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!
Edited by Alan Lastufka and Kristina Horner, OBSOLESCENCE surveys the haunting topical conundrum in which technology emerges as a spectral force, weaving its tendrils into the fabric of our existence with hypnotic allure. Through a collection of evocative stories, the anthology reimagines familiar technological tropes with a sinister twist: cameras beyond surveillance, and robots turned into ominous entities or working-class heroes. A nightmarish disruption to humanity’s fragile sense of safety and control.
LIGHT OF DARKNESS by Ebenezer O. Makinde offers an accessible yet profound exploration of good versus evil, masterfully brought to life through the perspectives of celestial beings and a human’s quest for moral clarity. The exceptional audiobook narration elevates the story and brings to life compelling characters as listeners are transported into a realm where politics, love, values, truths, and freedom intertwine in profound ways. Makinde’s imaginative exploration of these themes offers a captivating journey that challenges, enlightens, and ultimately leaves listeners pondering the essence of freedom and the choices that define our souls.
The book WHAT WOULD THE FOUNDING FATHERS TELL US TODAY? by Werner Neff offers a thought-provoking analysis of America’s voting system and the challenges it faces. The book sheds light on the importance of voter participation and suggests alternative ways to enhance the democratic process, making it a valuable read for those interested in understanding and improving the voting system in America.
In his novel THE SODIUM WARS, Nathan Merritt has created a unique mix of family saga, violence, faith, authoritarianism, and dystopia Rafe and Bri report on a pair of mass shootings in a small Texas town, uncovering a white supremacist organization, and become targets of the fanatical, cult-like followers of the authoritarian President who wields religion as a weapon. Characters often find themselves in challenging situations, faced with impossible choices. Racism, misogyny, and power are the driving forces of the novel, along with lengthy discourse where different perspectives try to use the same religious tenets to prove their points. As the book moves from a familiar contemporary time in the United States into the dystopian future of New Eden, it echoes and warns of coming dangers much in the way of authors such as Margaret Atwood and M.D. Waters.
T.H. Lehnen’s FOG & FIREFLIES transports the reader to a mesmerizing world where the shadows of a wizard’s war loom large, shrouding the land in a malignant fog. Through the eyes of protagonist Ogma, Lehnen crafts a poignant tale that explores the tension between fear and resilience, whilst addressing the complex transition from childhood to adulthood. With reverberations of classical fantasy and magical realism within a setting full of vivid imagery, this novel captivates with its imaginative mythology and meticulous worldbuilding, offering an enthralling coming-of-age that resonates with all audiences.
LEGACY OF THE THIRD WAY by Abdul Q. Kundi weaves a tapestry of ideology and reality, immersing readers in a world of political intrigue and societal transformation. Through the gripping story of Sher Shah, the novel explores themes of power, loyalty, and the enduring human spirit. Kundi’s masterful storytelling and vibrant characters paint a captivating picture, further enhanced by the seamless integration of futuristic elements. This must-read is perfect for those seeking a thrilling blend of speculative fiction and insightful social commentary.
Written by Margrit Strohmaier and accompanied by charming, simple illustrations by Claudia Gadotti, WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GET YOUR CAT makes it easy for children of all ages to start to understand their pet care responsibilities. All the right lists of what to do and how (like scooping the litter daily) are featured and, sometimes, repeated for emphasis. Short easy-to-read poems will prepare readers to answer the question: “Are you ready for your cat?”
TESSA’S HEART: A Texas Story by Jackie Lewis will engross readers with its heartrending depiction of a young girl’s passage through family dynamics and personal identity. The author tells a captivating story using well-developed characters to explore themes like survival, the desire to belong elsewhere, and courage under difficult circumstances (including communicating with ghost relatives). An engaging story that speaks volumes in terms of empathy, feeling and sensitivity.
A sinuous dance of intrigue and risk, Susan Rogers and John Roosen’s COBRA POSE audiobook delivers a gripping tale of suspense, romance, and crime, expertly narrated to keep listeners tethered non-stop. The seamless interplay between the characters’ evolving relationships and the high-stakes cyber mystery creates a captivating atmosphere (built upon poetical dyads: yoga dexterity and financial hacking, or Elaina and Ric, or a global heist and the beauty of an Australian shore), while the incorporation of additional digital resources such as maps of Brisbane and Southeast Queensland enhances the immersive audio experience, deepening the effect of the story’s setting. As a novel, COBRA POSE is a persuasive blend of tension, labyrinthine street life, and treachery radiating charisma everywhere.
