IndieReader Discovery Awards 2025 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
Bruce Berls’s near-future techo-capitalism satire VEILPIERCER explores what happens when money can literally buy a better reality. Teeming with comical quips, dad-joke wordplay, and occasionally trenchant remarks, its cleverly absurd premise and band-of-misfits cast will surely entertain readers.
SEE ME by Rhoda Berlin is an emotionally charged novel that masterfully blends psychological depth with suspense, drawing readers into the complex struggles of its characters. With a compelling exploration of trauma, therapy, and the human desire for connection, Berlin’s storytelling captivates, making this an engaging and thought-provoking read for those who enjoy psychological drama.
FOREVER BOY by Michael J. Bowler offers readers a unique blend of coming-of-age challenges and supernatural intrigue, making it an engaging journey into both the struggles of adolescence and the mysteries of eternal youth. The intriguing character dynamics and Bowler’s rich storytelling create a captivating atmosphere, making this book an excellent pick for fans of both drama and fantasy.
NOT DOWN IN ANY MAP by P.A. Callaro is a poignant collection of twelve stories that beautifully captures the resilience and complexity of urban life. Through rich symbolism and lyrical prose, Callaro brings to life characters who confront their pasts and navigate profound themes of hope, compassion, and transformation. This collection offers a deeply introspective and emotionally resonant experience for readers who appreciate the intricacies of human relationships and the subtle power of literary fiction.
Peggy Jo Henry’s book, WARNING: I PUBLISHED WITH A SCAM PUBLISHING COMPANY!, explores the author’s own experiences with a dishonest publishing company in an open and enlightening manner. The book shares the financial and emotional costs of going through such an experience, but it also provides insightful analysis of the publishing industry’s problems, along with the author’s personal experiences including a suicide attempt and mental illness and thoughts on the environment and addictions. A must-read for anyone thinking about self-publishing!
THE ASSAYS OF ATA by K. I. S. offers a richly woven narrative set in the intriguing world of Áitarbith, where deception and espionage take center stage. The protagonist, Ata, is a compelling character whose depth and complexity drive the story forward, making this a captivating read for fans of intricate plots and strong, multifaceted heroines.
Dedicated to a group of soldiers killed in the Vietnam war, MY CEMETERY FRIENDS by Vincent J. Tomeo is a collection of poems and stories written for life, as well as death. With inspiration from the generations of those whose final resting places honors people from all walks of life, readers will visit the past in a unique way, reminding readers of the value of their own mortality, bringing together elements of human connection, history, nature, and ultimate peace.
BROKEN MIRROR, Book 1 in the author Cody Sisco’s is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of mental health and societal stigma. The book offers a compelling exploration of the human condition, with well-developed characters and a richly detailed world that draws the reader in. Sisco’s ability to create a fully realized world and characters that feel both familiar and alien is a testament to his skill as a writer.
Christopher Dainton, an emergency room physician and author of THE EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICAL MISSION, THE SALSA PROJECT, and the novel DEEP RAPTURE, tries something a little different in MOVE OVER, VIOLA, about his mother’s discrimination battle with Bell Canada which ended up in front of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in 1987. Dainton calls it a “fanciful hybrid of fiction and memoir” stylistically inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s CAT’S CRADLE. Told in short chapters in sections alternating from his point of view, a bi-racial man in modern Canada, and his mother’s point of view, a Black woman whose brains got her out of Trinidad and away from a difficult father, to Prince Edward Island, and later Toronto, it explores both their journeys, remembrances, and questions with nuance and detail. Dainton’s writing is strong, and the detail and exploration of the conflicting positions compelling, engaging, and thought-provoking. Trial arguments are re-created into scenes from the transcripts into scenes, embellished by Dainton’s imagination. The ending is abrupt, reminding the reader that life doesn’t tie up in neat little bows the way fiction often does, providing no easy conclusions.
THE DEMON by Victory Witherkeigh offers a unique twist on possession by delving into the demon’s struggle with human experiences and identity. The well-developed characters and the creative concept of feeding on portions of a person’s lifetime add depth to the narrative, making it a captivating read for fans of supernatural fiction.
An impeccably detailed fantasy, Ben Spencer’s THE PROPHECY OF THE YUBRIY TREE delivers adventure in a well-constructed mystical world on the brink of political upheaval where unlikely characters are brought together by the guiding whispers of universal forces.
THE EVIL TO COME is Thomas Holland’s fourth novel in the Big Ray Elmore series, is set in the town of Split Tree, Arkansas in 1964. Someone shot Dave Tucker as he sat on his tractor. Ray, the town’s police chief, tries unsuccessfully to save his life, using the medical training he got in the navy. A couple of days later, a high school football player is shot during a big game. Undercurrents amongst the townsfolk, his wife’s manic depression, trying to train a new young officer, and trying to save his job when his first love’s husband tries to oust him all add to the pressure. The characters are well developed and multi-faceted, and the layers of connection in the small community run deep, and often hidden. The sense of place and atmosphere are strong, with the setting offering visceral elements to the story. Ray’s frustration as he tries to put the pieces together from a killer who always seems one step ahead drive the story, and how he finally puts together the final piece, understands the motive, and finesses the confrontation make the book a solid, satisfying read.
In STAY CENTER, author Shannon J. Curtin skillfully captures the intense emotions of adolescence through the lens of competitive shooting. The protagonist, Paige Race, navigates the complexities of friendship, rivalry, and personal growth, making her journey relatable to young adult readers. The book’s exploration of anxiety and determination resonates powerfully, offering valuable insights into overcoming challenges and finding one’s place in a competitive environment.
In TALMADGE FARM by Leo Daughtry, readers get an interwoven cast of characters and moral dilemmas set against the backdrop of 1950s and 60s rural North Carolina. The degree to which the novel examines such themes as justice, change, and reconciliation constitutes a provocative narrative that underlines the novel’s merits. The author’s ability to evoke empathy for both the privileged and the marginalized adds a layer of depth to the story, ensuring that it remains engaging throughout.
ROOM FOR FORGIVENESS by Thomas De Tore is a poignant exploration of family dynamics, forgiveness, and the power of redemption. The author skillfully weaves a tale that delves into the complexities of relationships, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Emilia Ares’s LOVE AND OTHER CAGES explores a captivating examination of intricate relationships and human growth .The author skillfully crafts a story of love and resiliency, evoking strong feelings in the reader through evocative language and endearing characters. Fans of thrilling romantic thrillers should not miss this novel because of its compelling depiction of overcoming previous traumas and its rich character development.
With close readings of the Founders, Lincoln, LBJ and others, David L. Page’s THE ART OF THE COMPROMISE lays out how the American form of government is deliberately – and perhaps uniquely – organized to build consensus across interests instead of promoting winner-take-all, zero-sum political warfare. Though its understanding of historical events can feel narrow at times and shallow at others, the book is clear-eyed about how decision-making which rightly pertains to Congress has either devolved to the President or simply stalled, contrary to the vision of the Constitution. THE ART OF THE COMPROMISE is a key part of the antidote: engaged and informed citizenry demanding bipartisan governance instead of deadlocked gamesmanship.
RHYMING RILEY by Tracy Markley is an illustrated children’s book featuring a wonderful and endearing narrative recounted through Riley (a dog’s) endearing rhymes. Young readers will enjoy the book’s lively language and captivating story, which also perfectly captures the straightforward pleasures of a dog’s life with its vivid descriptions and upbeat attitude. Any dog lover, regardless of age, should read this book because of Riley’s adventures and his unique bond with his mother.