this book a delightful read for children and adults alike.
Intricate in its plot and scope, SHARD by Stephen Cote is a supernatural science fiction story blending quantum physics, space, and climate devastation with mystical anomalies. Rich in its epic proportions, it transcends the usual science fiction tropes for a refreshing imaginative world. As Earth increasingly becomes uninhabitable, the solutions are found in alternate realities after the shard opens pathways to the beyond.
Two teenage couples celebrating the end of High School embark on a week-long road trip through the Joshua Tree National Park in a luxury RV. But another RV is parked in the Hidden Valley campground, watching and waiting. When the four disappear, they enter a harrowing world of unimaginable depravity where they discover the alternative meaning to the initials, “RV”. Author J.M. Bloodborne has written a forensically gruesome, psychologically disturbing, and bone-chilling horror that serves twist after unexpected twist. It’s a nastily good, tightly-plotted, and nerve-shredding novel that ensures its characters are well-developed and the story carefully crafted as it unfolds with terrifying, skin-crawling realism.
INTO A HEARKENING SKY, by Peter A. Heasley, is the third book in the exciting and insightful Hyperbolia Series. Hudson MacDuff, a dreamer with aspirations to leave Earth, searches for what binds him to the dystopian world he inherited. The author expertly blends spiritual themes with science fiction to create a metaphysical experience that any reader–religious or not–can engage with in a satisfying way.
WITHIN A WAKENING EARTH by Peter A. Heasley tells the tale of Toad Todd, left in Resurrection for safety. The narrative follows Toad Todd, Numero Due, and Babcia as they face mysterious events like daily eclipses and the falling moon, encountering ancient creatures such as Dakotaraptor and Camarasaurus. The story’s theme of resilience and discovery amidst evolving landscapes and hidden truths makes it a compelling read for those seeking an escape into a vividly crafted universe, blending elements of adventure and mystery.