THE RABBIT HOLE (book 2 in by Matthew Fries introduces readers to Jimmy Miles who is 30 something and runs the family sub shop in Western Canada. Jimmy has a sardonic wit, which sets the tone of the story, and a younger sister named Bailey, with whom he shares a condo. Bailey is separated from her husband and is in the last trimester of her pregnancy. Jimmy is frustrated with life in general and dreams of a fresh start so he answers a classified ad for a chef at an amusement park and gets the job. The ad stipulates that the applicant must be pregnant or traveling with someone who is. That’s the first tip off that there is much more here than meets the eye. The siblings head to the Santa themed amusement park and unusual events start happening on their way. Once they arrive, it is clear that there is something brewing below the surface. The story is completely original and it is impossible to predict where the plot is going to take the reader. Jimmy’s sardonic sense of humor is a perfect balance to the darker parts of the story. This story is unusual, but it works.
Survival can mean dealing with various circumstances that require perseverance and fortitude; TO MOTHERS FROM THE HOOD by Shannon McGuire is a self-help memoir for women who must push through life’s drama every day. Presented with experience and wisdom, the author helps others move past their personal sorrow and tendency to view oneself as a victim—heading toward a more solid future. Complete with illustrations, this true story brings reality to life.
CANDY COTTAGE: by Jeanette Cole is a “sweet” and charming story about two children imagining they are in the classic fairy tale. This delightfully unique and colorfully-illustrated book allows children to use their imaginations, while teaching them a not-so-subtle lesson about what happens when eating too many sweets. A nice before bedtime read.
As it delves into Rory Londer’s harrowing but ultimately inspiring life, SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD: Lessons from a Crack Addict Who Broke Free, demonstrates the unyielding human spirit and the strength of resilience and determination. Rory’s journey from addiction, through personal turmoil, to eventual triumph provides a compelling story of recovery and change. This book offers a clear window into the world of substance abuse, highlighting the immense courage required to transcend such challenges. More than merely exposing the grim realities of addiction, it demonstrates that individuals can indeed turn over a new leaf, providing a glimmer of hope to others facing similar struggles.
While MAINE, A Love Story by Blue Butterfield is full of the rich forest scents and wild-blueberry sweetness of Maine, it’s really a love story to and about the author’s family – her artist mother, her father maimed physically and emotionally by a car accident, her romance with her husband, her joys and sorrows watching her two sons grow up. The language is simple but graceful, telling her story in a series of smaller vignettes that can be read bit by bit or all at once as the reader prefers. Brilliantly-colored woodcuts enhance the stories, and become part of them as she tells how she learned to make them, and explains the process in paragraphs interwoven with her father’s tragedy.
When Rose Caroline Webster finds her father’s old books in Jacqueline Boulden’s riveting novel, FAMILY TIES FAMILY LIES, she notices that some of them have the letters KNT written on them. Furthermore, a photo slips from one of them, prompting her to go on a search for information that discloses a surprising aspect of her father. This story is about a horrific betrayal, hard-to-forgive family secrets, and a history that haunts the present. Everyone attempting to manage family secrets or make sense of the unexpectedly odd conduct of one or both of their parents should read this compelling book.
A unique juxtaposition of child and adult viewpoints buttress Stella O’Shea’s work of literary fiction, THE PROGRAMME, is the story of the rise and fall and rise again of those addicted to alcohol. Rosie’s diary, interspersed with actions and arguments of Mother and Dad (Jill and Vinnie Jennings), gives poignant insight to how children see the foibles of adults. The Programme (a/k/a Alcoholics Anonymous and its offshoots) doesn’t necessarily fare well; on the other hand, it suggests that addiction can be ‘remedied’ through self analysis and realization. Sometimes an all too real narrative.
A clash between light and shadow, MC Hunton’s CONVICTION weaves an intense mosaic of gripping suspense and heart-wrenching mayhem in the aftermath of a triumph against all odds. As Darius and the Martyrs confront greater challenges (this is the second installment of the series), the author’s prose dances between moments of breathtaking action and poignant introspection, inviting readers to delve deeper into the complexities of heroism and sacrifice. A vivid portrait of resilience in the face of darkness and the distressing convolutions of morality.
Teeming with adventure, THE OATHBREAKER’S DAUGHTER by Martin V. Parece II delivers suspense as it thrusts readers into an illustrative fantasy world where one young women seeks to defy the odds no matter the cost by following her intrinsic calling towards the dragons that may only be ridden by men.